How to Avoid Difficulties: Another Cypriot Life Lesson

 "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare,  it is because we do not dare that things are difficult" - Seneca

Well friends, if you have been keeping up with my blog and the crew's blogs,  you've probably figured out the theme to this trip is learning about love and simplicity.  Once again, a single statement threw me for a spin. 

Monday, we went to film a confectionary, and afterward stopped by restaurant to interview the owner, Mattheous.  I had the privilege of drilling him with questions, my favorite past time.  He was talking about the measures he makes while preparing traditional Cypriot food, and I asked him a follow-up question,  what was the most difficult thing about preparing traditional food?  

The response went like this: Nothing is difficult.  I enjoy what I do, and therefore nothing is difficult. 

I've been reflecting on this "nothing is difficult" statement for a while now.   How many people would have answered that?  

One of my side projects is that I'm an amateur/struggling artist.  Hand me some colorful acrylic paint and a canvas, and I could paint all day long.   I'll easily answer as fast as a can,  the most difficult part,  I lack pure artistic talent. 

Ask my mom about my artistic escapades, they usually end in a frustrated mess.   I paint, and paint over, and paint over again usually until I ruin the canvas.  I didn't realize how many canvases I threw out, until I ventured into the garage to find my suitcase for this trip, sitting beside the suitcase was a garbage bag full of my frustrated artwork.   Believe me I've created more trash then masterpieces. 

I guess I just get caught up on creating the perfect masterpiece that I forget why I started painting in the first place, because I enjoy it.  Simple as that.  I'm pretty sure that applies to a lot of other things in life as well. 

Mattheos also revealed in his interview that his regulars nicknamed him "the smiling chef."  It goes to show that if you truly enjoy what you are doing, that it shows.   I came to Cyprus and now I'm relearning what I forgot, that love is the glue that sticks simplicity and life together.

Check these out:
These people have America's dream jobs.
Peyton Manning talks about the hardest part of being a QB
Mark Zuckerberg's advice "just do what you love"
and my favorite Lauren Conrad on pursuing her dreams.