Finally, that Monday finally dawned when the shooting was scheduled to take place. Two or three days ago, it was a matter of sleeping four hours a night, as impatience and a sweet anxiety kept me awake. I didn’t feel fear or anxiety, it was more like my energy was high. Okay, and a little stress.
Of course, this eventually made it difficult for me on the day of the shoot. My friend, Christiana, was shocked when she saw me in the morning when she came to the house to start for Theiseion, where the shooting was going to take place. Tired and very weak physically, I couldn’t stand a mishandling that was done to me while leaving the apartment building and getting into the disabled taxi, so I had a small emotional crisis, unable to stop crying! A few deep breaths later, having set off for Thiseio, after the minimal make-up that Christiana had done for me had disappeared, I calmed down. I started looking out the window of the taxi and suddenly it clicked… Everything is fine. We’ll be arriving soon, we’ll meet Rhea, Panos, oh how I want to see them. I will finally see the publishing house Sirtari, since my idea to shoot there was accepted by everyone with pleasure We will meet the kind journalist Dimitris, who I have been contacting for so many days to get the text based on his questions, there will be great shots, it’s fantastic weather and I’m out! Yes everything is fine and I’m going to have fun. For so many years I’ve been waiting for it. Or rather, I was avoiding it…
Those of you who know me or have been following my health adventure from the beginning, you must have noticed that I never let my wheelchair show in photos. Rarely and only if it could not be done otherwise. Until a few years ago I did! Never video. Only photos that will NOT show the problem. So much shame for no reason, so much insecurity and worry about how I look, what will others say, will they not like me? I’ve refused in the past to go on a show. But the time has come. Because when you learn, accept and begin to love yourself, however you are, you become free. At least to a certain extent. So, disheveled but not caring, without make-up, with my condition now obvious, with my wheelchair and the taxi with the ramp, I appeared in front of the camera. Clear. As I am right now. Lucky I’m not worse. Happy because I hope I will get better. Grateful that with this projection I can give strength and courage to others.
But also something very important, I finally had fun, I REALLY had fun. I also made a suggestion to you: for each thing you decided to do, ask yourself DURING the time, if you would choose it again…and not afterwards when we have selective amnesia. Only then do we truly know what our inner self is saying.
That moment when I felt that I was tired and thirsty, hungry, in pain, that very moment when I heard Rea and Dimitri say that I was probably tired, that it was evident in my expression, that’s when I did the internal check… Is it worth it? Would I do it again?… Of course yes. And so with a smile, we go on forever.
The tribute was aired on Zina Koutselini’s show “Zina to Vrady” on Star channel, 24 April 2024.
I thank from the bottom of my heart, Dimitris and Panagiotis and all the colleagues of the show who helped to make this presentation. Panos and his drawer, Rea, Christiana and Sorena. We had a great time! Thanks to sweet Flora for starting this and of course our Xena! Grateful for everything! 🙏❤️