SIMONA

I’m very well, grateful. Spring is my favorite time of the year, I enjoy it a lot. In between all of the constant work travels, finding that little space of calm at home, it's priceless.

I love spending time on the beach, it makes me so happy. The Costa Brava is so close, the south of France with a car is close too and it's a great ride, I love having road trips around. This city is giving me the reset I need and I couldn’t imagine myself being based in another place than this, for the moment. After almost 8 years of living here, I still discover places I haven’t been to or seen, it keeps me curious and calm at the same time.

I have always been a very ambitious kid and very easily bored. I always knew I wanted to travel a lot and eventually move out. I came to Barcelona for vacation, I fell in love with the city and I just stayed. It felt right and at the right time. Generally, I adapt very easily, I am very curious and keen to learn. Also, I don’t have a problem with being alone, it came a bit later, that I built strong friendships. I always preferred to stay by myself rather than have meaningless connections. The ones that had an impact on me, stayed.

I think that for many freelancers, uncertainty might be the biggest struggle. Reflecting on this, I always try to be as positive as possible, trust what comes, or not and believe strongly in my qualities as a professional; all that coated with always giving the best that I can in my job and running as fast as I can out of my comfort zone as soon as I step in. The balance with my personal life is just learning to say no, and pushing out the fear of missing out or "losing opportunities". They always come when you are ready. Listening to my body when it needs rest and respecting it.

As an I have "7 water signs in my chart" person, I have a huge impact on who surrounds me. I have always found it hard to connect with people [even though I am very social] but throughout my life, I have learned to let go and make space only for people who are honest, are challenging me, we understand each other effortlessly and are there even if they are physically not.

I think as failure is most commonly connected with stress or anxiety [which manifests later on] I have learned now that it was the best thing then, that needed to happen because it was a lesson and showed me what I needed to improve. I am trying to disassociate the word failure with a negative feeling, because at the end of the day, it is for the greater good and that will always bring me where I need to be, now. Constant gratitude and awareness of how far I’ve come and always comparing myself to my past self are helping me to maintain positivity and find inspiration to reach my goals.

It's important to take the time to breathe, truly, use our senses and stay as present as possible, all things are relevant and everything eventually will be alright. Everything is a phase and teaches us something. Just keep going, trusting, and never compare yourself to another human being.

I think my relationship with time is maybe the biggest fear I still have, in my perception, it went sprint since quarantine and I try to remind myself every day to live as present as possible, and that now is all we have.

I started listening to Tems maybe two and something years ago, I remember very well that period in my life. She marked a special feeling of what was happening then for me and I still listen to her, it’s been a constant. For the rest I go far [laughs] I can go from 80s disco pop to 10 Bands by Drake in the same hour.

To take care of Mother Earth, walk barefoot, keep the positivity as much as possible, be grateful, and not forget that the grass is not greener on the other side. Keep dreaming, keep being curious, and never stop dancing to what makes your butterflies alive.