This is a story about Alyona Dyshleva, a resident of Kyiv, who is a professional economist, but also engaged in astropsychology and writes poems. She looks for the unique qualities of each person and always tries to think positively. In such extremely difficult times, Alyona tries to support people with her creativity and just warm, sincere words. She thinks about what is most important in a human life. The heroine of the interview will also share her experience and thoughts about the future.
— Good evening, Mrs. Alyona! Please tell us about your life before the full-scale invasion.
— Good evening. I’m from Kyiv. Before these tragic events I lived here, worked as an economist, and was engaged in creativity. My hobbies are writing poems, songs, playing the piano, dancing and in my spare time I help people discover their talents. I studied astropsychology and practiced it in order to find the unique qualities of each person, to help them find a life’s work or hobby that will inspire them and give them energy.
I really love Kyiv for its beauty, parks, Dnipro River, friendly people…
I worked at the university and was still at work on the 23rd. Indeed, I felt the tension that had been going on since the end of 2021, but until the invasion began I couldn’t believe it would happen. Since I’m an optimist by nature, I always think in a more positive way in order not to drown in negativity and have the strength to move on. But, unfortunately, the invasion began…
Photo: Alyona Dyshleva
And from the first day of the full-scale war, I was in Kyiv. It has been a very difficult month because almost everyone has moved out. Only three families stayed at their apartments in our driveway. It was so mentally difficult to hear explosions and sirens, but I believed that our Kyiv would be intact, and the enemy troops would retreat. I prayed for people to be alive and healthy; I prayed to the Higher Powers for the protection of the capital of Ukraine, and thanks to God, Kyiv survived. I constantly pray for our capital to remain standing and as many Ukrainian cities as possible to be undamaged, so that happy and healthy people live there.
Though, one month later, on the 24th or 25th, we decided to leave (to be honest, it was a tough decision)… We hesitated, considered staying, but it was dangerous, because the city was surrounded from almost all sides and there was a constant smell of fires after everything that happened near Kyiv. For me, as an allergy sufferer, it was difficult to endure.
It was very challenging to leave the capital, because among all the bridges, only one functioned. There were traffic jams. We first went to the west of Ukraine, stayed there for a while and crossed the border in April.
— Mrs. Alyona, tell me please, did you decide to leave Kyiv with your family?
— I left with my parents. It was dangerous to leave them at home. I believe that it is necessary to stick together in such situations. In my opinion, it’s better and calmer.
If the universe needs me alive and healthy, then so be it, period. That’s how I set myself up, and thank God, that’s how it is.
When I was driving with my family through Ukrainian villages, I felt sad about everything that was happening on such a beautiful land. We have a very lovely territory; talented, brave and dedicated people. When I saw boys and girls at checkpoints, it hurt, because they are still young, they have to keep on studying and living. This is a tragedy for the whole country.
I believe that Ukraine must endure. And in terms of climate and all features, this country for sure is a paradise. I realized how much I love my country. In peacetime, many of us didn’t attach importance to this, and under such circumstances, people understand that everything can be lost. You realize how dear family members, friends and acquaintances are to your heart. I wish Ukraine to endure, to be a prosperous state.
For example, the service industry in Ukraine is highly developed. I could go to the bank on my lunch break and open a card. How automatic everything is set up: you don’t even need to make an appointment, you can just come and any service will be provided to you. Then I recalled that our country knows how to cook deliciously, how cozy cafes and restaurants are. This is actually just a unique phenomenon. I don’t know what can be compared to Ukrainian cuisine, maybe because I’m Ukrainian and I deeply love my homeland, but it really is. Our bakery products are the tastiest in the world, I’ve already made sure of that (laughs). In addition, wheat is grown here, it is a Ukrainian resource, there is no need to purchase it. How rich our country is in minerals… Everything that happens is terribly tragic.
And I have already decided: if my fate is leaving, then I will support Ukrainians morally with my creativity, so that people have hope and have the strength to live on. What we direct our attention to, what energy we emit and the way we think leads to the reality we attract. Therefore, I feel that my task is to help people find this hope, believe in themselves and believe that Ukraine will be a prosperous, rich and happy country.
The more people from other countries learn about our nation, what light it brings, the sooner peace will come. Our task now is to support each other: the more light, the less chance the darkness has, the faster the light will win. And I also realized the value of your life. It is the greatest significance that exists on Earth.
It is very important for humanity to learn to think independently and hear their soul, because now the media space is very cluttered and this affects people leading them into depression. As a result, they lose hope for a better life and in such a depressed state they cannot make rational decisions because their consciousness is lost. We simply have no choice, we have to get out of this together. And I try to do it with my creativity and simply by communicating with people.
— Mrs. Alyona, how do you percieve your decision to leave?
— It’s difficult to answer this question at the moment. I cannot say whether this decision is correct or not. I think so, since we made it. These events brought me a certain experience, and it is useful for me. I saw the attitude towards Ukrainians. Many people around the world support us. I am very grateful for that.
In my opinion, it was necessary to gain such an experience in order to look at the situation from another side and provide moral support to the people who stayed, because someone has to hold this light, as in conditions of sirens it’s very difficult to remain calm. And I think that it made sense to try to leave for a while here, to think about this situation, to draw conclusions.
I still remember all this beauty in which I lived. And I really want to go home, because my home is the best place on Earth. I also express it in my poems. Sometimes something comes to my mind and I write. It gets easier. I share my works with people and it helps them. I am glad that I can support people in this way.
I really want to go home. There, in Kyiv, in Ukraine, a piece of my heart remained. I dearly love my Motherland. Obviously, I’ll be able to direct all my experience, which I have gained during this year, to the development of my country.
— Mrs. Alyona, thank you very much for the interview, take care of yourself and your family.
— Yes, we believe in the best. It will be so. The power of mind always wins!
Translator: Bohdana-Nikolietta Terekhina
