Are you up for a healthy habit challenge?
For the next 13 days I’m giving up:
1) caffeine (coffee and tea)
2) junk food and added sugar
3) alcohol
4) dairy, eggs, meat (anything animal related)
and adding:
1) exercising 3-4 times per week
2) 1-2 extra litres of water per day
3) 8-9 guaranteed hours of sleep per night
4) 1/2 hour of relax/meditation daily
It’s time to reset my health and get back into shape. I’m exchanging 4 unhealthy habits for healthy ones in what I call my Habit Exchange for the next 13 days (you can exchange these for ones that fit your lifestyle).
Want to join me? Post below what healthy habit/s you want to work on!
Perception:
We often judge people by their exteriors, making an instant judgement based on what the person looks like in that one moment. How do we know that they haven’t had the worst day of their lives, or that they have lost their home or job and need help, or perhaps they have had a bad relationship? We never know until we communicate with someone. So why is it that we judge without getting the full story?
For instance, I see so many homeless people in our city, and some of them look scary so when I’m walking alone I admittedly may cross the street to preserve my safety a little more (again, a perception that my safety may be compromised), but other times I’ve actually stopped to talk to them, and they are very nice people. Occasionally I’ll buy a meal for one as well, and try to make their day a little brighter. It’s so easy for us to judge, but we don’t even know why they are out there or what has happened to them in life to put them into this situation. So why is it that we get to think negative thoughts about them?
We make judgements everywhere we go, such as the grocery store, hallways as we pass by each other, coffee shops, malls…….EVERYWHERE. What if instead of judging, we were actually compassionate? Compassionate towards the person that we know nothing about. We don’t know their story, so why is it that judgement is often jumped to first instead of compassionate understanding? If you just had the worst day of your life, would you want someone to sneer at you in judgement because you didn’t put on makeup or do your hair nicely that day? I’m pretty sure your answer will be probably not. While judging someone else may not always be the first reaction, it is very common.
What I am working on personally is to be more compassionate, and more mindful of my reactions, thought patterns, and facial expressions etc. I believe that a more compassionate world would help to reduce the amounts of violence and crime, and create more peace. It is my goal to help spread this mindset and create a more positive atmosphere in which we all can live. Join me in spreading kindness and compassion, one person at a time. We all can make a difference in our own personal spaces, which will ripple out and affect this around us. Imagine what would happen if the majority of people could do this? The world would be an amazing place. Let’s create a better world to live in : )
Comment below with your thoughts on how we can achieve this!
Good afternoon readers!
As you may have read in some of my previous posts, I am undergoing a major downsize at home. There are many reasons why I am doing this. My efforts will be doubling tonight, and until it’s complete as I’m watching mother nature ravage Fort McMurray, Alberta with a severe wildfire. My heart goes out to the families and pets living in #ymm, as the fire has forced one of Alberta’s largest fire evacuations in history.
You may wonder why I am referencing the wildfire today as I write about downsizing. Let me tell you. Seeing these people lose their homes is devastating, and really eye opening. In a split second, at any time, we could lose absolutely everything we own, our lives, our loved ones, pets, homes etc. So, as I’m downsizing, I’m really thinking to myself, why keep so many belongings, if in a split second I could lose it all? There’s really no point. The things that truly matter are not possessions after all.
I will continue my downsize with fresh eyes, and as I do so, I’m preparing boxes of fresh, clean, sheets, towels, soaps etc. that I can donate to these people in need.
Last week I finished reading Marie Kondo’s book – The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. It was a great book to read to get me over the last few bumps I felt were holding me back from letting go of my belongings.
Here are 5 ways Downsizing has helped me “Rightsize” my Life:
There are so many reasons to make the leap and finally downsize your home. Are you struggling to get there like I was? Start by creating a vision of what you want your life and home to look like. Have a deadline of when you will complete this downsize by. But most importantly, have a PLAN! You need a plan of how you will tackle and complete this project.
Share your downsizing stories below, I’d love to hear them 🙂
Last night I was visiting with a girlfriend of mine whom I have not connected with since Christmas. It was a really lovely visit.
We spent 2 hours at a local sushi restaurant and stuffed ourselves with delicious all you can eat sushi. We talked at length about relationships, her upcoming wedding and a bit about my life history that she never knew. I left the restaurant after feeling completely freed from my past, liberated for my future, and totally understanding the things that have been holding me back in life so I can make my present better. Mental speed bumps if you will.
During the conversation I had quite a few aha moments. The most important one has prompted me to write this post. In this particular moment, I realized that what I cherish most in life are the amazing experiences I have had. Travelling, meeting new people, trying new hobbies and finding my passions in partner dancing and horseback riding have been a few. I think back now, to how much I have wanted to keep trinkets or mementos from each of these experiences, and now I see many of them as clutter. Don’t get me wrong, I will certainly keep a few of them, but others I will let go, as they did not create the beautiful memories for me, the experiences themselves did.
What is a key chain or shot glass going to provide for me? How about a postcard, t-shirt or mug? They will be cute little reminders of my experiences for sure, but that’s about it. I’m ready to part with these things now, and to remember the experiences through photos or memories. I think letting these items go will be a huge step forward.
Belongings hold us back and tie us to our past. While remembering the past or treasuring keepsakes from family or friends can be good, we have no need to have our homes full of little trinkets or collections. What I realized last night is that eventually, all items are going to break down or fall apart. So my question to you is this: Why spend your money purchasing items that you will later spend your time maintaining, for them to sit on a shelf and eventually break down? You will then have to spend more time to get rid of them. Personally I would much rather spend my money on another trip or life experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
It is with these thoughts that I go forward in completing my project of downsizing my home to be able to live simply and minimally. I finally feel freed from the guilt of letting go of my belongings and feeling like I had to keep old gifts and things I have bought. There is no need. Now I have the freedom to move forward, and cherish my current life without being held back by clutter. Each of our lives is a canvas that we hold the paint brush and palette of paint for……how will you paint yours?
I know what my canvas will look like going forward 🙂
Good morning readers!
I am excited this week, because I am working on testing out some habits that I think could make my life more positive and healthy.
I haven’t been sleeping well, and I’ve been getting nightmares which I haven’t had for probably more than a year. This tells me that there’s some kind of stress, or unrest in my life, and now I’m looking for the cause.
For a few days now I’ve been eliminating dairy, coffee, junk food, and I’ve been sleeping 8.5-10 hours which is making me feel more rested, and not dizzy when I wake up!!! (such a relief!) I have also added taking Vitamin B, D, calcium and magnesium. My wrists and neck joints have been hurting since just before Christmas, I’m not enjoying that at all. I’m considering it could be stress ( I found my cat a new home, and am looking at re-homing my 2 horses as well), diet related, or perhaps not being fit. While I’m slim, I don’t exercise a lot, which hope to add into my routine as well.
I’m writing in my wellness journal daily, to document what’s working for me and what isn’t. I’m also writing to see how I feel with each of these changes, successes I have, and what I feel I need to work on etc.
I am really looking forward to seeing how I feel this week!
In a world where drama is celebrated more than compassion, how do you Stay Happy?
Some people will tell you it’s impossible. Those people are probably sitting at home with a bag of chips watching tv instead of working towards their goals.
It really IS possible, and it’s a lot easier than you think. Read on. Continue reading
Good morning !!!
It’s a beautiful day today, although it snowed a few centimeters this morning after it had all recently melted!!
I’m loving this ‘Overhaul’ I’m on! I love that I made the choice to live a better life, and I’m constantly learning and growing because of it. I really love making conscious choices of ways I can improve my life. Continue reading
I am going through what I think is a fabulous transition to become Vegan. Why? Because I support a better way of life for animals, and humans. There are many reasons why I think this is beneficial for me, and most importantly – I am trying to lead a better life.
So why is it, that people want to judge me so often for trying to be better? Is it because I don’t support animal cruelty? because I don’t want to eat chemical and hormone filled products? Or perhaps it’s because I just want to eat healthier? Continue reading
This week has flown by so fast!!! I have been extremely busy at work, so I feel like I have barely had any personal time to focus on myself. I was able to get a few relaxing baths in before going to bed, which helps me sleep better. I also have started reading a new novel, and I reconnected with friends I haven’t seen for a month. I’m really enjoying posting positive things and turning my life around. Continue reading
London, travel & healthy living
Habits, purpose and a little bit of zen.
Sacred Space for Awakened Living
This site is mainly about pictures, from the middle of Norway. Click a picture to read posts.
A SIMPLE APPROACH TO LIVING MINDFULLY AND POSITIVELY WITH A LIFESTYLE OF HEALTHY HABITS
ROOTED IN HAPPINESS 