Lenka, 22 year old Sustainable Enterprise Development student from the Czech Republic
Chapter 1. Barcelona
“Every mistake brings you good. They make you learn about your strength and value”.
Lenka was born and raised in Ostrožská Nová Ves, a village in the South East of the Czech Republic, relatively close to the frontier with Slovakia. You might be wondering: how on earth did I manage to meet her in the midst of a world pandemic? Well, Lenka met a friend of mine last year while they were both studying abroad in Sweden. My friend called me one day and told me Lenka was stopping by Barcelona on her way to move to an ecovillage in Almeria, Andalucía, to participate as an intern. “Would you like to have dinner with us?”, my friend asked. “Absolutely I would. Can I bring my camera and my notebook with me? I want to ask her some questions…”.
Talking over a vegan dinner, I discovered Lenka is such a brave and dedicated soul. She has travelled the world with no fear and met so many wonderful people on the way. Her stories are breathtaking. When we finished our conversation for my series, she pointed out she had genuinely enjoyed it. Despite not being new to the world of inner reflection, she told me it was one of the first times she had talked about such deep contemplations with someone other than herself.
How are you, really? I’m super happy. Enjoying my life. Feeling free. I think it’s all thanks to how my parents have raised me. They taught me how to always look on the bright side of things. It’s all about one’s mindset. Since I was a kid, I’ve always tried to deliberately choose to be positive. It helps a lot. I am able to travel without fear, do what I want and meet nice people.
What does being strong mean to you? It’s about being adept, emotionally and mindwise. Being able to control your feelings and your thoughts. Being able to handle any situation that comes your way. Being able to face and accept obstacles.
What are you most thankful for? Right now, at this very moment, I’m thankful for the life I have. My family, the experiences I’ve been able to live, the privileges that have been granted to me… Everything that has led me to where I am.
What are the 3 things you value most about a person? Having a positive mindset and way of thinking. Being kind. Being open-minded.
Where do you find meaning in your life? I find meaning in helping others, in making other people happy. I want to devote my life to sustainability so that I can help society as a whole. I believe that's the road to change, a change that can bring a better Planet Earth where everyone will be happy. It may sound like too big of a dream, but I want to change the world.
Fill in the blank: I feel loved when ______. When other people show their love in a physical way. Warm hugs, affectionate kisses, petting in general. I love it. I think it’s harder to feel loved simply with words. You feel love by touch.
Has a stranger ever changed your life? I have a lot of encounters like that because I travel so much. The typical situation where you’re on a bus for hours and start talking to random people. I met so many exceptional individuals while travelling Latin America, for example. One person that comes to mind is this guy I met going from Panama to Columbia. By just talking for hours on a boat, I decided to stay with him for a few days and ended up living in a Tribe he had planned to visit. Meeting distinct people makes you discover new perspectives on life. Strangers have told me so much about the world that was unknown to me before. I would add that travelling alone as I do, helps a lot because you care less about where you’re going and you’re more open. It’s freeing.
Where do you go when everything is falling apart? I lay in my bed, where I find my safe space. I also tend to lay in nature. I’m a mountain person and connecting with nature helps me be at peace with myself.
What is your biggest fear? Pain. I’m afraid of anything that can bring me physical pain. Just like needles. Other than that, I think I’m pretty bold and adventurous. Being around the world has taught me things turn out ok in the end, so worrying is just a waste of time. I think a pretty courageous and daring thing I did is to shave my head completely while I was in Uganda. It took guts.
Proceed to the next character in Chapter 1
