A note to my younger self.

Dear Kat,

I know you're often anxious and sometimes you're rather list and unsure where your life will take you. I've been there and I felt it. Contrary to what most people try to force onto you, it's ok to be anxious- this is one of the most important things I've learnt so far. You can be scared, crawl under your duvet and cry. Even you need it sometimes, strong as you are. Because you are exceptionally strong and this strength you can find within you.

Don't feel like you need to be perfect at everything or anything for that matter. It's like with your snagle-tooth: it doesn't look perfect at all and yet people are somewhat attracted by it. Perfect doesn't make happy and happiness is something you should be after now. Be happy, Kat. Do whatever makes you smile, because in this short life these will be moments that count. You don't need to worry about the others so much, they'll look after themselves well enough. Find your own path. Don't listen to others' advice, because nobody knows what the hell they're doing, so they cannot lead you in life. But you'll know where to go, just listen to your gut.

And love. Love passionately and till the end as you do. Despite the unpredictability and unsystematic nature of its reward, love is one of a few truly worthwhile things. Love as if there's no tomorrow, give all of yourself. Don't be scared that you get hurt. In all likelihood you will, but pain won't last forever and through relationships you'll learn to be a better person.

Happy birthday Kat. Remember you're blessed.

Your older self.

Quality Relationship.

I feel extremely blessed by my family. Mum and Dad are loving an caring and I have to say that I'm quite content with the quality of our relationship at this stage.

It hasn't always been like that. Never ever has it crossed my mind that my parents didn't love me: I always had their support and they provided me with everything I wanted and needed. But it wasn't a sort of a relationship that you see between Lorelai and Rory in Gilmore Girls. I wouldn't talk to my mum about my first primary school love (or indeed, the second or third, or any of the following) and my dad wouldn't play football with me (partly because neither of us was really a fan of this sport). I remember feeling as if I was missing out on something important in my life, especially seeing for example my best friend having a very close relationship with her mum.

It was only when I hit my twenties when this relationship with my parents evolved into something more like a partnership. I do enjoy my time with them much more than ever before. We talk, we laugh, we drink together - it's like what I wanted so badly when I was younger, just different and thanks to that much better than what I imagined.

Maybe I am still rather reluctant to talk with my mum about my love life. And it's now physically difficult for my dad to play football with me. But instead we are doing so much together. We go to concerts, to the theatre, dad helps me to improve my driving skills and mum is exceptionally helpful when it comes to making impossible appointments.

Although there's still the same big age gap between us, it seems like me being an adult has helped to bridge it. As did me moving to the UK. We're apart for the most part of the year, so we value the time we have together even more. And this, in turn, improves our relationship.

Gilmore Girls dream came true. But in a much better form.

When humanity fails.

What's happening at the moment in Italy, Greece, Hungary and other European countries makes me feel deeply sad. One would have thought that in the 21st century people shouldn't die in trucks or drown trying to cross the Mediterranean. But they do and every day more and more people die en route to the EU. Only today have I seen this heartbreaking picture of a lifeless body of a three year old boy washed ashore.

It make me angry that politicians don't want to take any responsibility for what is happening. Some talks will be held in October, but this is too late, for month no one has dared to suggest a viable solution. In Poland people keep saying that we will be flooded with Muslims who will turn Europe into a Caliphate. As if they couldn't see a human being in those who risk their lives to seek a better life. Politicians are arguing that we cannot receive a mere 2600 refugees out of 350,000 that have reached Europe recently. Paranoia. Of course, I'm fully aware that some of the migrants are not refugees: they're not escaping persecution of any kind but are after better economic condition. But we shouldn't put everyone into the same box. I visited a refugee facility near Warsaw and it wasn't the happiest place I've seen. You wouldn't leave your home and your family for such a place if you had a choice.

The only positive thing that I've seen on tv was a girl in Budapest who comes to the train station every day to entertain children who are waiting there with their parents: she plays with them, gives them colouring books etc. And this is beautiful, one human being reaching out to another human being. Maybe there is still some hope in humanity?