Irina Ratkovskaya

Life of a fool is filled with grim and fear, because he leaves everything for tomorrow.

To live life the right way, which means to understand this mad, mad world, there are only two things you need: a sense of humour, because life is one the merriest things in the world, and SOME SORT of intellect, because if there’s nothing there, unfortunately, even the greatest sense of humour won’t help.

Life’s beautiful and amazing. Is it really worth wasting it on things we don’t enjoy? There are a few simple rules: avoid hatred, envy, and contempt, and, heeding to the wise man’s words, live for today: love as if every day was your last day, and never give in to sorrow. It might sound like a utopia, but I believe that it’s the right and fair way.

There’s nothing easier than making a woman happy, so why is it that so many women are truly unhappy? I believe that love is the cornerstone of a relationship between a man and a woman. It’s impossible to achieve happiness and harmony without it. To love and be loved — that’s what every woman strives for. Leo Tolstoy used to say: “Loving is bliss, being loved is happiness”. Offering the one you love sympathy and understanding, being a true woman, is not an easy task, it’s an art and a hard labour.

I appreciate openness and sincerity. It’s the basis of any successful relationship.

I enjoy the work that involves creativity. But to be successful in it, one has to work really hard. Like one of my teachers likes to say, “Even if you have to die by your canvas stretcher, you still must finish the work”.

I like to be surrounded by pretty things. Every little trinket, every tiny detail affects my emotional state.

Music is a very big part of my life. It fills it up and makes it brighter.

It’s nice when people have traditions: like when a family gathers together to share a big meal, when you’re surrounded by people who love you and care for you. Family is what gives Christmas and New Years, as well as all the other holidays, a whole new feeling.

Eating is an important part of our life. The food we consume reflects our lifestyle and mindset. For some people, it’s just a way of satisfying their physiological needs, but as for me, it’s a lot more than that. How we eat, when we eat, what we eat, and even where we eat — all of it is very important. The food I go for is high-quality, tasty, and quite plain.

Right now, my life is undergoing some major changes, I’m trying to finally get to accept and understand myself. I’d also like to learn to accept my loved ones the way they are, to trust people, to be open, cheerful, to dream, and not fear anything. I believe that there’s a miracle awaiting me.