Gratitude and a cup hibiscus tea.

"Gratitude is the biggest mental muscle of the worlds happiest people"

I just had a cup of gratitude, that's what I experienced, early in the morning, holding the warm cup in my hands, gratitude. Being aware of what this modest cup of tea can provide of coziness and comfort, feeling well. The beauty lies in the smallest of things, in the simplicity. And if we want to be at that lovely place called happiness, gratitude has proven to be the key. 

We misunderstand the reality all the time. In particular, when we are stressed, when we hurry, multitasking, chasing something we even no longer remember what it was in the beginning, forgetting what life is all about. We lose touch with ourselves and reality. We get tunnel vision, looking more negatively on our environment and run around as we are chased by angry bees. We become vague in our language and get stuck in the "yes, but ..." argumentation. Life gets messy and noisy, and we suddenly, when we have some free precious moments, think that the entertainment from an Iphone is the meaning of life. 

But out there the sun is shining at times, and the wind sweeping through the trees and you don't have to bustle and hustle all the time. Stop, breath and remember the taste of life, touch, feel, look around, and remember what it feels to be present and enjoy a cup of tea. 

We can feel happiness, it is possible to align ourselves with life. You and I we can stretch the time, fill it with meaningful commitment and memories. Sort the true challenges and unnecessary stress. Yes, it requires practice, by practicing gratitude you will soon reach the place of happiness. Starting from a place of gratitude happiness will brighten your days .  

As the science says; when the brains activity studied in scans it shows how #gratitude is sheer shortcut to happiness. In therapy research it's proven to be a sustainable intervention. 

How to practice then?

Start by buying a block and make a habit writing every day, in the morning or when you go to bed, at least three things you are grateful for that day. Feel what you write, experience the event no matter how small. Was it a peace of a juicy sweet fruit or the smell of brewed coffee, perhaps a smile or a hug from a loved one or maybe a sunny day, or that you breath. What ever it is feel it while you write in your book of gratitude.

For more content for happiness go here

Enjoy wonderful moments and Thank you for sharing!!! :)

Happy New Year

Happy Healthy New Year!!! 

May the new year bring you joy, energy, adventures and all the beauty you wish to have in your life. I wish that you will enjoy your moments achieving your goals, no matter how small every little piece of good counts, and create wonderful memories to treasure. 

I also want to bring a toast and cheer with you in your success on creating the year you want. And if you want you can check my post from last year on how to  Plan Your New Year   as a guide and use all or some of the tips there.

You are also welcome to get inspired on my Instagram, you can see here on my blog at the right, where I share motivation and inspiration for you and what I know can be a source for you as well as for me to do better and grow. 

Cheers and love to you for a better tomorrow!!! 

Happy New Year & The blessing of luck in everything

Thank you for sharing :)

Kolak Biu - Balinese Delicious Banana Pudding (cooking around the world)

Welcoming drink, lemonade

A good way to get to know a new country is through it's flavors. Food is bound to so many different aspects, furthermore than taste and flavor. Food is culture, tradition, location and belonging, so I decided to besides eating, to take cooking classes, learn at place . 

Organic farm in Ubud Bali

https://youtu.be/5cZ8fQ4ria0

How To Plan a New Year

" If You Want to Achieve, Then plan"

-I.J

For five years ago at this time, and the beginning of January in 2010, I begun to follow a plan I designed on the latest part of December 2009. That was a decision after a review of my life, which was on the edge of total disaster. The deep insight I got, when I consciously made the decision to work through very tough emotions and situations, was that I can change my life to the better if I choose too and were willing to do what it takes. 

That realisation was naturally followed by the understanding that I needed to create a plan to follow, an overall outline for the next year but also a more detailed plan in what I wanted to achieve, which for that year had to focus on my health. At the time I had been sick in fibromyalgia for many years, was depressed and overweight as a part of it,, been through a difficult divorce, and I've had lost my dad to name some of my struggles, I was literally dying. 

Happy New Year & The blessing of luck in everything

HAPPY & HEALTHY

NEW YEAR

2015!

And a New Years Story!

It's about the traditional new years cake with a coin hidden inside - the coin posses the "magic" power to give luck to the one who will be blessed with the good fortune to find it, and therefore enjoy a yearlong favor from fortune herself, wealth and abundance. The cake is cut in equal pieces, one for each person in the family and any visitor present at the happening. The blessing of luck in everything, you can imagine, everyone wishes to have that coin. If you want to know the winner of the year the story behind the tradition and the recipe scroll down. :)

New Year Cake. Photo source: cookoo.gr

Good Morning Habits / September Health Challenge

"When we strive to reach our goals we have to create good habits that support our journey to fulfillment!"

- I.A

September 1st and the challenge to adapt Good Morning Habits has started. Lately I have been doing challenges, a new for every month. I found the idea very rewarding, easy to follow while exploring or renewing new and old health habits trying new food or adapt a new exercise regime, make life more fun and try new ways to improve and enjoy a better life whilst others also can be a part and benefit as well. 

Special Dad's & The Father behind Fathers Day!

" Any man can be a father but it takes a SPECIAL to be a DAD! "

The above statement is what I truly can relate to as my dad, who is no longer among us, is someone who was this special DAD!  What made him that was that he wasn't my biological father though bounded by blood as he was my grandfather a gentleman and kind-hearted man and raised me and his children in absence of another wife when his wife, my grandma died of a heart-disease at a the young age of 42. He didn't dare to bring another woman as he wasn't sure we would be treated well!

"[He] adopted a role called Being a Father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a Protector. 

LOOK UP - a sensational message for life

" Love the life you live, be adventurous and out in the world creating and living your dreams "

- Irenee Alma 

How to Be Well Naturally & a Caffe Macchiato

" Stay Happy Be Healthy "

As you have seen on my network places,( haven't been active on my blog lately) I practice the way to be well naturally with fitness, good food, travel, being outdoors which is a true happy pill, and finding healthy ways to live a good life beyond the fads - even if some of them, the fads, can actually help and boost our will to do better and find ways to our best self, they are motivators. In that way fads, if not harmful, are most welcome, but then I will tell that that's a motivator not a fact. 

I also love as every woman feminine things to feel good with, as fabulous sun glasses (not necessarily expensive ones), nail-polish or a luxurious massage for instance. It is about enjoying time with things you love to do which will do you good even when done a short while, the action will create the happy hormones you need to strengthen you. That's why I decided to write this post and because I've hard so many times how people wait for the big moment to make them feel good, be well and happy, luckily that's wrong.