Uncertainty, fear... Success and happiness

On my facebook profile earlier this week I posted that... 

I often talk about Plan A and Plan B.... not giving up...  continue pursuing your dreams... keep doing what you like and you'll get results....  This note I find was very much like what I write about... 

If "Plan A" didn't work. The alphabet has 25 more letters! Stay cool.
I was also told that some languages, like German, even have an extra 4 characters...  lol

But I digress.... my point is, I have very rarely met someone who had their Plan A, committed to it, succeeded at it and are HAPPY about it!!! Without needing any other plan in all their life! And remain happy!!!

For example, my Plan A when I was a young adult was to get a degree in biochemistry... and I did... so technically I could say:  Plan A - done

The thing is, I was young.... and I didn't know... what life was about... what I wanted...  and so on... so my Plan A at that time worked out....  but only to realise years later that my Plan A was not a real plan...  and after seeking what I wanted my plan to be I came up with one....  Let's name it Plan B...

Of course, I had many small successes but also huge fails...  like most people.... but I learned from all those successes and failures... And I got to know myself better...  only to realise that my initial Plan A (to be a biochemist) was a tool to achieve something bigger....  Years after I got my degree, I was no longer working as a biochemist....  and I was pursuing other plans...  but what I realise is that from "jumping" from A to B... and to C... and D... and so on (I lost count), what I was really doing was looking for a way to achieve  the goal behind my initial Plan A...

Do you understand what I mean???  It sounds much more clear in my head than in writing....  but then again, you do not want to be in my head! lol

When I wanted to become a biochemist, I wanted to help other people...  to find cure to diseases...  or prevent them.... so that people be healthy and happy!!!  I was scare to death of diseases.... and even thus I manage to live with an incurable degenerative one (actually pretty well) everyday of my life, I am still scare of them!!! But now I have found the tools to keep most of them away... 

So technically, my initial Plan A was to help others... not to be a biochemist... that was the tool I knew at that time! And when I look at all I have done in my life, it always is to help others... and try and make them feel good, be healthy and stay aways from diseases.... 

Therefore I can easily say that my Plan A, Plan B, Plan C...  all have the same goal!!!  And I like to believe that as I grow older and wiser (I know what you're thinking...lol  ) I am getting closer to my ultimate goal... and that all those plans are tools to get me there... and if I am still working on it, it is because my plans didn't work out...  Did I stay cool all the time?  Hell no!!!  I am human... raised in a society like all of you... model to behave and think in such a way...  my path has me using tools that are unconventional to get to my goal of helping people....  and I do get scare...  and uncertain at times...

I tried many things that did not work out... so of course I wonder if the next will...  and I am not getting any younger... and I see time passing by.... and the clock is ticking.... to achieve my ultimate goal of course I have all my life... but still...

Also, as I feel like I am getting closer, I sometimes get scare... and I think this is pretty normal... the only thing is that you have to keep moving.... not let fear paralyze you!

I have those voices in my head that like to say: what makes you think this is it? you tried so many things, why would this work? maybe you have the wrong timing? maybe you're not good enough? maybe you're dreaming too big? bla, bla,bla...

but what are those voices?  basically the voice of reason... as we were taught! The voice of fear! The voice of uncertainty! So I should not listen to those voices.... and I don't... most times...  but I have my weak moments too...

but I talk to myself... I know no dreams are too big! I know I am good enough! I know the timing is always what it should be! I know all I tried was to teach me something and bring me somewhere! And I know this is IT!!!  I just know it!!! 

Of course, I have no idea of how it will happen...  and when... and all those details... but I do not need to know all that if I live in the present.. because the future doesn't really exist yet... I make it up with every decision I make now! This is what is forging my future...

And most importantly...  I want you to reread this post as if it was you writing it!!!  Because if all this is true for me... it is true for you to!!!!   You can dream big...  you can be afraid...  you can fail.... and you will learn... and get wiser... and refine you plans... and find what you really like.... and SUCCEED!!!!

But you have to keep trying... and for the voices or reason, fear, uncertainty: shut them up...
And do not let anyone discourage you...  or talk you out of doing something you really care about...   because you may regret it... and regret it the WORSE thing... You only have one life.... make it yours!!!  Completely yours!!!!  And enjoy it!  And be happy! 

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
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Yoga and the present moment

Last week, I decided that I wanted to try to be in the present moment a little bit more...

Well it is going well...  I have been working really hard at it...  constantly reminding myself to be here and now as soon as I realise I am not...  but I also notice that it happens less and less.... so there are some progress...  of course I keep doing my yoga, meditation and breathing...  and it helps!!!

Talking about yoga, my friend Rita from the Busy woman and the stipy cat reminded me of something when I read her blog this morning...  when I first started practicing yoga years ago, I did it to get better, to manage stress and to improve my health...  When that happened, I started looking into more advanced type of yoga...  more advance asanas...  and I found some "goal" asana that I wanted to be able to do in my practice...  I worked really hard on them... and most of them I got (back then I was so competitive)!  I could physically do them....  I even managed to do the complete ashtanga serie as it is designed...  but by doing so I was going against what yoga is really!  Let me explain what I mean....

Of course yoga is a beautiful discipline... a way of life... it teaches you a philosophy of life to which I like to adhere as it is really in sink with my own personal values... who I am! Yoga also is asanas (or physical posture)...  and some can be quite challenging... and the flow from one to another can be very difficult to master... if you look at the video's in Rita's blog you'll see what I mean... Initially there were a very limited set of asanas (20 or so if I remember correctly) and today, there are hundreds of them...  there are as many types of yoga as there are "gurus" that invented their own method that is supposedly better than the others... REALLY?  This kind of upsets me... when you know that the Sun Salutation in itself if complete... when you know that using roughly the sun salute and a few extra poses can "do the job"....  WHY?  Why do people feel the need to "invent" or "improve" yoga?  Yoga is now becoming a popular trend and as anything that is popular in this world, it needs to be made more complicated, better, more expensive, less attainable, more selective....  but all that goes against yoga...  sad but true!

Yoga is perfect as it is...  as it has been for thousands of years.... the purpose of the asanas is to make your body stronger to sustain a longer meditation practice...  the purpose of the life style is to improve you "karma", to become a better person...  to sustain your mediation practice... and as you live in sink with your meditation practice you'll see your quality of life improve and stress level decrease.... and thus eventually reach what they call nirvana...  You'll be healthier and happier than ever before!!! YOGA means union...  union of all parts of yourself into one! Body, mind, spirit!

Yoga is not designed to make circus artists...  or rich gurus to whom you give your money in exchange for the perfect solution to everything...  Yoga is not to obtain the perfect physical body....

Yoga is all within you...  once you know the basic asanas and teaching, you actually need to practice... practice... and practice some more...  24/7... all your life...  you have to become yoga in your every cell.... every breath... for it to transform you...  and the world around you...

Every good yoga teacher will direct you towards yourself... within your own body, mind and spirit.... all the answers and resources are there...  Of course, you can get books and DVD to help you out.... or attend a course...  but all that is accessory...  and they are tools to help you with your practice... but all that cannot do the work for you... or give you the answers... 

As Rita said, you're better off practicing 15 minutes per day the asanas then 90 minutes per week with an teacher...  and I must add, that in between the 15 minutes of asanas, you need to "practice" everything else yoga is... constantly...  it is NOT easy!!!  But so worthwhile...  It's a philosophy, a way of life... it requires discipline... inside and out!

There is nothing wrong with doing the asanas for the physical well being of the thing...  but that is s whole different story... and you will get physical benefits... and nice shape... but you will not experience yoga as a whole... and you might miss on something greater than you can ever imagine!

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
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Being car less...

This was another VERY popular post.... so I thought I would post it again.... for my new readers... they might enjoy it too!!!
Of course....  I posted some "notes" to let you know if anything changed 6 months after the initial post... 


Hey!

this will be my last post that is exclusively on going car less.. after almost 3  (9) months I have a few points I wand to bring up...

We haven't had a car in almost 3 9 months now... basically, the following is what really happened between then and now.

At first, I was lost. I must admit!! I had a car for roughly 12 years... and at some point we even had 2 cars! We managed to go down to one 5 years ago and we had plans to be car less by the time my son is out of high school. Another 5 years. However, life chose otherwise... as is often the case for great changes! We decided not to fight it... but it was not easy! I was a little lost.. I had to adapt... my week end were always planned according to going from A to B using a car! using public transit or my legs (or my bike in decent weather) is NOT as fast! Obviously, there cannot be as many A to B in a week end! I was panicking.. how will I get to do everything with not enough time? until I realized, that I did not HAVE to do all those things all the time... and I could work out a better schedule! I also changed some of my habits! It was good to finaly realised that we keep so busy for no really good reasons...  without even thinking if we want to or have to.... 

So slowly but surely my husband and I came up with new week end routines...

Friday nights are most time spent at home instead of wandering around at the mall not buying anything because we are minimalists. Now that summer is coming, we like to go have a walk downtown...there are so many things going on... 

Saturdays are spent either 2 ways... if my son is there, we rent a car to go to his judo lessons and then perhaps they go play paintball... if my son is not there we go downtown to have a Starbucks and walk around... we enjoy being downtown!!! We get back home early enough to prepare a nice supper and drink some kombucha and chat or watch a movie. We are now at a point where we wonder if it may not be easier to live downtown since we're almost always there... but we're not quite ready for that yet... our jobs are to far and the communte would be to long... we need to adress that first!  This is a plan for next year or the following...

Sundays are early rise and grocery shopping (trust me, you buy much less food when you gotta carry it home walking - no extras just for fun - you get what you need for the week and that's it! This also means that I throw out much less food - only one small size garbage bag a week for all 3 of us - since wasted food is wasted money this is good news!!!).. by 9 am we are back home, unpack groceries and then head of to Starbucks to meet our best friend... or go to my parents if my son is home...we get back home early as my husband weird work schedule require him to sleep between 4pm and 8pm on Sunday night... therefore between the time we get home and his sleep time we can relax, do some cleaning and or laundry, organize a few things.. when he goes to bed, I either catch up on my reading, crafts or I spend some quality time with my lovely son... or wathc a girlie movie! ;-)

so these are our week ends now... and the weeks are pretty much work and home... except for Thursday when we all walk to Sushi (rain or shine) and stop do a little grocery shopping of fresh product to bring us to Sunday. Because we moved beginning of February, this is no longer an option...  Thursdays are also spent home... and becasue we have a grocery at the corner of our street, we buy fresh product almost every other day... Again, becaise summer is here, we may go to the park or on a bike ride to enjoy the weather after supper....  I have learned to enjoy being home... first of all it is much more relaxing than being anywhere else...it does not cost tons of additional money (I have to pay rent anyway, whether I am there or not)... I eat better... and overall, not having a car has "forced" me to spend more time outside and hence sleep better!

I also had to come up with new lunch routines...

To me lunch is time spent outside... preferably... because I need it!!! I used to take my car and go to the mall or Chapters... which were 5-10 min away by car.... take a chai latte on my way back and sip it slowly over the afternoon...
Now there is a Starbucks 15 min walk max from my workplace... so I walk there (rain or shine - REALLY!), grab an extra hot chai in a stainless steel mug, walk back with the chai packed away and sip it slowly during the afternoon.... this allows me a shorter lunch time indeed but I get to leave a little earlier and save public transit traffic!! (Yes there is such a thing...) My 90 minutes ride is more enjoyable in a less crowded bus!  Still on for that!!!!  I am proud to say that for 9 mohths of doing this, I only missed once because of bad weather!  It was sooooo rainy!!!!   All the other times, rain or shine, warm, cold or extremely cold... I went!!!  Even in a few snowstorms!!!!

All this to say that after we got used to it, let's say about roughly a month, it has become a much more enjoyable experience... and I definitely won't buy another car... Here are the plus side of my life as it is:

More time outside (walking instead of driving, downtown instead of the mall)
More walking (good exercise - at least 45 min per day)
More relaxing (driving was stressing me out so much - I didn't even realize it!)
More reading (3h bus ride every week day all by myself - gotta keep busy)
More presence in the moment (meditation, observation)
More home cooking (better food on our plates)
More crafting (YE! use to not have time for it!)
More quality time with husband and son (at home or in the bus - I do not have to watch the road!)
More doing what I really care about (instead of just doing stuff to keep busy)
More weight loss (all that walking, fresh air and eating better pays off)
More money to put towards my small debt (will be debt free faster!)

and even if I try to, it's hard for me to come up with a negative side other than it's longer to get to places... but is that really a negative side? especially when it allows me to spend quality time with the ones I love and read when I am alone...

So all in all, it has been a positive experience! I am glad we gave it a fair chance before rushing to buy another car! It may seem weird to not own a car for many people but by the number of people I see every day using public transit, we are certainly not alone!!!


Je suis toujours contente d'avoir de vos nouvelles... n'hésitez pas à me contacter!!!

N'oubliez pas d'aller voir ma page Facebook... ou mon profile perso... connectez-vous à moi sur twitter ou google+....

love and peace,
nath
xox
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Les cailloux / Pebbles

This post is both in French and in English... The English follows French...  Enjoy!!! 

 

Ceci est une fable qui circule sur le net... je n'ai pas le mérite de l'avoir érite et je ne sais pas vraiment qui en est l'auteur... mais elle me touche beaucoup et va tout à fait avec mes publications des dernières semaines... 

Un vieux professeur devait donner une formation sur la planification efficace de son temps à un groupe d'une quinzaine de dirigeants. Ce cours constituait l'un des cinq ateliers de leur journée de formation. Le vieux prof n'avait donc qu'une heure pour "passer sa matière".
Debout, devant ce groupe prêt à noter tout ce que l'expert allait enseigner, le prof les regarda un par un, lentement, puis leur dit : "Nous allons réaliser une expérience"...
Il se pencha sous la table et sortit un immense pot de verre qu'il posa délicatement en face de lui. Puis il sortit une douzaine de gros cailloux les plaça un par un, délicatement, dans le grand pot. Lorsque le pot fut rempli jusqu'au bord et qu'il fut impossible d'y ajouter un caillou de plus, il leva lentement les yeux vers ses élèves et leur demanda :

"Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

Tous répondirent : "Oui".

Il attendit quelques secondes et ajouta : "Vraiment?".

Alors, il se pencha de nouveau et sortit un récipient empli de gravier. Avec minutie, il versa ce gravier sur gros cailloux puis secoua légèrement le pot. Le gravier s'infiltra entre les cailloux... jusqu'au fond du pot.

Le vieux prof leva à nouveau les yeux vers son auditoire et redemanda : "Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

L'un des managers répondît: "Probablement pas!".

"Bien!" répondit le prof.

Il se pencha de nouveau et cette fois, sortit un sceau de sable. Avec attention, il versa le sable dans le pot, le sable remplissant les espaces entre les gros cailloux et le gravier. Il demanda à nouveau: "Est-ce que ce pot est plein?".

Cette fois sans hésiter les brillants dirigeants s'écrièrent: "Non!".

"Bien!" répondît le prof.

Il prit le pichet d'eau qui était sur la table et remplit le pot jusqu'au bord.

Le vieux prof leva alors les yeux vers son groupe et demanda : "Quelle grande vérité nous montre cette expérience? "

Un Participant malin, se remémorant le sujet de l'atelier, répondît : "Cela démontre que même lorsque l'on pense que notre agenda est complètement rempli, si on le veut vraiment, on peut y ajouter plus de rendez-vous, plus de choses à faire ".

"Non, ce n'est pas cela" répondit le prof.

"La grande vérité que nous montre cette expérience est la suivante: si on ne met pas les gros cailloux en premier dans le pot, on ne pourra jamais les faire entrer tous ensuite".

Il y eut un profond silence, chacun prenant conscience de l'évidence de ces propos.

Le vieux prof ajouta : "Demandez vous quels sont les gros cailloux dans votre vie." "Santé ? Famille ? Ami(e)s ? Réaliser vos rêves ? Faire ce que vous aimez ? Apprendre ? Prendre le temps...? Autre chose ?"

"L'importance c'est de mettre ses gros cailloux en premier dans sa vie. Si on donne priorité aux peccadilles (le gravier, le sable), on remplira sa vie de peccadilles et on n'aura plus suffisamment de temps à consacrer aux éléments importants de sa vie."

Alors, n'oubliez pas de vous poser à vous-même la question : "Quels sont les gros cailloux de ma vie ?". Et mettez-les ensuite en premier dans votre pot.

D'un geste amical de la main, le vieux professeur salua son auditoire et quitta lentement la salle.

This is a story that is circulating on the internet...  I do not have the merit to have written it and I do not even know who did...  but it really speacks to me and is quite in line with what I have been posting lately...

An old teacher had to give training on time management to a group of managers.  This training session was one of the 5 workshops in their training day.  The teacher had only an hour to make his point.  Standing in front of this crowd all set to note everything he was gona say. He looked at all his “students” one by one and said:  “We’ll do an experiment”… He bend down under his table and took an empty glass jar that he placed delicately in front of him.  Then he took out 12 large pebbles that he placed slowly into the jar one by one. When he could not had another he looked at his “students” one by one and then asked them:  “Is this jar full?”

The all answered: “Yes”
 
He waited a few seconds and said: “Really?”

He then took out from under the table a container filled with smaller pebbles.   Slowly he poured the smaller pebbles in the jar and slowly shook the jar.  The smaller pebbles infiltrated the bigger ones all the way to the bottom of the jar...

The teacher raised his eyes and asked:  “Is the jar full?”

One of the managers said: “Probably not”

“Good” said the teacher…

He bends down once again and this time took out a bag of sand.  Very carefully, he poured the sand in the jar and the sand took all the empty space the big and small pebbles left.  He asked once again: “Is the jar full?”

 This time, all the managers answered loudly: “No”

“Great” said the teacher…

He took the water that was on the table and filled the glass jar with it all the way to the top.

He raised his eyes and asked:  “Which noble truth is this experiment teaching us?”

One smart manager, remembering what the subject of the workshop was answered: « This shows us that even when we think our agenda is completely full, if we really want to, you can always add more appointment, more things to do. »

« No, that’s not it » said the teacher.

The noble truth this is showing us is the following:  If we do not put the big pebbles first in the jar, we’ll never be able to put them in after. »

Deep silence was in the room at that time.
 
The old teacher added: “Ask yourself what the big pebbles in your lives are.” “Health? Family? Friends ? Dreams ? Doing what you like ? Learning ? Taking your time… ? Anything else ? »

What is important is to put the big pebbles first. in your life. If you give priorities to insignificant matter (smaller pebbles, sand) we’ll fill our lives with insignificant things and we’ll never have enough time for what really matters in our lives.”

So do not forget to ask yourself the question: “What are the big pebbles in my life?” And put them first in your jar.

With a hand gesture he saluted the crowds and slowly left the room.

What about you?  What are your big pebbles?  Have you found them yet???

Je suis toujours contente d'avoir de vos nouvelles... n'hésitez pas à me contacter!!!

N'oubliez pas d'aller voir ma page Facebook... ou mon profile perso... connectez-vous à moi sur twitter ou google+....

love and peace,
nath
xox
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Horaire d'été

This post is in French... it is a translation from Monday's post...

 

Je ne sais pas si je suis la seule, mais avec les plus longues et plus chaudes journées d'été, mon horaire change tout naturellement... Je me couche plus tard... Je me lève plus tôt... Je mange différemment... Je passe moins de temps sur mon ordinateur, ma télévision ou mon téléphone...

Il est vrai que l'été à Montréal, ou je vis, est assez court...  au mieux quatre mois... normalement plus comme trois mois... et parfois plutôt absent... alors c'est comme si je ne voulais pas en manquer une seule minute!!! 

Surdose de: Soleil (mais pas de brulure - c'est pas bon du tout!)...  tours de vélo... manger des fruits et légumes locaux... ne rien faire... aller à la piscine... regarder le ciel... attendre... écouter les enfants jouer dehors...  ouvrir les fenêtre de sorte que dedans devient dehors (je n'ai jamais eu la clim)... ne pas trop s'habiller mais montrer un peu de peau et respirer....  porter des flip flops!

Tout ceci dans n'importe quel ordre qui me convient... ça c'est l'été!!! et on y arrive...  nous avons eu un départ très lent cette année... alors à moins d'un miracle nous regardons plus à un été de 2-3 mois que de 4!!!

Cet été sera super...  Je n'ai aucun plan pour quitter Montréal...  et je souhaite passer un été encore plus minimaliste que les autres... ne pas trop dépenser... mais m'amuser davantage!!!  Alors je fais mes plans selon cela...  

Je prendrai aussi un congé de travail sans solde de 5 semaines...  entre le 29 juillet et le 31 août!!! J'ai toujours voulu le faire...  et l'été passé était en quelques sorte plus comme 12 semaines sans soldes mais c'est parce que j'avais perdu mon emploi... j'avais le temps "off" c'est sur mais puisque je n'avais rien qui m'attendais alors le rythme et l'esprit était différent... J'étais sincèremenet contente de perdre mon emploi et de bonne humeur mais le fait de ne rien avoir qui m'attendait me retirait l'urgence de profiter de 5 semaines!

Durant les 5 semaines, j'aurai du temps seule avec mon fils, seule avec mon mari, seule avec moi- même et du temps ou nous serons tous les 3!  Je pourrai prendre soin de mes 2 amours et de moi-même!!!

Ca veut aussi dire que je n'écrirai pas autant sur ce blog...  J'écris présentement 3-4 fois par semaine...  Je baisserai la fréquence... pas trop sur à quoi... et ça pourrait être non constant d'une semaine à l'autre... mais il y aura quelque chose au moins une fois semaine ne vous inquiétez pas!!!  Pour le moi d'août j'aurai des invités...  et ça sera intéressant pour vous, comme pour moi, de lire les histoires des autres personnes lisant ce blog!!!

Si vous voulez être un des invités laissez moi savoir... il y a encore quelques places disponibles...

Alors c'est tout pour le moment... j'ai vraiment hâte à mon été minimaliste... et de le partager avec vous.... pendant et après...

Et vous?  Comment allez-vous profiter de l'été? Des projets spéciaux? Allez-vous quelque part? Restez-vous à la maison? Comment l'été affecte-t-il votre routine?

Je suis toujours contente d'avoir de vos nouvelles... n'hésitez pas à me contacter!!!

N'oubliez pas d'aller voir ma page Facebook... ou mon profile perso...  connectez-vous à moi sur twitter ou google+....

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
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One of everything: is it still the case 6 months later???

I have decided to revisit a few of my most popular posts...  for 2 reasons.... 

1) I have many new readers who may not have seen them....
2) I want to see if they're still true...  a good way for me to evaluate if what I "say" does pass the test if time...

THE MOST popular post ever was "One of everything"
So here it is... the actual new version... and if anything changed I have put a note to this effect...  in GREEN!

Recently I have come up across a few blogs or articles that claim that having one of everything is great...
And I have been thinking... as always!

In my minimalism quest... which I somehow always think is coming to an end... (but somehow is not!!!) I have given away many many things I had in duplicate (or even more)... not necessarily identical items but that somehow served the same purpose!

Keep in mind that there is only 3 of us in my apartment...

We have:

one table for meals
one bed for my son and one for my husband and I... no extra bed!
one set of sheet per bed
one extra warm blanket for cold days per bed - I do live in Montreal
one chest drawer each to put our clothes (actually there is 3 of us and we now have only 2 chest drawers...  we have declutter our clothes even more in the last 6 months)
one blanket close to couch for those cold nights
one bath towel each
one pool towel each (I actually have 2 myself so there's 4 total...  forgot about one... and I know they are only beach towels but I can't chose one over the other... for now...)
one couch that can sit comfortably the 3 of us
one rocking chair in bedroom
one leather chair in living room (this being leather and me now being vegan, I will have to rethink this chair I think... but my husband loves to meditate on it... since it's an IKEA chair, maybe I can get rid of the leather cushion and get one in cotton? - Gotta look into that!)
one TV (why is it so hard to get rid of that stupid thing?  my son of course....  but even I have a hard time not watching it... althus if I did not have one, it would be easier!)
one computer
one iPod/iPhone station
one of each required pots and pans in my kitchen (sometimes, quite frankly, I wish I had an extra small pot...)
one of each utensils required for cooking - except for wooden spoon which I have 2 of
one bicycle each as a mean of transport

so I think this is not too bad... however, there are some areas where it causes me problems...

1) 4 chairs at the kitchen table - thought about the possibility of having only 3 chairs (one each)but did not made my mind up yet... it could be possible as we have other chairs elsewhere in the apartment anyway if ever we are to have visitors ... but the table is so small that I cannot sit more than 4 anyway! The fact that the table is round is convenient to having only 3 chairs -Great news.. .actually went down to 3 chairs around dining table when we moved on Feb 1st...  it is much cuter and original...

2) dishes, glasses, mugs and bowls... I decided right before Christmas to keep 3 of each.... and a few extra mugs as some I was not ready to part with... which I did and my kitchen cabinet feel much better that way! However, at Christmas I got 4 really nice Le Creuset mugs which made me part with some of the extra mugs I had kept... but it also makes me want to get the 4 matching desert plates and bowls... but that would be 4! It brakes my 3 rules... I do not see why I should have 4 of something so one will always be left out! I thought about getting only 3 plates and bowls.. which is probably what I'll end up doing... and keep the extra mug... as an extra! I decided against buying more Le Creuset items...  they are quite expensive... so problem solved!  And I did keep the 4 mugs!!!  Of course!!!

3) 2 desks to work on... one was in my son's bedroom to do his homework and one for my in the corridor... however when we move in a week, the apartment even thus smaller is layed out differently... and I will keep only one desk where my son will do his homework (not in his bedroom as this is not ideal for sleep purposes) and I can also work on it... we do not really need it at the same time anyway! This one desk is working out just fine!!!  We never had congestion on it or argument over it!!!  And it is onew less piece of furniture!

4) clothes - as you can see in a previous post I do not have much clothes... and I am very happy about it! Most of them are not duplicate.. yes I may have 3 long sleeve t-shirt but that are different color... so technically it is one of each! I do not have 3 white t-shirt and 4 black for example! My area of concern is my 2 pairs of black pants... but they are what I wear to work almost all week... and my 3 pairs of jeans... I don't think I can do without any of them as they are all very different: one is skinny and fits well in my boots, one is larger and is perfect for my somewhat bohemian look and one is torn which I love but is not appropriate for work and in some other situation.. so I really feel like I have to keep all of them! Got rid of one pair of jeans (the torn ones - they were too big! But found out I have 2 "summer" one that were not listed previously in my winter list of clothes... and because the adopted the casual dressing policy at my job, I can actually wear jeans everyday...  YE!!!

5) CDs and DVDs - I am in the process of putting all my CDs on my iPhone so that will be resolved soon... (I may have only 6-7 left and in the process of doing so I only keep on my phone the songs I like) and as for DVDs (maybe 20 of them) they are mostly my son's... gotta check with him before I pack them away if he wishes to keep all of them! Nothing changed here!

6) books - we have very few books... including my nutrition and yoga books, it may add up to 30 - 35... which is the bare minimum I am willing to have now!! I look at 90% of them on a regular basis... just a few novel (6-7) that I am keeping because I read them recently and I am not ready to part with.. even thus I know I should as I never reread the same novel!!! No change here either...  I am very hesitant to get rid of my novels...  for some weird reason that I am not aware off...  as I know I never reread a novel... or very rarely... Of course my yoga. nutrition and self development book I need to keep for my coaching business.  Gotta work on the novel thing... 

However, I must say that for the 1st time in years, I am spending the winter with only one winter jacket and one pair of boots!!! I also have only 2 hats and 2 scarves - depending on temperature and need to wash! This went great!   Of course all that is put away now... ;-) I am looking into a more summery wardrobe... but still very minimal... althus I did buy a few tops lately... I still have this thing with clothes... not completely resolved yet...  but working on it...  I know I say it;s not easy and that you have to forgive yourself but I am very hard on myself! :-(

I also want to mention that any "decoration" items are gone.. unless they belong to my yoga practice...  so I have some Buddha, Ganesh, prayer bowls, crying yogi... some incense and candles... and a "Globe terrestre" that helps me figure out where all of you guys come from!!!  But beside that, nothing is just lying around...  and this is GREAT!!!  Unless you enter my son's room...  but he's a teenager... so it's a phase... I hope! ;-)

So all in all, I am getting quite close... and the "Only one" does sound extremely appealing!!!

What about you?
Would you consider giving away stuff that you may have double off??? or even more???
How much stuff do you REALLY need???? Aside from them having sentimental value and collecting dust?

Well not much changed... or it did for the better!!! But I did realise that there are still some stuff that I need to work on....  will get at it soon....  I know myself....

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
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http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
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Summer schedule...

I do not know if I am the only one, but with longer and warmer days, my schedule changes naturally...  I go to bed later... wake up earlier...  change the way I eat...  do not spend as much time on my computer, phone, television and the like...

It is true that summer here in Montreal, where I live, can be quite short...  at best 4 months.... normally more like 3 months...  and sometimes almost absent... so it's like if I do not want to miss any single moment of it!!!

Overdose on: sunshine (but no burning - this is really bad for you!)...  bike rides...  eating fresh local fruits and veggies... doing nothing...  going to the pool... looking at the sky... waiting... listening to the sound of kids playing outside...  opening my windows so inside feels like outside too (I never ever had air conditioning!!!)... not overdressing but rather showing some skin and breathing... wearing flip flops!

All these...  in any which order I choose...  this is SUMMER!!!  and we're getting there.. we had a really slow start this year so unless there's a miracle, we're looking more into a 2-3 months than 4 months one!!!

This summer will be a really nice one....  I have no plans for "going away" or anything... and I want to spend a summer even more minimal than previously.. not spending so much....  but enjoying myself more!!!  So I am making plans accordingly... 

I will also be taking a 5 weeks "vacation" - unpaid - away from my day job between July 29th and August 31st!!!  This is something I always wanted to do... and last summer was really close but I was actually out of a job so it was not exactly the same ;-)  even thus I had the time off, the spirit was different (I was still happy I lost my job beginning of June...  I am just saying that not having anything to go back to doesn't make it look or feel like a vacation)!

During the course of the 5 weeks, there will be time alone with my son, alone with my husband, all 3 of us and alone by myself...  so I'll get to take care of everyone even ME!!!

This also means that I will not be posting as much on this blog...  I am currently writing 3-4 times a week...  I will go down... not sure by how much... and it may be inconsistent...  but there will be something at a minimum once a week don't worry!!!  For the month of August, I will have guests bloggers...  and this is gonna be cool for me and for you guys to listen stories of other people that also read this blog!!!

If you want to be one of the guests bloggers do not hesitate to let me know... I have a few but looking for a few more...

So this is it for this time....  I am really looking forward to a minimalist summer...  and sharing it all with you...  during and after...

And you?  How will you be enjoying your summer? Any special project?  Going somewhere? Staying in? How does summer affect your routine?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

The present moment and yoga - update 5 days later

At the beginning of the week, I mentioned that I wanted to learn to be more in the present moment...  I even challenge myself to work really hard at it for the next 7 weeks (until my August vacation).

I want to do this to be more quiet... more at peace...  not worry so much... to find stillness.  I have improved the "not stressing" a LOT between now and when I started my yoga practice...   but I am not where I would like to be yet... 

Since Monday, I have been observing myself...  when I am here and when am I elsewhere?  What prompts me going elsewhere?  What brings me back?  What keeps me in the now most of the times?

What keeps me in the now:

Spending time with my son
Spending time with my husband - most of the time (althus we sometimes both have a tendency to go in the future so we need to remind ourselves.... but we're both working on it so it makes it easier)
Giving a training - I am really passionate about it
Writing
Walking - I like to look around, smell the air a lot.... keeps me present...
Cooking
Talking/Reading about nutrition
Talking/Reading about yoga

When am I prone to leave now and go in the past or the future:

In the bus
When engaged in a discussion I am not passionate about
On my yoga mat!  (Interesting)
When I am bored
Taking a shower

What brings me back:

Concentrating on my breathing - so when I have been going away in the last few days and I realise I am no longer here and now, I go back to by breathing...  going back to my breathing makes me turning in...  so I can't escape!!!  I usually take a few deep breath and I am back here and now!!!

So as a result, I am not so much in the past or future...  not as much as I thought I was!  I was pleasantly surprised by that!

I have to work mostly on the situation that are more difficult for me....  of course I could start reading in the bus but that would defeat the purpose...  I could keep busy all the time but that to would be kind of cheating.... to me at least! And don't even think about me skipping the shower!!!  My goal is to be here and now in ANY situations...  to find stillness...  even when it is more difficult!!!

So this is what I will be working on for the next week and I will update you as I go along...

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
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https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Pourquoi est-ce si difficile d'être minimaliste?

For my English reader, this is the French version of the post I made in English earlier today!

 

Et avant que vous disiez quoi que ce soit... Oui je trouve encore ça difficile parfois! Et non je ne suis pas tombée sur la tête!!! :-)
Et oui je pratique le minimalisme depuis 6 ans... mais c'est un processus continu....  un style de vie... et c'est différent!  Alors, comme tout ce qui va à l'encontre de la majorité...  ce n'as pas toujours facile!!!

Il y a quelques raisons pour ça...

Un sentiment que TOUT les humains ont a un moment ou un autre de leur vie est l'envie et/ou la jalousie... et je ne suis pas fière de le dire ( pour plusieurs raisons autres que celle-ci) mais je suis HUMAINE! Alors oui, il m'arrive parfois, d'envier les autres...  par example une piscine par une journée chaude et humide... ou une voiture lors de pluies abondantes... ou une longue liste de "to-do" pour les jours ou je préfèrerais "faire" au lieu "d'être"...

Qu'est-ce que je fais avec ça?  Je me rappelle simplement que moi aussi j'ai déjà eu ces choses... que j'ai choisi de ne plus les avoir... qu'au delà de la baignade dans la piscine, il y a l'entretien de celle-ci... le temps et l'$ que ça demande... qu'au lieu de stresser dans le traffic, d'avoir des paiements de voiture et des entretiens et réparations, j'ai choisi la liberté du transport en commun...  avoir la chance d'être avec le monde, pas stressée, capable de lire durant le trajet... je l'ai choisi!!!  Ca ne m'a pas été imposé!!! Même chose pour la longue liste de "to-do"... j'en avais assez de toujours avoir des items non-faits...  ça me mettait un stress dont je n'avais pas besoin ni envie... Alors j'ai laissé aller des obligations, des tâches, des items "to-do"...  je les ai échangé pour la liberté... pour plus de temps libre... c'était mon choix! Et 99% du temps je suis OK avec!!!

Une autre raison pourquoi c'est difficile est la publicité!!!! Pourquoi est-ce que les compagnies dépensent des milliards de dollars chaque années sur la publicité?  Pour vous convaincre que vous avez absoluement besoin de quelque chose!!!  Que si vous ne vous le procurez pas, vous êtes moins bien que celui qui l'a fait! Et ne le prenez pas mal... Je ne dis pas que tout ceci est complètement "mal"...  après tout nous avons tous à un moment ou un autre besoin de quelque chose....  nous ne pouvons pas nous promener nu, nous avons besoin d'un lit pour dormir, d'une table pour manger, du savon pour se laver et de la nourriture...  mais devons-nous constamment etre rappelé de ces besoins? Avons nous besoins de toutes ces choses à tout moment de la journée? Dois-je me sentir mal si je ne me procure pas un item? Les annonces sont partout...  à la télé, dans le bus, le métro sur les panneaux publicitaires...  c'est même livré directement chez nous sans que nous le demandions... on ne peut même pas regardé un vidéo sur You Tube sans avoir une publicité au préalable... Je pense que c'est un peu exagéré!

Aussi, parfois, lorsque je suis seule à la maison, j'ai l'impression que je suis la seule idiote (avec mon mari) dans ce bateau du minimalisme.... même si je sais que nous sommes de plus en plus...  mais lorsque je ne sais pas trop quoi faire, ouvre la télé et tombe sur un publicité...  qui me "vend" une autre chose dont je devrais avoir besoin mais qui ne sonne rien en moi...la plupart du temps... mais cette journée là oui... a cause de humeur...  je me demande a quoi ça sert tout ça?  Pourquoi je me prive de toutes ces choses si je suis la seule à le faire?  Quel impact ça a?  Mais tout à coup je réalise que je ne suis pas seule... que j'écris pour vous plusieurs fois par semaine et que je dois montrer l'example...  je dois "walk the talk" comme on dit... Et puis je pense que toutes ces choses ne me rendent pas plus heureuse en bout de ligne... lorsque je ne les utilise plus (après quelques heures), elle deviennent un fardeau... une obligation... et je veux le moins d'obligations possible!  Je veux être libre... autant qu'on puisse l'être dans cette société...

Ma dernière faiblesse est quand je passe un moment difficile...  c'est facile de me rassurer ou de me faire sentir bien en achetant une nouvelle robe, des chaussures ou un cadres... je l'ai fait si longtemps... et si souvent... alors j'y retourne naturellement! A moins que je me parle... parce que je sais dans le fond que ce sentiment passe rapidement et que le malaise revient... et que le problème demeure tant que je ne l'ai pas adressé... je ne peux le cacher derrière une robe!!!

Alors oui je trouve ça difficile parfois...  mais ça arive de moins en moins...  et ça ne dure pas aussi longtemps... et je peux me parler et me rappeler pourquoi je fais ça!!! Parce que j'ai des buts précis et je connais mes objectifs... et c'est ce qui me garde centré...

Et vous? Avez-vous essayé le minimalisme? Est-ce que ça fonctionne pour vous? Depuis combien de temps le pratiquez-vous? Qu'est-ce qui vous motive?

(ceci est ma propre "traduction" alors excusez mes erreurs...)

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
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Why is it so difficult to be a minimalist?

this guy is a minimalist.... but it's so easy for him...

And before anyone says anything...  YES I sometimes find it difficult....  still....  and no I did not fall on my head!  :-)
And yes... I've been doing that for 6 years.....  but it's a continuous process...  it's a way of life...  and it's different!  Therefore, as with anything that is different than majority... it is not easy all the time!!!

There are a few reasons for it...

One sentiment that ALL humans may experience, at one point or another, in their life is jealousy and/or envy... and I am so so proud to say (for many other reasons other than this one!) that  I am a HUMAN being!!! So yes, I may sometimes, even thus less and less often, envy what others have...  for example, a pool on a hot and humid day...  or a car on a very rainy day....  or a long to-do list on a day where I am wishing I could "do" instead of "be"...

How do I deal with this? Simply by reminding myself that I use to have all those things...  that I chose not to have them anymore... that beyond the dip in the pool, there is the maintenance for it...  the time and $ involved... that instead of being stressed in traffic, having car payments, maintenance and repairs to do on a car, I chose the liberty of public transit...  being able to be with people, not stressed, able to read while I commute... I chose it!!!  It was not imposed on me!!!  Same goes for the long to-do list...  I was fed up of having undone items constantly... it put stress on me and I did not needed it or wanted it!!!  So I have let go of obligations, tasks, to-do items... I traded them for freedom... more free time...  this too was my choice!!!  And 99%  of the time, I am OK with that!!! 

Another reason for it is publicity!!!  Why do company spend billions of $ each year on publicity?  To convince you that you absolutely NEED  something!!!  That if you do not get it, you're not as good as the next person who did!!!  And don't get me wrong... I am not saying that this is completely wrong...  of course we need stuff at some point... we can't walk around naked and we need a bed to sleep in, a table to eat on, soap to wash ourselves, food to eat and so on... but do we really need ALL that and more ALL the time?  Do I need to be bombarded with adds constantly? Do I need to be reminded of my needs?  Or made feel bad if I don't get something? Adds are everywhere...  on TV, in the bus, the metro, on publicity board all over...they get deliver to your door step without you asking for it... and you can't even watch a YouTube video anymore without them... I just think it's a little overboard!!!

Sometimes, I also feel like we're (my husband and I) "alone" on that boat that is minimalism... even thus I know there are more and more of us... but sometimes, when I am alone at home, not quite sure what to do, open up the TV and see what?  Publicity.... I feel like I am the only "stupid" one depriving myself of all those goodies....  and why really??? If everyone does it, how is it affecting anything that I don't???  But then I realise that I am not alone... there are many of us....  some of you guys for who I write several times a week... and that in order to change things, I need to set an example... and also remind myself that all those goodies do not make me happier in the end...  once I am no longer using them (maybe a few hours after I got them),  I need to care for them and they no longer bring any joy... only obligations!!!  And I want to be free....  as much as one can be here...

 My last pitfall is when I am going thru a difficult time... it is easy to be tempted to reassure myself or make me feel better by buying something... I have done it for so long... and so often...  so I naturally go back to that...  unless I really talk myself out of it!  But I should know better.... I know buying a dress or a pair of shoes or a frame will not make me feel better in the long run... and the issue will still be there unless I worked to resolve it... not hide it under a new dress!!!

So yes I do find it difficult at times.... but it happens less and less...  and doesn't last as long... and I can usually talk myself out of it!!!  Because I have a clear goal and I know what my objective is...  and this is what keeps me grounded... 

What about you guys? Have you tried minimalism?  Did it work for you? How long have you been at it?  What keeps you going?

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Looking for some guest bloggers for the month of August

Hello!

I have a request for you guys...  no matter what country you're from...  if you would like to write a blog post about minimalism, yoga, vegetarianism/veganism... 
Preferably in French or English... 
However long of short...

For the month of August... because I am on vacation technically but I want this blog to still be "working"!  lol

just let me know...  it will be a pleasure to read what you have to "say" and let you know if I accept it or not!

you can email me here

I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

The present moment and yoga

I find that the most challenging aspect in my yoga practice is to stay in the present moment...

I've managed the breathing a while ago....  once you figure it out and integrated it, as soon as you get on the mat, it happens...

The asanas are also something you can work on...  of course there are so many of them... and some are really advanced... but you do not need to go there to be a yogi... as long as you have a set of asanas covering the different parts/section of your body you're OK. I personally like to do a few sun salutations, triangle, warrior, tree, forward bend, boat pose, bridge and some twists.. that is what my daily practice consist of.   Obviously I start this with some meditation and breathing exercise... and finish in corpse pose!

As for the lifestyle that goes with the yoga philosophy, that I am OK too... I am talking about the yamas... I will not go into details but they are "rules" by which you should live...  ethic.

However, living in the present moment do pose some difficulties... and I am not there yet...  and I must admit it bugs me a little....  that after so many years of practicing yoga, I still struggle with that...  it seems so easy...  just be in the present!  Do not think of the past.... or the future...  Be here, now!

When I am on my mat, I constantly have to go back thinking of my breathing... if not my mind may go elsewhere!!! And in other spheres of my life, I have to keep busy doing something I really like if I want to avoid the wandering!!!  But sometimes, I would like to just be quiet...  physically and mentally!!!

I am in a fun, but not so easy, place in my life... in a decision making phase.... and it seems that my mind likes to go and makes scenarios for the future...  and go back to the past and make different decision and see what if???   But this is not how it works...  What is done is done... I cannot change it...  and what is to come will come in due time....  based on decision made in the PRESENT!!!   So if I am not in the present, how can I make the appropriate decision? 

The thing I have observed with me lately, is that I am NOT patient... and I need to work on this... I have observed that by waiting to much for something, I project myself in the future and forget about the present!  I would LOVE to be able to wait for something, put it on the back burner and move on!!!  But unfortunately, it is easier said then done!   In my case anyway...

I am not sure on how I will work on that....  perhaps by constantly calling back my wandering mind... as soon as I see it getting away!  I guess it is like most habit we have... we can change it with discipline...  which I do have!  So between now and my vacation in 7 weeks, I will work on being present a LOT... and will tell you how it does....  my progress or not... and my challenges... 

I have also noticed that when I practice yoga, my mind stays more quiet during the day...  and that naturally, I have a completely counterproductive habit... in time of high stress or fatigue, I tend to practice yoga less.... and I should actually do MORE!!!  I will also work on that... keep my yoga practice no matter what....  perhaps by adjusting the time or the length, the frequency or the actual asanas/breathing/meditation ratios... 

I will see how this brings me back in the present...  I will also focus on my breathing more during the day in general... this is a great way to stay present... when thinking about your breathing, it is almost impossible to think of anything else!!!

So this is my new project...   working on being in the NOW!!!!
I will see how that goes...  day by day...  not projecting anything for the next 7 weeks!


I am always happy to hear from you... do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Priorities, choices and Life Happens

Hello my friends...

I am not sure if today's post is for you... or for me...  hopefully a little of both...

How do you handle priorities and choices? 

How easy do you get your priorities straight?  Do they change a lot?

Which priorities am I talking about really?  Health wise? Work? Family? Friends? Finance?

We have so many things going on in each of our lives...  that sometimes we can loose ourselves... at least I do...  Getting our priorities straight is not easy...  because we are constantly under the influence of others...  whether be it friends, coworkers, family, media, society...  We are bombarded with different ideas, way of thinking, influences, mix messages, created needs and misconception of what is right or wrong!!! 

In order to set your priorities straight once  and for all you need to find calm....  and listen to yourself only! Of course priorities changes with age, country, lifestyle...  and that's OK!!!  But it should not be changing daily... because if it does, you loose track and focus... and nothing really gets done or happen the way you wanted it to!!! And your life is a constant deception!

I have established my priorities a few years ago when I went to therapy... and the main priorities are still the same....  where it changes is in the way to get there...

For example, my priorities are health, my son and my husband, doing a job I love and being debt free.

These are the only things that REALLY do matter to me...  and that of course probably is not the same for you as we're all different...  fortunately... if not this place would be sooooo boring!

Now in order to keep those in balance you have to have another set or priorities and make choices... 

For instances, in order to maintain my health, I have to maintain a regular meditation and yoga practice (wake up early in the morning, so go to bed early too) and a strict diet...  In order to do this I need to cook at home a lot....  which goes well with managing my finances because eating out is expensive and would prevent me from reaching my debt free goal anytime soon...  However, cooking means spending time in the kitchen a lot...  which means time away from my son and husband.... so my husband is now keeping me company when I cook (he cannot cook... don't even think about it!).... and my son take this opportunity to do stuff on his own... so when we sit down to eat, we're all satisfy and can enjoy the meal! In order to do a job a love I have to commute a lot..  because this is the job I found that I really love!  Now I am willing to do this for a while but not forever so I had to determine what I could do closer to home that would resemble what I do now further away from home... keeping in mind that my health, son and husband are top priorities.... Now I found that : I want to help people find their true selves, be happy and healthy like I am!  Therefore I had to make a plan to achieve that... 

1) Go debt free...  getting closer to that - This is what my day job is helping me achieve - along with meeting and getting to help a bunch of people in a work setting but still..
2) Start a blog to get in touch with people - did that 3 years ago)
3) Write a book with my experience as a start to help people... and generate some revenue... so I wrote
"Life Happens" - this was really rewarding and help me stay focus on my goal when I get feedback from people reading it!!!
4) From "Life Happens" create conferences to reach even more people...  this is a work in progress
5) From all that, start a coaching practice where I'll be able to help people one on one more personally...  this is also to come...

All this while maintaining healthy eating habits and my meditation and yoga practice as well at attacking my debt and taking care of my son and husband...  So I can' let myself go unfocused... and this is the hard part!!!

Not everything always goes according to plan or as fast as you wish... but you have to be persistent... and this is where having your priorities straight helps!  If you're not sure of your priorities, your choices are more difficult to make and you get influenced more easily by others...  there are so many things surrounding us that when you go thru a rough time, it may be easy to give up or make the wrong choices... or change your priorities... only because it may seem easier in the short term... but it makes the long term happiness even further away!  Like if you take a step (or several steps) back...

What I am really trying to say is that in order to be happy and in line with who you really are, you need to identify what is REALLY important to YOU!  and you only... and from there create goal or objective and then find a way to stay focused on those!!! If you stay focus and work hard, balance your priorities and create a balance in your life, it will work out!  It will be easier to stay focus... it won't be as demanding to you... and you'll succeed!!!

The other thing I am trying to say is that you need to take ACTION (this is why I write this blog and wrote Life Happens )!!!  It is good to have priorities, goals, objectives... but you need to WORK toward achieving them... it will not happen overnight or by itself!  You are the creator of your own life...  the only creator of your life!  You make or break your own luck!!!  And sometimes you'll feel like you failed but it is bringing you closer to succeeding...  everything you do brings you closer....  and everything you do not do keep you still!!!

So what are your priorities?  What choices do you have to make? What is your plan? What is the next action?

I am alsways happy to hear from you...  do not hesitate to contact me!!!

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1

Simplifier, simplifier, simplifier

this one is in French... to see the english version click here

 

Vous souvenez-vous de ce chat? Je devais le mentionner, car je l’ai vu quelque part en octobre, avant l’hiver, en faisant une marche sur l’heure du dîner. Depuis, quand je vais à cet endroit (pratiquement chaque jour de travail), je le cherche. Je me demandais comment il a trouvé l’hiver. Je me suis aussi inquiétée qu’il ne passe pas à travers. Et bien, je suis heureuse d’annoncer qu’il a survécu! Je l’ai vu aujourd’hui. Il se faisait bronzer sur l’un de ces blocs de ciment. Je dois dire qu’il était beaucoup plus mince et je n’ai pas eu la chance de prendre une photo, puisqu’il s’en allait quand je l’ai vu. Mais ça a fait ma journée!

Ce dont je veux parler aujourd’hui, c’est la simplicité, ou le minimalisme. Peu importe le terme que vous préférez!

Dans ma quête de simplifier, c’est incroyable comme parfois, simplifier quelque chose est très compliqué. Il est facile de s’emballer ou d’être influencé dans notre simplicité! Parfois, on lit beaucoup sur le sujet et on y pense beaucoup. Il semble y avoir beaucoup d’information sur le sujet et tout le monde le vit différemment. Et si on essaie de tout faire, ça devient compliqué! Ce que je trouve de simple peut ne pas l’être pour quelqu’un d’autre, et c’est pourquoi je n’essaie pas d’influencer mes lecteurs par rapport à ce qu’ils devraient simplifier. Je donne des exemples, mais pas des règles. Ça vient et ça part. Ce qui fonctionne une fois peut ne pas fonctionner la prochaine fois. Je ne pense pas que des règles rigides vous aideront à simplifier non plus…

J’aime me baser sur mes sentiments. Comment est-ce que je me sens dans cette pièce? Avec un tel objet? Ou un morceau de vêtement? Un livre? Pourquoi est-ce que je choisis de le garder ou pas?

J’en suis venue à réaliser que je n’aime pas les pièces bondées. J’aime voir le plancher, particulièrement dans la cuisine, la salle de yoga/bureau et les chambres. Il me semble que le plancher est important pour faire circuler l’énergie, pour penser, dormir et préparer de délicieux repas. Vous pouvez dire (ou souhaiter) que je ne prépare pas mes repas sur le plancher, et bien sûr que je ne le fais pas, mais tout de même… Le salon ne me dérange pas autant. Même bondé, pour moi un salon est un endroit pour s’asseoir et relaxer, discuter avec la famille et les amis, tout en buvant un thé et/ou mangeant une collation. J’aime avoir des livres et des magazines un peu partout pour regarder facilement, pour une lecture rapide ou pour trouver de l’inspiration.

J’aime aussi avoir quelques trucs sur le mur. Des œuvres d’art que j’ai faites, une tapisserie, des chakras, la photo d’une ruelle prise par mon frère. Je n’aime pas particulièrement les photos de parents et amis, parce que je trouve que les gens sur les photos ont l’air faux et statiques… la plupart du temps en tout cas!

Pour ce qui est des DVD et CD, je suis heureuse avec ce que j’ai pour le moment. J’en élimine régulièrement et oui, j’en achète toujours quand ils me tiennent à cœur! J’aime tenir un livre. Pas un livre électronique… Un livre en papier. Ce qui est naturel puisque je suis auteure après tout! Mais je ne vois pas le point de les garder si je ne les lis plus. Alors je les donne.

Je n’aime rien qui accumule la poussière, sauf si ça m’a été donné par mon fils et/ou si c’est relié au yoga. Sinon, ça ne sert à rien de le garder!

Pour ce qui est des vêtements, j’ai compté pendant plus de six mois pour m’assurer de ne pas avoir plus de 33 articles. J’ai mis ma liste à jour régulièrement et je l’ai partagée. Mais ça devient trop compliqué. Vraiment, qui se soucie du nombre d’articles que je possède? L’objectif premier de joindre le Projet 333 était de justifier ma garde-robe. De porter ce qui me fait bien, ce que j’aime et ce qui reflète qui je suis. En me préoccupant des chiffres, je perdais toute l’essence de cela. Ainsi, la fin de semaine dernière, comme je devais mettre à jour ma garde-robe pour le changement de température (le printemps est enfin arrivé), j’ai su que je devais me préparer de maintenant jusqu’à la fin de septembre. Ensuite, ça serait principalement la même chose. Je devais partager mes 33 articles entre le travail, la fin de semaine et les sorties qui nécessitaient une tenue plus propre… et pour les journées plus froides, comme nous en avont toujours à Montréal, même en juillet! Alors si je voulais vraiment rester à 33 articles, je devais chercher désespérément quels sept articles je devais éliminer de ma garde-robe. Mais j’aimais beaucoup TOUS ces articles, et ils s’agençaient tous bien ensemble et je les portais tous! Alors, pourquoi faire ça? Pourquoi me débarrasser de quelque chose que j’aime vraiment? Ça n’a aucun sens…

J’ai donc réalisé que j’étais obsédée par les chiffres. Pas plus de xx morceaux de vêtements, xx de DVD, xx de meubles, xx de… vous voyez où je veux en venir. Dans ma quête de simplification, j’ai compliqué ma vie avec des chiffres et des règles de ne pas avoir plus de xx articles de quelque chose.

Je devrais tout simplement simplifier à ma propre manière! Pas par des chiffres assignés par d’autres personnes. Ça ne me dérange pas d’avoir 101 objets, si je les utilise tous! D’avoir 40 morceaux de vêtements, si chacun d’entre eux me fait sentir bien et sexy!

Ce qui est important pour moi c’est que tout soit utilisé chez moi. Rien ne devrait rester là parce que je ne suis pas capable de m’en débarrasser. J’utilise tout et aime tout ce qui entre par ma porte, et c’est tout! J’arrête de compter! J’arrête de suivre les règles. C’est ce que je ferai dès maintenant.

Et vous savez quoi? Si ÇA ne respecte pas les règles d’un vrai minimaliste, je m’en fou! Je n’ai pas besoin d’appartenir à quoi que ce soit. Je veux vivre une vie simple. MA vie! À MA façon! C’est ça qui me fait sentir bien et qui me rend heureuse.

Et c’est ce que chacun d’entre vous devrait faire! Vivre votre vie selon vos propres règles!

En passant, je ne vous dirai tout de même pas de tout collectionner jusqu’à ne plus pouvoir marcher chez vous… D’avoir quatre gardes robes remplis à craquer… Ça ne fait aucun sens pour moi non plus. Les espaces bondés égalent à des esprits bondés, avec tous les problèmes que ça entraîne. Mais soyez simple à votre façon! Pas à ma façon, ni à celle de personne d’autre.

Alors, quelles sont vos règles? Qu’est-ce qui est important pour vous? Que voulez-vous atteindre en simplifiant votre vie?

Traduit par:

Don't forget to check out my Facebook page.... or personal profile... connect with me on twitter or google +...

love and peace,
nath
xox
www.thissavvylife.blogspot.com
http://www.nathaliebrisebois.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
http://www.facebook.com/FanofLifeHappens
https://twitter.com/NathalieBriseb1