I was named Sylvia after my mom's favorite French singer Sylvie Vartan. That, I guess, explains my love for music and the fact that as a little girl, I wanted to become a backup singer. I used to imagine myself on a stage in a row with other backup vocals making synchronized movements behind a microphone; my voice would blend with those of The Beatles, Phil Collins, Chicago, and Toto...
I was born and raised in Bulgaria, but then my family moved to Canada and I call Toronto home (where I live with my thoughtful man, smart teenage son, and the most mischievous chocolate lab, Charlie).
Now, somehow, I have found myself dwelling between Europe and North America since almost every summer I travel to Sofia, my most sentimental place in the world with occasional stops in other beloved European cities.
A teacher, a lover of the written word, an amateur photographer, a learner, a creator, a traveler, a dreamer, an optimist, a human rights advocate, an introvert, a collector of
books,
vintages,
aromas,
concerts,
cities,
scarfs,
flavors,
nature scenes,
concepts,
caring gestures,
I am eclectic in my interests. Having studied Social Education and two semesters of Journalism at University, I gained a Master's degree in Education and developed a profound interest in philosophy, literature and arts.
My blog was born out of a desire to simplify my life, to learn to live in the present moment with an open, free of judgments and expectations mind and to find a way to balance the fast rhythm of my life with my creative and spiritual needs. Some might call this a creative outlet; I call it My Book of Simple Pleasures. Here you would not find literary achievements or exceptional world-changing photography, rather than humble ideas, unpretentious images and little everyday joys that nurture my soul and make me happy.
While I record and share my thoughts and experiences on the blog, I, now, know in a way I never quite understood before-the essential skills and knowledge I need in life is the ability to notice, treasure and appreciate the richness and texture of all those ordinary moments in my perfectly simple life.
What is on my Bucket List?!
To teach in Africa one day ...
