"Courage is when we are afraid, but we go anyway". Unknown author

“I am myself and proud, I live my life and make my own decisions accordingly, without worrying about what people can think. Yet this does not mean that critics do not affect me, I am human like everyone else. We learn to accept, to listen to them when the remarks are constructive and to let them go when they are unpleasant. Of course, some people do not understand what I did, especially those who only read the articles in newspapers or online. When you meet me, many more things make sense, my personality and my smile can lift mountains, and convince the most refractory person.
 
I was pleasantly surprised by men’s reaction, many confessed to me that they would never have had this courage in the same situation. I was expecting them to take me for a capricious madwoman who just wanted to wear a wedding dress. In fact, they identified themselves with my drama, whereas no one could foresee that. We talk about wedding here and in its wildest version! They were very appreciative and respectful. And while I would have thought of repelling men by telling them about my marriage, the opposite has happened. They recognised themselves in my pain, everyone had a broken heart once in their life, and some have already gone through difficult separations or divorces. They asked me a lot of questions about me, how I coped to keep a strong mindset and positive energy, if I had anger and especially how I have managed to be happy after.
 
I confess I have often thought that men were recovering from a breakup with difficulty. Man or woman, we forget too often, that regardless of our gender, we feel the same way when someone breaks our heart.” L.

“I have surpassed fears that many would like to overcome. Especially, I have shown the way. It cannot be so scary now; I hope others will follow my example to keep on hoping and being happy. I do not necessarily mean a solo wedding, everyone can create their own beneficial event, something that speaks to them and has a symbolic meaning. The respect I have for myself has determined my courage many times in my life. To love, respect, listen, accept who you are and pursue your dreams is for me the combination of courage. I did something extraordinary in an ordinary world to cope with a universal drama. All this in a magical place.” L.

"Step outside of the box and you’ll find love, hope, wisdom and happiness ..." L.

“If people are suffering, then they must look within themselves…
Happiness is not something ready-made [Buddha] can give to you.
It comes from your own actions.”
-The Dalai Lama

“Be a lamp for yourself. Be your own confidence.
Hold on to the truth within yourself, as the only truth.”
-Buddha

“Go where you feel the most alive.” Unknown author
 
I could not leave this paradise, my paradise. I had not planned anything, honestly after a breakup so painful, I needed to rebuild myself and to reconnect with myself. I had enough savings not to work for a while, so I made the decision to do nothing for a year and just go with the flow. Going where I wanted at the time or staying where I felt good.
 
I needed new memories, the kind that we do not need to forget because a certain person cowardly abandoned us. During weeks, I spent time discovering, taking pictures, eating and sleeping. Sleeping, it had happened so little during the past three months, tormented, tortured, quartered, bruised in my flesh and in my heart. Finally, a moment of tranquillity, a haven of peace, no longer thinking, no longer questioning, just breathing, living. This was in June that I have started writing. A long period of introspection then began, to learn to know myself better in order to heal and make a fresh start. To see life in colour again with this fascinating and hypnotising blue. I planned to stay a week, I stayed for five months and I have never stopped going back. So yes, I could say that it was my honeymoon.  L.
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"The future can awaken in a more beautiful way than the past." George Sand

"Having a purpose is fundamental after a breakup, especially do not give yourself time to feel sorry for yourself, it does not prevent pain or tears, but it helps not to collapse. Some people take refuge in work, I preferred to focus on myself only. My personal life had just crumbled, I had decided to devote fully to myself for the rest of the year. I was going to put my energy to the benefit of my quest for happiness, all those things that I wanted to accomplish and that I kept postponing. Taking time for me, thinking about what I really expected from life, what would make me happy again, the things I was dreaming of, but also what I would like to do in the near future and more distant, either personally or professionally. Above all, listening to my heart and asking what it wanted, taking the time for my feelings, letting my emotions express themselves." L.

"Believe in your dreams and they may come true. Believe in yourself and they will surely come true. "
Martin Luther King

When I finally passed the ceremonial table to stand behind, I noticed my ring. It was arranged on a small marble tile with the effigy of Santorini, and a wreath of bay leaves drawn on it. I had found it a few days before, in a small souvenir shop in Pyrgos. We went to visit this small traditional village on the heights of Santorini, with my sister and her fiancé. I fell in love with the place, its ruined old castle at the top of the hill, its ramparts, its 48 churches ... A peaceful and mystical atmosphere. This magic that I cannot explain but that enchants the whole island.