Worth a sweat

When you're stressed out, go for a run! It's worth a sweat because afterwards you will feel super good. Yeah, so that's how I look like after a run =D Being a fulltime-intern and then having friends over from family I barely find time for myself. I have to admit that I didn't meditate for about two weeks and didn't workout again until last weekend. Whenever I come home from work I'm like: Okay... I'm super tired, would love to just hang around and sleep. Then I'll tell myself: NO! Kick your butt and get back on track! Get out of your comfort zone and don't become lazy. Lazy about you, about life and its struggles. 

MOVE. You're one run away of being happy.

And indeed: It's worth a sweat and I do feel much better afterwards. 
Loving it!

Image and what's actually behind

You should definitely watch this video: Cameron Russell talks about her life as a model and answers questions most people want to know. She gives a really honest insight of how it is to be a model and that models are probably the most insecure women on earth.

 

Image is powerful, yet superficial. 
Whenever you get to know people, try to get to the core of them and don't judge them by their outer appearance.

This moment right now, I choose to be happy

The Habits of Happiness

‘Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.’ ~Dalai Lama

By Leo Babauta

I’m not one who believes you can be happy all the time, but I have learned you can be happy much of the time. And that’s not something that depends on how your day is going or how others treat you — it depends on what you do on a regular basis. I remember being unhappy most days, at one point in my life. It wasn’t because I hated the people in my life — I had a lovely wife, great kids, other wonderful family members and friends. It was because I was unhappy with myself, and that caused growing debt problems, unhappiness with my job, health problems and more. I felt like I couldn’t change any of that.
Then one day I sat down and made a list. I make a lot of lists — it’s one of my favorite habits — but this list seemed to have a magical power. It was a list of the things I was grateful for. Amazingly, there were a lot of things on the list, from things about my wife, kids, relatives, and friends, to things about my job, about nature around me, about my life.

On my read list: The Litte Book of Contentment

Speaking of Zen Habits, I think I've started reading Leo Babauta's blog in late December, January '13. After reading the first post, I was totally hooked up! I kept reading and clicking on his blog every single day and then I was like: Ok, wait, he'll need time to write these terrific articles about every day life, its obstacles and how to become truly content. Furthermore I like how he does not have pictures at all, it is really about his writings and his stories he's sharing with us.

Why Zen Habits? Leo likes the philosophy of Zen Buddhism a lot but he is not a Zen monk or Zen practitioner. It just reminds him of being present and to live simply. If you have time, read his story here and see how amazing he is. You can be it, too! 

Breathe.

If you feel overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.

If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. 
It will bring you back to the present.

If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.

Breathe, and enjoy each moment of this life. They're too fleeting and few to waste.

By Leo Babauta.

People come and go, sadly.. but some stay, luckily

Relationships, friendships, marriages, acquaintanceships.. they sometimes break off and you feel devastated because you might have lost your best friend or even your beloved-one. I think everyone knows how it feels. It might be just a phase or something occurred or I mean you're oceans apart.

So, some might leave then and you feel sad. I've learned to deal with it. How?

Never give up

Yosemite Hike 2012

If your goal seems far away to reach, things might be hard, strenuous and you're tempted to give up. Don't. You're in the middle of your path and your life. What did Confucius once said 'The journey is the destination'. You should move forward, do it little by little, one step at a time and then give it some patience and you'll get there!

Taking decisions and not regretting them

I am not the best decision taker in the world because I feel like I am always torn between things. I mean really good things like food (duh =D ) or places you've never been. 

Well, not long ago I had to take a big one. Big is relative, it always depends on how much it means to you. I was torn between two really good jobs and did not know how to decide. Moreover I already did take my decision by saying yes to one job first. Then, before it actually started, the second one just popped up and I was like: 
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!

When things change that fast and you don't expect them: stay calm! I tried to make a PRO and CONS list and asked friends and family what to do and how to decide. Nobody can take your decisions, you have to make them. One full week passed and my mind was going crazy. What did I do? I sat down, turned everything off and meditated. I took my time to really go into myself and tried to focus on what I really wanted. My decision was made.

What I'm reading right now...

Who did not read his world known book: The Alchemist? It got translated into 71 languages! I've got it when I left Germany for the U.S. in 2011 and it became one of my favorite ones. A couple of weeks ago I've just started reading again because Paulo Coelho's current book 'Manuscript found in Accra' caught my eye. Anyways, I then decided to read his former books first: The Pilgrimage, Like the flowing river and Maktub. 

Want to be happy?

Read the longer version with explanations here: 15 things you should give up to be happy.

I love the 14th and 15th point the most: 'While love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.'

and 'You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.' 

OWN your life! 

♥ + ♥ + ♥ = more ♥

Just read this lovely article about 'How to get what you want and earning karmic bonus' by Mind Body Green :  

'Whenever you open your mouth — or place your fingers on the keyboard — you have an opportunity to add to the love in the world, or subtract from it.

You have an opportunity to lift someone’s spirits — or sink ‘em.

You have a chance to get what you need while giving — or get what you need while taking....

Read on the article

Unconditional love means loving without expecting anything in return. Love because you believe in it. I believe in the good and positive in human beings although some of them can be cruel, but I think that in their most inner part that everyone is true and seeks out love.

However, before loving or giving love to anyone else, love yourself first because that's the the longest and deepest relationship you're having with! Look within and start embracing your uniqueness! 

10 quotes to remind YOU to love yourself

 

Morning meditation - stretch

Summer finally arrived!!! 

These days I woke up early in the morning because it's just so hot outside: ~ 25°C/ 77°

It's not as hot as in the U.S. but summer came too sudden.

What to do best when you get up really early?

Ride your bike to the lake, do some meditation and yoga! I was there around 6.30a.m. and it was very nice and still chilly. I just love being up this early, why? There is nobody around who'd disturb you!!!

I've started meditation like four to five months ago and I still try to do it every single morning. I don't do it for 30min or so, but 5min every day keeps my mind calm and focused. Sometimes you're just stressed out or have too much in your mind going on, so that you cannot focus anymore. You're always running, ruhsing and try to be on time with anything. Additionally I did some yoga poses, it is so good for me and I think every athlete should incorporate yoga exercises to really stretch out and loosen tight muscles!

Then, I'd like to just slow down and breathe. Being still and mindful helps me to live in the present, not to think too much about the past and not to plan so much for the future.  

Anyone can meditate, you don't have to become a monch. Just breathe and try to calm your mind. When a thought comes up, just catch it and follow how it flows away. 

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

Additionally I did some yoga poses, it is so good for me and I think every athlete should incorporate yoga exercises to really stretch out and loosen tight muscles!

Let's embrace this very moment and say:

WELCOME BACK SUN :) we've missed you!

P.S.: Do you want to know what 20min. of yoga does to your brain? Read on here.

Thanks for sharing

Repost of an amazing and inspiring person which I've met while traveling and yes her experience makes a difference! 

"Many have asked me how I can be away from home and traveling in developing countries for so long. The answer is simple. There're better things to offer outside our comfort zone. If you are dare to take a step out to see the world, you'll find how blinded we are to just stay in our 4x4 SUV, 10x10 living room, 32" monitor and 47" TV. What I learn most from this trip is how to trust people and learn how to build a real relationship with others. I talk to people face to face everyday. I'm not staring at my iphone checking messages around the clock. I accept people kindness and help. Having trust on people and accepting care and love from others is what we lack of today. We are civilized but we don't use our tongue to talk anymore. We live in the so called "best city" but we don't open doors to our neighbor anymore. We care but we don't show. We want to help but we're too busy. We see it but we ignore.

Travel is an experience but also an attitude. I'm not fear of bad experience but I'm afraid to live a shallow life! Thanks everyone along the way to teach me how to live a better life. Life is too precious so let's enjoy everyday, rain or shine!
God bless you all!

Let's keep reaching out to people around us and don't hesitate to offer what we have, more or less. Sometimes, your gift is bigger than you can imagine." 

Thank you Carla Chan,

take care and I hope our paths will cross again soon xx

M

Taking care of yourself

Shift Happens

By Daniel Scott

It is perfectly ok to admit—out loud, even—that everything is not OK. Things change. The honeymoon ends. Strong feelings fade, transform. Paths cross, diverge. People come together. The grass seems greener elsewhere. People come apart, at the seams. Too little, too late. Too much, too soon. Relationships. Jobs. Family. Friends. School. Money. Love.

Like it or not, these are all matters of the heart. The heart is a muscle that, just like every other muscle, responds to how it's treated. It can be built up or broken down, strained or relaxed, torn or repaired. Know that a hungry heart can quickly become gluttonous. Be it pain or pleasure, punishment or reward, it is easy to by enslaved by craving and aversion.

Take care of your heart, and it will take care of you. Yet, even if you manage to keep it healthy, no amount of vim and vigor will protect it from getting hit by the random bus hiding in your blind spot. Even if you do remember to look both ways (which you always do, right?), this will often happen while hastily crossing the street in search of those greener pastures. What do you do when the shift hits the fan? 

Take it. Easy. Be good to your Self. 

read more

I just read this article from the website: Mind Body Green 
and it is so true!

Now, that my year in the U.S. is going towards the end (six more weeks or so!!) I think a lot about what have happened in the past. I had troubles here and there but also a lot of great moments. Overall I started taking care of myself, my mind and my body. I've learned that life sometimes sucks, it just happens but it is YOUR choice every single day how you are going to deal with it. It is YOUR life that you're living and sometimes changes are good. YOU can decide whether or not it hits you hard or HOW hard. Don't stop living and wait for your luck, go out and appreciate everything you have, be grateful for your family and friends, be grateful for your legs which carry you everyday, be grateful for the water you're drinking. You don't have to overdo it but just to be happy that you're able to see the sunshine and smile, enjoy these moments.   

Love and blessings,

have a great weekend

M