Tips and tricks to not buy stuff!

A few weeks ago, I had announced that I was not going to buy anything until Nov 13th...  You can read about it  here.

Last week end, I had someone who joined me in my challenge ask me how I was doing...  It is going extremely well... I actually did not buy anything! I have even decided not to buy the raincoat...  for now.... I have one for cooler weather...  I wanted something for warmer temperature and I can put this on hold until next spring easily...   As for the mid-ankle boots, I still did not find anything that I love enough to buy... that I can afford... and are NOT leather....  so I am still waiting for that too... I have had an easy time doing it actually... easier than ever before!

But it is not the first time I challenge myself to do that!!!  I have learned how to over the years....  and she was asking me for tips and tricks to succeed at it...

So this is my post for today...

First your list of what is essential vs non-essential as to be clear.....  what is essential to me might not be to you and vice versa...  like in my initial post, I mention that vegan restaurants and Starbucks are essential....  this is MY rule...  it might not be yours...  so you need to figure out what is essential or not... TO YOU!

Second, you need to tell people around you you are doing this... it makes you accountable for it... and it helps them NOT tempting you... For example, if to you the movie is not essential and it is part of what should not be bought, you could have a friend constantly asking you to go to a movie... if he/she knows, they will not...

Third, when you are tempted to buy something, look at the "why" of it...  and the satisfying answer cannot be "because I've always wanted it", or "but it's so pretty", or "this is really me"...  and stuff like that...  if you always wanted it, it can wait some more... and there are many pretty things.... or many things that are really you...  and they will still be there once the challenge is up! And please, spare me with the "but it's on sale"...  there are sales ALL the time!!!! So those are not valid...  You have to find the real WHY...  because you are bored?  sad? exited? with friends? lonely? angry? stress?  Would you feel like buying this thing if you would not be at the store?  Would you need it right now?   Most of the things we buy are compulsive...  sentimental.... not logic, calculated and thought thru... Most of the things we buy, we end up storing away...  and not using them... and they end up somewhere... and you forget you have them....  and when you decide to do a real clean up, you find all that stuff... that you never, or almost never used...  it's so sad...

Fourth, try to figure out if you do not already have something that could replace it, or do the same function... chances are you do! Whether it's kitchen appliance, home decor, clothes, jewelry...  don't you already have enough of all of that? Will it actually find it's place in your home?  or closet?  Do you really need another pair of pants? or set of glass for this type of wine?

Fifth, if you CAN resist, put the equivalent amount of money in an envelope at home... and at the end of the challenge look at how much money you saved - you can put this towards your debt or save for something bigger you would love to do like a trip, a wedding, a break from work... do not run to the store to spend it all... that would defeat the purpose of not having spent that money in the first place!  This money saved could be an incentive for the next time... and if you did not have the $ to start of with and were planning to put this on your credit card, write the amount on the envelop and seeing how much you saved going on your credit card could also be an incentive!

And finally, if this is really hard for you, just stay away from the stores...  magazines...  and television... Internet shopping places...  these are what makes you want to buy stuff...  they make everything look so pretty.... and makes you think that you really need it... when most of the time you really don't!

In any case, if you do end up buying the "thing", bring it home, leave it in the bag with the tag...and bill... and wait... if you have not found a real need for it before your limit date to return the item, just return it....  technically, when we buy something, we should find a use for it in the next few days....  unless it's a purchase for a special occasion.... for example, if I am to buy a dress to attend a wedding in 3 months, of course I will not wear it before that...  but how often do you really go to weddings???

One last thing, if you do end up buying it and not returning it, you can use the one in/one out rule... therefore you are not adding things but replacing them... of course you'll have bought something when you were not suppose to... but you won't have added any more stuff to your, I'm pretty sure, already full home!

What do you think about that?  Could these be helpful?

I know they worked for me when I was trying to cut down on my shopping and I still go by that when I am in a non-buying period....
I also have rules I try and follow for the rest of time.... when I am allow to buy....  I will share these with you later...

p.s. if you do buy something, and not return it... and not use it....  be forgiving to yourself... remember that we're conditioned to buy...  you have to break the pattern... move on.... and continue with the challenge... and next time you'll do better!!!   It takes time...  small steps... 

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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Let go...

As this picture taken today is showing us...  it's time to let go... of summer! Fall is here... definitely... as can be sensed by the shorter days... cooler nights... warmer clothes...  and tree leaves changing color... and falling... now this happens over and over again... at the beginning of each new season, we have to let go of the previous one.... each season has it's pro's and con's... each season is lovely in it's own way.... and brings you something different...

Why am I talking about the seasons?  you guys all know that they come and go... I know...  hang in there...  you'll find out...

I have come to realise that no matter how much I learn to let go of the seasons.... or of my "stuff" or "material possessions"...  I can't let go of people...  and I am not talking about people who are no longer in their body's... or on this planet...  but people that come in and out of your life...  I am not talking about each and every person I met in my lifetime... of course not.... THAT would be silly...  I am talking about people that were once meaningful to me and my life... for many different reasons... they could have been there for a reason... or a season.... or many seasons...  but they had an impact in my life... either by the role they played or the proximity they had... but as all good things come to an end, and because you can't really keep everyone in you life for ever, people part ways...  they grow, evolve, have new needs, new objectives, new jobs, move....  all or part of that may increase the distance... physically and otherwise too.... so at one point, one relationship that was very significant, no longer is... and people part ways...  and move on... and that's OK!

Now I can "easily" part ways with someone for good reasons...  I understand that principle...  but if I care deeply for that person, I can't "let go" of them... I can't just forget (not saying that you should forget about them - forget meaning more like not think about them so often).... and I kind of still want to know what they are up to...  of course not on as a regular basis as before but I like to get the big picture.. and make sure they are happy and well...  and if not I find the need to fly to their rescue...  but I can't... and I shouldn't...  I know...

So I need to figure this one out... I do not have the answer today...  and do not know when I will have it...  How can you "forget" about someone who shared your life... who was a close friend... who knows everything about you... and you knew everything about them.... how can you not be curious as to how they are doing...  I do not know...  I hope I will find out soon because I feel like my closet is getting full of phantoms.... and it's taking room... room I would use for new people in my life (not that I actually put anyone in my closet! lol)... 

And this is the link to the "seasons" paragraph...

If I could not let go of summer... and hang on to my summer clothes... activities...  schedule....  how could I enjoy my fall clothes, activities and schedule???
If I can't let go of my "old" people, how can I fully appreciate the new ones???  How do I make room for them??? How can I concentrate on the beautiful things new people have to offer me if I am mentally stuck hanging on to the old stuff?

How do you deal with this type of things?  is it easier to let go of stuff or people? how do you move on when you part ways with someone?

Please let me know... it might help me....  find my own answers...

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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Minimalist number of possession = maximum quality of life

picture taken during one of my lunch time walk

This is not new to you.... I am a minimalist... amongst other things! lol

I have explained in great depth what minimalism is and is not...  and I may have to do it again more than once... and that's OK!  But not today.... today I wish to tell you what it gave me...  and I really am just starting to see the fruits of that seed...  to understand how profoundly it affected my life... and I am pretty sure I will have more surprise as I go along that path!  Because minimalism is not a destination but a journey...
I will not tell you what I supposedly "lost" by owning less... because quite frankly I am not sure I lost anything... even thus some people seem to think so... even thuis I thought so too for a while...

I have gained:

TIME - precious time... we're always running after it right? seems like something we never have enough of?  Well I now have plenty...  By choosing to be a minimalist, I need less $ to go about with my life.... of course I still need to put a roof on my head, buy groceries and I cannot walk around naked - therefore I need to get clothes...  but I "need" much less of all those things than I use to... Therefore I do not need to have a crazy, demanding job that takes up to 12h of my days... I have enough of a regular job...  I have also gained time by not having to clean so much...  of course my place is clean...  but I do not have so much furniture... clothes...  floor or countertop surface... objects... book...  you name it...  to clean, dust, vacuum all the time... and by not needing so much stuff I also have to spent less time shopping for it... so more time for ME!

HEALTH -  I stress much less... about what I have to do...  in the little time I have left...  because I do not have much to do.... and I have plenty of time... I also eat better....  minimalism has also affected the way I eat...  I eat simple things...  mostly as nature intended...  with less process or junk food...  I cook more from home but simple no time demanding things...  I became vegan slowly... and fruits/veggies/nuts and seeds/ legumes and whole grain are easy to put together for a healthy meal in no time! By being less stress and eating better, I also sleep better! And I have managed my MS!!!

FRIENDS - I have met amazing people on my path... that have similar lives... shared interest and great minds!  People who do not expect so much... and are just happy and grateful for life as it is!

NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THING  - I more easily see the glass as half full rather than half empty... I appreciate what I have...  what I do.. for what it is...  I learned to be grateful for the small things in life...  like a butterfly flying by... a bird coming close to me...  the leaves changing color in the trees... a rainfall.... a snowfall...  a sunrise... a sunset...  colored clouds... dark clouds.... white clouds... a stranger smiling at me... a quiet day.. a busy day...  I have kind of learn that everything changes... nothing is permanent...  and either good or bad... this too shall pass... so why worry?

I think that my quality of life is much better this way... I do not feel like I am always running after something...  or missing something...  So in the end, I have less material possessions... but so much more of everything else...

what about you?  are you a minimalist?  thinking of becoming one? just starting or have been at it for a while?

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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Another round of Project 333 - October 1st

About a year ago I joined Project 333 in an effort to minimalise my wardrobe...  I had already minimalized pretty much everything else... but clothes were still a "weakness"...  :-)

If you look at my previous post on the subject, you'll see that I made up my own rules...  and somehow was most of the time above 33 items of clothing for 3 months...  You can read here a post where I was actually at 32 but the rules were so large... I also said,  at one point, I would stop counting (last summer)...  but since I started doing it, I can't help but count...  So at the beginning of another season, another 3 months period, I started counting again... and even thus I still make the rules a bit larger then Courtney, they are narrower than they use to be!

I still do no count in lounge wear and sports wear...  I still do not count in jewelry, purses, footwear and outterwear...  but everything else is in.... Maybe one day I'll manage to follow the rules!  Even thus Courtney says they are personnal... I would like for a 3 month period to do it just like her!!! I might try summer... would be easier.... What can I do? I LOVE clothes.... 

However, trying this Project 333 has taught me a LOT!!!  I now know how I like to dress.... what suits me....  what goes with my lifestyle... what actually represent who I am....  and althus I made a few mistakes recently, I have once again streamlined my wardrobe... and no excuses behold, I was really strict with myself and ended up giving a full garbage bag of clothes AGAIN!!!!  And I have now my husband on my side...  that is, he as the instruction to not let me get anything that is not ME!  as simple as that... even thus it's on sale... or I really like it.... or it's work appropriate... or it' the new trend... or it fits me well...  if it's not ME, not getting it!!!  And I am not buying clothes without him either.... as long as I do not have this thing under control...  or he makes me return it if it does not fit the rules!!! 

I also realise that I l like to have clothes with not too many color... for this season anyway... I like to add color with scarves or jewelry but as you'll see, most are neutral of jeans wear... especially for bottoms - it's easier to match with every top that way... I also wear LOTS of jeans.... I love them!

Therefore my list for now is as folllow:  (I will post picture later on once I have time to take them)

1 skinny jeans
2 wide leg jeans
1 corduroy - purple, skinny - the COLOR exception
1 corduroy wide wide leg grey pants (no I did not type in wide twice bny mistake... they are WIDE)
1 beige cotton pants
1 black cotton harem pants
1 black pants
1 long black skirt
1 long grey skirt
1 red velvet skirt - the other COLOR exception
1 black jumpsuit
1 LBD
1 jean shirt
1 black/mustard fancy top
1 black long sleeve
2 grey long sleeve
2 beige long sleeve
1 beige short sleeve
1 beige sleeveless
1 green "recycle" t-shirt
1 old pink OM t-shirt
1 Ganesh t-shirt
1 grey t-shirt (Don't look back you're not going that way)
1 grey plain t-shirt
1 white plain t-shirt
1 stipe beige and navy 3/4 sleeve t-shirt
2 grey vest
1 mustard yellow vest
1 beige vest

so this is it!  all in all:  33 items!!!

and because I am not buying anything untill mid november as per this post ...
it will most likely stay like that!!!
I know that most other times, my clothes would go in and out during the 3 months of the project... this time I am staying put.... not removing anything or adding anything to the list untill end of december!

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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The organic sisterhood

Hello lovely readers!!!


For my regular reader, you know that I am going thru many changes currently...  I recently wrote a book, Life Happens , I am starting to offer conferences on nutrition and stress management... and will soon start to offer one-on-one coaching and start writing my second book... I also want to launch all this using videoconferencing and skype and all that...  it's HUGE... especially that I have no clue as to how any of this works!!!

This is a lot on my plate...  and most of it is going against how I was raised.... against what most people expect or want to do in life...  it comes from me... deep down... I digged deep to find this desire in me....  it was kind of forced upon me after I was diagnosed with MS and I sometimes feel like this poor lonely bird... on the ground... but I need to learn how to spread my wings and fly up high in the sky!

I do have a few supportive friends....  and supporters....  and lovely readers! But most of them never went thru such a major life change...  and hence they can offer all the support they want, and the listening I need...  and the love they have... but they can't really direct me... or tell me how to proceed...  I needed to find some kind of "I know how you should do it cuz I've been there" person... 

I was looking for a group of people that can think outside or the box... that tried stuff and succeeded or not but still... that can provide support and cheers when needed... give suggestions... and referrals... but I was mostly looking for a place where I could throw any "stupid" idea and see what happens...  what do people think of it?

I found such a group by chance....  it's called the organic sisterhood led by Tara Wagner!
Tara is an amazing woman who turned her life around...  and whether people like it or not she does what she wants...  when she wants...  and I have a lot to learn from her and her group...  I might mention now that this group is for women only...  sorry for you my masculine readers...  but for every women who reads this blog and is looking for support, help, crazy outside of the box ideas... for everyone wanting to turn their life around but not knowing how...  if you have a goal but not vision on how to get there...   go visit the organic sisterhood by using the link above... and see if it's suits you...

who knows.... we might virtually see each other there too!

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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Time for a change?

One of my favorite tees has the following sentence:

"Don't look back you're not going that way"

This is sooooo true.... no one is going back... we're always moving forward...  whether we want it or not... whether we stay glued to our past... we're still moving forward... there is no other way... time passes by and drags us along!

Now how do you know when it's time for a change???  Do you realize it??? or not...

We are so conditioned by what we are suppose to do.... where we should be...  what we should think... what we ought to become...

Do we take the time to figure things out for ourselves???

I hope you guys do... I know I do!

I can feel it's time for a change for me...
Am I sure of what it is?  NO
Am I comfortable knowing I need change but not knowing what will happen?  NO
Am I scared?  Yes... sometimes...
 DO I wish I could stay put?  Not really...

Now the answer to those for 2 questions seems obvious... However, the answer to the last 2 questions may be surprising and may require some explanation...

Yes I can be scared....  it can be challenging not knowing where I am off to.... or what will come up next... but with years of experience on the subject, I learned to realize that everything is always fine... it just always turns out OK! And hence the "sometimes"...  I can actually "talk" myself out of being scare when it shows up!  I have learn to trust life... as long as I listen to the signals it sends me...
And I certainly do not wish I could stay put.... that would means I am dead... more or less...  I would have stopped hoping.... trying... believing... that would made me stay put... but that would be so sad...

When change is required...  I get physical and mental signals... And you do to!  You just have to learn what they are... they are different from one person to another... but somehow similar!  The feeling of not being in the right place... always thinking about what's next....  making plans... not being able to concentrate on a task...feeling stuck... useless.... like I've seen it all...  these are my mental signals... I feel like I am constantly pulled away from what I should be doing! This is because something else is calling me...

Now physically, I want to sleep more...  I have upper back pain... and my hands hurt... I just want to curl in and sleep... This is to show me that it's time to pull away... I have lived that over and over again... and I know that when THAT happens, change will soon come...

Now I know I'll be fine... because change is actually a GOOD thing... challenging....  stressful...  but GOOD!  This is what allows us, as a person to move forward... we should learn, move, change, think, question... all our life!!!  Never take anything for what it is... never settle into anything...  once it no longer suits us.. move on... and I am not talking about one thing precisely... I am talking about minor changes (place you live, car you own, way you dress, hobbies...) but also big challenging changes (relationship, friendship, job, career, life path...).

You can't be one thing all you life and be happy in it... because you evolve... you change... you mature... your needs change... the way you see things change....  and hence your surrounding needs to change accordingly...

Permanency does not exist in this life...  in no way...  the only permanent in this life is change!
Certainty do not exist in this life... except for 2 things... you were born and you will die...

I know there change coming up for me...  I do not know exactly what... I am listening for signal the universe is sending me...  it helps.... some will call that coincidence... I rather say, signals... because it you miss it, you'll get some more... so this is no coincidence!

I will pay attention to what's coming my way and see where it will bring me...  Who knows???

As I like to say, the path is much more important than the destination!

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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10 days de-clutter challenge follow up!

On Sept 4th, I started a 10 days de-clutter challenge that I wrote about here....
Essentially, I wanted to try a few things.... challenge myself in aspect in my life that are stagnant and wish to see moving...
I was surprise at the short lenght of time that was propose by Courtney for this challenge... Usually, it is suggested that if you want to make or break an habit, you have to work on it for 21 days!  It's like the magic number... so 10 days to me would not do anything...  initial thought of course... Well I must say that it is not entirely right.... in 10 days, I came to realize quite a few things about myself and my initial commitment...

Here are my initial goals and today's update after the 10 days which actually ended Saturday...

My shape up resolutions were:

1) No chips - didn't have any... as simple as that.... and quite frankly, did not even think of it... and possibly this was the end of that... I will not eat chips again....  except for tortillas....  but nothing from Ruffles or Lays or the like....

2) Nothing to eat after 7pm...  work out just great.... except on 2 occasion when we ended supper at 7h20pm.. and on Friday night I had blue corn chips!  11 of them to be exact!!! Otherwise, I had water, tea, and apples after 7pm and it worked just fine!!!  That too is a change that will become permanent in my life... it will be a general rule, but I understand that life being what it is, I may finish supper on occasion a little after 7pm... but I rarely do it...  and if so, I will have a light one!

3) Meditate/deep breathing 10-15 min before sleep - only worked out for a few days... then I stopped... for no other reasons than I didn't feel like doing it...

My pare down resolutions were:

1) No email/Internet/social media before 8am and after 8pm.  I completely followed that...  even thus at times it was inconvenient.... still it made me think about how easily I check my email, facebook and other stuff on a regular basis... I will keep some of that but will change the hours of restrictions...
No email/Internet/Social media before 7 am...  by then I am on the bus and like to catch up during that time...  Also no email/Internet/Social media during supper time which is usually between 5h30 pm and 7pm... Will add to that no phone call answered! And no email/Internet/Social media after 9pm.

2) No email/Internet/Social media between 11 am Saturday and 4pm Sunday... this is a little long.. because then I feel like I have too much of a catch up to do... even thus I did it...  it was crazy...  So my new rules from now on will be between 11 am Saturday and 11 am Sunday!  24h technology break every week end!!!!

3) Work on my conference a minimum of 30 min per day.... realized that I am constantly working on it...  so this is not even a challenge... At first I thought that I needed to sit down in front of my computer to be consider done... but realize this is not how my brain works... it reads, listen, analyze and comes up with stuff in my head that I then put on paper...  the work is done constantly.... and I also realize that some "work" is not computer related... it's logistic... visualization.... stuff like that!

My tune in resolutions were:

1) Read something related to yoga/nutrition at a minimum 30 minutes per day : Easy done....  this is what my life is all about anyway.. yoga and meditation.... it doesn't even need to be a challenge....  but it was good that it was because I came to realize how dedicated I am to this!

2) Give a compliment to at least one person per day ...  hummmm....  well perhaps I am not the type to give compliment...  unless it is to a close one...  or a very well earned one... I can't force a compliment...  is that really an issue? maybe.... maybe not... still have to figure this one out!

Well... this is it!  My challenge is over... did the 10 days.... brought me to realize a few things about myself....  that I did like (I am dedicated to health and yoga)  or not (I am a little addicted to all the social media, email etc stuff)... also helped my move forward in life... At hte time of becoming an author/public speaker and coach I need to set some boundaries... if not I'll end up working 24/7!!!

It has also help me change stuff in my life... improve my quality of life... not I am curious to see if all of that will stay over time...  probably it will because I felt more peaceful in a way...  I'll let you guys know for sure in a month or so about what has stayed or not....

what about you?  did you try it?  what worked out?  what didn't?  did you figure out why???

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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Not buying anything for 60 days!

I think I may be needing another challenge...  about my shopping... 

When I first started this blog in January 2011, I was starting to write about my experience of not buying anything non-essential for 1 year...  I went from a crazy shopaholic to not buying anything overnight....  it worked... for 6 months.... then I gave in... 

Overtime, I came to realize as I said before that sharp cut offs do not work with me...  I need to ease into things...

So over the remaining of 2011 (after my crazy shopping spree of July), 2012 and 2013 I have been working on my spending habits...  I am getting better but honestly I do make "mistakes" or "fall off the wagon" once in a while...

However, in the spirit of Ahimsa (non-violence), I cannot punish myself for those... but I acknowledge and move on.... learning a lesson from it... every time... I have refined my understanding of what makes me shop and I am trying to stay away from it! 

I think I am ready for another shopping break altogether...  so as of today, I am not going to buy anything not-essential for 60 days!  So basically until November 13th!!!

Of course groceries are allowed.... food is an essential....
But every time I say that, I come across the famous question:  "what about your Starbucks?" "what about your vegan restaurants?"
Well to that I must say that they are staying...  because honestly I go to restaurants less and less and Starbucks too... plus they are a hobby for me... like someone else would go to the movie, museum... and whenever I eat out, I spend less on groceries...  seriously... so all in all, it doesn't really increase my spending!

But besides food, I would say that anything else is non-essential except for 2 items that I need...  One rain coat and one pair of laced-up mid ankle boots.  However, both will have to be a great deal and a lasting item...  No impulse buy....  I will have to shop... try on.. think... look for a better deal and THEN I can get it!

Aside from that, I should not be buying anything... I really do not need anything!!! 
Unless something breaks....  Which I seriously do not think so because I take really good care of my stuff!

I am also committing to writing the cost and taking a picture of every item I buy if I do... and will report to you guys...

Who's on board?
Who's following me?

you can let me know here or on Facebook... 

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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What did I learn from 9/11?

Mosaiculture internationales 2013 - Jardin Botanique de Montreal

At the time of writing those lines, I realize that when you will see them, it will be 9/11...

So pretty much anything I write about will seem irrelevant compare to such a tragedy...

What ever changes I made to my life.... what ever changes you're making to yours...  It is relevant to me and you... but in all comparison so small to what happen 12 years ago...  So I guess I was "speechless" for a while...

Then I thought about writing about that day... but this has been overdone over the years.... what else could I say...

I also realized that everywhere we will see things relating to this horrible day...  telling us not to forget...  reminding us that people loss their lives in this tragedy... 

I will not forget....  how could I???  How could anyone???

Never mind where it happened... such a tragedy is unforgettable... just like many others in the world... that happened before 9/11.... and after.... and will in the future...  because I do not think that as a community we learned anything from that... maybe individually you did... but as a group not really... nothing really changed after that day...  they cleaned up, reconstructed the city and moved on... and so did the rest of the world... just like it happens in many part of this planet on many occasions...  and this is the sad part... that WE did not learn anything from THAT!

As human, we have this wonderful capacity to adapt and move on... and this is what has kept us going for thousands of years...  and this what has kept any living species going for so long.... 

We can't attach ourselves to the past...  we NEED to move on.... not forget...  these are 2 different things...  Moving on means that despite the fact that we do not forget we can still carry on with our lives...

I am not trying to minimize what happen... it was horrible.... so many innocent people were killed...  directly or indirectly because of that tragedy...  I do not wish to name all of them as I would be afraid to miss any...  and so many more were affected because they lost a loved one...  forever...

What I am trying to say is that,that event should have teach you something... as an individual...

I know what it taught me... and it was at a very precise point in my life (my son had just turned 1) so it had a real impact... one that you cannot forget... It taught me that life is short... sometimes to short... and the end sometimes unexpected... unpredictable... and sometimes you don't get to say good bye.... or make up...

So from this day, I have really tried to live this day like it might be the last one...  I know it sounds "cliché" but I am...  it is not always possible or easy... but I really do try...
I never go to bed upset at my son or my husband... we always kiss and make up before...
I never leave the house or let them leave the house upset at one another or at me...  because if something was to happen the one remaining would feel awful...

I am trying to be conscious... and grateful for small life pleasures...  a butterfly flying by... a bird singing... a smile... a rain fall...  because all that can go away quickly in case of a tragedy...

So this was my lesson from this tragic event... why this one?  Because it was at the right time of my life... and it was really close (physically) to me...  so it perhaps made me think even more than all the other tragedies happening on this planet daily... 

Did you learn anything from 9/11 or any tragedy that happened close to where you live?

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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My son

My son Cédric with my best friend's chihuahua Rosie

September 8th is always a difficult day for me... 

It's the date my son was born 13 years ago.... 
It's the date both of us were soooo close to not make it!!!!
It's the day my life was turned upside down for ever.... for so many reasons!!!

My son was actually "safe" way before me....  a few hours after he was born he was stabilised and good to go!

However, it was not the same for me....  I am not going to go into details about what happens because you can read it in "Life Happens" ...  But it took a few days before my platelets were back to normal and I was no longer at risk of bleeding to death.... 

It also took days before I could see my son and hold him... It was the most horrible time for my life....

I was alone in the dark for many days.... not allowed visitors... or not able to do anything...

I remember hanging on only because I felt my son needed a mom!  It was my only reason to hang on to life...  I had to make it!  For Him!!!

I finally did... and...

the day I went back home, all I can remember is that I may never have seen this road again... or this tree... or the sun....and the sky... or got into a car... eat apples... or hold my son.... and miss all his life.... and I cried most of the way home...

It took a while before I got over this.... physically I was really weak....  for weeks...  (mentally it took years!)

But I physically made it.... and life went on... and the light struck one day when I was at the park with my son waiting for his dad to get back home.... late as usual...
And I remember vividly as if it was yesterday thinking that I did not wanted my life to be like that...  like it was at the time...  stressful.. yet boring...  and I felt like I was missing on so many things...  love, happiness, excitement, Life...

I remembered I was really close to die a few months past and I told myself that this did not make sense.... aside from my son nothing made sense in my life...  I was in a job I did not like... in a relationship that was not going anywhere... in a stupid crazy new house... with no free time for myself doing things I love.... and I actually didn't even knew what I loved doing but I knew it was not waiting for someone or something to happen....

From this day, I told myself that I had to be happy... I had to have the life I wanted...  for me and for Cédric... 

I started looking...thinking... trying things....  I started trying to find myself.... but having a young boy... a stressful job and a disease that I did not knew I had at the time, it took roughly 6 years before I found the answers to all those questions... They were the most difficult years of my life... but also the most rewarding in the end!

Today, I still have mixed emotions on this day....  it feels like a second chance was given to me.... like I was born again... but this time I was conscious of it...  And on this day, years after years, I get reminded of it.... and I can't let go of that...  it's a reminder that life is short!  That I have to make the most of it (in a good sense)... that I have to be happy... that I have to live MY LIFE!!!

And I also realise that I was blessed to have such a lovely boy come into my life... I have the most wonderful relationship with him... it was the hardest time of my life but the most rewarding...  everything has it's price...

Having my son almost cost me my life... but it gave me an even better life than I had before!!!

thank you Cédric....

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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You can't control everything!

signing copies of Life Happens for a bookstore to display on shelves

Years ago I had my life programmed till my retirement.... and beyond...  I was young... and innocent enough to think that a life well plan would be the best one!!!

I was soooooooo wrong....  Over the years, I learned that you can plan... but you have no control... so it rarely does turn out the way you wanted too!!!  I also learned that life has it's own surprise for you... and that we change constantly.... so what I wanted at 24 is not what I want now at 40!  So it's impossible to have every minor details of you life planned by the time you graduate from University and find you first job!!!

In 1996.... here's where I were... I had just graduated from University and got a very decent job in the pharma industry with all that it implies... I was temp...

In 1996... here's how I saw my life:

Get permanent position in the company.
Move up the ladder to a director position...  in the same company...
To keep my benefit and increase the salary and vacation time.
Buy a house in a nice area
Have 3 kids
Pay off the house in 16 years
Vacations 2-3 times a year
Retire at 55
Travel the world with my partner, the father of my 3 kids.

I was 24 at the time...
I am now about to turn 41...

and let me tell you that nothing much happen to that plan.... 

I got permanent...  bought a house.... got one kid (a boy)...
Separated, sold the house.....  bought another one..... was diagnosed with MS...  got married to another guy (not my son's father)...lost job..... bought a small business... sold the house... loss the business...  moved into an apartment... went bankrupt... found a temp less paying job.... changed job.... for a slightly more paying one with permanency and benefits... lost job....  found another contract position less paid...  but... that I enjoy!!!  and that is rewarding in many more ways than $$$...

In between all that, I discovered yoga!!!  And it was life changing...  I learned to let go (OK, I can't do it completely yet but I am getting there)! Learned to live in the present moment.... to do stuff because I like it rather than because I have a diploma and a house to pay...  to chose my next move according to stuff I love to do... not based on income... 

Yoga brought me to write and publish a book....  that you can purchase here on Amazon! A book that is making it's way in libraries... slowly but surely... this book is bringing me to start offering conferences on nutrition and stress management...  and it has made me meet a bunch of extraordinary people!

It is miles away from my initial "I am 24 years old and I know everything" plan....

I do not have a house or a car...  I live in a small apartment with very few possession...
I will probably not retire at 55... not only because I can't afford it... but because what I do is so rewarding I do not want to stop doing it! It makes me happy.... it brings me joy....

I am getting to know amazing people and changing their life... and this is much more rewarding than anything else I could have done in that big pharma cie...

And between you and me... I have no clue what is up next...  I am just enjoying the ride.. without knowing what the destination is.... because the destination really is not important if the ride sucks!

I also know that there will always be a solution to everything....  you just have to wait and see...

Everything is perfect as it is now... Everything is exactly what you need now... Everything just is...

You may wonder why?  but it is what it is....

Just enjoy the ride.... the destination is a bonus!


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

Declutter your world in 10 days - New challenge for you!

my new bedtime favorite tea!

Hello!

my friend Courtney is a minimalist and we have lots in common....  She's the one who initiated Project 333 and made me minimalise my wardrobe...  She just launched a new project... a mini challenge...  for only 10 days... she's inviting us to declutter our world! She's inviting us to Shape up! Pare down! and Tune in!  You can read her post here as I wish not to repeat all of it...

But essentially, she's inviting us to look at different aspect of our lives.... choose where we want to improve and commit to do it for 10 days!  10 days is not much...  I am sure you can do it to....

As guidelines, in the "Shape up" section, you can give up one food, change eating habit, go vegan 100% for 10 days...  give up alcohol...or coffee....  or sugar... maybe increase your fruits and veggies intake by 2-3 portions... the list is endless....  what do YOU want to improve in your way of eating???  Now is the time to try it!  Another component of "Shape up" is sleep...  do you wish to sleep more?  or less? or better?  change bedtime or time you wake up at?  you could also change your "sleep time routine"...

Here are my "Shape up" resolutions...

Food: 1) No chips
           2) Nothing to eat after 7pm...  but water/tea...  and maybe an apple if I am really hungry!

Sleep: 1) Meditate/Deep breathing 10-15 minutes before sleep

In the "Pare down" section, you can minimize your home...  declutter it... or your wardrobe...  or your work schedule...  or your social life... are you always stuck in too much of something?  be it objects, clothes, activities, social events, meetings???  Now is the time to let go...  at least for 10 days!

Here are my "Pare down" resolutions...

Work: 1) No email/internet/social media before 8 am and after 8pm
            2) No email/internet/social media between Saturday 11 am and Sunday 4pm - Shutting down!
            3) Work on my conference every day for a minimum of 30 min

Home:  Nothing to take care of there.... ;-)

In the "Tune in" section you need to take care of your brain.... and your hearth...  maybe read something - not on the internet, declutter your thoughts, keep a journal, meditate...  and for your hearth, why now write letters to people, phone the ones you love or give a compliment? Maybe keep a gratitude journal?

Here are my "Tune in" resolutions...

Brain: 1) Read something related to yoga or nutrition a minimum of 30 min per day

Hearth: 1) Give a compliment to at least one person per day

So this is it... this is my Declutter your world in 10 days challenge!!!

Who's joining me?  You can reply here... or on any of my other contact places...
I will be waiting for you...

I am starting today.... but you can start anytime! 
On the 16th of sept, I will update you on how it went...

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

Hello!!! I am back!!!!

Picture taken at "Jardin Botannique de Montreal"

Hello lovely readers and friends.... 

I am back....  after 5 short weeks....   yes 5 weeks is long.... but it can also be so short when you enjoy yourself!!!

Taking this 5 weeks unpaid leave of absence from my day job was the best decision I ever made...  For a few reasons...  Yes I am broke....  cash wise....  but I have gain so much more...

I had time to spend with my son.... one-on-one...  I had time to get to know him... the almost teenager him... he's turning 13 in 5 days!!!  It was amazing!  We did lovely things the 2 of us... and more lovely things, him, my husband and myself!!!

I had time to spend alone with my husband....  it has been almost 2 years since we had 2 weeks off at the same time!  It felt good to be with him 24/7 for a that long... 

Of course for more details about my vacation, I will talk about this in later post....  but today I wanted to address something that was very important to me.... 

The most important thing about those 5 weeks of is that I had time for myself...  Because I had program all the blog post ahead of time I didn't have to write them...  I had also program some Facebook post... and the others were spare of the moment....  I spend less time on my computer... on the Internet... social media and the like... more time with myself and my loved ones...

It has allow me to come to some very important conclusion and make other life changes that I want to share with you... 

I have really truly realise that what matters most to me are my husband and son...  That I really do not care for fancy vacations or restaurants...  or fancy anything...  I am very truly simple... and this is rooted really deep down... I just have to let it out...  I have always been like that...  more than I first realise... but I got caught up... in life... in society.... in "what will people say? or think..."

Those 5 weeks have allowed my to tune in with my true self... more than ever before... to assume that simplicity and reflect it in my environment...  I have donated more possessions... and clothes....  but I also bought more clothes... to really reflect who I am... I no longer want to hide into a given way of dressing for my age and that stuff...  I want my clothes to reflect who I am...  I want my house to reflect who I am... and I took care of that...    I also want my activities to reflect who I am...  so I took care of that to....  I like to read.... I like to go to the SPA on some occasions...  I like to go walk downtown and on the Plateau.... I enjoy bicycle rides in the city...  I like to have a bite in a vegan restaurant and a chai at Starbucks... I like to go to a movie every now and then... I like to cook healthy vegan meal for my loved ones...

I also discovered that I love to write and talk... and this brought me to make more life decisions....  I will start working on my second book very soon....  it's starting to form in my head (everything start in my head!)...  This one will have much more pages... and kind of a follow up to "Life Happens" ...  It will take time to write...  but I can't wait to get started...  I also will continue with this blog...  I was debating whether or not I should but I really missed it during those 5 weeks so I will keep writing it 2-3 times a week...  But there will be no more French post...  I lost my translator and I cannot afford timewise to do it myself...

I am also starting to work on a set of conferences on nutrition that will be offered in French and English comes end of September...  details will follow for that...

And last but not least, I will start my coaching business...  officially!!!  So if you want to give it a try, just let me know...  It's life coaching....  English or French... By phone, email, in person.... across the ocean or not! You choose...  if you want to turn your life around completely or just improve some part of it let me know...  Pricing and details to come on that later too....  Just doing some fine tuning... 

So this is it for now... those 5 weeks have allowed me to find myself... and move forward...  I have a bunch of new projects...  some that I just announced here...

I am looking forward to your feedback on all my new exiting project and no worries I will share all the details with you soon!!!

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