And here we are, my turn, by *Stefano* aka Michele Lancia @CriptoItaTrade !!

First of all, for those who are unsure of what this article is about, Riley Q. took the initiative to start a Coil Challenge, and here are the details:

As Stefano says, “Hey hey heeeey!!” ... I will use his trademark to let you know we are going to get started soon 😉. But first, I want to say a bit about Stefano. He has become such a great friend to me – I consider him famiglia, from the other side of the world! I highly recommend you check out Stefano's articles sharing his thoughts, and especially his videos showing weekly updates on the crypto market!

Grazie, Stefano, for the challenge!❤️

Now, let's get to it, “Sandrina! My questions for you are:”

1. If you could choose to be a creature/animal (you can choose even a fantasy one) who would you be and why?

This here, is something I have really been pondering, and I seriously believe I would choose...a dragon. A dragon? But why in the world would you want to be a dragon?! I get it, not the cutest creature or nicest by all means, but I do have my reasons ...

When I think of a dragon, I think of **beauty**. I think of **power**. I think of **life**.

Source

I think of how people “fear” dragons. In today's society, there is so much hatred and violence. Ugh, it makes me sick. There is so much bullying going around, not only in the school systems, but in real life situations as well.

In my past, I have been taken advantage of, and I guess we all have at some point. But call me sensitive, I always seemed to get trapped in my own emotions and feelings (and truth be told, still do at times). At least with a dragon, I could let out some of the build up. I could “stand up” for myself (and my family and friends).

As a dragon, you wouldn't have that fear anymore...wouldn't it be awesome, if someone just “looked” at you, and ran away, knowing that they couldn't harm you?! Knowing that they couldn't control you?!

Think of it as in Game of Thrones and Daenerys Stormborn (Mother of Dragons). Seriously, wow, right? Those three dragons protected her! Yes, she made some bad decisions at the end; however, it IS a show!😉

Source

Those dragons would do anything for her. And yet, they were also tame at times. I like to think of it as me – protecting my children – being there for them and trying to guide them through the harsh times in life. Even though we need to learn how to defend ourselves, there are times when we feel so powerless.

I think as a dragon, I would have the ability to be both tame and fierce, when I needed to be. Even if it was just for one day, to be that big beautiful creature, and all those people who hurt you (or your loved ones) mentally, emotionally, physically - they are all running away from you now because you have the power. Because you are no longer powerless with your thoughts and your words. Just for that one day ...

I could protect my family in a far away land for hundreds of years, flying over the cities and making sure there was peace, and live happily ever after...

I could, I could, I could...but for now, I do the best I can being a wife, a mom, a stepmom, daughter, sister, aunt, ... and everything else that I am ...

2. How did you become The Mind, Untangled.?

For many years, since I left high school, I wrote poetry, and have always wanted to write a book. 😳

Since about ten years ago, I wanted to start my own blog. I wanted to speak and share my thoughts with the world. I wanted to try and make a difference in other peoples' lives, but there was always just so much going on in my life – single mom, no longer working, no driver's license, etc. etc. – I don't want pity, I'm just saying. I've had a lot of dark times, and I needed to turn things around.

But I was always too scared. I always thought, “what are people going to think?” “What if....” There were just TOO many insecurities going on in my head, but then one night, I said I'm going to do it. I set up my Facebook account and other social media, and voila. I shared my story and it really kicked off from there. It's amazing how many people reached out to me. I have sold many copies of my book, I have my own (as my girls would call it) MERCH, and here I am, always untangling my mind!! I have been honoured to speak at a few venues – sharing my story, talking about anxiety, autism, differences. And trust me, it hasn't been easy, my mind is a very busy place and I am constantly thinking about all the little things, which really, shouldn't even be crossing my mind!

Here is a link to my first post – Staying Strong, even through the darkness... for those who haven't read it and aren't sure what I'm all about! I share my story, and it is explained in more detail!!

Basically, I wanted to share my story and talk about Mental Health – help people who are going through dark times. Because I KNOW we are NOT alone in this big world! I'm not a psychologist, but I share my own personal experiences.

By me making a difference in someone's life, it makes me feel good that I am helping them. And truth be told, it helps me – it reminds me that we all have our challenges and that we just need to keep pushing forward, as hard as it may be. Easier said than done, yes, but it's a matter of trying to stay focused on the positive instead of dwelling on the negative...

3. If you have just one single shot to the lamp’s Genie, what it would be?

*Source*

Seriously, Stefano, ONE shot only?!

Okay, well...

I wish I could take away the mental, emotional, and physical pain of bullying away.

I wish children weren't so harsh on each other – so mean to each other. It breaks my heart to see and hear about the way children are treated in school, and even outside of school.

And sadly, it doesn't seem to change.

No, I wouldn't ask for a cure for my vision loss, if that's what you were thinking. I have come to the point where I can handle this. I have the right support by my side, and, it's life.

My children – they come first. They are the ones who will live on. I want them to be ready, to be happy, to have everything they desire in life. I want them to be treated with respect, kindness, love, and compassion. I need them to learn how to stick up for themselves and how to excel at the things they want to do.

If I could have all the bullying and crap taken out of this world to make their lives better, even if that means not being able to see – then so be it. If it means me saving someone else's life because they didn't have to go through depression and anxiety, thinking suicide was the only way out, then yes, my wish is to take away the bullying because it's not nice. It's not cool. And it makes people feel worthless and unaccepted. It's nonsense.

Okay, I have to stop talking about this now, I'm getting too wound up here...it's such a passionate topic for me...

Source

4. What is your favorite recreational activity?

CHESS wins this one! I love playing chess when I get the chance! I will play it either with my husband or my daughters. It's a challenge, and it's a game I can play that doesn't involve using my vision too much, but it sure does make me THINK a lot!!

I came up with this quote below, and the picture is taken from my chess set at home.

We all make mistakes, whether it be in a relationship, as a parent, friendships, or in a job. We ALL make wrong choices, but you know what? We have to learn from these things. Sometimes, we don't know until it is too late; BUT, we still have another chance to make things better. To make things right, as much as we can!

Life isn't perfect, and no one is perfect. They can be perfect in our own eyes, but in reality, our choices and decisions in life mold us into who we are. We try and we may succeed, BUT, we may also fail. It doesn't mean we just give up...we have to keep trying!

Stefano – The Mind, Untangled. is because I always have so many things going on my mind, right? I was always so scared to share my thoughts. I was the one who would lie in bed under the covers. I've gone into over-panic mode, where I have screamed, I have cried, I have shaken so bad causing me to throw up. Sweaty palms. I have had those moments, and I still have those moments sometimes, but I am getting better at handling it.

I just take it a day at a time. I don't want people to feel that they have to “hide”. Hiding doesn't do any of us good. It's okay to fail in life, but it's not okay to treat people like they are worthless. It's not nice to take people for granted.

If I was that dragon – I could live for hundreds of years, and try to make things right. Right now, I'm just a girl offering hope out there to those who are seeking it.

My goal is to help make this world a better place. I wish peace and harmony. Kindness. Love. Compassion. All of it. And for now, I will enjoy this life, with my girls and family – with what I can see, with what I can do, and with every day that is given to me. Life is too short to be wasted on people that don't show kindness, empathy, or gratification. Life is too short to allow the negative overpower the positive. Know what I mean?

We all are equal. There is no better, no less. We all try to do the best we can – and for some – it is easier than others, but that doesn't make us any less.

Different, not less.

- Temple Grandin

And with that, I will end this by following the rules, and passing four new questions to someone of my choice! I pass this on to Christian Rizea, also known as Dr. Chris. He is someone who I have had some small conversation with, and I am eager to learn more! ❤️

Dr. Chris, let's untangle your mind – here are my questions for YOU:

1. When was a time that you struggled in your life, and what did you do to overcome it (or, how did you overcome it)?
2. How long have you been a Psychologist, and what motivated you to pursue that as a career?
3. What do you like to do in your spare time?
4. Have you ever done motivational speaking, and if you were to now, in this day, what would be your main focus, and why?

Thank you everyone for reading and joining us on this Coil Challenge! Below in Subscriber Section I share a video that I look at from time to time ... but first:

Also, I did a quick check on where we were at with the challenge – here is how the list goes!

Riley Q.

Patricia C.

Adam Waring – Aussie Ninja

Patricia B.

Dani Torres

NickelNDime

Seth Stanley

XRPtheStandardProductions

Michael B.

Randal C – Crypto Pilot

Ramon Ramentol – Moncho

Niels

Srdan Vocanec

Michele Lancia

Sandra Scala – The Mind, Untangled.

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

Today, I will share a poem I wrote:

Today, I do love you.

As I did, yesterday.

And I will, tomorrow.

In each, every way.

I don’t want, nor I need,

flowers, chocolates, or wine.

They don’t mean a thing to me,

So long as you’re mine.

It’s the look in your eyes.

It’s the touch of your lips.

It’s the way you hold on tight,

your arms wrapped ‘round my hips.

It’s the small things that count,

When you know what to do.

It’s the way our days shift,

So I do not feel blue.

So, thank you, my love.

For being here with me.

With you I feel whole,

loved, safe, and carefree.

© Sandra Scala 2019

Yes, Valentine's Day comes once a year and yet, we somehow tend to make it that “extra special”.

However - Unconditional love just doesn't happen on one particular day. It is to be experienced every day, and shown in the little ways that we can...

To love a person is to see all of their magic and to remind them of it when they have forgotten.

- Unknown

Remind that special someone just how magical they are to you...sometimes I believe people forget. They forget just how special and magical love can be.

Appreciating who we have in our lives, and for the things we have in our lives, is always so important. Not taking all the little things for granted – showing empathy, understanding, and kindness, is also so important. It helps to keep things alive and happy, and . ❤️

Let your significant other know just how much they mean to you. It shouldn't be just today, but every day!

Have a beautiful day, all! ❤️

And for Coil Subscribers, I published a video of me playing the piano and singing – just for you! Check it out on my Cinnamon Channel:

https://www.cinnamon.video/watch?v=254328235385423557

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

Header Image Source

This interview has been in the works for a while, and I introduce you to the sensitive side of Colin the Crypto Ocelot aka “A lost prince from a faraway Kingdom”!!

Colin and I started conversation after we connected on Twitter. During a video chat, the conversation turned to “The Mind, Untangled.”, and so I asked him, “Would you be interested in an interview, to untangle your mind?!”

His response was, “I'm coming out the other side of a very protracted rough patch which isn't always easy to talk about. It’s part of what drove me to start writing.”

I didn’t want to pressure him, since my interviews are only if the other person feels comfortable with sharing their story, which yes, means exposing some of their personal life.

Colin: What you are doing is an interesting one – I don't really go into great detail about what happened to me along the way. I spent a long time in a room under a blanket on anti-depressants telling myself this was my lot in life.

I got acid attacked in 2010 after years of nightmare neighbors and a never-ending drug fueled party. We had about 6 months peace before it started with a load of foreign guys who turned it into a party house again. It’s a long story, and a lot more stressful and nastier than I've made it sound.

I finally pulled my head out of my arse about a year ago. It's knackered work, it's destroyed any career in financial services and it's changed me. I'm crawling out the other side, slowly but I'm getting there.

It’s VERY rare I mention this to anyone on social media. Most know me as the funny, gruff bloke who knows some stuff and doesn't put up with much bullshit. I'm not 100% sure I want to spill the beans on me. I wasn't prepared to sit about feeling sorry for myself wishing I wasn't around anymore taking 4 pills a day.

Sandra: Wow, thank you for opening up to me, and I would never share any of your life story unless you gave me permission! It wasn't easy for me to start sharing my story and I'm not nearly done; but, so many people go through it. They go through life feeling helpless and hopeless. I'm not implying you're going through that, I'm just saying that I've been there, and, I've seen it elsewhere ... You're strong for being able to stand today and keep pushing through!!!

C: Like I said, it's deliberately not the impression I give people. I'm ex-rugby and Muay Thai too, so couple that physical size with my glibness and no one notices. Fairly easy to hide it if you know how. Unfortunately, that doesn't last. As we know. I found myself comparing other peoples’ problems to mine as being much worse, so mine were negligible. That’s still the case today, but I'm more at peace with it than I was even last year.

I don't talk about the vulnerable bits often. Those two sports are not vulnerability sharers. To add to that, I don't have any family, so the usual support networks you might expect aren't there. I'm very used to dealing with stuff on my own without help and without sharing any of my problems. I hit a point where I got really f^*ked off with it all and had to change.

S: Out of the blue question – are you married? I understand when you say it's easy to hide, and I agree also that it doesn't last. As I mentioned when we were chatting, it's like a mask that we wear...

C: Not married but we’ve been together 15 years with the missus. We've both had some shit. She's a lot more resilient than I am. Yeah, she's a goodie. Anyway, that's why I don't really talk about me as me. I don't like to be thought of as weak and that's how I was for a long time.

This is how Colin and I left things for about a week. I wanted to share this piece of conversation though, because it shows vulnerability. It shows that even though we can “wear a mask” and hide our true feelings at times helping us to believe we are strong, we really do have our moments where we cannot deal with our emotions, our tangled minds, and/or even society.

**This is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a sign of inner strength, courage, and belief.**

Some time after that, Colin reached out to me…

C: Hi Sandra, I hope you’re good. I’ve been having a think about The Mind, Untangled., and I wanted to know a little bit more about it. I was thinking about our conversation last week over the weekend. At some point I have to get over myself and accept certain frailties that exist – however much they suck. No point being embarrassed about my history for the rest of my natural life. Anyway, if you want to mind untangle me, you’re welcome to try.

S: 😂 OMG! I thought you were mad at me for talking to you!!

C: No – don’t be daft. I would have said if you had!

S: 😂 Okay!

C: Like I said, no point me being embarrassed about any of it. It happened and it f^*king sucks but there is dick all I can do about it. The flip side to feeling like a worthless POS is that it took upwards of three people and two flasks of acid to lay me low. Then more years and years of shit and lost sleep to finally break me.

It takes a while to dig yourself out of that and make sense of it all if you're on your own for a lot of it. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

S: And Like I said before, you are so strong to be able to share it today and keep pushing through!!

After some more chatting back and forth, I asked my starting point question, “Can you tell me a bit about yourself? Who you are, what you do, your passions, family background.”

C: I am not your average escaped mental patient. I am taller for starters. My real name isn't Colin and I'm not an Ocelot. I started this account up to learn a bit more about what Crypto I had invested in.

At the moment, writing is what I do full time and I'm finding my feet with it although I have a couple of other Crypto themed projects I am working on. I used to play rugby and took up Muay Thai after I had to retire through injury. I still play StarCraft 2, which has been a 20 year love affair for me and is what my tattoo sleeve is made up of.

I don't have any family that I'm in contact with although as I mentioned, I've been with my fiancée for 15 years, and I have a dog (Lenny) and 2 kittens (Mac and Gus).

Lenny

Mac

Gus

My work history is very mixed. I started off working in the late 90s for recruitment agencies and major financial institutions in London – a few of the names that get thrown around on Crypto Twitter. I've sat around a few tables most don't get to.

I lived in New Zealand for a year playing rugby out there in 2003, and I've done just about everything from banking to bar work.

I was diagnosed with PTSD and Anxiety after an acid attack on my front doorstep in 2010. I've struggled since then, but it really came to a head in 2014 when I almost took my own life. I've spent the last 6 years fighting my way back from that point.

I'm by no means out the other side but I'm more at peace with how I am. It's difficult as my intellect works against me – think of it like white blood cells getting too enthusiastic and attacking the body – so I found myself believing my worst thoughts for too long. That still happens, but I'm a bit better at managing the worst days than I was. It's a slow and frustrating process.

S: ☹️ Did the acid leave permanent damage? Mentally and emotionally, yes, but physically?

C: I have a couple of scars but nothing critical. I'm First Aid trained and was close to my shower, so the worst didn't happen. Nowhere near as bad as some people have it, but I got a few small burns.

S: And how did that happen? Or why did it happen? Are you okay talking about it?

C: I'm not, but I'm getting better at talking about it. Life isn't all roses and there is no point pretending to be something I'm not for this talk.

How did it happen – Years and years of teenage parties which got out of control. It was a 24/7 party house. We had that for almost three and a half years and Police and Local Authority still weren't doing anything about it until the attack. The real f^*ker was the constant parties and there are only so many times you lose a night sleep before you finally crack. Nine months after that, we got further problems from the same place with a load of guys – women beaters, drunks, addicts – they used to throw puke and shit at our place. It did, though, turn into an adult party house rather than drugged up teenagers.

That's what finally broke me. Constant intimidation, never ending loss of sleep and nothing being done. I couldn't face standing up to 30 or 40 drunk guys down on my own again. So yeah – it's a sunny tale filled with rainbows and unicorns and stuff.

S: And you're still standing! And, you have your fiancée there with you!

C: Yup – I'm lucky in a lot of ways. I just needed to wake up to that.

S: You mentioned that you almost took your own life in 2014. What was going through your mind at that time? How did you avoid that situation and what would you suggest to others?

C: 2014 – What was going through my mind. I had no other choice. I couldn't bear how things were for a moment longer. I wasn't working so I was at home all the time and had no money. I wasn't sleeping or eating, and I didn't want to be indoors any longer with music pounding through the walls. I got told it didn't matter to anyone one too many times by the local Council who still refused to act after almost four years when I rang them for the daily report.

I took the dog out with me and walked for miles, no real direction or destination in mind. My dog was by my side for all the worst times and he went everywhere with me. But even he wasn't helping me keep it together anymore. I took him home and went out again.

**Snoop**

I walked past a few bridges and some other prospective points. I thought about train tracks or getting some drugs and OD'ing. I still don't know what stopped me, truthfully it felt like cowardice and that I might even f^*k up my own death. That's how low you can sink, when you can't even do that.

My advice is ALWAYS to talk to someone before you get to the point that I reached. If no one knows how you're feeling, they can't help you as you need. The perception of me is that I am a big, tough bloke so I'm always fine no matter what. I NEVER talked about how I was with anyone…I was too ashamed of being thought of as weak or letting people down.

S: I'm so glad you're here today to share your story, and you didn't go down the wrong path...

C: It still comes close very often. I’m a bit better at learning to shut out the worst of it. Thank you.

S: So now you are where you are – you blog on Coil...and Patreon. How has this improved your life? What do you hope for? How much are you interacted with the Coil and XRP Community?

Also, what are your hobbies (besides Rugby)? Do you find that your dog and kittens help with your anxiety?

C: I am where I am. Blogging on Coil and writing a book. It’s improved my life because it’s given me an outlet. I get to write and publish the nonsense that is in my head. And there is a lot of nonsense. I spent a very long time with no hope for the future, feeling like dirt.

2019 was the year that I started to make a change. I am a bit of a black sheep when it comes to the XRP Community. It’s a very divisive subject but I am a big believer that you find your tribe in life. My work history means that I don’t subscribe to some of the wildest theories about the price.

My time in competitive sports is done and has been for some time. This has meant that I’ve had to find alternative outlets. Dog walking is a lot more sedentary. There was a point in time when I wouldn’t leave the house without the dog or someone with me. It was a huge help to have a companion with me.

When you don’t want to tell anybody as to why you have missed an event, a birthday, or just a night out, it becomes easier over time to shut the world out. I spent a long time isolated and on my own because I shut the world out. The dog that I relied on for this sadly died in October, 2018. The new dog helps although he doesn’t know it. The cats are currently causing anxiety rather than helping it!

S: Yes, it's easy to get into a dark spot, and yes, also to find reasons to avoid society. Blogging definitely does help with “letting go” of the thoughts that tangle the mind!

Thank you so much for your time, Colin. I hope that I haven’t caused too much stress talking about this and sharing your story, but I believe that what you have been through, others may be able to relate to it as well.

You are definitely not alone! You have shared a vulnerable side of you, yet you show us that you are not weak, by speaking out and also offering valuable advice! I appreciate you for being so open and honest. ❤️

Below, for Subscribers only, Colin shares something on the crypto side…subscribe to Coil to unlock below! If you would like to comment, please feel free to on Twitter - @minduntangled or @Colinthecrypto1!

Stay strong, even through the dark times, and “let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

Well, I say keep pushing forward. Easy answer, right? Not what you were looking for? And you ask, but how? What did you do? What do you do?

Meh ... It wasn't easy, and it isn't' easy. I still have my days. 🙄 BUT, I have now turned a lot of my interest towards Coil and XRP. Here's the thing about this quote in my header – let me explain...

Maybe you lost a job. Maybe your relationship is breaking down. Maybe you don't have the financial means to do what you want to do. Maybe all your “friends” are talking bad about you. Maybe you lost someone who is dear to you. Maybe you have been faced with a sickness. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

But just because you are feeling broken, doesn't mean that it will stay. It doesn't mean that you can't pick yourself back up, and find something meaningful to do. Just because you are broken, doesn't mean you allow the fear and anxieties to overcome your passion and/or your goals.

You have to find a way to be brave.

You have to find a way to be strong.

Find a way to keep your mind busy and positive with what you have right in front of you. Why? Because trust me, if you allow the negative thoughts, emotions, and feelings to enter into your mind, dammit, sometimes – it can be so hard to get rid of them.

Most of you know – my family is *the most* important thing to me, and are my main focus. I started “The Mind, Untangled.” as a means to give hope, motivation, and inspiration – for those who are going through dark times in their lives, whatever the case may be!

We all have our own battles and demons, and sometimes, we just need a little encouragement. Hell, even I do sometimes!! 😂 But there is a light at the end of the tunnel ...

More recently, I have become so passionate about my writing on Coil. About interviewing people to learn more on how they untangle their minds and keep pushing through those hard times. Allowing them to share their stories so that as a community, we can help each other strive to be our best!

I have become more passionate about Cryptocurrency, mainly focusing on XRP, knowing nothing about it at all – until my husband described to me what it was all about! And let me tell you, I see so much potential! So much growth!! BOTH the XRP and Coil Community have been something I look forward to reading about and learning about!

And so you ask, what is XRP? What is Coil? What in the world is she talking about? Maybe you have heard of it, maybe you haven't.

BUT WAIT!! don't leave yet!!!

I have here an amazing article by Ken Melendez which outlines what you need to know about XRP and RIPPLE! I encourage you to take the time to read it – “The XRP Ledger: Part 3 – XRP” and learn about its potential! In addition, here is Ken's article about Coil, and the “10 Reasons to Start Blogging on Coil.com”.

Maybe this will spark a new interest for you? I'm not sure, but I have made Coil my main platform. It gives me a sense of freedom and “letting go” when I share stories – whether they are mine or someone else's!

And, I will continue to share only my articles on social media so that you can see how Coil has helped change my life, for the positive!

If you like, you can also check out this video from XRPtheStandardProductions:

https://youtu.be/BapSPTkORn4

Have a beautiful day all! And remember, don't give up!

Life can be tough sometimes, it doesn't mean you just say “to hell with it!” NO! You give it ALL you got!! Because I know you've got this! 🥰

If you are interested in sharing your story, you can reach out to me on Twitter!

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

“Would you be interested in an interview?! My articles are about motivating and inspiring those going through tough times in their lives. My interview with you would be to touch on your personal life, and what inspired you to move forward with all you are doing. Also, how you manage your stresses while balancing your family life .. and also, if there were any low times in your life and how you were able to move on, putting it behind you ....”

When it got hard, I was just really lucky with opportunities given and the people around me.

- Wietse Wind

The above, is how I approached Wietse about doing an interview, to “untangle his mind, and set it free”! And here, an amazing conversation (which I am happy to share with you now), where he shares personal life experiences as well as his thoughts and future goals!

Sandra:

First things first, can you tell me a bit about yourself? Who you are, what you do, your passions, family background.

Wietse:

I guess I'm just “some dude” in The Netherlands, 32 years old, started playing around with computers age 9 (bio). I grew up in a loving family with two little sisters (so I know more about braiding hair than typical boy childlike mischief).

I loved to “hack” things at a really young age: opening doors with custom made fake “card locks” (hotels), etc. Loved to take devices apart, solder them into new things, etc. I remember soldering a hidden circuit to turn off my computer screens when my parents walked up the stairs (infrared gate) at age 14, so I could code in the middle of the night without being caught when my parents would go to bed. (Many, many years later I found out they knew but let me 😋).

I love to garden, things that grow, playing guitar, birds (parrots). However, the gardening and playing guitar suffer from lack of time at the moment. – and of course, I love my wife and daughter. More than anything else in the world. They will always come first. After running mid-sized businesses for many years, I decided to stop that so I could spend more time with my wife and daughter, with as little stress as possible (I don't function really well when stressed 😋).

**S:** It definitely sounds like you have your goals and priorities in place! You say you “don't function well under stress” – in what ways can you best describe that?

And also, because of staying up late to code and doing all the little things (such as hacking), you have succeeded at such a young age, with iPublications, and now XRPLLabs (XRPTipBot, and XUMM). Have there been any downfalls and/or rejections? How has this made you feel and what have you done to overcome these negative moments in your life? Is there a philosophy you live by such as “everything happens for a reason”?

**W:** Thanks, I try to. 😊 When stressed (and that happens easily, like this morning when the contractor, plumber, parcel delivery, waking daughter, etc. all need input, care, etc. within minutes), I tend to forget things, miss things, switch to last-in-first-out, etc.

Same for example writing a line of code, while someone asks me a question (while in the middle of the coding), while the phone starts ringing: I'll fail at all three at the same time.

I always gave myself until my 30th to give as much time and energy to building my businesses. I always bootstrapped them, and at age 30 that everything I did and tried, while I had great times, learned a lot, made a good living, in the end it brought me simply too much stress.

If, at the end of the week my colleagues (employees) went home and an important customer had a problem, I'd fix it. (I prefer to refer to them as colleagues, I never really liked being the boss, still the developer that started a business instead of the businessman that knows how to code). If a customer tried to screw me over, it would still hurt me. If a prospect was in deep shit and I knew my company could fix things by coding a tool or integration for them, I'd try to build it myself if all employees were already working on other stuff.

Some of the stress I could eliminate, but by doing so I would also eliminate parts I loved. Other things I could not eliminate, and those were the things that took too much energy I wanted to spend on my family. When my wife and I were expecting Arwèn, our first child, I realized **I had to make some hard changes**. For my family, for me, for my quality of life. Affected employees found new jobs, and I was without a job for a while. I wanted to take at least a year, but then I caught the XRPL virus. 😉

Regarding philosophy: I don't believe in everything happens for a reason, but I do believe in the combination with “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger”. There are many hard, some even shitty things that happened, and I don't believe it was for some good reason; however, I learned from those things. Gained some experience. You forget about the rough edges and they shape you. I am currently in a really good place, both with XRPL Labs as with my family, and I wouldn't have been able to get here if it wasn't for both the hard work, challenges and ugly experiences I had as well.

**S:** Wow!! Yes, you learned fast and hard to get where you are, and that is truly amazing! Some people get discouraged very easily, but with the right support (as in your case, your teacher, parents and now, wife), it keeps you going to get where you want to be. And especially now, your daughter as well gives you that motivation!

I guess when you see how far you've come, and all the “bad” crap you've had to deal with, it prepares you for today. And you can look back and say, “Yes, I did this. I created this!!” It's an unbelievable accomplishment!!

If you were to meet eye to eye with your bullies today – how would you react to them?

**W:** Well, the “bad” stuff definitely gets overshadowed by the good stuff, the experiences and by being able to look back in my current situation. So no grudges or hard feelings here. Thank you.

If I would meet eye to eye, I wouldn't have much to say to them. The polite hello, and that's about it. I don't think they were to blame, or maybe just a little. It's their parents and teachers at the time allowing them to go on, instead of teaching them boundaries and right and wrong.

They understood my decisions and are all in a good place, so no hard feelings and lots of good memories.

**S:** Yes, I agree, I believe the parents and teachers have a BIG role in how children treat others ... about acceptance and respect. Unfortunately, some just don't want to reach out and sometimes, go down the wrong path.

And what about those friends you had to let go, do you ever talk to them, or do you just “let it go” and continue with life?!

**W:** Some of them I never speak again (and I don't intend to, they really screwed me over). However, I still talk to a bunch of them (about 10), and we have dinner and drinks every now and then, like a reunion. That's always really nice. We weren't only colleagues, we became good friends.

**S:** Yes, we need to surround ourselves with the people who uplift us and support us, rather than the ones who screw us over or bring us down!

Now, on to the Cryptocurrency side of things – you mentioned you caught the XRPL virus. How did you discover XRP? Did you first discover Bitcoin and then discover XRP? What are your goals and what do you hope to achieve?

**W:** I did some BTC mining on the living room iMac back in the days (2011 (?)) for fun, and played around with it. Thought it was interesting, and then moved on with my life. 😉

In 2016 I randomly clicked a clip where David Schwartz was talking about Ripple/XRP/IoV and I decided to check the technology. I was connected to a Ripple provided node in just a few minutes, querying and submitting transactions. *Now that was mind blowing!*

Finally – a piece of technology that's easy to implement, low fees, fast, etc. and I could see technology like that changing payments and sending value across the world.

What I hope to achieve... Happiness. Mostly. Having fun with friends and this technology we are working with. But that fun doesn't just come from coding and playing around, that's also about *building something, sparking something.* Getting other people to start working with this technology as well. Try to contribute to the ecosystem. Build a platform that may help others to put this technology to work, etc.

Even if this all leads nowhere, at least we tried. If I look back 10 years from now at years of learning, having fun coding, making friends, building products, sharing this journey with the community, it was well worth it. It would mean maybe other technologies caught up (or any other reason), but friendships, gained experience, insights, etc. will stay.

That being said: I *do* think we are working with technology that is far from exhausted, and I *do* think we will be building more, starting more businesses and collaborate with even more awesome people from the XRP community.

**S:** This is so great, and you are right – the friendships, the experiences, the insights – it all stays! I love your mindset, your outlook, and passion through it all!! Truly amazing!

And one last question to wrap this up – you had mentioned that your grandmother would be able to use XUMM ... Can you elaborate?

W: Well, I like to compare it to the regular banking experience.

Setting up the online banking app will be hard for her, so that's where she'll need help (install app from app store, sign in, activate device, etc). But once installed and activated, she can send money by accepting a request, or opening a link, confirming the transaction by approving with FaceID/fingerprint.

I want XUMM to be able to do exactly that: allowing her (or people like her) to use the low fee and fast features of crypto, without the app feeling like a crypto currency wallet, without adding any geeky things.

I'm under no illusion the entire world will use crypto payments, but at least we can improve the existing crypto wallet experience with a factor 10, or 100. 😊

And the release of XUMM is near, and yes: it definitely took (a lot) longer than we anticipated. That's mostly because we returned to the drawing board (both user interface and technology) a number of times, because we really want to get this right. We really want to deliver that user experience (once setup, and even the setup has to be less prone to user error).

I am sure the XUMM we will soon release lives up to that promise.

**S:** Oooh, I'm excited!! Sounds promising, as I'm sure it will be!

W: I think we made exactly what's (absolutely) necessary for developers, retail, e-commerce, IOU issuers, etc. to allow consumers to pay and businesses / friends and family to get paid. To really *use* the XRPL and finally use more awesome features of the XRPL. I hope our developments will spark just that.

S: A BIG congrats to you for all that you've accomplished, and for the continued time and effort you put into it now!! You have kept positive throughout everything you've set your mind to, and it really is so great to see this.

Your confidence, your mindset, your skills and the fact that you're easy-going and passionate – it's what makes you, YOU. And it has gotten you so far in life! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

W: Thank you, and my pleasure!

Here’s a picture while on a summer holiday – Pepper and Wietse working on something XRPL related in 2016:

For more info, here are the links:

https://wietse.com (social links on homepage)

https://coil.com/u/wietse

https://youtube.com/WietseWind

https://twitter.com/WietseWind

AND – Ramon Ramentol (aka Moncho) had an Interview with Wietse Wind in his series “The Blab” back in October. You can find it here, where you will learn even more!

COIL SUBSCRIBERS: A bonus question below (hint: Twitter & XRPTipBot) and some of my thoughts! Subscribe to Coil here to unlock the content! Thank you for reading!!

Connect with me on Twitter if you are interested in “untangling your mind, and setting it free…”!

I am writing this letter to our two pups we had to give to new homes, and also for my girls to truly understand how sorry I am ...

Dear Molly and Nova,

That day in November, two years ago, we came to your home to see you, and we were only supposed to get one of yous. But no – we fell in love with pretty much your whole family...INSTANTLY!

I was lucky enough to convince Mark, “Oh, but just one for the kids! Pleeeaasseee!!!” But not only did we get one of you – we got both of you – two sisters for two sisters!! What was I thinking?!

But you were just so. darn. cute. ...

Presa Canario crossed with Lab and Border-Collie

So we brought you home, after buying two full size cages.

Eventually, a big water tank for all three of yous (let's not forget Mimi), dog leashes and collars, and a big bag of dog food!

Mimi - Flat-coat Retriever

However, as the days went by, it got harder and harder. You needed so much attention, and I knew you would.

So we found a home for you, Nova. A good friend of ours took you, and he has brought you up really well! And Molly, later, we found a home for you as well!

You see, you didn't see me crying, trying to catch my breath. I was torn. I loved you. And the kids all loved you.

But I cried – at first, silently. And then, in the arms of my daughter, who also had tears streaming down her face. I felt horrible. I felt like a horrible mother not being able to handle all the stresses. Does that mean I'm weak? How could I not handle pups, I thought?

The girls adored you, they really did. They tried to help out as much as they could, but I became the main caregiver. I had to watch you during the day. I was the one going down twenty-three steps to take you to the bathroom every three hours. As much as they did what they could when they were home, I was still the one ...

No Sleep.

Lack of energy.

Everything was just rising to the boiling point.

I was losing my temper, my patience.

I was losing myself.

And I didn't want that. I mean, WHO DOES?!

I needed my girls to understand that I tried.

I tried so hard. I didn't want to get upset over all the little things. I wanted to enjoy life. I need to enjoy life and be available to my husband, and the kids!

But you, Molly, after having just you...

You became so protective. And so strong.

I couldn't have you dragging the girls all over the place. I couldn't risk the girls getting hurt. And I couldn't risk you harming someone because you loved us so much. You know what I mean?

It was time, and all I can say is, again – I'm sorry.

Don't ever think you weren't loved or wanted in this household.

You were my babies just like my family; but, I had to do what was right. You are both much happier now – Molly on a horse farm, and Nova with 500 acres. You are both in BETTER places.

AND – my children, my family – we are less hectic. It really was the better choice in this situation, and that's the main thing, right?

Love you both, and miss you.

See you when we can

xoxo

To all of you readers – please know that it is okay to feel anxious and overwhelmed when raising pets. Just don't let it get to the point where you don't think you can make it another day.

Don't let it consume you with sadness, anger, and guilt. It only ruins the person you are, deep down inside.

We shouldn't have to feel guilty for giving up some things in life. Some things are not meant to be, and sometimes, are meant to let go...

You have to do what is right for you, and/or your family. I did.

Life is too precious to be filled with mixed emotions of whether you are doing the right thing or not, always questioning yourself, and then feeling sadness or guilt.

Don't get me wrong – pets are GREAT! MIMI is a blessing, but sometimes, having a little too much or too many of something, or maybe it's the timing – it may not be the best thing or right time ... it wasn't for me at that time in my life.

To finish this off – do what makes you happy – in your heart. Now, at this point in my life, I am OKAY! I still have my ups and downs, but ... we ALL do! We just have to look at the positive outcome of the situation.

If you have have been following my blog, you will know that we now have Mufasa, who is much easier, and it actually calms me down to watch him!

Everyone is HAPPY for our bearded dragon!

And here he is trying out his new Terrarium...

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

Below, I will share my point of view and my feelings about this topic. I will also share some more pictures...subscribe to unlock!

Today, I am sharing my video – Lean on Me, the Steven Tyler version, the original being by Bill Withers.

I believe this might be my second time sharing this particular video; BUT, I am doing it for a fellow Coil friend. Patty's post really touched me today about Women and Domestic Violence (Does your love “Hurt”), and I haven't stopped thinking about it!

https://youtu.be/y4irKGl_iKg

And, here is the Steven Tyler Version of it (the one I am singing to).

https://youtu.be/eMoe1G7lR1Y

I hope this brings smiles to those who are feeling down. I am not the greatest singer, but hey – I try!! And this song has A LOT of meaning to it!!

My good friend, Srdan, also wrote an article in regard to Patty's article today and you can read it here – “Men do not beat women, filthy scumbags do!”. He also speaks truth and passion! Hope you can find the time to read both articles!!

We seriously need to raise awareness to both women and men who are in abusive relationships. GET OUT!!! You don't have to think twice, because once they know they have control over you, it won't stop. I've been there, and I got out in time before it became more serious.

Today, I called a friend because I could tell (from text message) that she needed to talk, and I just wanted her to know that she is not alone, and I am here to listen. All it takes is for someone to listen to what you are going through. All it takes is to know that someone truly does care.

There have been many times I have felt low, and I mean really low. But we can bounce back. Somehow. Some way. In time.

I hope that if you are experiencing a rough patch in life, you will reach out to someone you trust!

Don't be scared.

Don't be ashamed.

Just trust in yourself and have faith that everything will be O-KAY. And trust me, I know it's easier said than done, but every small step counts and as long as you try to keep pushing forward, *that's what counts.* It doesn't matter how slow you go. Don't get discouraged and just keep inching forward – if it helps, think of a snail and how slow they go .... it's not a race, as long as you find yourself. But please, for your own sake (or someone you know) – the sooner, the better!! XOXO

Source

I am here to listen to anyone who wants to chat. That's why I started “The Mind, Untangled.” – in hopes to motivate and inspire those going through dark times in their lives. You can connect with me on Twitter - let's talk!

Here are the lyrics to the song...

Bill Withers – “Lean On Me”

Sometimes in our lives

We all have pain, we all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow.

Lean on me when you're not strong

I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won't let show.

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on.

Lean on me when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on.

If there is a load

You have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me.

Call me if you need a friend

Call me, call me, uh-huh

Call me when you need a friend

Call me if you ever need a friend

Call me, call me (repeat)

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

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Trust me, not all of my stories are sad stories!

Three years ago this weekend, I REALLY wanted to go to Las Vegas (it being my first time). I would have even gone alone, but instead, made it a weekend away with my parents!

Little did I know, that the Superbowl weekend is the busiest time of year for Las Vegas – people betting on the game! But, let me tell you, it was a weekend I will always remember!

While I was in Vegas – I didn't want to sleep! The people, the entertainment – it was ALL amazing!

I had made plans for us to go and see Blue Man Group which was a great show, and even ended up doing it again with my kids when we went on a trip to Florida!

The three of us toured the Old Vegas, and saw the light show! We saw all of the different people on the streets performing, and the different bands. It was spectacular! I even have a surprise for Coil Subscribers below...

Since it was a short weekend, my mom and I decided to tour the Hoover Dam while we were there as well! We got the tour, and it was absolutely stunning! The header image of the article is a picture of me leaning backwards with the Dam behind me – yep – I made my mom scared a bit!!

**Here are a few pics from the Hoover Dam:**

It was a beautiful trip. It really was. I even got to play some cards, and met some wonderful people!

Today, I was inspired by NickelNDime's article, NickelNDime Picks the Big Game, and decided to expand on a little something I do every year at Superbowl. It is a family tradition and I make a Nacho Dip for us all while we watch! Thanks to Nickel, this is what I made:

And this is how I normally make it:

The Football Dip, I gave to a friend of mine because I know how much she LOVES football! And the normal dish is for myself and my family!! 😉

The dip recipe was given to me YEARS ago by my aunt, and since then, I've added different ingredients!! I had lots of time today, since it's a kid-free weekend, so I listened to music while doing my thing!

Take the time to do what you enjoy doing! It leaves you with a great sense of accomplishment after, no matter how small it is!

Have a great Sunday all! ❤️

Would you like the recipe? Only Coil Subscribers will have access to it, since it's one that I've always made and is so special to me!

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

The header image is blurry. That's because this happened ten years ago. April 9, 2010, to be exact. And that is the truck I was in an accident with.

I am going to share this story today, because this was yet another time in my life that made me “wake” up. And it was just another regular day, or so I thought.

At this time in my life, I had separated from my ex-husband and had moved back home with my parents. I needed their extra support because I had to commute approximately two hours each way to get to work, and with three girls aged 4, 5, and 6 at the time, well – you can only imagine!

That morning was a clear, sunny day. However, the weather in Ontario can change so drastically, in an instant – as I am sure it does everywhere! But that morning, I got up at 5:30 am., got ready to go to work, and was out the door!

At the time, I had a van. I was about 10 minutes out the door, and noticed that something was up with the van (the brakes weren't working right), so I turned around and went back home. I talked to mom about it, and she said I should just take her truck for the day.

I was on my way!

But you know that feeling you get when you think, “I should just stay home today”?

My mom and I talked about that too, me staying home, but I was so persistent on going to work...

Everything was fine, I was driving southbound. I can still remember every single move. As I was driving, I felt the truck slide – OH SHIT, I thought. BLACK ICE!

Black ice is when you can't see it, basically. It is dangerous because it looks like the rest of the pavement, but it is clear – you can't notice the difference. It is caused by the temperature change, and can happen instantly! As in my case...

I felt the truck slide, and I knew then that I had no control over it. I didn't press on the brake for fear of causing the truck to spin out, and so I let just let it do its own thing ... and it went ...

I crossed the line to the other side, and I flipped four times into a deep ditch. FOUR TIMES! But it was SO weird. I told myself, “HANG ON TIGHT AND HOLD YOUR HEAD BACK!“

I was so scared, but I held my grip on the steering wheel, eyes wide open, and held my head back. I felt myself flipping with the motion of the truck and heard the smashes of the windshield, as images of my girls flashed before me.

The truck landed in the ditch upside down. I screamed, so loud, tears streaming down my face. I was lucky enough that it happened in front of a house, and I was more lucky that a man who was driving by pulled over, came into the ditch, and pulled me out the back window.

Now, I know they say that you shouldn't move – but his first thought was the truck was going to blow up from the gas leaking! So he rushed to come and help me.

The family in the house called 911, and rushed out to see if I was okay. They called my mom for me, and mom met me at the hospital, while my girls stayed at home with my dad.

The odd thing about this accident? The signs that happened before it. In reality, I should have just stayed home. It was a sign telling me that something was going to happen. And damn, I was just too stubborn and felt that I needed to go to work.

At the hospital, they took x-rays and did the whole nine yards. To this day, I still have a bit of a hole on the top of my head that the doctors had decided not to stitch up. I swear I still feel glass coming out from my scalp from time to time, but, it is what it is. Sure – I still get “kinks” in my neck from the whiplash, but again, it is what it is.

I didn't get a chance to go back to work right away. In fact, I ended up taking two months off because of my injuries and trauma, and doing physio to help align my back and neck.

And soon after that, guess what I did?!

I found a place closer to work, and an awesome babysitter to watch my girls! Yes, I was sad to leave my parents and the home I grew up in, but at the same time, I had to do what I felt was best.

As I've said before, I say it again.

Yes, if I stayed home, I wouldn't have gotten into an accident.

Yet, at the same time, that accident “woke” me up. I realized that I couldn't do the long drive to work anymore. I realized that I needed to be around for my girls. They needed me. They needed a mother.

I was one lucky person out there, and am thankful that there were no other cars involved. I am also thankful for that man pulling me out of the window. And I am more thankful that I am alive today, to watch my girls grow.

The moral of this story is – live life to the fullest, and go with what your gut instincts tell you!! If you have a bad feeling about something, then that's probably a sign that you shouldn't do it!

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”

No matter what people think of you, always keep singing your own song.

Yes, I think I have run into a few people who think I am absolutely too wild and crazy, or who think I just don't make any sense.

Yes, I admit it, sometimes my energy is so high that I probably make people wonder! And I also admit, sometimes I can be “all over the place” but guess what? That's just me, and that's the way I am! It's almost as if I need to keep that energy up in order to not let my anxious mind take over, know what I mean?!

I remember a time back in college, I went out with my cousin. She is a lot like me – we both like to have fun and dance and sing, and not care what anyone else thinks.

Now, as you probably know from my recent articles, what other people think do seem to have some kind of impact on me, but, I have been, and am, getting better at letting it go!!

And, I am feeling so much better for it!

That was a squirrel moment – so back to that time in college with my cousin. We decided to go out to a nightclub. It was a nice one, in the outskirt of Toronto, and it was busy!

It was a great night, because we became our own dancing partners. We danced like the night was never going to end, not caring what other people thought, and pure innocence!

It was beautiful. It was fun. The music took us to another place as we twirled each other and sang out loud and most importantly, laughed.

Over the years, we have gone our own ways, but she is someone I think of often. You see, she lived with me in Toronto for quite some time, before parting, and she was like my little sister. I loved her dearly and we became really close!

She gave me such a burst of energy, as I'm sure I did her as well. We were like two little girls, dressing up for a party, and having fun. Not a care in the world. And seriously, those are the types of people we need to surround ourselves with!!

But nowadays – as an adult, a wife, a mom, a stepmom – things have slowed down. I have slowed down.

I keep telling my girls that the first time they go to a nightclub is going to be with me!! ooooooh, the excitement – I can't wait!! It's so funny because they think it may be embarrassing, yet I think it will be a BLAST! I still have a few years to convince them, so we shall see!

It really doesn't matter what people think of us, we need to keep doing what we enjoy doing. We need to keep ourselves and our minds occupied with happy thoughts. Happy outings. Family. Friends. Whatever it may be!!

And yes, I will try to be my best happy self as much as I can! I'm not perfect, but that's OKAY!

And now, I'm going to cut this short to continue my thoughts down below! I hope you will join me and other great Coil Creators as we continue to share our stories!

“Let's untangle our mind, and set it free...”