Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations are behind us, it’s time to return to the so-called normal life. What does it mean: normal? Non-festive, that’s clear. On the occasion of the end of the year, many of you could make various decisions to implement new, different than hitherto behaviors towards yourself, your family, friends, work or other matters in life. I keep my fingers crossed for all your decisions, plans and dreams for 2020.
From the deep of my heart I wish you and your loved ones all the beautiful, joyful, supporting events to come true. I wish you love, joy, smiles every day, mindfulness, gratitude in our hearts (remember that we have been granted so much!), strong health (because you need to have health to put all these plans into action!), excellent company for every undertaking, optimism (faith moves mountains!), sensitizing to what is happening around us and kindness. This ordinary human kindness.
Plan valuable work, and after it – great rest and holiday. And here I am calling you to meet high ethical standards on your vacation. Take a moment to think about whether your visit in a new place is supporting the local community and the environment. When you leave the place is it richer, as clean as when you arrived, are the habitants happy you visited them? I encourage you to think in a larger perspective what we actually do when we travel, who we suport, what we leave behind us. Also think about your loved ones (do you all like to spend time in the same way?). Choose honest and fair service providers. Take care of your safety and health. Support local communities wherever you go. Buy goods made with human hands locally. Take a moment to talk to the seller in the market place, ask him about how he lives, what he likes most in his city or village, what it looked like 20 years ago … Try to understand the history and culture of the new place. Respect nature, minimize harmful impact on the environment (natural vs. synthetic materials, amount of garbage, where the garbage goes, individual car transport vs. public collective transport), have respect for the local lifestyle. Inspire yourself with the richness of culture and nature on Earth, but do not change the whole Earth in the shape of your own yard. Make friendships. Laugh and smile. Breathe deeply. Feel that you are alive. Now.
This is my encouragement for you for this new 2020 year. And also it is my personal commitment – both when I will rest myself and when I will take care of your rest while your visit in Prague. With joy, respect, smile, kindness and love for this wonderful place on our beautiful Earth. Wishing a good day and the whole year to all of us! 😊
