SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

It struck me then that in today's fast-paced life, we are often occupied with many commitments that often keep us so busy that we run here and there and lose touch with the present moment. Unfortunately, we are often also out of touch with what is truly important and essential for a happy and fulfilled life. 

It was as if, after a few moments, I had the answer to my thoughts. As I was driving towards Ravenna na Koroškem, passing through the village of Brdinje, I noticed a summer decoration on the side of the road, consisting of a sailboat, a postcard and a bicycle. On one sail of the boat, with two big white sails, was sewn a big red heart, and on the other were written the words: peace, happiness, joy, love, trust and respect. I smiled and realised what a beneficial effect these words can have on people who see them in passing as they walk and drive by.  

It was not the first time that such a creation had brightened up my day in Brdinja, and I wondered who was behind such decorations, erected along the main road, which change faster than the seasons. I learned that they were being looked after by Creators with heart, a seven-member ensemble that works and creates for the wider good, on a voluntary basis. Their decorations brighten up the day for passers-by and encourage good feelings. 

The latter is not the only added value of the decorations, as each of them also conveys a deeper message, and the accompanying texts, written in calligraphic script, also give them a special meaning. The Creators with Heart, who received a plaque from the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem for their decorations last year, also aim to inform people. Their creations often have an added cultural value. In memory of the famous Carinthian writer Lovro Kuhar - Prežihov Vorance, the space was decorated with large handmade shamrocks - Tears, at the end of October Catechism Primož Trubar, and on the occasion of Prešeren's Day the last verses from the collection Poetry and the seventh stanza of the Slovenian anthem Greetings. 

Creators with a heart, who meet and create on occasion, are continuously inspired and given the wind to continue creating, as well as the good response of the people who see their creations in the flesh. Many are delighted with the decorations. They stop by to read the texts and share their reactions both in person and on their Facebook page. 

Finally, I would like to add that, although we are all different people, and each of us has different reflections and associations when we look at the decorations created by the artists mentioned above, they all have in common the point made by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in the story of the Little Prince: "If you want to see, you have to see with your heart. The point is invisible to the eye."

Mateja Sekavčnik, 14 Aug 2025