Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.

Original cast for Breakfast at Tiffany's was Marylin Monroe. I'm pretty sure it would have been a completely different movie. Not sure a better one.

Audrey Hepburn has always been an inspiration for me. Her timelessness, her grace, her style, her sense of humour, her vulnerability but at the same time, her wiseness always gave me confidence. Confidence to wear a little black dress, show some back and pearls and the occasional tiara. Confidence to keep it simple.

Vulnerable and sweet enough to say all those quotes about happiness, pretty girls and kisses you'll see on facebook today, wise&graceful enough to embrace her age by retiring at her best, not ending up as  botox, paralax or whatever old stars put in them to be for ever young.

Guys at Tiffany's know all this. She gracefully endorsed Tiffany's at a time where "product placement" and "brand values" weren't even invented. But Tiffany's are smart. They keep delivering that feeling, even today.
It's true. Nothing bad ever happens there. It's not about feeling like a princess, it's about feeling human, being asked silly questions without feeling questioned while delivering splendid service which makes your necklace, brought there for a fix, a valuable reminder that some stories are real and not fairytales. Great "brand" and "customer care" lesson there. 

She's a constant reminder that only with an open heart, you'll feel all those beautiful things that we all crave for. That it's all about smiling and feeling happy, a visionaire, indeed ( I'm sure Pharrell is a huge fan as well ).

So thank you Audrey for everything, cause at the end of the day we're all a sweet vulnerable bundle of neuroses. And it's ok.

Pain is necessary, suffering is optional.

When I first saw London Marathon's map, wondered how on Earth am I going to move that day, since it's basically by my house.

Woke up today knowing I'm going to see it, although I had no burning desire nor was in a very olympic mood. I needed milk.

I was sure I was going to take some pictures, instagram them, get milk and go home. Got there, found a good spot, took some pictures and it started to come to me. My spot is pretty close to the finish line. But for runners who made it this far, pretty far away. And you see it not in the first 3 hours but after 5 hours in the competition. They almost walk, but they are not stopping.

And it hit me.

Awe, because I've always admired athletes. And my, a marathon is quite a distance. I've always wondered what went throught Phidippides's brain while he did it. What really drove him. Cause back then Nike was just a goddess not something you put your feet in and go train for a marathon.

And for people who run or do any kind of sport, even for short distances, you know how hard it is to tame your brain into doing just another lap. 

And then I felt envious for every single person I saw running today. Because when they cross that line, they will feel, today, a week from now, a month from now, that they can do anything on this planet. That, through hard work, will power and discipline they can achieve anything. At a slower or faster pace. And I remembered how it felt when I did swimming competitions. There was no pleasure there. It was hard work, determination and faith that got me pass the finish line. But life was simple. Good. It had bubbly at the end of the day.

I felt envious for the smiles on their faces when they're going to finish, for their quiet sleep tonight, for the meal that's going to taste like heaven. 

And then I felt humble and inspired. So for every person, superhero and building that did the London Marathon today, I humbly thank you for reminding me that we all run. It's about deciding if we run for or from something. You've been amazing, thank you.

Title of this post taken from Haruki Murakami's book: What I talk when I talk about running.