LITTLE MERCHE
Carmen - Glotton - Paso fino - Abrasax
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Reading stories to children can show them far-flung places, extraordinary people and eye-opening situations to expand and enrich their world. It can also be a great way to help them deal with real life situations that they need help to deal with.
STORIES ALLOW US TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS
When we share our memories we build better relationships. When people connect on an emotional level, it overcomes even the most far-ranging differences between them. After all, emotions are the same no matter who you are or where you live.
Research has shown that stories change our brains and lead to greater production of oxytocin, which makes us feel more empathy for each other.
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WE LEARN BETTER THROUGH STORIES
Telling stories instill a love of language in children and motivates them to read. Whether we are engaging with strangers, our children, or other family members and friends, stories help us gain a deeper understanding of each other and remember things more clearly. From folktales children develop an understanding of other people, places, cultures and learn to appreciate diversity. The most important of all, storytelling is fun!
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WRITING STORIES CAN BE LIFE-AFFIRMING
Learning the skill of life storytelling will help you become more confortable in your own life, improving your outlook, and ultimate impact the lives of these around you. Capturing our life, one story at a time offers us a fresh perspective on things. Writing our memories strengthens our level of self-awareness and allows us to know ourselves better. While stories are often most associated with children, life storytelling is a skill that can bring tremendous benefits for individuals in any ages group at any part of their lives.
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STORIES BRIDGE GENERATIONS
We may not be fortunate enough to get to know our great-grandparents or even our grandparents and ancestors, but we may have heard stories about them. Children who hear stories from their families can put together more details-rich and complete narratives later in their lives, giving them more control, self-esteem, better behavior, the ability to overcome challenges and their well-being.
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STORYTelling
JOY
MY STORY
Little Merche - Carmen - Glotton - Paso fino - Abrasax
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Carmen and Little Merche are living in Oxford after travelling around the world. They want to set up in a beautiful place. They love to live in Oxford because Oxford is a magical city with an amazing history.
Carmen likes small and historical cities because she grew up in a beautiful city in the South of Spain called Granada. Granada has “Duende” and Oxford is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Carmen
and Little Merche are making good friends who want to know about their lives. They also know that a dragon called Abrasax is in the city and everyone is scared about him. Paso Fino, Glotton, and Mini are remarkably interesting about hearing adventures from Carmen and Little Merche.
Grotton said to Little Merche, -Why are you always happy and so confident?
Little Merche, - I have been always listening to my mother the same:
Do whatever makes you happy in life. Believe in yourself! We all have choices.
There is always a new beginning.
Be happy and make your life count!
This is what have been telling my mother since I was a little baby and it makes a big difference in my life...
Carmen said, -My journey, like most, has not been easy. Does anyone have an easy journey?
Although for years I have dedicated myself professionally to a very different sector from this one, there has always been a desire and a real interest in discovering what would fulfil me and what I would really like to dedicate myself to. After having my little Merche I am so happy and dedicated to
her. I want to give her love and security for her to achieve whatever she wants in life. She is my biggest rewarding in life.
I started my journey studying and working when I was very young because I had to support my family;
I am one of more than seven children. However, my intention has always been to help people and to know more about the nature of human beings, why we are here and what makes us feel fulfilled.
Is it possible to have a full life? Why do so many people live a life that they do not want? Why do people work in something that they do not like at all? asked Glotton.
Carmen said.- That is why at the age of 32 and just after my mother died at the age of 58 with Alzheimer's, I decided to study while working. When I finished my training as a teacher, I had not found any answers. I probably did not know how to find what I really want in life, and maybe it was not the right time either. That is why I moved from my country, Spain, to change my life and the life of my little Merche. We are learning a new language and thus be able to change our reality and life for the better. Now we live in Oxford, a wonderful city that invites us to dream.
Little Merche said.- My mother has been working so hard to raise me. She is an inspiration to me. We have beautiful experiences. Many tell us more about you please.
Thanks my lovely Little Merche, you will be always my little Merche, I love you, said, Carmen. Yes, this is my story... Alongside my work, sometimes three different jobs, I continued to undertake courses that would bring me closer to my great quest: I took many courses on education, Yoga, conscious breathing, relaxation, emotional management, meditation, digital entrepreneurship, marketing, Reiki, Tapping and Mindfulness. We need many skills to cope with life and learning how to understand the world.
In short, a whole path of search and personal growth enriches me enormously every day of my life. Education has been for me the engine of this change. Until one day it "clicked" and I realized that all along the way... I was looking for myself! It really is a transformative thing – I call it, "Mental Reprogramming" – to get away from everything that hurts me and start flying and looking for my path.
Education has made me free! Learning to know me, who I am, what my purpose is, to take care of myself, to love myself, to prioritize how to use my time and with whom, to value myself, to respect myself to unfold as an individual walking towards fulfilment. From my point of view, it is the key to living a life full of meaning.
Passo Fino was listening to Carmen carefully and he said,- yes, how important is in life to know ourselves, to believe in ourselves and to have a purpose in life. How you can get something if you are not sure about what you want.
Carmen added,- Yes, I totally agree with you Passo Fino, this is my experience, I am not speaking about people experiences, it is my reality. Once I have found meaning in my life and have changed the patterns that were given to me by my family, educational system and society itself, I have begun to create projects, to not conform, to look for a purpose in life, in which to serve people, and to create a better world. This is now my priority! That is why I have created a project called "Believe In You" which encompasses the Believe In You Charity and Flamenco Joy. Flamenco Joy will have other pages to support the Believe in You project called Spanish Joy, Homes and Garden Joy, Feel Joy and Fashion Joy where my Little Merche and I will create and promote products to support our project and to improve the quality of lives of vulnerable children and communities.
What is the "Believe In You” Project? asked Glotton?
Little Merche said,- It is a life commitment, it is our passion and what motivates my mother and to continue fighting and growing at all levels, it is the heritage and imprint of my passage through the earth and what we want to leave for future generations.
Glotton said,- Commitment, I only can commit with chocolate, I love chocolate! hahaha, I don't know how you want to help people, I can not help myself, so it is not possible for me to help others.
Yes, you are right, told Passo Fino! But, how do you want to achieve your Believe in You Project?
Little Merche said,- We want to create a charity, it will be called "Believe In You Charity. This charity aims to create programs to support children around the world with their education working with children, teachers, parents, organisations and the whole community. Flamenco Joy is a project that has been created to support this life project and its main objective is to create a better world by focusing on emotional well-being through art, dance, music and creativity. It is amazing what people can achieve if they believe in themselves. That is the reason to call the project "Believe In You"
How did it come about? asked Passo Fino?
Carmen said,- It arises from the heart as a need to have a fuller life and to do a bit to create a better world by helping children with their education. I could not get an education when I was little. Then when I start travelling I discovered how important is to get an education and be rich in experiences in order to solve real problems in life. This is because I am doing my best to educate my Little Merche and to support other children and communities. Now I am not alone, Little Merche is working hard with me
with the same purpose, and if one day I am not alive, she will continue doing good in this world.
I am so happy about it, I feel blessed and grateful every day for everything that I have.
Why you could not get an education? asked Glotton? Everyone has an education nowadays... For me I do not care, I do not like to make a big effort, as I told you, only when I am, eating chocolate hahaha!
-I could not get an education when I finished primary school because no everybody has the same opportunities in life. Said Carmen.
Paso Fino added,- Children are more than twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty, with nearly 385 million children worldwide experiencing that condition, according to analysis from the world, of course, no everyone has the same opportunities. It happens everywhere, not only in developing countries.
Little Merche said,- I am so happy and proud of my mother and the values she has given me and I think that today many skills are needed. Continuous and meaningful lifelong learning lets us face the challenges and challenges that may come our way, in a life full of uncertainties and constant changes.
Millions of children today do not receive any education or do not continue to learn after finishing their primary education, leaving them helpless and unprepared to understand the world and participate in it in an active and responsible way. It is so sad, how can we happy if a child is suffering?
Passo fino asked Carmen,- What is the purpose of the Believe In You Project?
Carmen said,- To create educational opportunities for children to be happy and enjoy fully basic human rights: every child in the world has the right to be happy, to feel loved and safe, to have a family, and to be educated. We also work with older people because they are a risk group and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) they are the most affected group. For us, it is very important to work with communities. Everyone needs to work together in the same direction if we want to live in a better
place.
When was the project created? asked Glotton to Carmen.
We created the project in 2018 after making an important decision in our life. I said to myself, "I have not found true love in a man and father for my Little Merche, but that will not stop me from being happy and helping other children and adults to be happy”. Creating a better world is my goal where people are happier. In addition, this project gives me a life full of experiences and friendships, and that is the only thing I want to take with me. I am proud of my Little Merche who always supports me and is also committed to this mission.
Mommy tells them where the project was created and where will I carry it out? ? Said Little Merche.
- I believe this project has been on my mind since I was born. However, it is just now, living in Oxford that can feel I can dream bigger and achieve everything that I say. It was on my mind like a dream, but now it is a reality.
Little Merche said very excitedly about it,- Yes, we have already travelled to Uganda (Africa) and New Delhi (India). The project has been created by playful, creative, spontaneous and travelling Flamenca Girls, so these travelling Flamenca Girls plan to travel to many other countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Bali and Pakistan and wherever there are children and people who need help.
Wow! This is amazing, I want to travel as well. But there is chocolate in all these countries? said Glotton.
Carmen told Glotton,- I am sure you have chocolate there, but I was not ravelling with this purpose.
To conclude, I want to share with you this reflection, "Living a full life does not mean that everything goes well for you in all areas of your life, much less that you become a perfect person with a perfect life, but that while you live and go on growing through the experiences, you are discovering yourself.
It is important that you do not give up on yourself and if you do? – come back, we are all in constant inner growth even though we realize it" Live your life fully and believe in yourself!
Passo Fino was so excited listening to Carmen and Little Merche and told them,- I want to be part of your charity, your adventures and I am committed to travel with you and to do good in this world.
Little Merche said,- And if one day you are ready, encourage yourself to serve others, start helping by doing small things with the people around you. And if you are a passionate travelling soul, and you
want to start flying and making your life count. I encourage you to climb into my passionate world and fill your life with adventures and misadventures. Do something meaningful in this life that you can be proud of, for yourself, and for the world.
Yes, I will, I am committed, said Paso Fino.
Glotton said,- I am not sure about it, if i do not have chocolate, possibly I will not even think about helping people around...
Carmen told them,- You do not worry, but I invite you to embark on a journey of self-knowledge and personal empowerment by becoming more aware of who you are, where you are, and where you want to go, to change your lifestyle if it is not the healthiest. Learn something new every day, dance flamenco or other rhythms of the world with me to stay healthy, do sports, paint, sing, create things and learn a new language. Little Merche and I invite you to learn Spanish with us, follow us on our journey, and support us by buying sustainable products in our online stores that will help you to have a healthier life, grow and evolve while helping other people.
Merche was so excited about it and added,- Together we can create a chain of solidarity and thus create a better world. Supporting a good cause, focusing on the common emotional well-being, creating a new and more sustainable economic system, taking care of the environment, and supporting "Education for all children in the world". This sounds great! Join us!
Thank you very much from the heart Carmen and Little Merche, said Passo Fino and Glotton, we want to hear more stories about you, your project and the Believe In You Charity.
You will hear about us, said Carmen and little Merche. We will achieve everything that we say. The story just has started.
Lots of Love,
Carmen & Little Merche.