Obscure Journey

Money can't buy happiness ...

Publié le 1 Septembre 2023 par Charly C.

Catégories : #beliefs, #challenge, #controversy, #happiness

... or can it?

They say that "money can't buy happiness."

This sentence makes me hysterically laugh for days. You may be wondering why. Well, let's see some examples.

Proof #1: Actual happiness

I found this charming pendant in a downtown tea shop. It's pretty easy to read "serotonin" on it, along with the discounted price. Was it a pendant or earrings? I forgot, but it was made of silver. The bottle was small and i really liked how it was sold.

In this example, one can literally see how they can buy actual happiness.

I would rest my case here, but this is somewhat of a silly entry and i have a few more examples.

Proof #2: Hobbies

Here i inserted 2 pictures because there are almost countless types or forms of hobbies. But look at the doll and see just how happy she is and it's infectious. Every time i see this doll, i start smiling like a fool. She was expensive too.

Now, if i didn't have the money to buy her, then i would be less cheerful or even happy.

Let's have a look at the second image here. It's an incomplete collection of a Japanese comic (=manga) by the name of "Inuyasha." I own many similar collections, some complete and some incomplete. It's probably been like 15 years or so since i bought them.

Of course i didn't buy them all at once, but whenever i had enough money, i's buy maybe 2 to 4 at once. I had to cancel some orders at times. But my point still stands: without money, i wouldn't have the collection i now have. And it does bring joy.

The same can be applied to any other hobby: sewing, cosplaying, cooking, stamp collecting, woodworking, and whatever is out there.

Proof #3: Health and other stuff needed to stay alive

I hope i don't need to explain the above picture.

In the first pic, i was waiting for an IV in the ER. Here, going to the ER is free of charge, but this isn't the case for all countries: I'm especially looking at you, USA. And you can go to the ER for almost any medical emergency, regardless of the investigation or treatment we receive.

Yet, we have to pay for anything health-related that is not an emergency. Even these can be free of charge if you're employed: health insurance is dependent of your employment status. Of course, you can pay for your health insurance out of pocket to the state or to a private insurance company. Even with insurance, some investigations are not free of charge. Some examples include the ATPO blood test, an EEG, most surgeries, and going to the dentist.

The ATPO costs about 10 euros, the EEG costs about 100 to 150 euros, and the price for any dentist visit depends on what you need. If you go to the dentistry school, you can have various treatments done for free, but you'll have to pay for the materials used, such as the stuff used for fillings.

What we can understand is that without money, it is quite difficult to properly take care of your health. But having the money to pay for your medical bills, life is easier and less stressful. This adds to a person's happiness.

Now, food. Sweets are not essential for survival, but most of the savory foods are. Simply put, we die without food. However, if you don't grow your own food, you'll need a lot of money for a week's grocery shopping trip. And even if you grow your food, you will need money for the tools or substances you need to use. And even after paying for these agricultural helping items, you'll know if you grow everything you need to cook or not. Let's take black pepper, sugar (of any kind), pans, pots, cooking and eating with utensils, glasses, and cups, all require you having to buy. Of course, depending on what you need, you may have to pay just once, and you'll use them for years.

Depending on the item you need, your bill will need a different amount of money. Without money, it will be difficult to buy any of the items mentioned earlier.

Other stuff that requires you to be "loaded" are: a place to live in, clothes, maybe a car (that will add other costs) or some sort of transportation, clean running water, cleaning supplies, and possibly electricity. Without the right amount of money, it will be difficult to maintain any of these things, especially if you consider using them for years to come.

This is it for now, i think. If i come up with more examples, I'll have to write another entry.

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stop buzzing and insomnia

Publié le 21 Septembre 2026 par Charly C.

almost 6 am, awake from 5. terrible headache because i couldn't sleep.

i realize i should write this in my journal, but i can't start looking for it atm.

These mosquitoes are annoying. i understand they need our blood to survive, but WHY do they need to buzz in our ears as well?

why don't they just take what they need and be done with it?! It could be the price they pay since the buzz can alert the victim, and they could die..

why did my partner let that stupid show play..... aaaaaah i wanna sleep some moreeee...

i think my sleep issue comes from a strange fear of losing control. this only makes sense.

i hope you're doing well. see you sometime.

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Visiting Nice and Monaco

Publié le 9 Octobre 2025 par Charly C.

Catégories : #adventures, #art, #cultural shock, #hacks, #life experience, #memories, #sightseeing, #tourist, #vacation

Hi. Long time no see.

back in January/February, we visited Nice in Southern France for a few days. We also went to Monaco for a few hours. I’ll write a bit about Monaco as well.

in Nice, we stayed at a nice hotel, with breakfast included. The offered food was all you can eat type of thing.. The best part was that we could drink coffee or tea all day long.

One of the best things to do in Nice is to go visit the Asian History Museum. I don't remember which statue was who; however, the images below will give you a feel for this museum. I think you need to be there in person so see the statues along with other display items because my pictures don't do them justice.

Monaco is indeed what you see in pictures: it’s insane.

All beautiful cars, some in crazy and powerful colors. It is a relatively quiet city, and crossing the border between France and the Principality of Monaco is no big deal. No authority stopped the bus to check passports or anything.

The marina is indeed a sight to behold. However, we had fun watching the seagulls trying to steal food and personal belongings from the people there. They were also walking around as if they owned the place.

It was such a sunny and warm day when we visited; we both didn't want to come to our home country. I mean this feeling came from how architecturally nice both Nice (pun intended) and Monaco are, and from how polite everyone is.

I should tell you that you have to be really careful about loitering. Monaco is a clean city, and I don't remember seeing any trash bins for people to use.

Whatever I wore that day, compared to "locals" and the environment itself, made me feel like a peasant. i felt as if I didn't belong there, despite thinking i could easily mingle with high society if i had the chance. I don't even remember seeing fat or overweight people there. This should also be a warning for those with a low self-esteem.

I hope this little entry got you curious enough to make you want to visit both cities. During the winter, the accommodation is cheaper in Nice. You can also seek accommodation in Italy, but first look up how easy is it to go to Monaco and eventually Nice.

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Laying on a bench

Publié le 23 Décembre 2024 par Charly C.

A blanket of green and yellow on too

From the fields, crows fly home

Their lovely cries fill the air

Late October but the weather is pleasant

Humans in a hurry to go home as well

Either driving or walking

No time for nature

No time for regrets

(c) late October 2024 - for the poem

Charly C.

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Limits and Boundaries

Publié le 15 Septembre 2023 par Charly C.

Hi all!
Anna and I just had a conversation that led to limits and boundaries. I think i wrote about this topic before. If i did and i find it, i'll link it here - so, if you see no link it means i didn't write, i didn't look for it, or i didn't find it.

So, limits and boundaries.

We ALL need to have them. With EVERYONE! And, yes this means all the members of the family, all the friends, and especially co-workers and even bosses.

However, limits and boundaries are not completely the same things. they differ a little bit and i'll try to explain them separately in a single blog entry! I'm not sure, but it could turn into a short novel, so grab some water, though you can always stop reading, of course.

Limits

what i understand by limits is like a line or border [between countries] over which we can't cross either with our actions, thoughts, trust, or other similar stuff.

Most of us learn as we grow and mature. In most cases, they're taught and drilled into us by our elders.

For instance, we're told how we act around other children, dogs, and property of others. We're supposed to ask for permission before interacting with others and their property. We're also taught that certain actions have severe consequences, such as lying, stealing, killing, bullying, and so on.

Most of us are being told all the things we're not supposed to do are limits, but there's more to limits than this. There are some limitations as far as our physical well-being is involved.

For instance, some of us could suffer from a serious health condition that prevents us from performing certain actions. Some folks are able to overcome their health-related conditions and learn how to complete tasks within their limits.

These kinf people have a great deal of opportunity of becoming an influencer and motivator for others that suffer from the sme conditions.

Boundaries

In my book, boundaries are other lines that represent how you allow others to treat you.

For instance, these are stuff such as:

allowing others to use you as their personal credit card =you always when going out
not reacting or being ok when others insult you or strangers for whatever reasons
hitting or slapping you
bullying others
torturing animals
allowing others to call or message you at any given hour
having to explain every single move you made and why you can't reply the second you hear the phone

The list can go on.

While the limits are usually well set, the same can't be said about boundaries. This doesn't mean we don't have boundaries at all: we all do. They just work differently with different people we meet.

Those who come in our lives and we get along with well, will not cross the boundaries. Then others, come in our lives with just a goal in mind: see how much they can use us and for how long can we take it.

The problem is due to their ability to blend in like a chameleon and make us believe good things abut them, until it' too late.

Do you want to buy me a coffee? this is a 1-time donation, thank you very much!

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thoughts and gratitudes: 2 days in 1 entry

Publié le 12 Septembre 2023 par Charly C.

Catégories : #health, #mental health, #life

Hi guys!

This is another entry where i combine 2 days into a single entry. Where do these days come from, you ask? from my diaries, of course.

One is dedicated to gratitudes and the other to my feelings or mental health-related stuff.

if you also wonder why didn't i write here directly, it's because it's easier for me to write by hand and i was feeling very shitty because our beloved cat left us too soon. shitty is actually a huge understatement: i was devastated.

well, anyways, let's move on to the day's entry.

dilapidated building, architecture, urban, building — a dilapidated building

september 9th

1. HAPPY I DRANK A HOT CHOCOLATE AFTER A FEW DAYS OF NO CAFFEINE. yeah, guess what? due to the treatment I'm under, i can't have caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. You can also add sweets to the list.

Of course, i can't stay away from these "demons."

2. HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE POOL THIS WEEK. what can i say? it's relaxing to go to the pool.

3. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY I MANAGED TO MAKE THE CHARGER OF THE COMPUTER TO WORK AGAIN AFTER THE ANIMALS MESSED WITH IT YESTERDAY. luckily, they were fine, I'm not sure what they did, but the charger refused to charge the computer, but i fixed it quite fast.

a) GRATEFUL TO WAKE UP FOR ANOTHER DAY. We really can't take for granted the days we were given for we never know when they run out.

b) GRATEFUL MY HEALTH IS NOT CAUSING ME PROBLEMS TODAY.

again, most of us take our health for granted. we simply have to be happy with the health we do have and try and do the best we can if we suffer from any illness, seen or not, diagnosed or not.

c) GRATEFUL I'M ABLE TO SHARE EVERYTHING WITH ANNA FOR ANOTHER DAY. <3 :) i don't think i have to repeat myself. go read point "a)" again.

september 12th

yesterday i had a bad panic attack/PTSD episode. We took one of the cats for his first vaccine. Of course, he started crying on the way there. This reminded me of the day we lost our 2nd oldest cat.

That day, he couldn't breathe well, so i rushed him to the vet, hoping they could do something for him. But he was crying sadly, begging me to take him back home.

1. Happy and grateful that we had Mickey in our lives for almost 12 years.

2. Happy and grateful that we managed to rescue so many cats off the streets

3. Happy and grateful that we stuck together through better or worse.

Charly C.

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Gratitutes for 2 days in 1 entry

Publié le 6 Septembre 2023 par Charly C.

Catégories : #happiness, #thoughts, #life, #life experience, #dogs, #health

So this entry has to be a bit longer, than what i wrote in this diary, so 2 entries are coming your way.

my blog my rules, so ... i don't know what to tell ya.

august 25th

1. GRATEFUL I HAD ENOUGH ENERGY TO CLEAN THE FLOORS YESTERDAY.

i had a period when i was feeling very tired. maybe it was the depression controlling me.

2. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY I HAD THE INSPIRATION TO PAINT OVER A LARGE PRINT.

- sidenote: i found these 2 large prints from IKEA. I like one of them more than the other. i decided to turn the one i liked less into an actual painting, by painting over it.

of course, this wasn't done in one evening, but still. I used mixed media to cover the original image. this is an attempt for me to curb my controlling tendencies. long story that i don't think I'll talk about.

the painting is not finished yet, as i type this (feb. 14th, 2024) ... and yes, i can post in the past. yay, internet.

3. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY I FINISHED THE TASK EARLIER THAN I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

september 4th

1. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY WITH (BECAUSE OF) THE YELLOW SKIRT WE GOT ON SATURDAY.

that day we went out to check out some second hand stores. i forgot what exactly what else we found, but that skirt is really pretty and spring-like. i don't think it still fits me because i gained some weight. maybe I'll lose the extra kgs until the time comes for the skirt time.

2. GRATEFUL ANNA TOOK THE DOGS OUT THIS MORNING.

i suppose i was really tired that day. it is helpful to sleep for longer at times.

3. GRATEFUL WE GOT A NEW TASK A FEW DAYS AGO.

this needs no more explanation.

icecream, chimney cake, dessert, — july 2022

A\ happy we went to the pool twice last week.

B\ happy i found some paper, net, and a traditional bowl. it's very cheerful and beautiful.

as you can see, the entries are posted in between the 2 days of gratitudes. this seems better for me than posting for one day or the other.

the ice cream has nothing to do with going to the pool. unfortunately. it's just a dessert we had back in july 2022. I suddenly remember that the place selling this dessert didn't have anything to carry them home. the day was very hot and they were melting quite fast, and we were FAR from home.

i had to go to a different ice cream place and demand for a container. oh, the drama i had there until the manager decided to take the money i was offering for the container. I was pretty upset and worked up over these incidents. almost 2 years later and this doesn't matter anymore. funny how life is.

but seriously, if someone offers you money, as a store, you take it: it's in your best interest.

Do you want to buy me a coffee? this is a 1-time donation, thank you very much!

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Another grateful day

Publié le 20 Août 2023 par Charly C.

Catégories : #life, #life experience, #happiness, #freelancing

Hi. These are blog entries that i wrote in some agenda. In an attempt at decluttering, i will digitize whatever i can, so here we go.

1. GRATEFUL AND HAPPY i FOUND A SACK FILLED WITH SHEETS, AND MOST OF THEM ARE IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION - don't get me started with consumerism, shopping, etc.

2. GRATEFUL WE CAN WORK FROM HOME - this one will forever stand.

3. GRATEFUL WE HAVE A PLACE WE CAN CALL "HOME" FROM WHICH WE CAN WORK. ;P

A. happy with the two small cacti we bought. - i managed to kill one by drowning it. the other survives. I don't have a picture of the cactus, so i used an image of yellow tulips in a vase.

The vase is there, i promise.

Do you want to buy me a coffee? this is a 1-time donation, thank you very much!

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august 17th - positivity

Publié le 17 Août 2023 par Charly C.

Catégories : #about life, #advice, #beliefs, #depression, #dreams, #happiness, #helpful, #learning, #life, #lifestyle, #mental health, #self-love, #thoughts, #updates

I started writing such small lists down to remind me and to pull me out of the misery i was in after losing Mickey. We still strongly miss him.