The Unforgiven - Elisa Velasco

We don’t need to be forgiven

AHOLIDAY

DESTINATIONTOMISS THISSUMMER

Better if you stay away from it

The key to world peace:

INTOLERANCE

More unforgiven stories on the inside...

The Little Mermaid, the Author and Us

You Can Quit Perfectionism Too

Why You Shouldn’t Visit these Islands

Being Intolerant

THIS MONTH'S INSIGHT

Hans Christian Andersen left traits of his personality such as a taste for singing or suffering for love in one of his most famous tales, ‘The Little Mermaid’. In it, he also incorporated his vision of the world Hans said that of all the stories he wrote, “The Little Mermaid” was the one that moved him the most while he was writing it because in many ways for him the life of the sea princess identified with his own life and experiences. ‘The Little Mermaid’ is a story about moving from one level to another. She went from having the most beautiful voice in the kingdom and being the talk of the town as one of the king’s daughters to having to sacrifice all of that to fulfil her dream. It is so easy to identify oneself with either Hans or the mermaid because who has not given something up for their dream? In this review, I will comment on how we can still relate to this almost 200-year-old tale.

Andersen, much like the sea princess in the story, faced the challenge of leaving his family to pursue a career, mirroring his journey to Copenhagen for a career in the Royal Theater. We see how nowadays people leave their homes and families to escape from wars and difficult political scenarios looking for greater opportunities in life The main theme of the tale is undoubtedly the longing for a world of which you are not a part. We can find many parallels between Andersen’s life and the mermaid’s through the story. The sacrifice of her voice to achieve her dreams is linked to Andersen’s dismissal from the Royal Theater for being too tall. The societal constraints represented by the sea witch echo the romantic society that imposed its standards on Andersen, hindering his artistic fulfilment Sacrifice emerges as a recurring theme, exploring what one must endure or relinquish for love or a dream.

The ultimate sacrifice occurs when the prince marries another, shattering the mermaid's dream of marrying him and attaining an immortal soul. In contemporary society, there is a constant quest to achieve a kind of "immortal soul " In a world dominated by technology and instant information, many aspire to leave a lasting mark on the world, whether through professional achievements, family legacies or contributions to the community. This scenario might be related to Andersen's solitude in life but achieving immortality through his writings. This quest for transcendence and meaning reflects the human need to feel connected to something greater than oneself, an aspiration that resonates deeply with the story Yet, like her, we often face challenges and sacrifices on our path to symbolic immortality, forcing us to question the true meaning of eternity and self-fulfilment in the modern world.

What resonates with me most about "The Little Mermaid" is the bittersweet essence that permeates the narrative, as the protagonist navigates the challenges and sacrifices on her journey It is this delicate balance between hope and heartache that draws me in every time I revisit the tale. Furthermore, the mermaid's unwavering determination and willingness to give her all, despite the uncertainty of achieving her dreams, resonates deeply with me on a personal level. In her struggles and sacrifices, I see reflections of my aspirations and the obstacles I've faced in pursuit of my goals Through her courage and resilience, the mermaid serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of life and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.

The Little Mermaid, the Author and Us

Dive into the depths of Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' as we unravel its timeless themes of sacrifice, longing, and the pursuit of dreams that resonate with modern-day aspirations.

YOUCANQUIT PERFECTIONISM TOO

Unveil the journey from self-criticism to self-compassion as one of our editors navigates the tumultuous waters of perfectionism, discovering the liberating power of self-acceptance and emotional resilience.

Ever since I can remember I had to give my best in everything I did because people would not love me any other way. I used to think they would abandon me if I were not useful to them, so I ended up becoming my worst enemy. I happened to be constantly evaluating and comparing myself to unrealistically high standards. The social pressure can contribute to self-criticism, creating a destructive internal dialogue that undermined my self-esteem.

My breaking point came when a simple afterschool assignment completely overwhelmed me. The frustration of being unable to achieve impossible goals and the feeling of failure can be powerful allies that leave you completely disarmed. I was very lucky to have a teacher who noticed the situation and was willing to help me regain what was rightfully mine.

HE MADE ME REALIZE THAT THE CONSTANT NEGATIVE SELFEVALUATION WAS UNDERMINING MY CONFIDENCE AND PREVENTING ME FROM ENJOYING MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IT WAS FINALLY THE MOMENT TO MAKE AMENDS WITH THE PAST AND EMBRACE A NEW NARRATIVE OF SELF-COMPASSION AND ACCEPTANCE.

The first step to start changing the negative thought patterns is to acknowledge and question the critical voices in your head, I accepted that perfection was not attainable, and that vulnerability and mistakes were natural parts of life. My teacher told me something that now I always try to remember when writing any piece: something is perfect when it does not lack anything, not when you put more than what you have in it. This became my mantra and I stopped focusing on trying to make things seem better when they were already good enough.

The second step you need to take in the journey towards auto-acceptance is to start using positive affirmations to counteract self-criticism and incorporate self-compassion into your daily routine. I learned to treat myself with the same kindness I would extend to a friend in difficult times, recognizing that self-deprecation was not constructive or necessary. That is the trap of perfectionism, it makes you believe that by trying to be perfect all the time you are a better person but in reality, it only drains your energy and it ends up causing the opposite effect.

ONCE YOU REJECT THIS LITTLE DEMON YOU CARRY ON YOUR SHOULDER, YOU WILL SEE HOW YOUR INTERNAL DIALOGUE CHANGES AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT THIS HAS ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. SELF-ACCEPTANCE NOT ONLY IMPROVED MY SELF-ESTEEM AS NOW I DO NOT FEEL THE NEED TO BE ALWAYS PERFECT TO BE LOVED, BUT ALSO STRENGTHENED MY EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE. LEARNING TO ACCEPT MY IMPERFECTIONS AND MISTAKES ALLOWED ME TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH A MORE POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO GREATER EMOTIONAL STABILITY.

This is how I got out of a toxic relationship with myself and just like my teacher guided me through the process, I wanted to write this so you who are reading this, know that by giving up what you consider to be your biggest strength, you will learn that true strength lies in the acceptance of our humanity and the ability to grow through it.

Kintsugi: the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals, highlighting the beauty of imperfection.

A PARADISE THAT RECEIVES MILLIONS OF TOURISTS EVERY YEAR AND NEEDS YOUR HELP. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS STAY AWAY FROM IT.

WhyYou Shouldn’tVisit TheseIslands

FOR NEARLY 15 MILLION TOURISTS ANNUALLY, THE CANARY ISLANDS STAND AS AN UNDENIABLE PARADISE.

Now that the summer season is approaching, hearts in offices and classrooms alike yearn for a respite from the monotony of daily life, dreaming of distant paradises awaiting discovery Some envision exotic lands adorned with white sand beaches and vibrant cultures, while others seek solace in the tranquillity of remote mountain cabins, warmed by crackling fires amidst snowy peaks. Yet, for nearly 15 million tourists annually, the Canary Islands stand as an undeniable paradise The Canary Islands are an archipelago located near the coast of Western Sahara Despite their African location, these islands are a Spanish region, proudly representing a part of the European Union The archipelago is formed by eight islands, each a gem in its own right: El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

This region attracts millions of tourists every year because of its subtropical climate and the beauty of its landscapes: the islands are home to 146 protected natural spaces This natural patrimony comprehends 300,000 hectares of surface area in which we can find national parks like Timanfaya National Park, in Lanzarote, whose soil is of volcanic origin or natural monuments like the highest point in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic, Mount Teide, a volcano on Tenerife

DESPITE THEIR ALLURE, THE CANARY ISLANDS FACE A PARADOXICAL CHALLENGE.

View of Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote Spain’s official tourism website

A little more than 2 million people live in the Canary Islands and yet, they somehow manage to receive an astonishing number of 9 million tourists every summer, with the British market dominating half of the total annual visitors The influx of foreign tourists during the summer season is so high that it is much easier to hear people speaking English or German in the streets than Spanish. Just so you get how critical is the situation, there are almost 5 tourists for every islander.

In 2020, there were more than 750 hotels in the territory of the islands (excluding Airbnbs and vacation homes, which are all over the territory) The landlords with the most properties in the Canary Islands aren’t usually Canary, but foreigners whose only goal is to make as much money as possible That’s why is almost impossible to rent, let alone, buy a house or flat if you are a local.

Hotels in the Canary Islands Getty Images

In addition to this matter, the Canary Islands are the second poorest region of Spain, salaries are laughable and like in the rest of the world, paradise or not, everything has gotten a lot more expensive over the last few years, making Canary people even poorer Foreigners are the only ones who make enough income to be able to buy properties in the Canary Islands, increasing the prices of everything Landlords take advantage of this and make their prices unreachable for locals This whole situation makes it impossible for the islanders to live on their own islands and most of the population is being gradually forced to live in other territories from Spain or even other countries in Europe.

According to the results from a study conducted by the Department of Quantitative Methods in Economics of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, it seems that tourists coming from the UK and Germany are not affected by overcrowding yet

WHEREAS THE ISLANDERS CANNOT SUSTAIN MORE TOURISTS

and some of them are urging the users in Twitter to not come to their islands this summer season

View of Puerto de la Cruz with the Mount Teide in the back, Tenerife Getty Images

The Canary Islands can’t take more tourism but there are other areas in Spain looking for people to visit them as beautiful as the subtropical islands, offering respite without the strain, that you can visit this summer. One of them is Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) in the Southwest of Spain, where you will find hidden coves with crystal-clear turquoise waters and international competitions of windsurfing and kiteboarding In Costa de la Luz you can also enjoy activities such as whale watching, horse riding and golf

If your idea of paradise includes mountain landscapes too, you should check Asturias and Cantabria These two regions in the North of Spain are known for their stunning natural attractions including green sceneries, mountains, and breathtaking beaches. Places like Llanes, Ribadesella and Comillas should be on your bucket list for this summer

The Canary Islands is a paradise without a doubt for its locals and many tourists but if governments, corporations and we, individuals, don’t start behaving sustainably, we might lose it forever into the wilde Abyss.

Bolonia Beach, Tarifa. Spain’s official tourism website.

Llanes, Asturias Getty Images

Eurovision should be intolerant

Eurovision Song Contest is that musical event that happens for one week in May every year and manages to achieve an incredible number of more than 150 million viewers from all around the world Different countries from Europe (and beyond because Australia participates too) compete with original songs and performances in a live broadcast where viewers vote to determine the winner. Eurovision is a prestigious music competition that is supposed to bring together countries as a celebration of diversity and music however this year many Eurofans (the name of the followers of the contest) and outsiders alike are displeased with Israel participating.

When the war in Ukraine started in 2022, Russia was banned from participating in the contest and is still banned. Large events like Eurovision are the perfect occasion to make an issue visible as a lot of people from everywhere around the world have their eyes on them. If we give visibility to a problem, people will want to do something to change the situation Despite Eurofans’ expectations for similar action regarding Israel amidst the Gaza situation, the song festival defends that they are an apolitical contest and therefore every country has the right to participate regardless of whatever is going on in their territories

Loreen, winner of Eurovision in 2023

Yes, the whole situation does not make sense The reason why people believe Eurovision allows Israel to participate every year is because the main sponsor of the contest is Moroccan Oil, an Israeli beauty products company that sells hair and skin products. It is a win-win situation: Eurovision gets the funds to hold the competition every year in exchange for letting Israel show the world with their performance that they are just like every other civilized European country that does not displace almost 2 million people from their houses This association fuels perceptions of hypocrisy, as Eurovision seemingly prioritizes financial gain over its stated values of inclusivity and tolerance.

As a response to the negative of banning Israel from the competition, Eurofans are determined to boycott the contest by watching it on pirate websites or not watching it at all. The decision to boycott the event reflects a broader trend in activism, where individuals use their consumer power to express dissent and demand accountability from institutions However, the effectiveness of such boycotts remains contested, with some questioning whether they truly lead to tangible change or merely serve as symbolic gestures. Ultimately, the Eurovision controversy highlights the complexities of navigating moral principles within the realm of global entertainment.

The paradox of tolerance suggests that a tolerant society must be intolerant of intolerance to maintain its principles. Eurovision should have followed what they did with Russia 2 years ago and should have been intolerant of Israel’s intolerance. The contest has sold to Morrocan Oil and Israel what they used to stand for, diversity and fellowship between countries, by failing to consider what Palestine is going through.