Skincare - finding a new beauty routine

I've been trying new beauty products. It's such a relief there are more paraben and chemical free products available. 

Over time, your skin needs change. We have to adapt and see what works. 

The mix of supplements and vitamins also is an important part of my skin care routine. I've scaled down the cocktail of pills. 

I was using essential oils like immortelle and frankincense with base oils like rosehip oil, grapeseed oil and almond oil. I love them but feel that it is time to step it up.  I've been a fan of Neal's Yard, Sukin and Antipodes. There's a burt's bees exfoliant I use in the shower on an ad hoc basis. I would use almond oil for a mini face massage and do a homemade mask made from yoghurt, honey, ginger, turmeric and honey. 

I've been reading about latest trends and looking at the ingredients in high end products. In the past I used some very expensive brands. Now, I realise that there are affordable options. Q+A and Oleus have a good range. 

I've gradually introduced different products and treatments. 

I started with a collagen face cream as a night cream. I also switched to apricot oil to remove my makeup. 

After a couple of months, I've focused on serums and blemish problems. During the day I use a Vitamin C serum. At night I use a Superfood serum and a blemish repair paste which has some salicylic acid. I also use a charcoal cleanser a few times a week. 

I've invested in a LED light treatment mask. It's a strange experience lying there with this mask on. 

The next phase is trying a hyaluronic acid serum, a bakuchiol serum which is an alternative to retinol, an AHA exfoliating gel and a peptide eye gel. After that, I'll be looking at mask peels. 

It is a bit of trial and error. I think I'm seeing results which is exciting. In the meantime, it's fun trying new things. Also, I find that spending time looking after my skin makes me feel happy and good about myself. 

For years my focus was based more on what I was eating and drinking. Now it's adding in a few routines which might support being beautiful both on the inside and outside. At times it feels indulgent and vain, but the reality is that little comes naturally. I've always had to work hard to achieve my goals. My beauty is just another area of my life that needs attention. 

London Fashion - Designer Window Shopping

Last week I took a stroll down London's Old Bond St. I used to buy magazines to see what was new. It's actually quite interesting to wander by the different store front windows. You see which designers really do stand out and it's much easier to compare them. It's a bit like a fashion catwalk in reverse where you're doing the walking while the models are still and watching you. 

Spring has arrived so the big winter coat is almost ready to be packed away.  I've even started buying shorts ahead of summer. Last year it was almost impossible to find any that I liked as they were all sold out. 

The other week I wore a dress since we had a warmish day. I also was able to wear a new skirt and it's great to be dressing up a little again. Blues and greens seem right for this time of year. I like more flowing looser comfy clothes which have a relaxed weekend feel to them. More pockets is on my wishlist. I have even bought two of the same skirt in the same colour which has great pockets and a dress in two different colours which has pockets. There just aren't enough dresses and skirst with pockets around. 

Every so often I like to wear a pop of colour. Red is great. I wish there were more colours to choose from but these days the shops are a bit unimaginative. 

I like a short dress or skirt with leggings for that 70s vibe. I'm loving leggings and have a few that I adore but I'm always on the look out for more. Most of the leggings I see are for sportswear or their plain dull staples which I have plenty of.  

Smart casual is one of my go to looks. I've yet to buy trousers this season that will be my fun day pick me up. I've always found it hard to buy trousers although I'm a big fan of cargos and have two which will be my staples over the next few months. 

A beret adds a little flair to anything . I have a winter and spring berets which have lasted years. We definitely need more cool casual hats out there. 

Lounge wear became a massive trend with the pandemic and lockdown. I'm so ready to move on from that and put this year behind us. 

My wardrobe has gone through a makeover in the last twelve months. With each passing year, it's not just about trends but about what works for the time of your life and also knowing what you like or suits you after years of shopping. 

Thank goodness many retailers are improving their online shopping experience with free fast delivery and returns, reviews, lots of photoes and a decent range available. It makes shopping way too easy and the good ones, well they keep getting my money. Happy shopping fashion lovers! 

An African Escape

In the last year I've tried to capture the essence of holidays and travelling by exploring different areas of London and taking my travel camera along to see the city as a tourist. 

For a more foreign escape, I've been going to Africa with free live safaris on youtube with WildLife. They are at sunrise and sunset. The safaris are shown daily. It's pretty cool, but for the pandemic, I don't think this experience would be available. 

I've never been on an African safari. I've explored the Pantanal in Brazil and these WildEarth safaris remind me of that trip and the excitement of seeing animals, watching them and discovering a whole other world. 

They have previous live safaris available on their youtube channel too. If you like wild animals, it's worth taking a look. The live safaris are more exciting for me because you're seeing it with others and there's no pausing or fast forwarding. It feels more real and it's a great African escape for travel addicts who need a fix. 

For more information on WildEarth, you can also go to:

• You can watch daily livestreams of safaris including elephants, lions and hippos
• https://wildearth.tv/
  

A French Escape

I've been listening to French music lately. It makes a great change from the everyday. 

I discovered the French singer and actress, Louane, from the film La Famille Belier. The film is a comedy about a sixteen year old girl who interprets for her deaf family. Her newly discovered talent for singing may mean leaving home and moving away. It was quirky and amusing. 

Though my holidays to France might be over for now, music and films make a lovely little French escape possible. 

Prince - the Musical Genius

Prince was one of the greatest of my lifetime - an artist, performer and legend.

I saw him at one of his 21 days concerts at the O2 in London. That night was amazing.  It was September 13 and he performed with Sir Elton John too that night. 

After his passing, I went to a few screenings of Prince's movies. It was great to be around others who loved his music. I had always wanted to see him at a jazz festival and I had never made the time. 

There are so many great Prince songs. I still especially enjoy listening to the Diamonds and Pearls album now and then. There was a magic around those performance with the NPG. 

Today is the fifth anniversary of his death. This morning I listened to the Piano and a Microphone album. He was just so incredibly talented. 

Though he may be gone, we will be discovering more of his music for many years to come. 

Here are some other stories on Prince that you may be interested in:

• Exploring the unreleased music in Prince's vault 
• Prince 21 Nights at the O2 in London – 10 years on from the greatest show on Planet Earth
  
• A Final Visit With Prince: Rolling Stone’s Lost Cover Story
  
• Prince tribute
  
• Elton John's tribute
  

We are the Lucky Ones

We are the lucky ones. We live in a time when there are opportunities because of technology and globalisation. 

We've made strides in medicine. There's laws about equality and a society that supports education for everyone. 

A hundred years ago, it was a different world. 

We find things to be unhappy about. We focus on the half empty glass. How can we change these habits?

We compare ourselves to others. We compare last year to this year. In fact, we can be miserable or just make the best out of a situation and be happy with what we have. 

We can have goals and dreams but be happy knowing we are working towards them. 

There are circumstances that unhappiness can be a sign that you want to make changes to your life. Unhappiness is an important emotion to help you navigate safely and healthily through life. 

At the end of the day, happiness is a choice that we make. 

Today I spent the afternoon gardenong. It was satisfying. I wish I had a big garden with lots of flowers. However I am happy that I am able to watch plants grow. Every small flower on my balcony is a small success. 

One day I might have a big garden. Until then, I choose to focus on the positivity of now. 

The Funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

It was sunny day in London on Saturday. Restaurants and shops have opened after months of lockdown. The country is resuming after its pause though its Royal family are mourning the loss of Prince Philip. 

The funeral was at 3pm. I watched the funeral on television, listened to the commentators afterwards and read reactions on Twitter. I cried for the Queen, her children and their families. 

Queen Elizabeth is the longest reigning English monarch in history. She has ruled in a period where more women have become leaders. Patriarchal systems are questioned and the role of women in our society has developed beyond what I imagined as a child. 

The Duke has been by her side supporting her career and looking after the children. He was the modern day man. 

They both made sacrifices which is the duty of a Royal family, but their contribution and legacy to this country and the world will be felt for hundreds of years to come. 

Cheers to the Queen, the Duke and all they have achieved. 🥂

 

Grief

I watched a zoom memorial recording this morning. I knew the deceased, but not very well. When I heard that she had passed, it felt surreal and until I saw the memorial, I thought may be it was a mistake and she was somehow still alive. 

As each person came on to the screen and spoke, you could see the shock, struggle and grief that overcame them. 

We live in a world of Zoom memorial recordings. It's captured online for everyone to see. 

They talked about her life and the feelings of loss. There were tears. 

Tomorrow is the funeral  service of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. He will be buried in Windsor. 

These death have made me reflect about my own life and all the dreams that are yet to be realised. I wonder about my own funeral, who would come and their grief. 

It feels wrong to be so focused on death rather than on the living. The thing is there is no right or wrong. It just is the present thoughts and emotions I am experiencing. 

My own experiences of grief from the loss of loved ones was very painful. These days, there are more tools and resources to help us cope. 

Inner space had a useful podcast on coping with grief last year. After listening to the podcast, I found an article about the four tasks of mourning 

People come in and out of our lives. We can rage against the night, deny our feelings or do anything which will help  us heal. The wound will always be there, but it will not be so fresh or raw. 

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip's death - outside London's Buckingham Palace

It's been a sad week for the Royal family with the passing of Prince Philip. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. 

People in London have left flowers and messages in front of Buckingham Palace. The mood is sombre and respectful. There is a noticeable police presence. By Green Park, a large contingency of press tents have been set up too. 

Though leaving flowers has been discouraged and a note indicates they will be regularly cleared away, it seems fitting that these flowers are laid here and outside other palaces. The public wants to grieve and show their respect for his years of service and contribution to the world. 

It is a time for compassion for those who are grieving. It is a time for kindness to family, friends and strangers after a year that has been challenging for everyone, which now culminates in the loss of a key figure of the Royal family. 

Prince Philip's funeral takes place at the chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle at 15:00 BST this Saturday 17 April 2021. It will be televised live as due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 people can attend. There is an online book of condolence for members of the public who wish to leave a message for the Royal family. 

Reducing the Side Effects of the Covid-19 Vaccine

My Mum was a nurse and before she had the vaccine, she researched it. A really useful article she sent was about reducing side effects. 

It made the very logical point that before your vaccine, look after your immune system - eat well, get enough sleep, and do not overextend yourself physically. 

Vaccines are introducing a dead protein of the virus or a weakened version of a common cold virus into your body to produce antibodies. You want to equip your body with the tools to help fight any virus and make antibodies. 

Just as we need to keep our immune system strong if we haven't been vaccinated or even if we have because of variants out there, we want to be mindful of this the week before our vaccine is administered. 

I'm not a doctor, but the article did refer to several experts. Check some reliable sources and make up your own mind about it all. 

The only way we get out of this mess is if we vaccinate locally and globally. Until we reduce transmission, a circulating viris has the opportunity to spread and mutate. 

Though the effectiveness against serious illness of covid-19 is 80 - 90% of any vaccine, it is better than 0% protection. We're on our way out of this crisis if we all work together. Social distancing and masks in the UK still needs to be a part of our lives if we have open borders until globally we are all vaccinated.

Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Speak to other doctors if you want a second or third opinion. You're entitled to your views and decisions, but understand that what your fears or worroes are about and weigh it up with the other risks out there. 

Be safe and healthy. C7. 

The little things

I notice that when I'm tired or worried about anything, I become more easily annoyed. It's hard to not be critical or judgmental of dog walkers who don't clean up after their pets or cyclists who are riding too quickly in pedestrian areas. 

I've tried to resolve these emotions and not let it upset what would otherwise be a pleasant walk. I think about how most people are considerate and the majority of people are considerate. This helps a little. 

The challenge is finding more compassion for people who may  have had a bad day and had a good reason or didn't intend to not clean up after their dog or stress pedestrians out. I like to see the good in everyone and believe we are all in essence good. I know this isn't always possible and I shouldn't beat myself up when I'm not able to do this. I don't need to be nice to people I don't know in my head. It's a bit silly, I know. 

What I've realised is that I am tired and I need to really listen to what my body and mind are trying to tell me. I want to take more time to reflect and so the little things won't phase me so much because I feel strong and able to deal with things. Sometimes I get so caught up in the busyness of stuff and I need to slow down or flash a big red STOP sign in my head. 

The thing is we are so automated to want Green and go, rather than red and stop. Red keeps us safe from oncoming traffic. Stopping is needed to refuel. Embracing red and stopping - it's an interesting idea which I'll park for tonight. 

Prioritising not Procrastinating

There's only so many hours in the day. It's easy to become distracted and end up finding the day has disappeared. It's partly procrastination or not feeling motivated. 

When I've started a new project, old ones that are almost near completion are set aside. I'm sure there is a term for this. I'm sure it has something to do with fear of criticism and failure. 

There's all sorts of advice about needing to fail to succeed and learning to fail. It's strange setting out to fail. The reality is that failure is not inevitable. This might be an occasion when you don't fail. 

Also we can rename failure as a stepping stone or part of the learning curve. 

I guess recognising, acknowledging and trying to address the problem is a start. Next, I want to improve and develop my ability to accept that I've done the best that I can and complete rather than procrastinate. 

It's a bit of the perfectionist in me. I'm trying to be more compassionate and less judgmental. So I'm still a huge work in progress, but then again, isn't everyone? 

For those we have loved and lost

The passing of the Duke of Edinburgh reminded me of those that I have loved and lost. It has reinvigorated me to make the  most out of my life and to pursue my dreams. 

When I was in my teens and 20s, I would often say that I wanted to live without regrets. I've become more of a realist in that I know that I have many regrets and there will be more in the future. It's a part of life. 

I never really knew my grandfathers. They passed away when I was a child. The concept of grief was foreign to me then. 

It was only when a friend died in her late 20s that I understood grief and experienced the seismic collapse of my world. I received a call when I was at work. I left the office and cried uncontrollably. A colleague had to collect my belongings and pack up for me. At home I sobbed for weeks and numbed the emotions by watching tv. I'd burst into tears at random times like when I was doing the ironing or washing the dishes. In those quiet moments, the tears would creep up, out and down my cheeks. It was hard for me to process all that had happened - my guilt, pain, helplessness and appreciating my own mortality. Before this, as a young woman, I'd felt carefree in some ways and was naive to the tragedies of life.  

In the last year, many people have lost loved ones. It's hard to find meaning in why their time has come and why we are left behind. We go to funerals and care for others to feel less alone and less helpless.  We voice our views and protest for the vulnerable so they may be protected and not needlessly lose their lives. 

My experiences of losing people has made me more compassionate and sensitive to any loss of life. I empathise and understand those that have joined this unfortunate club of grief. Until you have lost someone close to you, you never really understand what it means. 

I visited a death cafe years ago and wept. I had never spoken about death to a group of strangers and exposed myself in this way. It was actually very cathartic because we don't often speak about the deceased and sometimes we need to. 

Just as mental health was taboo, death and grief isn't talked about much. We cry privately, wondering how the sun still shines and the world keeps turning. We put on our happy face, carry on and do our best.

The reality is that we aren't all resilient or able to navigate loss. It's not on the syllabus in school nor on the list for parents like teaching kids how to ride a bike. 

Death sucks. 

Each time I lose someone, I struggle with the loss. It doesn't get easier. When the pandemic began, I wondered if I might die or lose any family or friends. I know friends of friends who have died. A writing teacher I met on zoom also passed away. 

We are the lucky ones who have our lives to live. 

I wish I was less of a perfectionist

I can't help putting 110% into whatever I do. It just doesn't sit right with me when I try to do less. It is a slow uphill road working on my perfectionist tendency. 

It's hard to accept that I am far from perfect and not judge myself for my failings. I realise I would be happier if I embrace and love myself for who I am today. 

This week I've been doing more self development. It's tricky trying to find a balance between improving things, strengthening my self esteem and quieting that inner critic. 

So in an effort to be less of a perfectionist, here is a photo which I would frame differently and probably not post because it's not exactly right for this post. I'm writing a short post and it could be crafted better. 

There is perfection in imperfection and it is possible to find satisfaction in just doing rather than setting some kind of standard.  

Prince Phillip - Family, Career and Country

HRH Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh

1921 - 2021
RIP

He made sacrifices for love, family and country. HRH was a public figure who was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. 

Grief is process. It is painful. Change is hard. 

Families are complicated and when the family business is a large part of your life, well it's a whole unfathomable other story. I feel compassion for the struggles ahead for the very private needs of the family who will have no choice but to be publicly scrutinised through the difficult next few months. 

We all have one life and we will all die one day. We go on autopilot, put off what we could do and think our dreams will eventually come true. However there is the risk we will regret our sacrifices and procrastinations. 

Also, I wonder if we can excel in all aspects of life - health, career, family and finances - or dwhether we have to make sacrifices in one area or more to be happy in the others. 

We are living in a period with the possibility of living to a ripe old age with decades after retirement. Perhaps even in this age when we are conscious of time, we think we will have more of it in the future which makes us complacent and affects our decisions today. 

Death is a time for reflection, sadness, celebration of a life and appreciating those still with us. 

The Duke of Edinburgh was nearly 100. What an extraordinary life! A nation and world was the better because of who he was and what he did. It is a historical moment. 

If you are grieving, please know there are lots of resources out there or friends new and old who will be there. I have sadly had to grieve for loved ones and it is challenging. Time helped but there are no words that can be said to ease the earth shattering feelings of losing someone and never seeing them again. 

I remember after losing a friend who died in her late 20s, one colleague asked me to go to lunch with some others on my first day back to work. It was such a comfort to be around people. Another colleague who had lost her father was there for me to talk to. Their small acts of kindness have stayed with me long after those friendships have ended. I will always remember them and be grateful. 

We are living in a time when life is filled with more uncertainties with death knocking unexpectedly on our door. Be safe and well. 🤗

If you want a feel good Royal family post, read and check out the photoes from the great day I had on William and Kate's wedding day in London. 

Core Beliefs, Motivations, Habits and Routines

Chocolate from Dark Sugars Store in London

 

Today I started with a YouTube video on core beliefs then went down a small rabbit hole of TedX videos. Note to self, watch one video a day to prevent information overload. 

I was reminded about mantras which can be a useful way to help change our core beliefs. On my walk this evening, I said a couple of mantras. 

Another interesting point that I learnt from one of the videos was that we are motivated by a positive outcome rather than a negative fear based one. So for example I want to eat healthy because I will feel good about myself rather than I want to eat healthy because I will get fat. 

The use of want instead of should helps to feel more empowered. 

The other tip was to change small habits which can produce momentum for more changes. So for example I've been snacking on chocolate and crisps lately. I used to be really disciplined and chocolate was a treat maybe once every few months. I rarely ate crisps. 

Yesterday I started the morning by adding some spirulina to my oats. When I have spirulina it makes me feel extra healthy and it sets the tone for my day.  Today I had a homemade banana smoothie with some cocoa and a tablespoon of peanut butter. This evening I had a large bowl of pineapple. So that's two days of no naughty snacking! 

I want to continue to be healthier. It feels like these mini morning studies are putting me back on track with what I really want. It's been great to change my routine in this way. It has meant reading and listening to less about the news. I plan to continue with these self-development sessions for the rest of the week. 

If you're interested in the YouTube videos that I'm watching, you can checkout my YouTube Health & Happiness playlist. 

What I Learnt about Self Esteem Today

Last night I stayed up until the wee hours watching Season 4 of Line of Duty. I was tired this morning and annoyed with myself. 

Some mornings, I find it helpful to listen to a free calm app meditation to set the tone for my day. Today I listened to the self esteem one. I also listened to a Brene Brown youtube video and read an article which had some tips to improve self esteem. 

I practice gratitude daily and realise I need to practise acknowledging the great things about myself too. 

Lately I've been thinking I procrastinate too much. The truth is that I do put some things off. After spending some time reading, listening and reflecting on self esteem, I felt energised and motivated to set goals for my day and week. I wrote these down and had a productive day. It made me feel good about myself.  

I was grumpy on my walk this evening which was likely because I didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked today. Then as I was washing the dishes this evening, I told myself that I had done a great job today. I thought about all the different wonderful skills and things that I do for myself and others. I can see my outlook on life shifting and it is exciting. 

My intention is to try to watch and read a little more every day this week on self esteem. 

So instead of Line of Duty tonight, I'm going to try to read more, which was on my list of goals for today. I should hopefully also sleep earlier and have a better night's rest. 

May you be beautiful, healthy and happy in every way today. 

When will we party again?

When will we party again? 

Some days I wear makeup and wear a dress. It's nothing fancy, but it's a definite change from jogging bottoms and a hoodie. I might not meet anyone on my walk or see anyone on zoom, but I feel better about myself. 

No one knows when we will globally return to the life we knew. It might be a few years. I dare not think about if it might be longer. This is a world we are going to have to live in. 

Some people decided early on that they were not going to change. They would continue to go to raves, travel and if it meant breaking the rules, they would do so. They protested and shouted loudly about their civil liberties. 

Others followed the rules. There will be more rules. Just as 9/11 changed how we live, fly and travel in various ways, coronavirus has and will continue to change how we live, fly and travel. We know vaccines, testing and masks will feature. We can accept this reality and make the best of the situation as many will do. It is our democratic right to complain or seek to change government decisions. Sometimes the government may be wrong or corrupt and this needs to be highlighted. Ultimately it is important for governments to maintain trust, transparency and operate with integrity. This is more important now that ever with our liberties being sacrificed.  

Until globally we come together to overcome this pandemic, there will be more mutations and variants. We will all continue to limp along. Vaccines are not 100% effective and not everyone can or will take a vaccine. I used to wake up wishing that somehow magically this was all a nightmare. There is no silver bullet that will kill this invisible enemy, or if there is, it hasn't been discovered yet. 

I try to eat healthy and exercise. I know that I am not as healthy nor do I exercise as much as I used to. It's ok. I am happy sometimes and other times happiness seems elusive, but that was the reality before the pandemic. 

2021 will be a better year compared to 2020. However, it is also a time to reflect on what we have learnt and how we want to live in this new world. now that we accept and understand this reality is for a few years and not a few months. 

We will party again one day. It will be a golden time when we can dance and dress in fancy clothes. There will be a world in which we can travel and gather. We will take it for granted, just like we used to do.  

An Easter Weekend of Walks

It's sunny outside but I feel so sleepy. There are days I know doing something will be good for me, but I need some pushing and convincing. 

The other day I saw this cat on a boat. When I stopped to take a photo, it wanted to come up to me. It was a lovely moment seeing this cat and I was glad that I had gone for a walk. Most days when I go out, there is a 'wow I'm glad I saw that and left my couch' incident. 

The day before yesterday, it was ducks waddling on the pathway. Yesterday it was swans on the river. 

So I'm giving myself 15 minutes to get in the mood to go out. 

The sunshine and fresh air has helped me sleep much better. It just feels like such an effort to go out sometimes, much like cooking or taking a shower on some days. 

Some days I do accept that I need a day of rest and other days I know that lazy me needs to pull my socks up. 

It's been a great Easter weekend with chocolate, walks and a couple of virtual catch ups. Whether I do go for a walk or not, I am happy with all that has become of these last few days. 

Finding a happier, healthier and more beautiful life

Remember when we use to buy magazines? It was fun to read a few articles and escape for a little while. Sometimes they were frivolous subjects like fashion and other times, we might seek more depth and knowledge. 

These days my non-fiction reading diet tends to be the news. When I need a break from that, I like to check out content online from magazines I used to read. 

Recently I came across some articles from Psychology Today. What I like about these articles, is that they help me to understand myself and the world. It's like mini-self help sessions. 

I found this article on disappointment which pointed out how we can often globalise or personalise disappointment. It also noted how we might want to see these disappointments as opportunities to grow. Disappointment is a part of life and learning to better deal with it is important. 

Articles about parenting are also great because it can be a helpful guide on how to be kinder and gentler with yourself. The thoughts in your head sometimes need a calm parent like response. One article on procrastination made me chuckle and think about how I could manage myself when I am having those I'll do it later moments.  There was an article about reframing. Reframing is a useful tool that I really enjoy learning about. I find that it can make a difference on how I remember and feel about a trauma. It is a great way of finding more peace and acceptance so you can move on. 

Then there was an article about single people which made me reflect on how I could be more comfortable in my own company. 

Mental health is gaining more attention and understanding. This article provided a more positive view about depression which I hadn't ever thought about. 

Relationships are a big part of our life. I recently learnt about attachment styles. The article by therapist D Lancer provided an insightful look at the topic by considering how we might change our atttachment style.

So why am I blogging about these articles? I found them useful, interesting and thought I might want to read them again in the future - yes I thought they were that good. 

These subjects all form part of the puzzle of living a happier, healthier and more beautiful life. 

So I didn't procrastinate and wrote this blog. I feel happier already! 

Happy reading and may you find more health, happiness and beauty in your day. 

An ideal day

Today I was thinking about what an ideal day would look like and realised it's not mission impossible to achieve. 

It might start with listening to a meditation app for 10 minutes followed by a leisurely healthy breakfast with music playing in the background. Writing, working and even some housework might give me a sense of accomplishment. If I can squeeze in some reading it's a bonus. When the weather permits, a long walk helps me sort out my scattered thoughts. Now it is especially lovely because there are flowers and blossom popping up. The birds are singing. The swans, ducks and geese are gathering. 

It's nearly warm enough to spend time on the balcony. I like cooking and chilling out in the evening which is finished off with an early night. I fall asleep listing all that I am grateful for. 

Sometimes I might see a friend or chat to one of them on the phone. Or perhaps there's someone interesting to meet on social media. There's lots of zoom classes which are fun to do too.

It feels like so much time is spent thinking about what we would like to have, what we are missing or which we should have done but didn't that day. 

Is it that Spring is upon us or that vaccines are helping us move forward from the last year? It's great to feel more hopeful and happy.