Best of 2013

Hello everybody, may you have a wonderful 2014, may all your soul wishes come true. Signs are good – it’s going to be a great year for those who have the courage to step out of their comfort zone and follow their dreams and calling. Be bold, be brave, be unreasonable, think and dream big and the Universe will support your endeavours. 

I bet all of you have end of year rituals. I for one like to check my goal list, see how many of them I achieved (hopefully all), thank the old year for its gifts,  blessings and opportunities of growth. I also welcome the new year (which I picture myself as an infant) and make a list of new goals. 2013 has been a great year, at all levels, as you can see…

Writing

In 2013, writing was my main focus. I completed the Romanian version of the manuscript with more stories  up to 21. I also finished the first draft of my first novella.  I wrote articles for W by World Class (magazine and blog). I also took a screenplay writing course and wrote my first short movie screenplay. Being present every moment of my life, actually seeing and listening to people, nature, noises, colors  is an endless inspiration well. Therefore, there are plenty of ideas in my notebook waiting to be turned into short stories, novellas or even novels.

Connecting to…inspiration

Literary debut in Romanian

I held the Romanian version of “Four Doors and Other Stories” in my hands on the 20th of June. Believe me, nothing compares to it. The book is available in paperback and can be ordered on this website. Still waiting for the Romanian publisher to sort out its distribution in major bookstores across country.

My desk

Summer Story premiere in Bucharest

2013 is a year when I chose see opportunities instead of problems. Self-publishing, social media, Internet, blurred boundaries between art forms, lack of voice for new authors inspired me to create “Summer Story”. A performance inspired by some of my published stories which blends live music, dance, monologue, video projections. Its premiere was held on the 22nd of August in Bucharest.

Summer Story presented at Filit 2013

At the end of October 2013, I travelled to Iasi together with Fernando Mihalache and Catalin Lazaroiu, to perform “Summer Story” at Filit – Iasi International Literature and Translation Festival. Although at its first edition, for one week Filit became  Romania’s cultural capital, reuniting within its confines the most successfull  Romanian writers and translators as well as renown international guests. The performance was a joint venture between artists from Bucharest and Iasi (Anca and Florin, the tango dancers and Codrin Mircea – a gifted painter) and it comprised one more element: a painting played the role of “Honey”, one of story’s main characters.  Imagine my joy and gratitude at the end of the play when we received standing ovations and young people queued for autographs.

New poster

Before the show

Travels

I must inherit my passion for traveling from my mum. I find it also to be a tremendous source of inspiration, of self growth and joy. The Earth is so vast that I like to discover every year new places. I admit I have a soft spot for South America and the United States, for ocean and beaches. In 2013, I visited two continents – North America and Europe.

California – USA

Mono Lake by wind

Cable Car

Thassos – GREECE

Fire is everywhere

New Me

I believe that all of us are born with at leaf one gift. That we have many abilities. It is offering this gift to the world that makes me happy and at peace with myself. It is by exploring the abilities that I can explore the world and become a better me. In 2013, I started walking on new paths and it felt wonderful and fulfilling. I’m just a beginner but very determined to carry on to the highest.

Scuba diver

I confess, at first, it was terrifying. With all that gear on me – weighteing almost 20 kilos – if not more, I feared that I would be stuck to sea bottom. Of course, it’s just an illusion of a scared-to-death mind. But as soon as I forgot fear, I was mesmerised by the underwater world- its unearthly blue, coloured fish, its silence, its tranquility.

Smiling before my first dive

Photographer

I always enjoyed toying with camera – lately with Instagram.  I see people, gestures, lines, colours worth an infinite life, around the world. That’s where camera comes in. Just one image – that says it all, no translation needed. Same as music. At the end of the year, I decided to go pro. The first step was to buy this camera and start learning the basics.

My first semi-professional camera

Actress

I never thought about being on stage as an actress until June, when I saw an Irish lady performing – a great performance an one hour monologue written by her. I told myself – if she can do it, I can do it! I will not present my book through boring reading sessions. I will get up on stage and say my own words as a pro.” And so I did. As good as I could, after only one month of private acting lessons. Still work in progress.

A.G.Billig

Staying in shape

I see the human body as a temple – a temple of our beautiful soul, of our great mind, of our dreams, that deserves to be cherished and nurtured. Sports is one way of doing it. So, I’m doing it. Don’t worry if at the beginning it seems a bit hard. In time, you’ll enjoy it. You’re enjoy your body and the way it looks more and you’ll feel energised and full of life.

My rollerblades, honestly!

@gym. World Class In City, Bucharest

Live music

No matter how brilliant the sound in a studio recording, nothing compares with a live concert. Since I love music, I go and see as many concerts as possible. My favourite in 2013, Depeche Mode!

Depeche Mode, May 2013, Bucharest

Almost vegan

Food is another way of nurturing your body. This year, I chose to eliminate meat of my diet. I know what they say, that humans need protein but there are plenty of vegetal suppliers for it. I took this decision because I love animals, I like to see them free and happy and alive. Because they have a soul and a karma. Because that meat in the plate is something dead, that will rot in my stomach. Because I don’t feel like. Believe me, I feel great. And my skin looks better.

Bliss for my body

Back to the roots:  radio host

If there is one place I feel like home, well, this is a radio studio. I came back home in October, as host of a show broadcast by Radio Romania 3 Net that allows me to listen to a one hour live concert for free weekly. Not to mention that the music played is my style – rock, jazz, blues, alternative. If interested, have a quick look here.

Hosting “Sala de repetitii”

So here I am, at the end of my “best of 2013” review, with a big smile on my face. I had a blast although it passed in a blink of an eye. Stay tuned for this year. I have more coming up and a good deal of it is created having you, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, in mind.

2014 is here! Make it a year to remember!