SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

She is happy with everything and is ready to help anyone at any time. As a volunteer working there, I know at least a little bit about the residents, and I know that there are more and more dissatisfied and grumpy people, so I find people like Angelca especially valuable.

»You know, the food here is very good. And lots of it. I don't need that much, because I've been eating moderately all my life. It makes me sad that some people are so picky and dissatisfied.«

I looked at her and was suddenly struck by how happy she was.

»Did you know I was at sea in autumn? They let me leave home for a week. We go to Portorož with the expats.«

She was silent for a while, then continued: »I love being at the seaside and in the water so much that I wanted to go there again this year. Before I went to the hostel, I went to the seaside every year. This year my friend Mimi went with me and I paid for both of them. She has no money, but I have money. Because I am frugal with everything, because I need and want so little, I can put something aside every month and it adds up. So it was not difficult for me to pay for her too.«

I was speechless because, to tell you the truth, I don't know anyone who has been so generous. She noticed my surprise.

»You know, when she was telling me about how hard her life had been and how she never afforded anything and never went anywhere, an inner voice told me that I had to make her happy.«

She thought I was going to say something about this inner voice, but I just listened. She continued.»It seems to me that this inner voice in people has been lost. It used to remind us often what we were not doing right. Or when it was time to reach out and help each other. We should help each other more often. What do you think? Do you know your inner voice?«

I was silent, just listening to her. She looked at me and waited for me to finally say something, and then she finished the story: »When we were on the bus, she was crying with happiness, and my eyes were tearing up too. But if you cry for joy, that's quite okay.« 

»All this is true, but it seems to me that life just doesn't work like that. But it would be nice and right if it were like this - nicer than it is now,« I just said, silently longing for such times in my mind.

Darinka Kobal, 12. 2. 2026