You’re never too old to make a new dream come true  😍

An unusual birthday fundraiser🎂

Hi! I’m Ildikó. I’m 60 years old.

I’ve been working professionally as a henna artist for 8 years, and for just over a year now I’ve been doing fluid art painting and offering chronobiology consultations.

It may seem unusual that I found my own path so late in life, but I’m grateful that I dared to make a change and learn new things, because since then I’ve been living my life on a whole new level.

I am lucky because I have experienced first-hand that it is never too late to change and make a shift, and that it is worth stepping outside the boundaries we have been taught to live within, in the hope of a more harmonious life.

I feel it is my mission to pass on this belief, this higher-frequency vibration, to give strength to others through my own story.

I have a vision: a soul-soothing Life-Enriching Workshop.

A place where I wouldn’t just have a cosy nook for painting. A place that could function as a community space: where you can pop in anytime for a cup of tea, or a coffee, watch me splash paint everywhere, pour out your heart, enjoy some quality ‘me-time’ – for example, whilst your henna tattoo is being done – or simply dive into a ‘world-changing’ conversation.

And do you know where this fairy-tale world is, shrouded in the scent of incense, luring you in with comfortable armchairs, guaranteed to relieve stress, and offering healing in an unconventional way? At my new place.

Oh yes, I didn’t mention that I’m currently looking for a flat.

I’ve been living in rented accommodation for 16 years (in 2010, I sold my wonderful three-bedroom flat in Budapest because of a foreign currency mortgage that looked set to default), and that’s how I raised two little ones on a single income. This isn’t a complaint, as we had a lovely little life, always adapting to the children’s needs and requirements: For 11 years, a house with a garden in Komárom provided plenty of space for their nursery and early school years, and now we’ve been living in Vác for five years in a brilliant flat in the city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from my daughter’s secondary school ❤

However, a new chapter is about to begin, with quite different requirements, as my second child is about to fly the nest any day now, which means that my own desires and needs can now come to the fore.

And since life has turned out in such a way that I now have the opportunity to consider buying a property, I’ve decided that I won’t continue paying exorbitant rent just for myself, but will instead look for my final home, where I can spend the remaining 20–25 years of my life comfortably, happily and creatively.

However, my budget is limited: I will have to make compromises regarding my home, for example in terms of size or location, but that’s perfectly fine! I believe that it isn’t only a home costing a fortune in a popular area that can offer a high quality of life. In fact, I know that if the goal I’ve set for myself is a good one, I’ll find the ideal housing solution for me.

However, I see little chance that my current budget could stretch to a property large enough to comfortably accommodate the ‘Life-Enhancing Workshop’ I’ve dreamt of.... That’s why I’ve been searching for a while for that fairy-tale solution that could bring me closer to my goal, and lo and behold, the idea has arrived:

I recently came across the film*Eat, Pray, Love*again, and in it, Liz’s brilliant charity initiative, where she asked her friends for donations instead of expensive birthday parties and gifts.

Right, right, I realise that HennaShanti’s Life-Enriching Workshop is perhaps on a different scale to building a house for a Balinese healer in need, but for me, it’s the future itself!

(A few years ago I had a‘Magical Henna Corner’ in Vác, but as it was a rented space, I couldn’t keep it going due to the high costs. Now, however, I feel more and more strongly that online life-enhancement is no longer enough; there is a need for a safe offline space where personal encounters and quality time spent together can fulfil the mission.)

You should know that it’s still not easy for me to ask for help and accept it, but perhaps the time has come to break down the barriers I’ve built up within myself and finally dare to take action not just for others, but for myself as well. Perhaps now is the time to take a step up in the school of self-love and find the courage to say: I could do with a bit of a supportive tailwind...

Why now, of all times? Because I reached a birthday in early April that no longer allows for self-deception, does not accept the ‘I’ll get round to it later’ excuse, and has made change urgent, so that my own plans and desires take precedence over those of others.

60 years! Not a lot, but not a little either. I still have time to weave new dreams, but it is undeniable that I have more behind me than ahead of me.

So no more dithering, no more procrastination! Now that this new dream has taken root within me, it’s time to take action.

Meanwhile, two of my favourite motivational thoughts have just come to mind:

1. If there’s a goal, there’s a path to it.
2. What if I don’t succeed? Nothing! I’ll start again.

Well! Something like that ;)

I’d like to ask you this: if you’re a close friend and you’d been planning to celebrate this lovely milestone birthday with me in a special way, please consider donating the amount you’d have spent on a gift or the celebration to the project instead, and be part of making the Life-Enriching Workshop a reality.

If we’re more distant acquaintances or you don’t know me at all, but the story has touched you and you’d like to contribute to launching a community-building, supportive project serving a good cause, then please support my mission to the best of your ability.

Every little helps! I truly believe that. Every forint plays an important role in making this dream a reality.💝

How can you help?

1. Click on the "Donate" button and support the mission to the best of your ability.
2. In the "Offers/Auctions" menu, you bid on services or products that appeal to you, and if you win a bid, you purchase the item you’ve chosen.
3. In the "Offers/Auctions" menu, you can buy items at a fixed price.
4. Share the fundraising link wherever and with whomever you can.

Thank you for reading my "story"!

I’d be grateful if you can relate to the story and if my energy has touched you enough to contribute wholeheartedly to making this dream a reality. 🙏

If you’d like to get to know me better, have any questions, or just fancy a chat, I’d be delighted to hear from you at [email protected].