My Diary – Leonardo Cardillo

Recommended YouTube video: The power of believing that you can improve – TED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0mgOOSpLU

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1. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
   Nelson Mandela
   Born: 18 July 1918, South Africa
   Died: 5 December 2013
   Main role: Anti-apartheid leader and president
   Cause of death / Health: Complications from a long lung (respiratory) infection
2. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
   Martin Luther King Jr.
   Born: 15 January 1929, United States
   Died: 4 April 1968
   Main role: Civil rights leader and pastor
   Cause of death / Health: Assassination by gunshot
3. “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
   Maya Angelou
   Born: 4 April 1928, United States
   Died: 28 May 2014
   Main role: Writer, poet, and civil rights activist
   Cause of death / Health: Died after long-term health and heart problems
4. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
   Albert Einstein
   Born: 14 March 1879, Germany
   Died: 18 April 1955
   Main role: Theoretical physicist
   Cause of death / Health: Internal bleeding from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
5. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
   Eleanor Roosevelt
   Born: 11 October 1884, United States
   Died: 7 November 1962
   Main role: Political leader, diplomat, human rights advocate
   Cause of death / Health: Aplastic anemia, tuberculosis, and heart failure
6. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
   Viktor E. Frankl
   Born: 26 March 1905, Austria
   Died: 2 September 1997
   Main role: Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, author of Man’s Search for Meaning
   Cause of death / Health: Heart failure
7. “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
   Malala Yousafzai
   Born: 12 July 1997, Pakistan
   Alive
   Main role: Education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
   Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
8. “Becoming is better than being.”
   Carol S. Dweck
   Born: 17 October 1946, United States
   Alive
   Main role: Psychologist, researcher on mindset
   Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
9. “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.”
   Angela Duckworth
   Born: 1970 (exact day and month not widely public), United States
   Alive
   Main role: Psychologist and researcher on grit
   Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
10. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of courage, creativity and change.”
    Brené Brown
    Born: 18 November 1965, United States
    Alive
    Main role: Research professor and author on vulnerability and shame
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
11. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
    Desmond Tutu
    Born: 7 October 1931, South Africa
    Died: 26 December 2021
    Main role: Archbishop and anti-apartheid activist
    Cause of death / Health: Complications related to prostate cancer
12. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
    Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
    Born: 6 July 1935, Tibet
    Alive
    Main role: Buddhist spiritual leader
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
13. “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
    Rosa Parks
    Born: 4 February 1913, United States
    Died: 24 October 2005
    Main role: Civil rights activist
    Cause of death / Health: Natural causes after long-term illness and dementia
14. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
    Jane Goodall
    Born: 3 April 1934, United Kingdom
    Died: 10 October 2025
    Main role: Primatologist and environmental activist
    Cause of death / Health: Cardiopulmonary arrest, with epilepsy reported as a contributing factor
15. “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
    Carl R. Rogers
    Born: 8 January 1902, United States
    Died: 4 February 1987
    Main role: Psychologist and founder of person-centered therapy
    Cause of death / Health: Heart attack following surgery for a hip fracture
16. “In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels.”
    Daniel Goleman
    Born: 7 March 1946, United States
    Main role: Psychologist and author on emotional intelligence
17. “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”
    Stephen Hawking
    Born: 8 January 1942, United Kingdom
    Died: 14 March 2018
    Main role: Theoretical physicist and cosmologist
    Cause of death / Health: Complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a motor neuron disease
18. “We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”
    Carl Sagan
    Born: 9 November 1934, United States
    Died: 20 December 1996
    Main role: Astronomer, science communicator, and writer
    Cause of death / Health: Pneumonia, related to a bone marrow disease (myelodysplasia)
19. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
    Anne Frank
    Born: 12 June 1929, Germany
    Died: 31 March 1945 (official date)
    Main role: Diarist and victim of the Holocaust
    Cause of death / Health: Typhus in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
20. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
    James Baldwin
    Born: 2 August 1924, United States
    Died: 1 December 1987
    Main role: Writer and civil rights activist
    Cause of death / Health: Stomach cancer
21. “Because you are alive, everything is possible.”
    Thich Nhat Hanh
    Born: 11 October 1926, Vietnam
    Died: 22 January 2022
    Main role: Buddhist monk, peace activist, and teacher of mindfulness
    Cause of death / Health: Died at age 95 after complications following a stroke; exact cause not fully disclosed
22. “When they go low, we go high.”
    Michelle Obama
    Born: 17 January 1964, United States
    Alive
    Main role: Lawyer, author, and former First Lady of the United States
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
23. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
    J.K. Rowling
    Born: 31 July 1965, United Kingdom
    Alive
    Main role: Novelist, creator of the Harry Potter series
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
24. “A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
    Serena Williams
    Born: 26 September 1981, United States
    Alive
    Main role: Tennis player and entrepreneur
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
25. “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”
    Fred Rogers
    Born: 20 March 1928, United States
    Died: 27 February 2003
    Main role: Television host, educator, and minister
    Cause of death / Health: Stomach cancer
26. “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.”
    Kobe Bryant
    Born: 23 August 1978, United States
    Died: 26 January 2020
    Main role: Basketball player
    Cause of death / Health: Accidental trauma in a helicopter crash
27. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
    Steve Jobs
    Born: 24 February 1955, United States
    Died: 5 October 2011
    Main role: Entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc.
    Cause of death / Health: Complications of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (cancer)
28. “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”
    Stephen R. Covey
    Born: 24 October 1932, United States
    Died: 16 July 2012
    Main role: Author and teacher on leadership and habits
    Cause of death / Health: Complications from a bicycle accident (head injuries)
29. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
    Oprah Winfrey
    Born: 29 January 1954, United States
    Alive
    Main role: Television host, producer, and philanthropist
    Cause of death / Health: Alive; no major public illness reported
30. “Make each day your masterpiece.”
    John Wooden
    Born: 14 October 1910, United States
    Died: 4 June 2010
    Main role: Basketball coach and teacher of character
    Cause of death / Health: Natural causes related to old age

Key Takeaways

• Short, real pieces of positive world news can work like a daily vitamin for the mind, especially when they focus on health, education, young people and new medicines.
• Motivational quotes become more powerful when they come with simple facts about the person who said them, including dates of birth and death, country, main work and cause of death or illness.
• Clear images can explain hard ideas, such as why Portuguese speakers often understand Spanish faster than the other way round.
• Everyday language, like the Dutch words for plastic cable ties, can give a feeling of belonging and control.
• Small life lessons about social and emotional skills help turn strict rules into tools that serve people, not cages that control them.

Story & Details

Good news as a daily vitamin

In a world full of scary headlines, one person decided to look only for good news. The rule was simple but strict: the news had to be real, recent, positive and never repeated. The focus stayed on health, education, young people, new medicines and big victories for public health.

Some days the good news came from work on vaccines against malaria. These vaccines do not solve everything, but they help protect many children in countries where malaria is still a danger. Other days the bright spot was the end of wild poliovirus in large regions after long vaccination campaigns. Stories like these showed that slow, steady work by many people can change the world.

This kind of news did more than inform. It gave a sense of direction. Instead of feeling lost in fear, it became possible to think, “People are working on real problems, and sometimes they win.”

Quotes that carry real lives behind them

Short, powerful quotes were the second pillar. There was a special rule here too. A quote was not enough by itself. Each sentence needed a person behind it, and that person needed a simple human story.

For example, a writer like Gabriel García Márquez is easier to feel close to when it is clear that he was born on 6 March 1927 in Colombia, became famous for novels that mixed everyday life with magic, and died on 17 April 2014 in Mexico after a long illness that included cancer and lung problems. A scientist like Marie Curie feels more real when it is known that she was born on 7 November 1867 in Warsaw, helped to discover new elements such as radium, and died on 4 July 1934 in France from a bone marrow disease caused by long exposure to radiation.

A modern business and design leader like Steve Jobs becomes more than a logo when it is clear that he was born on 24 February 1955 in California, helped to shape personal computers and smartphones, and died on 5 October 2011 after many years with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. A basketball coach and speaker like Jim Valvano stands out when people know that he was born on 10 March 1946 in New York, led a university team to a famous surprise win, and died on 28 April 1993 from cancer after giving strong talks about hope in the face of illness.

At the same time, living voices matter too. A psychologist such as Susan David, born in South Africa around 1970 and later based in the United States, talks about “emotional agility”, which means treating feelings as data, not as orders. There is no public report of a major illness in her life, and that is also a useful fact: not every strong voice must come from a story of sickness or tragedy.

With these details, each quote becomes more than a pretty line. It is a small bridge to a real human life, with a start date, an end date and a clear shape.

A simple picture for two close languages

There was also a wish to understand everyday questions in a way that even a child could follow. One example was the link between Portuguese and Spanish.

The image that helped was very concrete. One language can be imagined as a road full of gentle curves. The other feels more like a straight road. A person who grows up walking on curvy roads finds it easy to move on straight ones. A person who only knows straight roads feels confused at first when the path starts to bend in many small ways.

In simple terms, Portuguese has more small sound changes and “music” in its speech, while Spanish has clearer, more open sounds. Ears trained to many curves can follow straight speech more easily than ears trained only to straight sounds can follow the extra movements of another language. This picture is easy to remember and easy to share with friends.

Words for small plastic tools

Even very small words can carry weight. At work, there was a wish to feel less like a stranger in Dutch. One example was the name for plastic cable ties.

In many workplaces people use informal spellings like “tiewraps” or “tyraps”. The more formal and standard word in Dutch is “kabelbinders”. Knowing this gave a quiet sense of control. It is a reminder that learning everyday words, even for small tools, is part of feeling at home in a language.

Tiny lessons for daily life

Together with news and quotes, there was a need for small teachings about life. These were not big theories, but short ideas that are easy to hold.

One idea was to aim to make a situation “one percent clearer” instead of trying to fix everything at once. For example, writing down one key task, or sending a short message to say, “I want to talk about this later,” can already reduce confusion.

Another lesson used three circles of concern. In the first circle are things under direct control, such as when to go to bed or whether to answer a message. In the second circle are things that can be influenced but not fully controlled, such as how a hard talk at work will go. In the third circle are events beyond control, such as the weather or decisions by distant leaders. Sorting worries into these circles helps decide where to put energy.

There was also a strong focus on honest speech. Saying “I do not know” was treated as a sign of respect, not weakness. It was seen as better than inventing details. Linked to this was the idea of making a “version two” of a phrase before speaking. The first thought might be sharp or vague. The second attempt can be a little clearer and kinder, which often leads to better conversations.

These small teachings supported the same key point: rules and tools are good only if they serve the person. If a rule starts to hurt more than it helps, it is time to change it.

Horses, smell and safety

One question looked strange at first: do horses refuse drunk riders because they can smell alcohol? The answer joined body science and ethics.

Horses have a strong sense of smell. They probably can notice the scent of alcohol on breath and skin. But the real danger in this situation is not the smell itself. It is the way a drunk person sits on the saddle, moves and reacts. A rider who is unsteady, off-balance and slow to respond is unfair to the animal and unsafe for everyone nearby.

This is why some places treat riding a horse while drunk in a similar way to driving a vehicle while drunk. The concern is not only for human safety on the road, but also for the welfare of the horse, which should not be forced to carry someone who cannot guide it properly.

Calm, fear and the limits of structure

Under all these topics runs one quiet theme. Calm does not mean that fear has gone. A person can still feel afraid and yet choose to move more slowly, breathe more steadily and speak more carefully.

Good news, clear quotes, clever images, local words, small teachings and even odd questions about horses all help to build a sense of structure. But real safety does not come from structure alone. If the frame becomes too rigid, it starts to press on the person inside. The most helpful moment is when it becomes clear that the rule is there to serve the person, not the person to serve the rule.

At that point, a strict rule can be softened, a heavy standard can be lowered, and the same tools—news, quotes, questions and lessons—can become supports instead of chains.

Conclusions

The mix of world news, motivational quotes, language images, workplace words and tiny life lessons may look random at first. In fact it forms a simple, human system.

Positive news stories show that large, slow changes are possible. Short quotes with real biographies attach big ideas to real lives. Easy pictures explain why some things feel hard, such as learning another language. Small words from the local workplace help build a sense of belonging. Everyday teachings about control, honesty and better phrases turn social contact into something a little safer.

Questions about horses and drunk riders, and reflections on calm and fear, push this system beyond pure comfort and into ethics and care. They ask how to move through the world in a way that is safe for self and others.

Together, these elements suggest a quiet way to steady a shaky day: look for good news, listen to wise voices, learn simple images and words, keep rules flexible, and let calm live side by side with fear instead of trying to erase it.

Selected References

[1] World Health Organization – Main site with information on malaria, vaccines and wider global health work.
https://www.who.int

[2] World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa – Information on polio eradication and certification of wild poliovirus elimination in the African Region.
https://www.afro.who.int

[3] Center for Nonviolent Communication – Background on Marshall Rosenberg’s work on communication and conflict resolution.
https://www.cnvc.org

[4] Susan David, PhD – Information on emotional agility and resources on dealing with difficult emotions.
https://www.susandavid.com

[5] TED – Brené Brown: “The power of vulnerability” (YouTube video from the official TED channel on vulnerability, shame and courage).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Appendix

Calm
A state where the body and mind slow down enough to notice what is happening, even when problems are not solved and fear is still present.

Emotional agility
An approach to inner life where feelings are noticed and accepted rather than fought, then used as information to choose actions that fit personal values instead of automatic reactions.

Nonviolent communication
A way of speaking and listening that focuses on clear observation, honest feelings, basic human needs and concrete requests, aiming to reduce blame and conflict and increase understanding.

Shell
An image for inner armour, used when someone feels closed off from the world. It suggests safety from outside pressure but also distance from help, care and shared life.

Task-list life
A way of living in which many actions, even very small ones, are written down and checked off. It can give a sense of order and progress, especially under stress, but can feel heavy when the list grows faster than the energy to handle it.

Vulnerability
The feeling of being open to hurt, rejection or failure. It can be frightening, but it is also the place where real contact, courage and change can start, and it is a common theme in modern psychology talks and books.

Youth pattern
A strict routine or intense schedule, such as going to bed very early and waking in the middle of the night, that may be easier to keep in younger years and more demanding as tiredness and adult duties build up.

La primera vez que escuchó la respiración, creyó que era la suya.

Estaba solo en el departamento, de madrugada, sentado frente a la mesa llena de papelitos. Cada papel tenía una palabra escrita en marcador: GASOLINA, LLAVES, OVEROL, FOTOS, HOLANDÉS, MENSAJES, BASURA. Los había ido ordenando en dos columnas: HECHO y PENDIENTE. Había más en la segunda.

Miró el reloj del celular: 02:17.

—Faltan cuatro horas para que empiece el día “normal” —murmuró, como si hablar en voz alta hiciera menos real el insomnio.

Entonces la escuchó: una respiración lenta, profunda, que no coincidía con su propio ritmo. Dos segundos de aire entrando. Tres segundos de aire saliendo. Pausa. Otra vez.

Se quedó quieto, con el bolígrafo en la mano.

El departamento era pequeño: cocina abierta, una sala con la mesa, un pasillo corto, la habitación y el baño al fondo. Todo conocido, todo aburrido. Y, sin embargo, el aire de repente se sentía distinto, como si alguien acabara de entrar por una puerta que él no había visto.

Se obligó a toser, a hacer ruido, a moverse. La respiración ajena desapareció.

—Fue tu cabeza —se dijo—. Estás cansado.

Escribió una palabra nueva en un papel: DORMIR.

La miró un rato, sin pegarla en ninguna columna, como si de eso dependiera algo importante.

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Durante varios días —o noches— el patrón se repitió.

Siempre alrededor de las dos de la mañana, justo cuando el silencio del edificio se hacía más denso, la respiración aparecía. Nunca muy fuerte, nunca obvia, pero presente, como si alguien estuviera de pie en el pasillo, a mitad de camino entre la mesa y la habitación.

Él reaccionaba siempre igual: se quedaba congelado, escuchaba unos segundos, luego movía una silla o arrastraba los pies para convencerse de que estaba despierto. Y la respiración se disolvía en el ruido.

Empezó a notar otra cosa: cuanto más desordenada estaba la mesa, más nítida parecía esa presencia.

Una noche, empujado por esa mezcla de cansancio y superstición que vuelve valientes a los desesperados, hizo algo raro: ordenó.

Juntó todos los papeles de PENDIENTE en una pila y empezó a leerlos en voz alta, uno por uno, como si estuviera pasando lista:

—Gasolina. Llantas. Arnés. Fotos. Holandés. Basura. Mensajes. Mochila. Herramientas. Tierra del cuarto. Comida.

A medida que hablaba, iba moviendo algunos a la columna de HECHO: había comprado gasolina, había tirado cierta basura, había contestado algunos mensajes. No todos, pero sí varios. El montón de PENDIENTE seguía siendo más alto.

Cuando terminó, se recargó en la silla y se dio cuenta de que no había escuchado la respiración.

Por primera vez en mucho tiempo, el silencio era de verdad silencio.

—¿Ves? —se dijo—. El monstruo era solo el desorden.

Pero no estaba del todo convencido.

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La noche en que todo cambió estaba especialmente agotado. Durante el día, en el trabajo, uno de los supervisores se había reído:

—Eres lento. Si fueras más lento, irías para atrás.

No había sido en mal tono, ni gritado, ni en público. Eso lo hizo peor. Era una frase lanzada al aire, con media sonrisa, mientras revisaban una caja de herramientas.

Desde ese momento, cada movimiento le pesaba el doble. Elegir el destornillador correcto se sentía como un examen. Poner el arnés, revisar las llaves, ajustar los guantes: todo parecía un espectáculo que él no estaba logrando.

Esa noche, ya en casa, los papeles sobre la mesa parecían acusarlo: LENTO, decía uno que él mismo había escrito, como si quisiera adelantarse a los demás.

A las 01:50 decidió que no iba a dormirse. Era inútil. Preparó café, se hizo un desayuno demasiado temprano y empezó a tirar restos de comida que llevaban demasiado tiempo en el refrigerador. El departamento olía a mezcla de jabón, café y algo viejo que intentaba desaparecer.

A las 02:03, mientras tiraba una bolsa en el cubo de basura de la cocina, la luz del pasillo parpadeó.

—No —dijo en voz baja—. No empieces con eso.

La bombilla respondió con otro parpadeo, como si lo hubiera escuchado.

Y entonces la respiración volvió. Esta vez no detrás, no lejos, sino claramente al final del pasillo, donde la oscuridad de la habitación se abría como una boca.

No era solo aire entrando y saliendo. Había un pequeño silbido, un roce, como si algo estuviera filtrando esa respiración a través de una tela… o de una coraza.

No quiso moverse. Hubo un segundo en que pensó: “Si no voy, si no miro, esto se quedará para siempre. Y si voy…”

El miedo le apretó el pecho. Recordó la frase del supervisor como si resonara en algún lugar del pasillo: “Eres lento”.

—Pues sí —susurró—. Pero voy.

Dejó la bolsa en el suelo. Caminó hacia el pasillo.

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Mientras avanzaba, notó algo raro: no era solo miedo, también había una especie de resistencia, como si el aire mismo fuera más denso. Cada paso sonaba más fuerte de lo que debía.

Al llegar a la mitad del pasillo, la respiración se detuvo.

La habitación al fondo estaba a oscuras. Él había dejado la puerta entreabierta —siempre lo hacía— para que, desde la mesa, pudiera ver la silueta de la cama, de la mesita de noche, del armario. Esa noche, sin embargo, la oscuridad no mostraba formas. Era un bloque, como si alguien hubiera borrado los bordes de los muebles.

Estiró la mano hacia el interruptor. Una voz muy apagada, desde el fondo, dijo:

—No la enciendas.

No era una voz ajena. Era la suya.

No reconoció solo el timbre; reconoció la forma de decir “enciendas”, esa pequeña caída al final de la palabra, esa pereza en la “d”.

Se quedó con el dedo en el aire, temblando.

—¿Qué eres? —alcanzó a preguntar.

La voz respondió con calma:

—Lo que te mantiene de pie y lo que no te deja avanzar.

Hubo un silencio. En la mesa, a sus espaldas, uno de los papelitos se deslizó y cayó al suelo con un susurro seco.

—No entiendo —dijo.

La respiración volvió, otra vez lenta, profunda, con ese silbido de tela. Y la voz, que era la suya y no lo era, habló de nuevo:

—Cada vez que apuntas algo como pendiente, me haces más gruesa. Cada vez que te insultas antes de que otro lo haga, me haces más dura. Soy la coraza.

La palabra se le clavó en la frente. Había usado esa metáfora muchas veces en su cabeza sin nombrarla: la sensación de andar por el mundo con una armadura invisible, pesada, que mantenía lejos a los demás, pero también lo mantenía lejos del mundo.

—Si eres mi coraza —dijo—, ¿por qué estás allá y no aquí?

La oscuridad pareció moverse, apenas.

—Porque ya no quepo dentro de ti —respondió la voz—. Me has alimentado demasiado.

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Durante unos segundos, lo único que se escuchó fue la respiración doble: la de su pecho golpeando rápido contra las costillas, y la otra, más larga, más controlada, viniendo desde ese volumen negro al fondo del pasillo.

Pensó en todo lo que había hecho en los últimos meses para sentirse “seguro”: decirse lento antes de que lo dijeran, imaginar fracasos antes de intentar algo, multiplicar las listas, marcar cada detalle como riesgo potencial, cerrar la puerta antes de que alguien pudiera empujarla.

—¿Por qué te escucho ahora? —preguntó—. Siempre has estado, ¿no?

La coraza dudó un segundo. Luego contestó:

—Porque hoy pensaste en no ir a trabajar. Porque por un momento consideraste dejar que todo se cayera. Cuando quieres rendirte, miras quién te acompaña.

Él tragó saliva. De golpe, la frase sonó menos terrible y más… honesta.

—¿Y qué quieres? —dijo.

—Nada —respondió la voz—. Solo seguir creciendo, como todas las cosas a las que les das tiempo y atención.

No supo si sonrió o se estremeció. Había algo casi cómico en imaginar su miedo como un monstruo burocrático que solo quería más y más papeles, más y más pendientes, más y más pruebas de que el mundo era peligroso.

Miró por encima del hombro hacia la mesa. Desde allí, la pila de PENDIENTE parecía una torre pequeña pero absurda, un monumento a todo lo que “todavía no”.

Respiró hondo.

—Si apago la luz del pasillo —dijo—, ¿desapareces?

—No —contestó la coraza al fondo—. Estaré detrás de ti.

—Si la enciendo, ¿te veo?

La respuesta tardó un instante más.

—Si la enciendes, verás que solo soy tú.

Eso le dio más miedo que cualquier sombra.

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El dedo por fin bajó. La luz se encendió.

La habitación apareció de golpe: cama, mesita con una lámpara pequeña, armario, una silla con una camisa mal doblada, un par de zapatos de seguridad tirados de lado. Nada raro.

No había figura, ni silueta, ni borde de algo que no perteneciera al cuarto.

Solo una cosa llamó la atención: en la cama, sobre la almohada, había una versión en miniatura de sus papeles. Un solo montón, pero no dividido en HECHO y PENDIENTE. Encima del montón, una palabra: HOY.

Se acercó despacio y la tomó.

En el reverso, con su letra, había una frase que no recordaba haber escrito:

“Hoy no tengo que arreglar mi vida. Solo tengo que caminar este día sin hacerme daño.”

Sintió que algo crujía en el aire, como si una chapa se hubiera aflojado un milímetro.

Miró otra vez la habitación. La coraza, si estaba, era invisible.

—¿Te fuiste? —preguntó, medio en broma, medio en serio.

La respiración respondió desde un lugar que ahora sí reconoció: su propio pecho.

Seguía acelerada, pero empezaba a bajar.

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No hubo milagros al día siguiente.

En el trabajo, el supervisor estaba de mal humor por otra cosa y ni siquiera le habló. Él movió herramientas, revisó el arnés, midió cables, se concentró en no cometer errores graves. No fue rápido. Tampoco fue un desastre.

Varias veces recordó la frase de la almohada. Cuando sentía que la vergüenza subía, la repetía por dentro: “Solo tengo que caminar este día sin hacerme daño”.

Al volver a casa por la tarde, el cansancio era de otro tipo. No era la fatiga viscosa del pánico, sino una especie de agotamiento físico normal. Calentó algo simple de comer, lavó el plato, tiró los restos enseguida. Hizo pis. Preparó las cosas del día siguiente sin obsesionarse.

A las 18:40, miró el reloj y pensó en la meta de acostarse a las 19:00. No estaba seguro de lograrlo, pero era una intención amable, no un castigo.

Se sentó frente a la mesa y vio el caos de papeles. Tomó uno que decía HOLANDÉS, lo dobló con cuidado y lo guardó en la libreta. No lo tiró. No lo puso en HECHO. Lo sacó del altar.

Luego tomó el que decía LENTO. Lo miró largo rato. No supo en qué columna ponerlo.

Al final, dibujó una tercera: NI UNA COSA NI LA OTRA. Puso el papel ahí.

—No eres un pendiente ni algo hecho —murmuró—. Eres una opinión. Y hoy no tienes voto.

Era un gesto pequeño, casi una tontería. Pero sintió cómo una pieza de la coraza hacía un sonido suave, como de metal aflojándose.

Se fue a la cama un poco antes de las 19:00. No sabía si se dormiría. No sabía si la respiración volvería esa noche desde el pasillo o desde dentro.

Antes de cerrar los ojos, pensó en la sombra del umbral, en el pasillo, en la coraza hecha de listas y miedos. Pensó en todo lo que quedaba por hacer. Pensó en el supervisor, en el futuro, en la gasolina, en las fotos del proyecto, en las palabras que algún día escribiría.

Y luego, por primera vez en mucho tiempo, se permitió pensar solo en una frase sencilla:

“Por ahora, todo está bien.”

La oscuridad tampoco hizo milagros, pero esa noche, cuando la respiración profunda apareció, no vino desde el fondo del pasillo.

Venía desde su propio pecho, más lenta, más tranquila.

Y la coraza, que seguía allí, entendió que tal vez, para seguir existiendo, tendría que volverse un poco más liviana.

No desapareció.

Pero dejó pasar un poco de luz.

Fin.

Key Takeaways

• A man in a small town in the north of the Netherlands uses very detailed to-do lists, tools and micro-routines to cope with heavy days and nights.
• He builds a strict structure around time, weather, news, quotes, and even a suspense story, then learns to soften those rules when they start to hurt instead of help.
• Harsh words at work about being “too slow” deepen his fear, but he slowly finds language and habits that protect him without shutting the world out.
• Small acts such as going to the toilet, throwing away old food, eating breakfast and sorting a toolbox become real steps of survival, not just chores.

Story & Details

In late November 2025, the mornings in the north of the Netherlands are cold and dark. In a quiet town near the coast, a man wakes very early and feels the weight of a long list inside his head. There is work, there is home, there is the body, there are messages and worries. It feels like too much.

To keep going, he turns his day into a set of very small pieces.

He notes every action. He takes socks to the wash. He charges his phone. He puts away a small coffee table after breakfast. He throws out a used tea bag and a spoon. He empties and washes the coffee pot and cup and plate and puts them back in their place. He checks that the heater is off and the window is closed before stepping out. He moves a trunk that stands in an unsafe way. He carries toilet paper and towels to the bathroom.

He puts strict labels on everything: done or pending. “Bed done.” “Trash still pending.” “Breakfast finished, breakfast cleaning still pending.” “Check tyres pending.” “Harness pending.” “Gasoline today pending.” Each line gives him a tiny sense of control.

Around these tasks he builds a larger frame. He chooses a hard sleep plan: go to bed at 19:00 and wake at 02:00 in his northern Dutch town, which uses the same clock as the rest of the country. He wants to hear, again and again, how long it is until those times, as if they are lighthouses in a storm. He asks for weather details for the next twenty-four hours in the area, hour by hour: fog warnings, clouds, small changes in temperature around freezing point.

He asks to hear one piece of good world news at a time, never repeated, never dark, and later not about the environment at all. The items include global health, new medicines, support for young people and improvements in mental health. He requests motivational quotes from real people and small life stories to go with them. For public figures like Eleanor Roosevelt, Gabriel García Márquez, Marie Curie or Steve Jobs, the dates of birth and death and the exact ages matter. So do causes of death or known illnesses. These details turn famous names into human beings who were also tired, also sick, also scared sometimes, but still did something that helped others.

He also wants to learn. He asks why speakers of Portuguese often understand Spanish more quickly than the other way round. The answer comes as a simple image: two languages that are cousins. One uses many “curves” in its sounds. The other uses clearer, “straight” sounds. Someone who grows up with many curves can follow straight lines more easily than someone who has only walked on straight lines and now has to dance. He smiles at that and keeps it as an easy way to explain it to others later.

There is also a short lesson in Dutch terms at work. He learns that many Dutch workers call plastic cable ties “kabelbinders” or “tiewraps”, and that in real life people spell that word in many different ways. The details of a simple object make him feel a bit more at home in a foreign language.

On top of all this, he plays with story.

He wants to build the “most suspenseful story in the universe”, but with a strange rule: only one new word can be added each time. At first this feels fun. Soon the story becomes what he calls “a pile of words with commas”. The text grows longer but not more clear. He asks for punctuation. He asks for sentences. In the end he says he is sick of the format. The rule that once felt safe now feels like a cage.

The story shifts. The many words are reshaped into short, dark scenes. A shadow crosses a doorway. A house is quiet and heavy. Something breathes at the end of a long corridor. Someone walks behind the narrator, always close, always almost touching. Calm appears in the middle of fear. A thick inner armour forms, like a shell the shadow is not sure it dares to touch. The same words now live in a more human rhythm.

Away from the page, real fear grows.

He is told at work that he is slow. The word hits hard. He already feels tired and under pressure. Now the label “slow” hangs over him like a cloud. He fears making mistakes with tools, with cables, with safety equipment. He thinks about his harness and his safety shoes. He checks and rechecks his toolbox. He puts old, broken work trousers in the trash. He plans to ask a colleague for a missing blue cutting tool so that his set will be complete. He checks his phone is not in “do not disturb” mode so that no important call is missed. He carries his keys and access card in his pocket and taps them again. He wants everything correct, so that no one can say his slowness is dangerous.

On some days he is already at the door and thinks, “I do not want to go to work.” He feels frightened of the whole day ahead. He says he feels inside a shell and does not want to come out. The shell keeps out judgement and harsh words. It also keeps out comfort. Inside it, the world feels far away but still loud.

In that state, even simple things matter. He goes to the toilet. He sorts and throws away leftover food so it does not smell or rot. He prepares breakfast and eats it. These actions are not big or heroic. They are signs that he still cares a little for his body and space. After a while he notices that “for now, everything is okay.”

Step by step, the strict frame he built begins to soften. He realises that asking for exact minutes between every action is not always possible. He accepts that weather and news information cannot be perfectly fresh all the time. He asks not to hear breathing exercises again because they irritate him. His needs change, and he lets the frame change with them.

The most important change is inside. One early morning he says very clearly that he is afraid of the day. Later he makes a different kind of statement: he decides he will face the day with calm. Calm, for him, does not mean smiling or moving fast. It means walking through the day at a speed that feels safe, even if someone else thinks it is slow. It means choosing which rules stay and which must bend.

The tasks do not vanish. There is still gasoline to buy, a room with dust to clean, tools in the car to sort, a black backpack to tidy, tyres to check, a harness to adjust, small work parts to place in a better pouch, messages to answer, photos of a project to organise, photos from life to study, Dutch language to learn. But there is also a new sentence near the centre of his day: “Everything is fine for now.” That sentence does not promise an easy life. It describes a small, real pause where nothing is falling apart, and it is enough.

Conclusions

The scene is simple: a quiet northern town, a cold month, and one man with a long list and a tired mind. There is no miracle moment and no big drama in public. The change happens in tiny moves.

Very detailed lists and strict rules give him a way to stand up when everything feels too heavy. At the same time, they show their limits. A suspense story built one word at a time becomes noise. A demand for perfect timing becomes stress. The frame has to bend.

What remains useful is much smaller and softer. Basic care for the body. Honest names for fear and shame. Plain words for limits at work. Short, kind quotes and facts about real people who lived, worked, suffered and died. A few steady anchors in the day, like chosen bedtimes and wake-up times, held lightly instead of with iron hands.

The most powerful part of this story is not a tool, a schedule, or a quote from a famous person. It is a quiet line spoken in a small kitchen on a hard morning: the choice to face the day with calm, and the simple relief of saying that, for this moment, everything is fine.

Selected References

[1] World Health Organization – Main site with information on malaria, vaccines and global health programmes.
https://www.who.int

[2] World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa – Information on polio eradication and certification of wild poliovirus elimination in the African Region.
https://www.afro.who.int

[3] Center for Nonviolent Communication – Background on Marshall Rosenberg’s work on communication and conflict resolution.
https://www.cnvc.org

[4] Susan David, PhD – Information on Emotional Agility and resources on dealing with difficult emotions.
https://www.susandavid.com

[5] TED – Brené Brown: “The power of vulnerability” (YouTube video on emotions, shame and courage, from a reputable educational channel).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Appendix

Armour
A mental and emotional protection that can feel like a thick shell around a person. It helps keep out new hurt or judgement, but it can also make the person feel lonely and tired if it stays in place all the time.

Cable ties
Small plastic strips used to hold cables or other objects together. In Dutch workplaces they are often called “kabelbinders” or “tiewraps”, and people may spell that word in several different ways in daily use.

Calm
A state in which the body and mind are not rushing, even if problems and fears are still present. In this story, calm means choosing a slower, safer speed through the day instead of trying to match the fastest people around.

Emotional agility
An approach to inner life where a person notices feelings, accepts them as natural and then chooses actions that fit personal values instead of reacting automatically. It is often linked with the work of psychologist Susan David.

Nonviolent Communication
A style of speaking and listening that focuses on clear observation, honest feelings, underlying needs and respectful requests. It comes from the work of psychologist Marshall Rosenberg and is used to reduce conflict and blame.

Shell
Another image for inner armour. It suggests that a person feels closed in and safe from outside attacks, but also cut off from warmth, help and connection.

Slow label
A judgement that someone works or moves too slowly. When used as criticism at work or at home, it can hurt self-confidence and make a person fear taking part in tasks, even if their careful speed also protects against mistakes.

Task-list life
A way of living in which many small actions are tracked as items to be done or marked as done. It can give a sense of order when life feels chaotic, but it can also become heavy if the list grows faster than the energy to handle it.

Vulnerability
A state of being open to hurt or criticism. It can feel dangerous, but it is also the place where honest contact, courage and change become possible. Public talks and research on this theme often highlight its link with shame and connection.

Youth pattern
A strict routine that may be more common in teenage or very early adult years, such as extreme sleep schedules. In this story, the pattern of going to bed at 19:00 and waking at 02:00 shows a strong wish for control, even when the routine is hard to keep.

Key Takeaways

Soft summary

• Many people feel slightly annoyed with colleagues without knowing the reason.
• Not having clear words for a feeling does not mean the feeling is fake or silly.
• Simple tools such as pausing, naming any small emotion, and taking care of the body can lower tension at work.
• Learning basic emotional language and a few calm habits can help even very shy or quiet people handle daily office friction.

Story & Details

A small feeling with a big echo

In many offices in late November 2025, there is a quiet kind of tension. It does not look dramatic from the outside. Work goes on. Meetings happen. Messages arrive and are answered.

Inside, though, someone is thinking, “I feel a bit annoyed.” The feeling is not huge. It is not a crisis. It is more like a stone in a shoe. It starts after a short comment in a meeting, or a joke that feels a little sharp, or a simple “good morning” that sounds cold.

When that person tries to explain what is wrong, no clear answer appears. The mind says, “I do not know.” The body only feels tight shoulders, a faster heartbeat, or a wish to avoid eye contact at the coffee machine.

Psychologists say this is normal. It is common to feel something without knowing exactly what it is. Sometimes emotions are mixed. Sometimes a person never learned the words for what they feel. Sometimes the brain decides that clear feelings are unsafe and turns the volume down instead of up. [1][2][3][10]

Why the feeling is hard to name

At work, this confusion can be extra strong. Colleagues are not friends, and not strangers. They are something in between. Many people want to look calm and professional. So they ignore early signs of discomfort.

Research on emotional triggers at work shows that small moments—a tone of voice, a rushed message, a delay in reply—can wake up old stories in the mind. A neutral remark can suddenly sound like criticism. A simple silence can feel like rejection. The brain connects today’s office with yesterday’s worries. [3][5][6][9]

If the person also has a limited emotional vocabulary, it becomes even harder. Instead of “I feel disappointed and a bit lonely,” there is only “I feel bad.” This single word is too small for the real experience, so it does not bring relief.

Structure as a way to cope

One way people try to deal with this kind of fog is by creating structure.

Some write short notes after work: who said what, when the mood changed, what the body felt. Others draw simple maps of a workday on paper. They mark places where the feeling of “a little annoyed” starts to rise, like red dots on a plan of the office. For some, lists and frameworks feel safer than messy emotions.

Experts in emotional intelligence say that this kind of gentle, organised reflection can help. The act of slowing down, looking back at the day, and giving names to even tiny feelings turns a vague cloud into something that can be understood. It does not remove all irritation, but it gives the brain a map. [1][5][6][8][11]

A tiny Dutch mini-lesson

For people working in or with the Netherlands, it can even help to learn a few local words.

In Dutch, the word for “colleague” is collega.
A simple way to say “a bit annoyed” is een beetje boos.

These phrases are more than vocabulary. They are tools. Being able to say in a calm voice, “I feel een beetje boos with a collega today,” even in a private note, can make the feeling a little less heavy. It turns a vague pressure into normal human language.

Small, kind steps that help

The good news is that giant changes are not always needed. Many guides on workplace emotions share the same basic ideas:

• Take a short pause when annoyance shows up. Notice breathing and feet on the floor.
• Try to name even one simple word for the feeling, such as “tense”, “sad”, “tired”, or “angry”.
• Ask a basic question: “What do I need right now?” It might be water, a short walk, or five quiet minutes.
• If the feeling repeats often with the same colleague, choose a calm moment to talk, or ask for advice from a trusted person at work. [1][3][5][6][7][8][9][11]

None of these steps turn an office into a perfect place. But over time, they help the person who feels “a little annoyed and not sure why” move from confusion to gentle clarity.

Conclusions

A soft landing

A mild, nameless irritation with colleagues is not a sign of weakness. It is a normal part of modern work life. Many people feel it, especially in busy months like November, when energy is low and pressure is high.

What matters is not to push the feeling away as “nothing” or “stupid”. Even a tiny emotion carries information. With simple words, small pauses, and a bit of curiosity, it becomes easier to see what is really going on and to choose kinder next steps.

When the office feels tense and the reason is unclear, one small act of emotional honesty—at least with oneself—is often the best starting point for change.

Selected References

[1] Ahead. “Emotional Self-Awareness at Work: 5 Strategies to Handle Difficult Colleagues.”
https://ahead-app.com/blog/mindfulness/emotional-self-awareness-at-work-5-strategies-to-handle-difficult-colleagues

[2] Psychology Today. “6 Reasons Why You May Not Know What You’re Feeling.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201702/6-reasons-why-you-may-not-know-what-youre-feeling

[3] Psychology Today. “5 Steps to Navigate Emotional Triggers at Work.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-new-look-at-womens-leadership/202411/navigating-emotional-triggers-at-work

[4] TED (YouTube). Susan David – “The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDQ1Mi5I4rg

[5] Workplaces Strategies for Mental Health. “Emotional Triggers.”
https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/emotional-triggers

[6] Harvard Business Publishing. “From Emotional Triggers to Values-Based Leadership: A Practical Framework.”
https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/from-emotional-triggers-to-values-based-leadership-a-practical-framework/

[7] Psychology Today. “The Key Skill We Rarely Learn: How to Feel Your Feelings.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/harnessing-principles-of-change/202010/the-key-skill-we-rarely-learn-how-to-feel-your-feelings

[8] Psychology Today. “Alexithymia: Do You Know What You Feel?”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-with-emotional-intensity/202102/alexithymia-do-you-know-what-you-feel

[9] Ahead. “5 Workplace Emotional Triggers and How to Build Emotional Resilience in the Workplace.”
https://ahead-app.com/blog/eq-at-work/5-workplace-emotional-triggers-and-how-to-build-emotional-resilience-in-the-workplace

[10] Psychology Today. “Why It’s Vital to Identify, Process, and Express Your Emotions.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfulness-insights/202312/why-its-vital-to-identify-process-and-express-your-emotions

[11] Pollack Peacebuilding. “Resolve Workplace Conflict with Emotional Intelligence.”
https://pollackpeacebuilding.com/blog/emotional-intelligence-workplace/

Appendix

Alexithymia

Alexithymia is a term for a strong and lasting difficulty in noticing, naming, and describing emotions, even when those emotions are present.

Dutch mini-lesson

The Dutch words collega and een beetje boos are simple phrases for “colleague” and “a bit angry”, and they show how basic foreign words can make emotional talk feel more concrete and less scary.

Emotional agility

Emotional agility is the skill of facing thoughts and feelings with curiosity and courage, instead of denying them or letting them fully control behaviour.

Emotional trigger

An emotional trigger is a cue, such as a word, gesture, tone, or situation, that quickly brings up a strong emotional reaction, often based on past experiences.

Emotional vocabulary

Emotional vocabulary is the set of words a person uses to describe feelings, and a richer set of words can make it easier to understand and handle inner states.

Mild annoyance

Mild annoyance is a low-level feeling of irritation or discomfort that does not stop daily life but can build up and affect mood and relationships over time.

Workplace emotional self-awareness

Workplace emotional self-awareness is the ability at work to notice inner signals, give them simple names, and use that information to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting on impulse.

Key Takeaways

Gentle snapshot

• This article is about waking up in panic and using one tiny task, slow breathing, and a digital helper to feel safer.
• Panic in the morning can feel huge, but it often shrinks when the focus moves to the body and to a single small action in the room.
• Simple breathing patterns and grounding tricks can help the brain understand that there is no real danger.
• Digital tools can offer calm words and structure, but they do not replace professional help when distress is strong or frequent.

Story & Details

One short morning story

It is a cold morning in late November 2025 in the Netherlands. The day has not really started, but the panic has. A person wakes up and, instead of feeling rested, feels a rush of fear. The mind jumps straight to the mess in the room, the many tasks waiting, and the feeling that there is not enough time for any of it. The body reacts as if there is a real threat: heart beating faster, thoughts running, a wish to escape from the bed and from the day.

The person sends a short message to a digital helper and admits the truth: standing up feels hard, the room feels chaotic, and there is not much time. The request is simple and brave at the same time: please stay, please give company during this storm. There is no long plan, only the need not to face the wave of panic alone.

The answer that comes back is calm and gentle. It does not say “be strong” or “this is nothing.” Instead, it starts with the breath. It suggests breathing in slowly for a few seconds, holding the air very briefly, then letting it go more slowly than it came in. This kind of breathing is close to patterns used in many guides for panic and anxiety, where a longer out-breath sends a signal of safety to the nervous system, even while the mind still feels afraid. Health services in different countries describe similar breathing exercises for moments of fear or panic and say that they can help the body calm down over time when practiced regularly.[1][2][3]

The digital helper also offers a different way to see the panic. It describes it as a wave that will rise and then fall again, instead of a sign that something terrible is about to happen. Leaflets and online information from mental health services say the same: panic attacks feel very dangerous but are usually not harmful, and they almost always pass even without medical treatment.[3]

From there, the focus moves from the whole room to one tiny point. Instead of “clean everything” or “finish all tasks,” the helper suggests picking one very small, clear action. In this case, the person looks at a single box by the bed, a small “night box” that holds things from the evening. The task is simple: stand up, walk to that box, and put it away in its place. Many psychologists and therapists recommend this kind of “micro-task” when life feels too big, because a tiny action is easier to start and gives a quick feeling of success.[4][5]

This becomes the mission of the moment. The person stands up, touches the floor, and walks those few steps. The brain still feels noise and pressure, but the hands and feet are doing something clear and possible. A minute later, the box is no longer in the way; it is stored. The person comes back and reports just that: it is done. The panic has not fully disappeared, but now there is one small fact in the opposite direction of chaos: something is finished.

Alongside this, there is a softer kind of learning taking place. The same digital helper brings in a tiny language note that fits the scene. In Dutch, many people start the day with a simple greeting like “goedemorgen,” which means “good morning.” A small detail like this is not just a language tip; it is a reminder that this is an ordinary morning in an ordinary home, not a disaster zone. Even in a tense moment, everyday words and habits still exist.

The story also sits inside a wider picture of stress and modern life. International health organisations publish open guides with simple tools for managing stress, such as paying attention to breathing, noticing the senses, and doing small, meaningful actions for a few minutes each day.[1][6] Articles in popular psychology magazines explain grounding techniques, like looking around the room and naming things that are seen, heard, or felt, to help the mind return to the present instead of staying stuck in fear.[4][7]

In this short scene, one person uses a mix of these ideas without giving them formal names: slow breathing, clear words of reassurance, a tiny practical task, and a little bit of friendly language learning. The digital helper gives structure and a calm tone. The person does the hard part: feeling the fear, asking for support, standing up, and moving the box. Together, these small steps turn a wild start to the day into something that, while still intense, is at least a little more manageable.

Conclusions

Soft landing

This small morning story shows how panic and calm can live in the same moment. The panic is real: mess, pressure, and the sense that time is already late. The calm is also real: air moving in and out of the lungs, feet touching the floor, one box being put away.

The scene mirrors what many experts say about coping with stress and anxiety. Helpful steps often begin with noticing the breath, staying in place when possible, and choosing one small, concrete action instead of trying to solve a whole life at once.[1][2][3][4] Grounding techniques and stress management skills may sound technical on paper, but they can look as simple as “breathe slowly” and “put this one thing in its place” when translated into daily life.

Digital helpers can support this process with gentle suggestions and steady words, especially early in the morning or late at night, when other people may not be available. At the same time, open information from trusted organisations and services gives a wider safety net around that moment, explaining what panic is, why it feels so strong, and how to seek more help when needed.[1][2][3][6][7]

The box by the bed is not magic. It is just a box. Yet on that November morning, it becomes proof that a person in panic can still take action, still change something in the room, and still move, step by step, toward a kinder day.

Selected References

Further reading and one helpful video

[1] World Health Organization – Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide. Practical self-help for coping with stress in daily life. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240003927

[2] NHS – Get help with anxiety, fear or panic. Guidance on symptoms and coping strategies, including breathing exercises. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-fear-panic/

[3] NHS – Panic disorder. Information on what panic attacks are and what to do during one. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/panic-disorder/

[4] Psychology Today – What Are Grounding Techniques? Overview of grounding methods to reconnect with the present moment. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-for-happiness/202208/what-are-grounding-techniques

[5] Psychology Today – Escape Anxiety: 3 Ways to Feel Calmer in Just 3 Minutes. Short strategies for calming anxiety, including small, focused actions and simple breathing patterns. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liking-the-child-you-love/202502/escape-anxiety-3-ways-to-feel-calmer-in-just-3-minutes

[6] Mental Health Foundation – How to overcome fear and anxiety. Public guide on understanding anxiety and exploring ways to cope. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/how-overcome-anxiety-and-fear

[7] World Health Organization – Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide (video). Short overview of the guide and its stress management tools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3Cts45FNrk

Appendix

Key terms in simple words

Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or fear that is often stronger than the situation seems to require and can make it hard to relax or focus.

Breathing exercise
A breathing exercise is a simple pattern for inhaling and exhaling on purpose, often with a slower and longer out-breath, used to help the body and mind feel calmer.

Digital helper
A digital helper is a computer-based tool that uses text or voice to offer information, support, or gentle guidance, especially when another person is not nearby.

Grounding
Grounding is a way of paying attention to the present moment, often by noticing sights, sounds, and physical sensations, to feel less trapped in racing thoughts or strong emotions.

Micro-task
A micro-task is a very small, clear action, such as putting away one object or drinking a glass of water, chosen because it is easy to start and finish even when life feels overwhelming.

Panic attack
A panic attack is a sudden burst of strong fear that can come with symptoms like a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, and dizziness, even when there is no real danger, and it usually fades after a short time.

Stress
Stress is the body and mind’s response to pressure or demand, which can give energy in small amounts but can feel heavy and exhausting when it lasts for a long time or feels too intense.

Key Takeaways

• Clear subject: British singer Lola Young collapsed on stage in New York in September 2025 and later paused all shows.
• No official medical cause has been announced.
• All upcoming concerts were canceled while she takes time for health.
• Public facts: born January 4, 2001; BRIT School alum; break-through with “Messy” in 2024; new album in September 2025.
• One verified news video is included in the references.

Story & Details

What happened in New York
During the All Things Go festival at Forest Hills Stadium in New York in September 2025, Lola Young fell mid-song while performing “Conceited.” Medical staff helped her off stage. She later told fans she was doing OK and thanked them for support.

The days after
In the days that followed, she canceled the festival’s Washington, D.C., date and then announced that all upcoming shows were off. Her public note said she was going away for a while and needed time to work on herself.

Career in brief
Lola Young was born on January 4, 2001, studied at the BRIT School, and rose fast with the 2024 hit “Messy.” She released the album I’m Only Fking Myself in September 2025. These milestones explain the strong attention to her New York collapse: the audience was growing, and expectations were high.

What is known—and what is not
Reports agree on the place, date, and the song being performed. They also quote her reassurance that she was OK. There is no official public diagnosis linking the collapse to a specific cause. Without that, drawing medical conclusions would be guesswork.

Language tip, very short
When unsure what someone means, a gentle, polite clarification in Dutch culture mirrors the simple English line: “I’m not entirely sure what you mean—could you explain?” The tone matters as much as the words.

Conclusions

This story is simple and human. A young artist fainted on stage, recovered, and then stepped back to protect her health. The facts are public. The cause is not. The pause feels wise. Fans can hold two ideas at once: concern for her wellbeing and hope for her return, whenever she decides.

Selected References

[1] The Guardian — “Lola Young ‘doing OK’ after collapsing on stage at festival in New York.” https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/28/lola-young-collapse-on-stage-festival-new-york
[2] People — “Lola Young Collapses Mid-Performance, Carried Off Stage by Medical Team During N.Y.C. Music Festival.” https://people.com/lola-young-collapses-mid-performance-at-nyc-music-festival-11820118
[3] People — “Lola Young Speaks Out After Collapsing Onstage at N.Y.C. Music Festival.” https://people.com/lola-young-speaks-out-after-collapsing-onstage-at-nyc-music-festival-11820124
[4] Billboard — “Lola Young Collapses Onstage at All Things Go in New York City.” https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lola-young-collapses-onstage-nyc-concert-all-things-go-1236077195/
[5] Pitchfork — “Lola Young Cancels All Upcoming Shows.” https://pitchfork.com/news/lola-young-cancels-all-upcoming-shows/
[6] Wikipedia — “Lola Young.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lola_Young
[7] BBC News (YouTube) — “Singer Lola Young says she’s ‘doing OK’ after collapsing on stage.” https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hrMUEpsavGY

Appendix

All Things Go
A multi-city music festival; the New York edition takes place at Forest Hills Stadium.

BRIT School
A public performing arts and technology school in London known for music and stage alumni.

Forest Hills Stadium
An outdoor venue in Queens, New York, often used for large concerts.

Lola Young
British singer-songwriter, born January 4, 2001; known for “Messy” (2024) and the 2025 album I’m Only Fking Myself.

“Messy”
A 2024 single that brought broader attention to Lola Young’s songwriting and voice.

Polite clarification (Dutch context)
A brief cultural note: soft, respectful phrasing is valued when asking someone to explain what they meant.

“I’m Only Fking Myself”
Lola Young’s 2025 album, released shortly before the New York incident.

Key Takeaways

A tiny object, a clear subject

• A floating cork keyring in a Dutch hardware app shows how everyday screens can teach simple Dutch words.
• The Dutch word “sleutelhanger” is the normal term for a keyring or keychain, and it appears clearly in the product name.
• Short labels such as “Touw”, “Opslaan in Favorieten” and “klantreview” give beginner learners easy, real-life vocabulary.

Story & Details

A small screen in late 2025

In November 2025, a shopper opens a hardware-store app on a phone. The screen shows a clean white page with blue letters and one simple product in the centre. It is not a big power tool or a piece of furniture. It is a small cork ball on a short rope, hanging from a metal ring. This is a floating keyring, designed for people who spend time near water and do not want their keys to sink.

The product on the page

The title at the top of the page reads “Drijvende sleutelhanger kurk 50 mm”. Under it sit four yellow stars, a pale fifth star, and the line “4.0 / 5 (1 klantreview)”. A heart icon invites the user to tap “Opslaan in Favorieten” and save the item for later. At the bottom of the screen, a row of icons marks the main parts of the app: “Home”, “Zoeken”, “Winkelwagen”, “Lijstjes” and “Mijn GAMMA”. Together they show that this is the app of GAMMA, a major Dutch chain of do-it-yourself stores.

The picture is simple but clear. A cork ball, about fifty millimetres across, hangs from a short length of rope with a light pattern. The rope runs through a small metal piece and ends in a round keyring. A bright label with barcodes rests on the ring. The object looks ready for a day on a boat, at a marina, or by a lake.

Reading the Dutch words

For someone learning Dutch, the text around this small item becomes a mini lesson. The word “sleutelhanger” is the key term. It is the normal Dutch word for a keyring or keychain and comes from “sleutel”, meaning “key”, and “hanger”, something that hangs. Seeing it next to the picture makes the meaning easy to remember.

The other words also help. “Drijvende” means that the keyring floats. “Kurk” shows what it is made of: cork, a light material that stays on the surface of the water. “Touw”, the category label at the top, is the Dutch word for rope. The phrase “Opslaan in Favorieten” tells the user how to save the product, while “klantreview” marks the customer review that gives the four-star rating.

A quiet language bridge

Behind this screen, there is also a learner’s question. The learner wants to know how to say the Spanish word for “keyring” in Dutch. The answer is simple in form but rich in use: that Spanish word turns into “sleutelhanger” when speaking Dutch. The hardware app confirms this answer in a natural way, because it uses the same word to name a real product.

This kind of moment is common for beginners at level A1. Many do not study only with books or in class. New words appear while shopping online, reading signs, or checking prices. A single screenshot can show vocabulary for objects, actions, and opinions: the product itself, the button to save it, and the review that rates it.

Why a floating keyring matters

A floating keyring like this is not just a language tool. It also reflects daily life in a country full of canals, rivers and marinas. Boaters often attach such cork or foam keyrings to their engine keys or locker keys. If the keys slip into the water, the cork ball keeps them afloat long enough to grab them.

At the same time, the design of the app keeps the information simple. The user sees a clear title, a picture, and a small group of words that repeat in many other products. Those words become a gentle bridge into everyday Dutch: not through heavy grammar, but through short labels that match what the eye already sees.

Conclusions

A small object, a large lesson

The floating cork keyring on the hardware app screen is a very small item, yet it opens a clear window into Dutch. The word “sleutelhanger” gains meaning through the image and through its place in the title. Other short phrases, such as “Touw” and “Opslaan in Favorieten”, add more pieces to the puzzle.

For a beginner who studies at A1 level, this kind of real-life page can be as helpful as a textbook page. It shows how language lives inside everyday tools and tiny products. In late 2025, with online stores and digital courses widely available, a learner can move from a single word question to a whole set of useful expressions, all from one simple floating keyring.

Selected References

[1] Linguee. Dutch–English dictionary entry for “sleutelhanger”. https://www.linguee.com/dutch-english/translation/sleutelhanger.html

[2] Wikipedia. Article on GAMMA, Dutch hardware store chain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_(store)

[3] University of Groningen Language Centre. Video: “How to count to 20 in Dutch”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KWaiw8JvCk

[4] University of Groningen Language Centre. Free online course “Introduction to Dutch”. https://www.rug.nl/language-centre/develop-yourself/dutch-mooc?lang=en

[5] Bateau Bootservice. Overview of floating cork keyrings for boating. https://www.bateaubootservice.nl/en/collections/sleutelhangers

Appendix

A1 language level
A1 is the basic level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, where a learner can understand and use simple everyday expressions and very basic phrases.

Cork keyring
A cork keyring is a small ring or holder for keys that includes a piece of cork, which is light and helps the keys stay on the surface of the water.

Dutch hardware store
A Dutch hardware store is a retail shop in the Netherlands that sells tools, building materials and do-it-yourself products for home and garden projects; GAMMA is one of the best-known examples.

Floating keyring
A floating keyring is a keyring made from light materials such as cork or foam so that keys do not sink if they fall into water, which is useful for people who work or travel near boats and docks.

Keyring in Dutch: sleutelhanger
The Dutch word “sleutelhanger” is the standard term for a keyring or keychain and is formed from the words for “key” and “hanger”.

Navigation bar in shopping apps
The navigation bar in a shopping app is the row of icons or words at the bottom or top of the screen that leads to main sections such as the home page, search, shopping cart, saved lists and account area.

Rope in Dutch: Touw
“Touw” is the Dutch word for rope and often appears as a category label in hardware stores for products such as cords, lines and other rope-based items.

University of Groningen Language Centre
The University of Groningen Language Centre is a unit of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands that offers language courses, including free online beginners’ courses in Dutch for learners around the world.

A bright leaflet opens the door to a rich exhibition of curious objects, stories, and questions about collecting.

Key Takeaways

What the exhibition is
Microcosm – The World in a Wunderkammer is a large exhibition in the Drents Museum in Assen. It brings together more than three hundred unusual objects, from shells and stuffed animals to mechanical figures and new artworks.

When it happens
The exhibition opened in September 2025 and is planned to run until 1 March 2026, so it is still on view and can be visited during the museum’s normal opening hours.

Why it is special
Microcosm is the farewell exhibition of museum director Harry Tupan, born on 6 September 1958 in the Dutch town of Hoogeveen. It is built as one big “cabinet of curiosities”, mixing old treasures, new pieces, and a critical look at how collections are made.

Who is involved
Alongside the Drents Museum collection, important loans come from museums such as the Rijksmuseum and Naturalienkabinett Waldenburg and from well-known private collectors, writers, artists, and scientists.

Story & Details

A leaflet full of colour

The story begins with a small paper leaflet. On the front, a toucan with a large orange beak looks straight at the reader. Around the bird stand bright red coral branches, pearl-like beads, and silver cups with carved shells. Across this busy scene, the word “Microkosmos” is printed in big white letters, with the subtitle “The world in a Wunderkammer”. The design is playful and rich, just like the exhibition it promotes.

Inside the leaflet, a fantastic animal curls across one of the pages. Its body is long like a snake, but it also has legs and the head of another creature. Below it, a bird flies through the image. On the facing page stands a photo of the director in a room full of objects on shelves, next to a small group of fluffy preserved ducklings. The pictures show at once that this show is about nature, art, and the strange joy of collecting things.

A room-sized cabinet of curiosities

Microcosm is described by the museum as a visual spectacle. Classical Wunderkammer objects stand next to contemporary curiosities and modern visual art. Visitors can look at nautilus cups made from shells and silver, anatomical models, rare stones, and stuffed animals. One highlight is a mechanical bear that can perform tricks. Another is a tiny “dodo” figure that hints at the stories and myths around extinct species.[1][2][5]

The exhibition is arranged like a chain of small worlds. Each room or case has its own mood: one might be filled with natural specimens, another with scientific tools, and another with art inspired by far-away lands. The objects are grouped in traditional Wunderkammer categories such as naturalia (things from nature), artificialia (things made by people), exotica (objects from distant places), and scientifica (instruments and models).[1][2]

Collectors play a key role. Harry Tupan invites visitors into one big artwork made from many different collections. Well-known names from Dutch culture and science have lent pieces, including tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher, writer and actor Ramsey Nasr, biologist Midas Dekkers, and explorer Redmond O’Hanlon.[2][4][6] Their personal choices sit beside objects from private archives and from institutions such as the Rijksmuseum and the Fries Museum.[2][4][6][7]

Farewell in a house of wonder

For Tupan, Microcosm is a personal statement as well as a public exhibition. After more than forty-five years at the Drents Museum, he steps down as general director with this show as his goodbye. Reports in Dutch newspapers describe how he searched “far and wide” for the right objects and how the exhibition marks the end of a long career that began when he joined the museum in 1980 and later became its leader.[3][7][8]

A separate museum news article notes that the opening weekend also coincides with his birthday on 6 September. Instead of a quiet celebration, he chose a hall filled with glittering shells, strange animals, and rare artworks. In this way, Microcosm is both a tribute to the history of the cabinet of curiosities and a personal salute to the province of Drenthe, which he often calls central to his life.[3][8]

Activities for different visitors

Microcosm is not only a display of objects. The Drents Museum also offers talks, tours, and special days around the show. There are free lectures that explain how cabinets of curiosities started in the houses of princes and wealthy citizens, how these private rooms later inspired the first public museums, and how modern visitors can think about the sometimes painful histories behind “exotic” objects.[5][9][10]

For children and families, the Wonderlab is an important part of the project. In this creative area, two young people from the region show their own collections. Visitors can order and rearrange a small cabinet, study unusual items, or design their own fantasy creature. The aim is to make the feeling of wonder — in Dutch, “verwondering” — part of the visit, not just something to watch from a distance.[5][10]

Short Dutch mini-lesson

A few Dutch words help to understand the spirit of the exhibition. The term “rariteitenkabinet” means “cabinet of rarities” and is close to the English “cabinet of curiosities”. The word “verwondering”, often used by the museum, means a deep feeling of surprise and curiosity. These words show that Microcosm is not a dry display but a celebration of looking closely and asking questions.

What it feels like to walk through

Descriptions in Dutch and regional media paint Microcosm as lively and sometimes even noisy for the eyes. Visitors are encouraged to move from one case to another as if walking through a storybook. There might be a tiny insect, a shining stone, and a piece of contemporary art all in one view. Reviews call the exhibition cheerful, but they also ask what exactly is seen, and what stories are not told, especially about how certain objects were taken from former colonies or distant lands.[6][11][12]

This tension is part of the design. The exhibition celebrates curiosity and beauty while also pointing out that cabinets of curiosities were once symbols of power and knowledge for rich owners. Objects were not always collected in fair ways. Microcosm invites visitors to enjoy the spectacle but also to think about who collected what, and why.

Conclusions

A living story of collecting

Microcosm – The World in a Wunderkammer turns the Drents Museum into a large, walkable cabinet of curiosities. Bright design on the leaflet, a mix of natural and man-made objects, and many different voices from science and art all come together to tell a simple but strong story: people like to collect, and collections shape the way the world is seen.

A timely visit

Because the exhibition runs until 1 March 2026, there is still time to see it while it is fresh and often discussed. For visitors, it offers not only beautiful and strange things to look at, but also a chance to think about the past of museums, the role of collectors, and the meaning of wonder in daily life.

Selected References

[1] Drents Museum – “Microcosm – The World in a Wunderkammer” (official exhibition page). https://drentsmuseum.nl/en/exhibitions/microcosm-the-world-in-a-wunderkammer-2

[2] Museum.nl – “Microkosmos – De wereld in een Wunderkammer” (exhibition listing with dates and highlights). https://www.museum.nl/nl/drents-museum/tentoonstelling/microkosmos-de-wereld-in-een-wunderkammer

[3] Drents Museum – “Wunderkammer overview marks Harry Tupan’s farewell” (news article about the exhibition and his departure). https://drentsmuseum.nl/nieuws/wunderkammer-overzicht-markeert-afscheid-harry-tupan

[4] Kijk op het Noorden – “The wonderful world of the Wunderkammer” (regional feature on Microcosm and its loans). https://www.kijkophetnoorden.nl/de-wondere-wereld-van-de-wunderkammer/

[5] Drents Museum – “NGT tour Microkosmos” (programme description, object count, and key items). https://drentsmuseum.nl/activiteiten/ngt-rondleiding-microkosmos

[6] Museumtijdschrift – “Microkosmos – De wereld in een Wunderkammer” (magazine description of the exhibition). https://museumtijdschrift.nl/tentoonstellingen/microkosmos-de-wereld-in-een-wunderkammer/

[7] Drents Museum – “Harry Tupan bids farewell to the Drents Museum” (English-language news item on his retirement and birthday). https://drentsmuseum.nl/en/news/harry-tupan-bids-farewell-to-the-drents-museum

[8] Dagblad van het Noorden – “Harry Tupan (66) leaves the Drents Museum after 45 years” (biographical facts, including date of birth). https://www.headliner.nl/item/harry-tupan-66-neemt-na-45-jaar-afscheid-van-het-drents-museum-in-assen-drenthe-is-voor-mij-het-belangrijkste-dat-er-is-dvhn-40636

[9] Drents Museum – “Free lecture Microkosmos” (overview of the public talk linked to the exhibition). https://drentsmuseum.nl/activiteiten/gratis-lezing-microkosmos

[10] Drents Museum – “Do day Microkosmos” (family activities and Wonderlab description). https://drentsmuseum.nl/activiteiten/doedag-microkosmos

[11] DagjeWeg – “You cannot believe your eyes in Microkosmos” (visitor-oriented preview). https://www.dagjeweg.nl/nieuwsredactie/27452/Wauw%2C-dat-dit-bestaat%21-Je-weet-niet-wat-je-ziet-in-Microkosmos

[12] de Volkskrant – “Microkosmos is a cheerful cabinet of curiosities in the Drents Museum” (review and critical questions). https://www.volkskrant.nl/tentoonstellingen/microkosmos-is-een-vrolijk-rariteitenkabinet-in-het-drents-museum-maar-wat-zien-we-nou-eigenlijk~b176ee49/

[13] Drents Museum YouTube channel – playlist with the short video “Microkosmos – De wereld in een Wunderkammer – Drents Museum”. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwqAuTNoJUWWl33Osb2mpgHT60lDXHIqO

Appendix

Cabinet of curiosities: A historical type of private collection in which a wide mix of natural specimens, artworks, scientific devices, and oddities are displayed together in one room or cupboard to show knowledge, taste, and power.

Drents Museum: A museum in the city of Assen in the Dutch province of Drenthe, known for exhibitions on archaeology, art, and history and for combining an old historic building with a modern underground extension.

Harry Tupan: A Dutch art historian and museum director, born on 6 September 1958 in Hoogeveen, who worked for more than four decades at the Drents Museum and created Microcosm as his farewell exhibition.

Microcosm: The exhibition “Microcosm – The World in a Wunderkammer”, presented by the Drents Museum from September 2025 to March 2026, which uses more than three hundred objects to explore the idea of a cabinet of curiosities and the practice of collecting.

Wonderlab: A creative area linked to Microcosm where visitors, especially children and families, can see small personal collections, design their own creatures, and experiment with arranging their own miniature cabinet of curiosities.

Wunderkammer: A German word that literally means “room of wonders” and is often used in Dutch and English to describe early cabinets of curiosities filled with rare, beautiful, or strange objects from art, science, and nature.

Key Takeaways

In brief

A small home gadget called the Deluxa Wellness and Care Oil Diffuser Set with LED Light comes with a thick multilingual leaflet that says a lot about how modern products are meant to be used, cared for, and recycled.
The diffuser runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, works with small bottles of water-based essential oil such as sandalwood and mint, and is designed to switch itself off after about an hour of misting.
The leaflet repeats simple but firm safety messages: use only suitable oils, keep the unit away from children, pets, water and heat, and treat both the diffuser and its battery as electronic waste at the end of their life.
Symbols such as the CE mark and the crossed-out wheeled bin show how this quiet object on a bedside table is tied into European rules on product safety and recycling.

Story & Details

A small cylinder with a long story

Across many homes in Europe, compact diffusers now sit on shelves and bedside tables, glowing softly and sending out scented mist. One of them is the Deluxa Wellness and Care Oil Diffuser Set with LED Light, a slim cylinder that fits easily in one hand. Inside the box sit the diffuser, a USB-C charging cable, two ten-millilitre bottles of water-based essential oil, and a folded paper leaflet heavy with text in Dutch, French, German, Polish, Czech, Italian, Slovak, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian and English.

The diffuser itself is simple. The casing is made of polypropylene plastic. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery of type 602040, rated at 400 milliampere-hours and 1.48 watt-hours at 3.7 volts, sits inside. Power comes through a USB-C port at five volts and one ampere, and the device draws about five watts when running. A small switch, a mist outlet, a status light and a USB-A socket complete the layout. The supplied fragrance bottles screw directly into a holder inside the body, so there is no open water reservoir to fill or spill.

How the diffuser works

The leaflet explains the routine in short, clear steps. Before first use, the diffuser needs a full charge, which takes roughly a couple of hours. While charging, a light on the lower part of the device blinks; once the battery is full, the light becomes steady blue. When the battery is close to empty, the light turns red.

To use the diffuser, the top cover is twisted off. The cap on a bottle of water-based essential oil is removed, and the bottle is gently screwed into the holder in the base. The device is placed upright and given a light shake so the oil can move into the internal mechanism. The cover goes back on. Sliding the switch down starts the cycle. After a short pause, the device begins to emit brief puffs of mist, spaced roughly three-quarters of a minute apart. After about sixty minutes of this on-off pattern, the diffuser stops automatically even if the switch has not been moved, a small safeguard against forgetting it.

Removing the bottle happens in reverse. The leaflet advises turning off the diffuser, twisting off the cover, then tipping the unit upside down for a short time so that oil drains back into the bottle. The bottle is then unscrewed, any drops around the neck are wiped away with paper, and the bottle is stored upright. The unit is designed to accept compatible water-based oil bottles in sizes of two, five and ten millilitres.

Safety in plain and coded language

The paper spends even more space on what not to do. It asks users to inspect the diffuser and cable before each use and not to operate the device if either is damaged. The unit should be kept out of the reach of children and pets, away from rain, bathrooms and other sources of moisture, and away from open flames, heaters, cookers and similar heat sources. The mist is meant for air, not skin or eyes, so the device must not be aimed directly at a face. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have asthma, other breathing problems or known allergies are advised to be cautious with essential oils and to seek medical advice if unsure.

The oils that come in the box underline the point. One is scented as sandalwood, the other as mint built around eucalyptus and cineole. Both carry long ingredient lists and standard European hazard codes such as H226, meaning the liquid and its vapour are flammable, and H317, indicating that the mixture can cause allergic skin reactions. There are also warnings that spills can be harmful to aquatic life, especially if large quantities reach water systems. The leaflet connects those codes to simple instructions: keep the bottles away from heat and sparks, do not smoke near them, store them in a cool, well-ventilated place, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and wash thoroughly if a spill happens.

Health authorities echo this cautious tone. Public agencies and medical organisations remind readers that essential oils are highly concentrated, can irritate airways when heavily diffused, and can trigger symptoms in people with asthma or chronic lung disease. Several medical sources advise against using these oils on or around babies and very young children and suggest that pregnant people speak with their care team before using them in the home. Others stress that oils should not be swallowed and that even on the skin they should be diluted and patch-tested.

Cleaning, care and the long life of a small battery

The leaflet also looks ahead to the day-to-day upkeep of the diffuser. Before any cleaning, the oil bottle should be removed. The mist outlet is then wiped gently with a cotton bud slightly moistened with mild detergent diluted in alcohol, taking care not to scratch the surface. Over time, tiny droplets can dry around the outlet and form a crust; the guide suggests cleaning the area about once a week so the mist keeps flowing. The outside of the diffuser can be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dried with another clean cloth. If the device will not be used for a while, it should be unplugged and stored in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight.

When the diffuser finally reaches the end of its life, the inside matters as much as the outside. A symbol of a crossed-out wheeled bin on the casing signals that the product and its battery must not go into normal household rubbish. Instead, the paper describes how the lithium-ion cell can be removed by unscrewing two small screws on the base, lifting out the internal insert and carefully taking the battery free. Both the battery and the diffuser body should then go to official collection points for electronic and battery waste.

Behind that bin symbol sits European law. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, known as WEEE, requires that electrical products and their batteries be collected separately from ordinary waste so they can be recycled or treated safely rather than landfilled or incinerated. The same rules explain why the battery symbol often appears with extra letters such as Hg, Cd or Pb when the cell contains more than trace amounts of mercury, cadmium or lead.

Marks that link the living room to Brussels

Another small logo on the diffuser, the familiar CE mark, ties the device to a different set of rules. The letters show that the manufacturer declares the product meets European safety, health and environmental requirements that apply to its category before it is sold in the European Economic Area. The CE mark does not mean a public authority has tested the device, nor does it guarantee quality, but it does indicate that the maker has checked the product against relevant directives such as electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility.

The name printed on the leaflet, Karsten International, identifies a trading company based in Amsterdam that brings many household items into European shops. Its address and website details show how even a modest diffuser is part of a larger network of importers, factories and regulations.

A tiny Dutch lesson in a thick leaflet

The multilingual layout offers a brief window into language as well as safety. On the Dutch pages, the heading “Handleiding” simply means “manual” or “guide”, while “Gebruik” means “use” and “Waarschuwingen” means “warnings”. These short words reflect the style of the rest of the leaflet: direct, practical and easy to scan even for readers who are still building confidence in a new language.

The leaflet itself is printed in small type, but the message that runs through its many columns is clear. Enjoy the light and the scent, but keep the device dry, keep the oils away from flames, and pay attention to how the people in the room feel while it runs. In November 2025, as diffusers, scented candles and sprays continue to fill homes, that cautious tone feels well aligned with what independent health and environmental agencies are saying about essential oils, electronics and waste.

Conclusions

A quiet object with noisy paperwork

On a table, the Deluxa oil diffuser looks calm: a slim cylinder, a faint light, a wisp of mist. The story on paper around it is much louder. The thick leaflet, the hazard codes, the recycling symbols and the CE mark all show how much thought now goes into making a simple comfort item fit within both safety advice and environmental law.

The device is easy to use once the basic routine is known: charge, attach a compatible water-based oil bottle, set it upright, slide the switch and let it run for an hour. The more interesting part lies in the gentle boundaries it sets. It asks users to think about who is in the room, to choose their oils carefully, to watch for irritation, and to treat the gadget responsibly when it finally reaches the end of its short, scented life.

For people who enjoy a light fragrance at home, this small diffuser is a reminder that comfort and care walk together. The warm air in the room may carry sandalwood or mint, but behind the scenes a long chain of science, regulation and translation is working to keep that comfort as safe and sustainable as possible.

Selected References

Background on European product marks and recycling

[1] European Commission – explanation of the CE mark and its role in showing that a product placed on the European market meets relevant safety, health and environmental requirements:
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/ce-marking_en

[2] European Union information page on the WEEE label and the meaning of the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol for electrical and electronic equipment that must be collected separately from household waste:
https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/product-requirements/labels-markings/weee-label/index_en.htm

Essential oils and diffuser safety

[3] Mayo Clinic Health System – article on aromatherapy use and safety of essential oils during pregnancy, including advice to avoid ingestion and to discuss diffuser use with a healthcare team:
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/essential-oils-and-pregnancy

[4] Verywell Health – overview of six ways to use essential oils safely, with emphasis on dilution, avoiding ingestion, special care around children and people with respiratory conditions, and checking product quality:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-use-essential-oils-11833129

[5] Mayo Clinic Health System – short video on essential oils during pregnancy, summarising key safety precautions in an accessible visual format:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95Z8hXk71WM

Appendix

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the use of scented plant materials, often in the form of essential oils, to create pleasant smells or to support relaxation and mood. It usually relies on diffusers, sprays or diluted skin application rather than swallowing the oils.

CE mark

The CE mark is a small logo on many products sold in the European Economic Area. It means the manufacturer states that the product meets the European rules that apply to it, such as basic safety, electrical standards and environmental limits for certain substances.

Essential oil

An essential oil is a concentrated liquid made from plants that carries a strong smell, such as lavender, peppermint or eucalyptus. Only a few drops are needed to scent a room, which is why they must be handled with care and often diluted.

Karsten International

Karsten International is a trading company based in the Netherlands that develops and distributes everyday consumer products, including small household gadgets like aroma diffusers, to retailers across Europe.

Lithium-ion battery

A lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable power source used in many phones, tools and small devices. It stores a lot of energy in a small space and needs gentle charging and proper recycling to stay safe and reduce environmental impact.

Mist cycle

A mist cycle is the pattern a diffuser follows as it releases vapour, for example short bursts separated by pauses. The Deluxa diffuser is designed to run these bursts for about an hour and then switch itself off automatically.

Water-based essential oil

A water-based essential oil for diffusers is a fragrance blend formulated so that it can be nebulised or sprayed without leaving thick residues. It is different from pure, undiluted essential oil and is matched to specific devices that can handle its consistency.

WEEE symbol

The WEEE symbol is the small crossed-out wheeled bin that appears on electrical equipment and batteries. It tells users not to throw the product into normal rubbish but to take it to a dedicated collection point so materials can be recovered and hazardous parts handled safely.