There's something about Nordic nature that just calls me to come back and see it again. It's like a mighty and strong embrace, like a turbulent river washing the worries away.

The Ice Age stones, some 10 meter high. The spruce and pine trees, rough and sturdy, standing tall through all the hardships. The unmistakable rocky terrain, covered in what needs nothing but some rain and occasional sun. Life finds a way. And so do I.

Oh, and squirrels. Lots of squirrels! Their warm, fast breath as they take nuts straight from the hand, only to bury them in the soil the very next moment. Such little creatures, and yet always busy, running and jumping all around.

It was a lovely breather. Time to get back to work.

Maybe this is the wrong community for this, but to me its very positive that people can get out of depression by just moving more every day.

I know for myself it helps super much, specially lifting weights.

Today marks the first time I enter the study hall not as a student, but as a teacher.

For the coming semester, four groups of undergraduate students will learn to manage microbial cultures and to control microbial growth in foodstuffs under my watch. At the end of the course, hopefully, they can take this knowledge further to make the industry better :)

Alrightie, so here I am, going for my very own PhD! Getting here was still a lot of stress and I was looking for this moment for a while. Now, finally, it actually happens :)

Science will prevail!

I know it's February already and many of use have long-abandoned our resolutions, but researchers have identified steps to not only help you keep them going for longer, but also build more meaning into your day-to-day life. The TL;DR: > > > >

1. Look back before moving forward. Before setting goals, reflect on the previous year. Ask: > >

• what am I proud of or grateful for? > >
• what lifted my energy or sense of purpose? > >
• what drained it? > >
• what did I avoid that actually mattered? > >

2. Pick two or three areas that matter to you > >
3. Arrange your environment so the right behaviours are easy

Alright, so with a new year coming, me and my lovely girlfriend decided to go for it. We're gonna build ourselves for the summer!

We bought two full gym memberships, complete with SPA zone and stuff, and it was among the best decisions we made lately.

It's probably the first time training feels good. We often take the same items/machines, both just set them at their respective load, and we push it together! Much more motivating this way!

And after all is done, sauna is the best way to keep the muscle sore down and reward ourselves for keeping it going. This whole thing becomes enjoyable!

Took a walk in my neighborhood today. So many Christmas decorations. Everyone looking happy. It's my favorite time of the year! I even like Christmas music. :)

When I was hanging the lights on the house, my gf said that she suddenly got an idea about what gift to get for me. Which makes me worried, because she got the idea while I was hanging christmas lights?! lol

After a while of running quite dry and moving my science on sheer enthusiasm and ramen, I finally got personal research funding and a great side job.

Now I can continue doing my thing, and on the side earn enough to cover all living expenses, plus a bit extra. The path is rocky at times, but I'm grateful I struggled through and got some recognition!

Some may notice that pika@rekabu.ru has been appointed moderator of !Antisexism@lemmy.today and !positivity@lemmy.today. This is my second account.

Unfortunately, as of recently, lemmy.today isn't always properly available from my region, and I want to ensure things go smooth even if VPNs fail. Nothing else changes, both accounts belong to me. Hope for your understanding!

Where I live, today’s the first day of school for most people. That makes it the perfect time to hang out at the pool.

All the stay-at-home moms show up now that their kids are back in class. They come to relax, gossip, and soak up some sun.

The pool’s just down the street from me, so I spent the morning there, just hanging out and thinking about how good everything feels right now.

It’s a nice break from all the noise and nonsense on social media.

I’m just sitting here in the shade with a book in my lap, not even really reading it anymore.

Feeling really positive, so popping in to make a quick post on Lemmy because I just read a comment from a very negative commenter.

Right now, there’s a soft breeze and it’s one of those perfect summer days where everything just feels okay. Sun’s out but not too hot, and I’m just thinking about how lucky I am.

Not in a dramatic way, just little stuff. Being outside. Having time to breathe. Being healthy. Having good personal relationships. Lots of caring friends.

Life feels good right now, and I’m letting it sink in. More people on Lemmy should do that instead of doomscrolling all day.

I was sitting in my backyard sipping tea when this little pale grasshopper hopped onto the table beside me.

Very unusual pale color. Turns out, it had just molted. That tiny moment reminded me how much life is happening all around us if we just slow down and pay attention. It’s easy to get caught up in stress or noise, but the world keeps offering quiet reminders that change and growth are natural, even beautiful.

That grasshopper, fresh and fragile, felt like a small sign to stay open to new beginnings. Just being still for a while let me see something I would've missed. That feels like a kind of everyday magic. :)

I went to the space education center in my city today, and since it was a weekday afternoon, the place was pretty empty. Which worked out better than I expected. One of the astronauts who worked on Spacelab was there doing a talk, and with so few people around, I actually got to have a real one-on-one conversation with him. He was laid-back, sharp, and super generous with his time. We ended up walking over to the Spacelab exhibit together, and he pointed out specific gear he used during the mission, telling me little details you don’t get from the plaques.

He even signed my NASA hat. Honestly, the whole experience was better than I could’ve hoped for. Just a positive guy who clearly loves science and wants other people to get excited about it too. No ego, just good energy and a head full of stories. I’m definitely hanging onto that hat.