Well, well, well... maybe it is time I repeat myself again about that subject!
I have had quite a few people recently talking to me about de-cluttering their homes... their lives... and most of them had no clue where to start... I had no clue either back then! I only knew I could no longer breathe where I lived and decided to do something! Anything! Therefore, you can go with your gut feeling as to what needs to go ASAP and move from there... like I did... or...
there are a few more organized ways to do it! But all that really matter is that you find room to breath and pbe at peace in your own home again...
1) Room per room
Using this method, you would pick one room, empty it completely... of course this requires you have space to put all the stuff into... and then, clean it all up and put back only what you really love, really use and what really goes into that room. You have to be really picky.... and not hesitate to move something to another room or simply sell/give it away if it doesn't fit anywhere. Trick of the trade: if you put everything back into the room, you were not very successful at the exercise... start over!!! UNLESS, this room has already been minimalized!
2) Most clutter first
You can pick the most clutter area of your home. Doesn't have to be a room... could be a closet, an armoire, bathroom medicine cabinet, a drawer, a bookshelf... you see what I mean! Something or a place in your home where you can never find anything.... of course it may take longer but you will see results faster!
3) Less clutter first
If you are press with time, I would start with the exact opposite... something or a room that is almost perfect as per your minimalist standard. It will be quick and you'll be able to appreciate the results... and you can check something off your "to-do" list! And it will give you inspiration to find the time to proceed to other areas as you will love and live better in that area of your home.
4) Open area first
A sure way to obtain visible result rapidly is to go with what ever is an open area... kitchen counter, top of furniture, open bookshelves... anything you can see and is bothering you. You will still know the clutter is elsewhere but appreciating the space you created will make you want to move forward...
5) Easiest to most difficult
Some areas might be easier to clean up.... stuff you care less about... start there! Anything that has sentimental value, that you cherish a lot... anything that reminds you of something or someone will be harder to do... keep those for last when you have hours of de-cluttering up your sleeves!!! I know I kept all these things for last.. along with my clothes!
6) Fire - Alone
Now, ultimately, one thing that works really well for me to this day... one thing I wish I would have come across earlier in my process is this one question: Lets say your home burns down completely, nothing remains... all turned into ashes... what would you go and buy over again? And obviously answer this question VERY honestly...
Alternatively, if catching fire scares you... let's pretend you are all alone... no one knows you at all.... how would you create/design your home? How would it reflect who you are on the inside rather then what it should be or what people expect it to be? Once again, answer this VERY honestly or else there is no point....
But, in the end, no matter what "technique" you use or not, what matters most is that your home ends up reflecting who you are on the inside... you end up with stuff you use/love ONLY... no room for useless items... unworn clothes.... misloved sports equipment.... maybe-I'll-read-it-one-day books... gifts that you no longer love... something you keep in case someone ask you what you did with it...
Your home should not be a magazine picture... your home should reflect your life, your passion, your interests... and there is no way that could be exactly as picture in a magazine as those are made to please everyone.... and you are not everyone! Remember that it is your home, you get to live in it... not those people who visit you now and then... not your distant family... or close friends... It must be your refuge... the place you feel the best in!!!
And remember, someones "garbage" will be someones "treasure"... do not hesitate to give... you will never get back the monetary/snetimental value of anything... but just knowing someones happy to have it can make a big difference! If you are patient and have time to spare, you can try selling some stuff... you'll get some money back that you can use towards something else like paying off debt, a trip, a week-end getaway... but I have found over the years of doing this that selling the stuff I use to love, and think was worth so much, made me more sad then anything... because it is never really worth that much! Therefore I started not wanting to get rid of stuff... I wanted to keep it until I got enough moeny for it...and it doesn't make sense. De-cluttering is not about making mooney but about breathing better! Living simpler! When I give it, gratification is immediate.
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Sunday, August 9, 2015
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Because no one will "shut me up"
Hello lovely readers... this is a post for you who appreciate my writing... but mostly for you who do not!
I know this may sound strange... let me explain.
A while ago, I got a few nasty comments from a few people who read my blog... they did not agree with my approach on health and on minimalism... or my yoga practice.... I got called "names" that I wish I could forget... damn good memory!
And it hurt me... and, as a result, I stop writing and took my blog off-line... to stop getting negative comments. I felt it was the right thing to do.
Some of you were really sad about this.... my supporters.
And I felt like I've let you down... and didn't like that but did not know what else to do.
To the name calling people who read me, I have one thing to say: "why read me if you do not agree? don't you have anything else to do then read stuff you disapprove off?" "do you feel so threaten in your life by my blog that you feel the need to defend yourself and accuse me of various really not nice stuff?"
I have always been clear on this... I do not expect everyone here to be vegan... or minimalist... or do yoga... I write about what changed my life and why.... I write about what I am passionate about and wish to share because I know it would change YOUR life as well! And for the better...
I think life, by throwing curve balls at me, forced me to dig in deep... and search.. and think outside the box... and I did... and what I found was amazing and I feel the obligation to share!!!
What I found is not mainstream.... of course! If not I'd have nothing to write about... everything would already have been said!
What I found goes against most of what you've heard all your life (and against all I've heard all my life).... you need meat for protein, you need milk for calcium, you need this iPhone 25s... 250 CDs, 500DVDs, 2000 books... you need a fancy house and a spouse and 2 kids to be happy... a cat, a dog and a fish would help! you need a vacation down south per year... you need to earn a degree and work in that field to raise your income all your life...
I am vegan... eat almost non oil... lots of starch... very little protein... many fruits and veggies... I believe this is the BEST way to eat to be healthy... I know it is quite difficult!
I am a minimalist with 95% of my furniture being "second hand" and all of it being used... I have nothing I do not use on a regular basis... I do not believe in stuff making you happy... I do not believe in income/career defining who you are... I do not think success is measured by the size of your home or the make of your car...
I have no religion... I practice yoga and meditation... I do not believe in God but I believe in each and everyone I meet unless they prove to me I shouldn't... I believe all you need is already inside you...
This is who I am and this is what I write about... and to my "haters" I say, stop reading if you do not like... stop wasting your time if you think I am so out of the track... and I am also saying that, from now on, your insults, name calling and accusations will not get to me because I won't let them.
And to my ever growing number of supporters, I say thank you.. and "I'm back baby"!!!
After all, if I am upsetting some people so much, I must be on to something... and since I can inspire some of you, this is all I really want!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
I know this may sound strange... let me explain.
A while ago, I got a few nasty comments from a few people who read my blog... they did not agree with my approach on health and on minimalism... or my yoga practice.... I got called "names" that I wish I could forget... damn good memory!
And it hurt me... and, as a result, I stop writing and took my blog off-line... to stop getting negative comments. I felt it was the right thing to do.
Some of you were really sad about this.... my supporters.
And I felt like I've let you down... and didn't like that but did not know what else to do.
To the name calling people who read me, I have one thing to say: "why read me if you do not agree? don't you have anything else to do then read stuff you disapprove off?" "do you feel so threaten in your life by my blog that you feel the need to defend yourself and accuse me of various really not nice stuff?"
I have always been clear on this... I do not expect everyone here to be vegan... or minimalist... or do yoga... I write about what changed my life and why.... I write about what I am passionate about and wish to share because I know it would change YOUR life as well! And for the better...
I think life, by throwing curve balls at me, forced me to dig in deep... and search.. and think outside the box... and I did... and what I found was amazing and I feel the obligation to share!!!
What I found is not mainstream.... of course! If not I'd have nothing to write about... everything would already have been said!
What I found goes against most of what you've heard all your life (and against all I've heard all my life).... you need meat for protein, you need milk for calcium, you need this iPhone 25s... 250 CDs, 500DVDs, 2000 books... you need a fancy house and a spouse and 2 kids to be happy... a cat, a dog and a fish would help! you need a vacation down south per year... you need to earn a degree and work in that field to raise your income all your life...
I am vegan... eat almost non oil... lots of starch... very little protein... many fruits and veggies... I believe this is the BEST way to eat to be healthy... I know it is quite difficult!
I am a minimalist with 95% of my furniture being "second hand" and all of it being used... I have nothing I do not use on a regular basis... I do not believe in stuff making you happy... I do not believe in income/career defining who you are... I do not think success is measured by the size of your home or the make of your car...
I have no religion... I practice yoga and meditation... I do not believe in God but I believe in each and everyone I meet unless they prove to me I shouldn't... I believe all you need is already inside you...
This is who I am and this is what I write about... and to my "haters" I say, stop reading if you do not like... stop wasting your time if you think I am so out of the track... and I am also saying that, from now on, your insults, name calling and accusations will not get to me because I won't let them.
And to my ever growing number of supporters, I say thank you.. and "I'm back baby"!!!
After all, if I am upsetting some people so much, I must be on to something... and since I can inspire some of you, this is all I really want!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
Friday, July 10, 2015
On living with a chronic illness
I can now see this part of my life differently.... a lot differently and I wish to share with you my experience...
In 1997, I had a facial paralysis... which, according to my doctor, was due to a virus in my inner ear. Years later we concluded it was my MS onset. I was 24, soon to turn 25. I celebrated my birthday with an eye patch because my eye would still not close properly.
Little did I know at that time my life would never be the same.
In 2003, almost exactly 6 years later day for day, I was diagnose with MS following an optical neuritis (loosing vision in one eye in a split second - it lasted for weeks). Vision came back. Diagnosis remained.
On that day, I knew my life would never be the same. I expected the worse. MS would dictate my life from now on.
In 2007, still in October (like in 1997 and 2003), 10 years after my initial onset, I decided not to let MS dictate my life. I became vegetarian and stopped drinking milk. I took up yoga, meditation , some form of minimalism and stopped all medication I was on.
Today in 2015, almost 18 years after my initial onset, I am perfectly healthy... my life has been turned upside down several times...
I am now completely minimalist, hard core vegan and a devoted yogi...
I live in Moncton, 1000km aways from where I spent all my life...
I work part time as a barista despite my bachelor degree in biochemistry...
I have published a book that you can find on Amazon...
I am a self taught nutritionist (being a biochemist did help with that)...
I coach people on how to eat/live better...
Up to this week, where the revelation came upon me, I tough MS did not dictate my life anymore... I tough I was "free" of that... but you know what? despite my vibrant health and the fact that I am doing much better then even the best prognosis doctors gave me when I was diagnose in 2003... despite the fact that I still do not need medication, walking aid or anything of that sort... MS is still and will always be part of me.. part of who I am... it made me become the person I am today...
For this, having MS is the best thing that ever happened to me. It opened my eyes to the fact that my life was miles aways from my dream life.... it made me reconnect with who I was, who I am and who I will always be... It made me found my mission in life... my purpose... my essence.
I needed a "huge kick in the ass" to see things clearly... but I finally understood.
And I am acting on it... every single day... I am talking/writing/living a vegan minimalist lifestyle which I am convince is The best way to save our health, our kids and our planet.
thanks you MS... I will not forget what you did for me.
what about you???? what was your "kick in the ass"??? what made you found your way in life?
love&peace,
nath
xox
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Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What makes my world go round... take 3!
Time again for this post.... I like to make one of these every time I've gone trough some more difficult time and it has given me the opportunity to reconnect with myself and grow... and realise that life is WONDERFUL!!!
So what does make my world go round here and now???
Eating local strawberries before I even get home with them
Drinking tea looking at the lake
Drinking with with my hubsband while reading
Drinking with with my hubsband while reading
Watching old re-runs of Friends
Cooking a new whole food, plant-based, low fat meal for my son and husband
Walking around the lake
To see people around make changes to improve their lives
To see people around make changes to improve their lives
Modifying pieces of clothes I own so they feel like new at no expense
Sitting by the lake and watching the baby ducks and geese
Taking a bike ride
Looking at the sunset
Reading "A brave new world" for the 4th times
Making plans/project for the next few years with my hubby
Shopping in my favorite antique store right by my home for the perfect vintage dishes
Planning my short trip to Halifax
Getting into my "Wanderlust" book
Buying local bread at the market
My job
All the awesome people I know and love
Knowing that my son is having a blast in Montreal with his family
Knowing that my son is having a blast in Montreal with his family
What about you??? What makes YOUR world go round??? Did you even think of it...
love&peace,nath
xox
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Monday, July 6, 2015
my view on... letting go of people
Hello!
a while ago I started a new series of post called "my view on".... and asked you guys to come up with subject you'd like me to share my opinion on. Well you did a good job and honestly most subject got me by surprise... and believe it or not some got me "speechless"!
I had to think about it... this one was an example of that... and even though I had to "do" it several times in my life, I realised that I never really let go.... in a sense. Most of the time, other people let go of me because they admitted to themselves, way before I did, that our relationship was not going anywhere. And even then, I still tried to stay in touch... somehow... honestly NOT the thing to do. After working on this for about 6 months now, I think I got this figured out... I can let go.... and I can move on... and remember those people as good memories without carrying them in my present... It was becoming very "heavy" and very "toxic" for me to care for those people whom have decided to move on or with whom I no longer have anything in common... (this question got me to do LOTS of work on myself but help me grow... so to the one who asked it, THANK YOU!!!)
When you change as much as I did over the last 7 years, it is very likely, and quite frankly normal, that most people you surrounded yourself with will not follow all the way... depending on the nature of the relationship, some will hang around longer... sometimes for good reasons, because they really cared... or because they also want to move in the same way as you... and other will just stay for all the wrong reasons... because you are blood related, because you were friends for so many years, because you've known each other all your life... because of money in the case of a spouse or intimate relationship... because there are kids involved and you do not trust them to deal with change and adapt to a different life... and I could go on and on...
I say it is normal because they do not have to change because you are... they got to know another side of yourself... a side of yourself you decide to part from... and that is OK! Nothing last forever... people change and move on... and it is desirable that you go your own path... even if it means parting ways with people... when you leave someone behind, somehow it makes "room" for someone new... and the new person will be attracted to the "new" and "improved" you and hence will share similar ideas/interest/passions... it will feel more natural and not fake or forced...
Now when is it time to let go??? It all depends on each individual... you have to be ready to let go... and move on.... you have to be confident that by leaving someone behind you'll still be OK. You have to understand and be ready to part "forever" because sometimes life will bring you back together and most times it won't... just because parted ways rarely cross ever again...
I came to the conclusion that for me, it is time to let go when someone no longer "allows" me to be myself.... if I have to put on a mask when I see them.. if I have to pretend I am who I used to be.... if I have to avoid certain subject to not get into an argument...
Another sign that it's time for me to "get out" is when people are turning around everything I say or think against me... when people project on me their own perception of the relationship (for example they are saying that I am judging because this is who they are)... In psychology you learn that people see in others what they do not like about themselves... this is very informative to know when someone "accuse" you of something...
I am 42 years old... I worked a lot on my personality, health, life to become who I always wanted to be... to let the "mask" down... it cost me a lot... in every sense of the word and I think I deserve to enjoy it... so if you are a cloud in my happiness and there is no way this cloud is moving away soon, I am sorry but I have no room for you (and you shouldn't have for me either)... this is how I deal with it... and some people "threaten" me that I'd end up alone behaving like this but I found it has been quite the opposite... I felt more alone alone when I was forcing myself to be someone I was not to "get along" with the wrong people... or to hold on to someone for the wrong reasons... and don't get me wrong, for everyone that was in my life in the past, I have very good memories and souvenir... and I am happy they were there for the time they were... but they are in the past and I am now creating other good "memories" every day... because what you live today is actually a good memory for tomorrow!
Life moves on... and so should we... nothing lives forever... no us, not relationship, not anything...
Now, I can hear your question... what about family? And THIS is sincerely the most difficult one but family is define by humans as people related by blood/genes. It stops there.... my family will always be my family... but it doesn't have to be my web/support... it doesn't have to be my friends or the people I go to or talk to the most... We, Human, attach a big importance to family, as we defined it, where as in other type of animals, the importance of family changes a lot from species to species... I will not give you a course on animals behavior, but it is very informative to look at them... Why would we make family or life long friends the most important people in our current life?
I consider like minded people a better fit for me then anyone else... and I know it may change again over time but I trust that I will always have like minded people around me... because people get attracted to you according to what you show them... as long as you show your true self, you will attract like minded people and never be alone.
I hope this answer the question I was asked about who do you know when it is time to let go of someone...
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
a while ago I started a new series of post called "my view on".... and asked you guys to come up with subject you'd like me to share my opinion on. Well you did a good job and honestly most subject got me by surprise... and believe it or not some got me "speechless"!
I had to think about it... this one was an example of that... and even though I had to "do" it several times in my life, I realised that I never really let go.... in a sense. Most of the time, other people let go of me because they admitted to themselves, way before I did, that our relationship was not going anywhere. And even then, I still tried to stay in touch... somehow... honestly NOT the thing to do. After working on this for about 6 months now, I think I got this figured out... I can let go.... and I can move on... and remember those people as good memories without carrying them in my present... It was becoming very "heavy" and very "toxic" for me to care for those people whom have decided to move on or with whom I no longer have anything in common... (this question got me to do LOTS of work on myself but help me grow... so to the one who asked it, THANK YOU!!!)
When you change as much as I did over the last 7 years, it is very likely, and quite frankly normal, that most people you surrounded yourself with will not follow all the way... depending on the nature of the relationship, some will hang around longer... sometimes for good reasons, because they really cared... or because they also want to move in the same way as you... and other will just stay for all the wrong reasons... because you are blood related, because you were friends for so many years, because you've known each other all your life... because of money in the case of a spouse or intimate relationship... because there are kids involved and you do not trust them to deal with change and adapt to a different life... and I could go on and on...
I say it is normal because they do not have to change because you are... they got to know another side of yourself... a side of yourself you decide to part from... and that is OK! Nothing last forever... people change and move on... and it is desirable that you go your own path... even if it means parting ways with people... when you leave someone behind, somehow it makes "room" for someone new... and the new person will be attracted to the "new" and "improved" you and hence will share similar ideas/interest/passions... it will feel more natural and not fake or forced...
Now when is it time to let go??? It all depends on each individual... you have to be ready to let go... and move on.... you have to be confident that by leaving someone behind you'll still be OK. You have to understand and be ready to part "forever" because sometimes life will bring you back together and most times it won't... just because parted ways rarely cross ever again...
I came to the conclusion that for me, it is time to let go when someone no longer "allows" me to be myself.... if I have to put on a mask when I see them.. if I have to pretend I am who I used to be.... if I have to avoid certain subject to not get into an argument...
Another sign that it's time for me to "get out" is when people are turning around everything I say or think against me... when people project on me their own perception of the relationship (for example they are saying that I am judging because this is who they are)... In psychology you learn that people see in others what they do not like about themselves... this is very informative to know when someone "accuse" you of something...
I am 42 years old... I worked a lot on my personality, health, life to become who I always wanted to be... to let the "mask" down... it cost me a lot... in every sense of the word and I think I deserve to enjoy it... so if you are a cloud in my happiness and there is no way this cloud is moving away soon, I am sorry but I have no room for you (and you shouldn't have for me either)... this is how I deal with it... and some people "threaten" me that I'd end up alone behaving like this but I found it has been quite the opposite... I felt more alone alone when I was forcing myself to be someone I was not to "get along" with the wrong people... or to hold on to someone for the wrong reasons... and don't get me wrong, for everyone that was in my life in the past, I have very good memories and souvenir... and I am happy they were there for the time they were... but they are in the past and I am now creating other good "memories" every day... because what you live today is actually a good memory for tomorrow!
Life moves on... and so should we... nothing lives forever... no us, not relationship, not anything...
Now, I can hear your question... what about family? And THIS is sincerely the most difficult one but family is define by humans as people related by blood/genes. It stops there.... my family will always be my family... but it doesn't have to be my web/support... it doesn't have to be my friends or the people I go to or talk to the most... We, Human, attach a big importance to family, as we defined it, where as in other type of animals, the importance of family changes a lot from species to species... I will not give you a course on animals behavior, but it is very informative to look at them... Why would we make family or life long friends the most important people in our current life?
I consider like minded people a better fit for me then anyone else... and I know it may change again over time but I trust that I will always have like minded people around me... because people get attracted to you according to what you show them... as long as you show your true self, you will attract like minded people and never be alone.
I hope this answer the question I was asked about who do you know when it is time to let go of someone...
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
Monday, June 29, 2015
this is who I am... take it or leave it!
Well... I have just realised that I did not write a blog post in over a month.. wow! Times flies...
I have been busy... dealing with personal stuff...
I have been busy reflecting on my past and analyzing my present and design my future...
I have been busy mourning, yet more people, still alive, who are abandoning what they call a "fake ship"...
I needed time to figure things out and I did just that... I am coming back once again stronger then ever and believing in myself and what I support even more then before...
Change is difficult: It comes with a price...
the ones of you who are friends with me on FB have seen that sentence a few times in the last few weeks...
What I omitted to say, because I could not see it at the time, is that it also comes with rewards... once the "price is paid"...
In the last few weeks I have been called a few things... words I do not dare say here because they come from people who are stressed out and sick and cannot see the end to it... people who used to believe in me but are abandoning me because "change is too difficult" for them and they rather stay as they are then try and feel better... and that is OK. No grudges hold.
I have to say that this current post was in part inspired by a friend of mine who made a nice post on FB yesterday.... we see so many "fake stuff" or "lies"... we see so many people pretending to have life they don't... she was really honest on who she is and I admired that... I tough I might do the same here.
I will not excuse myself for what I am about to say... this is what I believe with all my heart and I will not change my mind... at any cost.. now you can or cannot agree with me 100% but that does not change anything with me... with mutual acceptance I do respect you and I understand that not everyone can and will live like me. This is all right with me despite what some people think my opinion on this is. I am more tolerant and flexible and respectful than some people think. I just do not see the point in surrounding myself with people who criticize me all the time.
I am vegan... I eat a whole food, plant based, starch based, low fat diet with as little as 5% of my food coming for a package. I do not eat out more then 5% of the time and when I do, I am this annoying orderer that ask for exceptions and replacements... I do not care about this anymore... if I am paying for my food and I have to put it into my body, I choose how I want it... and you know what, ask nicely with a smile, no server ever gave me a hard time!
On that note, I do believe that the way I eat is the healthiest... and quite frankly the only way to eat to be healthy all your life. I understand that being healthy comes in different shades of grey but to be completely healthy there are not many options... this has been proven over and over again in many different places on this planet and in many different studies by independent doctors.
Why is this information not more readily available? because politicians and big corporations have no interest in having this information come out... if everyone would start eating like I do overnight, the economy would crash... and since money rules the world, a lot of wealthy people are working a lot and spending the big bucks to come up with false/biased studies to reassure most people... to reassure the masses and it works.
Now if you want to eat the standard American diet... any version of it, that is your choice and I will respect it, however, do not try and convince me that this is the right thing to do by showing me studies paid for by the meat/dairy industries... or having me read something in a mainstream newspaper. I simple won't believe it.
One more thing, do not come to me to complain about such and such disease if you are unwilling to change anything to feel better... there is nothing I can do for you.
Another thing with veganism is that it is proven to decrease the number of diseases... therefore save money to government and hence us regular people... if less people would be sick, we'd pay less taxes! If you do not do it for your health, think of other people... or your wallet! And while thinking of others, think of the fact that people worldwide are starving because you want to eat you ribs, or steak... if you don't care about your own health, you may not care about that of others but I do not think that anyone can be insensible to a starving child in Africa. One last thing while I am on the compassionate subject: if most of you keep eating the American diet, the planet will be destroyed much faster then you can even imagine... is this what you want to leave to your kids/grand kids?
I am therefore saying that if you do not opt for a vegan diet for yourself, maybe you'll do it for the animals in the Amazonian forest... or the starving kids in Africa... the polar bears... or you kids/grand kids future. Have some compassion.
I am a minimalist for essentially the same reasons... we cannot keep using all the raw material we used indefinitely... all raw materials are finite. We cannot keep on filling our landfills at the pace we do now because we'll end up having no room for trash in a few years.... maybe sooner then we think.
I am also a minimalist because I refuse to let some big corporation decide for me what I want/need. I believe in free will... I believe that I can make a choice about what I want/need. I believe that there is more to life then working my ass off to earn big dollars to buy stuff someone decided I needed... I believe that life is more then a $ sign... I believe in experiences... meeting new people... I believe in sunbathing, walking in the rain and reading... I believe in being there for my son when he gets back from school with a batch or warm vegan cookies... and us having one while sipping tea and chit chatting about our day... I believe in making most of the stuff I need... I believe in finding new purposes to the stuff I no longer need... I do not wish to keep up with the Joneses because I have never met anyone who did it that were satisfied with their life... including me! I was there... I was like that... and I decided to change because I didn't want to be stress anymore... I wanted to live a simpler life... a more meaningful life so I decided to chase something else then possessions. This is what I believe... and I am, once again, convince that this is the best way to be stress free and happy... as proven, there again, by numerous populations worldwide... that have not yet embarked in the American lifestyle... and are stress free.... no crime incidence... paradise on earth.
If you ever want to give me a gift, make it something you bake or made with your hands.... make it something that makes me think of you when I see it... make i something I can consume or use on a daily basis... or just don't give me anything but a nice hug before we have a cup of tea... I no longer have use for stuff (and I may have been one of the worst/most over consumer I ever knew)... And I understand that it may not be your case, that you may lie your life filled with a house and cars and pools and furnished rooms and overflowing closets... and that is OK... Trust me, I understand, years ago I could never have imagine myself living the way I do now... but life happens.
This is who I am... and I will not change... this is what I believe is the way to live for a sustainable future... I live a life of compassion... and some people think I am inflexible/strict, etc... and it is right... I am strict with my lifestyle because I do not see how living any other way could bring me more pleasure/satisfaction...
I am had core... yes....
I understand that not all of you may join me.... but I am calling upon those who want a more sustainable/happier/stress free/compassionate lifestyle...
I have to understand that people may feel threaten and this will not bring the best out of them... but this is who I am... and although I understand and respect the fact that you may not understand/join me in my lifestyle, I will never tolerate the lack of respect... this is why, I am offering you a chance to unfriend/stop following me me with no harsh feeling and no grudges hold.... I'd rather keep like minded people or people who are aiming toward a similar lifestyle to mine... I want to concentrate on people who want to turn their life around and "forget" about the ones I cannot help... Whether we've known each other for ever, whether we are family or not.... wheter we just met... if you do not agree with how I live... if I am in no way an inspiration to you, go ahead and move on... feel free to do so!
This is my calling.... this is my way to change the world... this is the only way I am happy.... writing what I think/believe is right and share.. and help others... when I don't do it or start censuring myself to "please" the mass I start dying a little inside... I do not want this to happen...
It does come with a price... I changed radically over the last few years and hence the people I was surrounded by used to be my tribe for the lifestyle I used to live.... now when you change as much as I did, your tribe will most likely not follow... not all the way anyway.... and loosing members one by one is painful but is a necessary price to build a new tribe... every time I loose a tribe member, I gain a new one... and that is life... as a minimalist, I cannot be attached to stuff or money.... or people.... people come and people go... all will remain in my heart and will not be forgotten but not all can follow.... and that is OK. That is more then OK.
The last few weeks have been very hard on myself and at one point I was ready to give up... to stop saying what I think.... to stop trying to help people... to close this blog and my FB page as well as my Google+ profile... but after many walks by the lake... many meditations/yoga sessions... many discussions with close friends I decided to keep on going... not count my losses anymore but concentrate on my gains... stop focusing on the price and start counting the rewards...
because I am a good person who's only wish is to meet like minded people and start a revolution in this world... start changing this work to make it a better place... " I have a dream", "be the change you want to see", "Imagine all the people..." all are sentences I go by... M.Luther King, Gandhi and John Lennon are all very inspirational to me...
and this is why I am calling to you my like minded readers... please share this post and add my as a FB friend if you want... ask you friend to join us in this community of "world changer" because the more the merrier... and because if we do not give up, we will succeed!!!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
I have been busy... dealing with personal stuff...
I have been busy reflecting on my past and analyzing my present and design my future...
I have been busy mourning, yet more people, still alive, who are abandoning what they call a "fake ship"...
I needed time to figure things out and I did just that... I am coming back once again stronger then ever and believing in myself and what I support even more then before...
Change is difficult: It comes with a price...
the ones of you who are friends with me on FB have seen that sentence a few times in the last few weeks...
What I omitted to say, because I could not see it at the time, is that it also comes with rewards... once the "price is paid"...
In the last few weeks I have been called a few things... words I do not dare say here because they come from people who are stressed out and sick and cannot see the end to it... people who used to believe in me but are abandoning me because "change is too difficult" for them and they rather stay as they are then try and feel better... and that is OK. No grudges hold.
I have to say that this current post was in part inspired by a friend of mine who made a nice post on FB yesterday.... we see so many "fake stuff" or "lies"... we see so many people pretending to have life they don't... she was really honest on who she is and I admired that... I tough I might do the same here.
I will not excuse myself for what I am about to say... this is what I believe with all my heart and I will not change my mind... at any cost.. now you can or cannot agree with me 100% but that does not change anything with me... with mutual acceptance I do respect you and I understand that not everyone can and will live like me. This is all right with me despite what some people think my opinion on this is. I am more tolerant and flexible and respectful than some people think. I just do not see the point in surrounding myself with people who criticize me all the time.
I am vegan... I eat a whole food, plant based, starch based, low fat diet with as little as 5% of my food coming for a package. I do not eat out more then 5% of the time and when I do, I am this annoying orderer that ask for exceptions and replacements... I do not care about this anymore... if I am paying for my food and I have to put it into my body, I choose how I want it... and you know what, ask nicely with a smile, no server ever gave me a hard time!
On that note, I do believe that the way I eat is the healthiest... and quite frankly the only way to eat to be healthy all your life. I understand that being healthy comes in different shades of grey but to be completely healthy there are not many options... this has been proven over and over again in many different places on this planet and in many different studies by independent doctors.
Why is this information not more readily available? because politicians and big corporations have no interest in having this information come out... if everyone would start eating like I do overnight, the economy would crash... and since money rules the world, a lot of wealthy people are working a lot and spending the big bucks to come up with false/biased studies to reassure most people... to reassure the masses and it works.
Now if you want to eat the standard American diet... any version of it, that is your choice and I will respect it, however, do not try and convince me that this is the right thing to do by showing me studies paid for by the meat/dairy industries... or having me read something in a mainstream newspaper. I simple won't believe it.
One more thing, do not come to me to complain about such and such disease if you are unwilling to change anything to feel better... there is nothing I can do for you.
Another thing with veganism is that it is proven to decrease the number of diseases... therefore save money to government and hence us regular people... if less people would be sick, we'd pay less taxes! If you do not do it for your health, think of other people... or your wallet! And while thinking of others, think of the fact that people worldwide are starving because you want to eat you ribs, or steak... if you don't care about your own health, you may not care about that of others but I do not think that anyone can be insensible to a starving child in Africa. One last thing while I am on the compassionate subject: if most of you keep eating the American diet, the planet will be destroyed much faster then you can even imagine... is this what you want to leave to your kids/grand kids?
I am therefore saying that if you do not opt for a vegan diet for yourself, maybe you'll do it for the animals in the Amazonian forest... or the starving kids in Africa... the polar bears... or you kids/grand kids future. Have some compassion.
I am a minimalist for essentially the same reasons... we cannot keep using all the raw material we used indefinitely... all raw materials are finite. We cannot keep on filling our landfills at the pace we do now because we'll end up having no room for trash in a few years.... maybe sooner then we think.
I am also a minimalist because I refuse to let some big corporation decide for me what I want/need. I believe in free will... I believe that I can make a choice about what I want/need. I believe that there is more to life then working my ass off to earn big dollars to buy stuff someone decided I needed... I believe that life is more then a $ sign... I believe in experiences... meeting new people... I believe in sunbathing, walking in the rain and reading... I believe in being there for my son when he gets back from school with a batch or warm vegan cookies... and us having one while sipping tea and chit chatting about our day... I believe in making most of the stuff I need... I believe in finding new purposes to the stuff I no longer need... I do not wish to keep up with the Joneses because I have never met anyone who did it that were satisfied with their life... including me! I was there... I was like that... and I decided to change because I didn't want to be stress anymore... I wanted to live a simpler life... a more meaningful life so I decided to chase something else then possessions. This is what I believe... and I am, once again, convince that this is the best way to be stress free and happy... as proven, there again, by numerous populations worldwide... that have not yet embarked in the American lifestyle... and are stress free.... no crime incidence... paradise on earth.
If you ever want to give me a gift, make it something you bake or made with your hands.... make it something that makes me think of you when I see it... make i something I can consume or use on a daily basis... or just don't give me anything but a nice hug before we have a cup of tea... I no longer have use for stuff (and I may have been one of the worst/most over consumer I ever knew)... And I understand that it may not be your case, that you may lie your life filled with a house and cars and pools and furnished rooms and overflowing closets... and that is OK... Trust me, I understand, years ago I could never have imagine myself living the way I do now... but life happens.
This is who I am... and I will not change... this is what I believe is the way to live for a sustainable future... I live a life of compassion... and some people think I am inflexible/strict, etc... and it is right... I am strict with my lifestyle because I do not see how living any other way could bring me more pleasure/satisfaction...
I am had core... yes....
I understand that not all of you may join me.... but I am calling upon those who want a more sustainable/happier/stress free/compassionate lifestyle...
I have to understand that people may feel threaten and this will not bring the best out of them... but this is who I am... and although I understand and respect the fact that you may not understand/join me in my lifestyle, I will never tolerate the lack of respect... this is why, I am offering you a chance to unfriend/stop following me me with no harsh feeling and no grudges hold.... I'd rather keep like minded people or people who are aiming toward a similar lifestyle to mine... I want to concentrate on people who want to turn their life around and "forget" about the ones I cannot help... Whether we've known each other for ever, whether we are family or not.... wheter we just met... if you do not agree with how I live... if I am in no way an inspiration to you, go ahead and move on... feel free to do so!
This is my calling.... this is my way to change the world... this is the only way I am happy.... writing what I think/believe is right and share.. and help others... when I don't do it or start censuring myself to "please" the mass I start dying a little inside... I do not want this to happen...
It does come with a price... I changed radically over the last few years and hence the people I was surrounded by used to be my tribe for the lifestyle I used to live.... now when you change as much as I did, your tribe will most likely not follow... not all the way anyway.... and loosing members one by one is painful but is a necessary price to build a new tribe... every time I loose a tribe member, I gain a new one... and that is life... as a minimalist, I cannot be attached to stuff or money.... or people.... people come and people go... all will remain in my heart and will not be forgotten but not all can follow.... and that is OK. That is more then OK.
The last few weeks have been very hard on myself and at one point I was ready to give up... to stop saying what I think.... to stop trying to help people... to close this blog and my FB page as well as my Google+ profile... but after many walks by the lake... many meditations/yoga sessions... many discussions with close friends I decided to keep on going... not count my losses anymore but concentrate on my gains... stop focusing on the price and start counting the rewards...
because I am a good person who's only wish is to meet like minded people and start a revolution in this world... start changing this work to make it a better place... " I have a dream", "be the change you want to see", "Imagine all the people..." all are sentences I go by... M.Luther King, Gandhi and John Lennon are all very inspirational to me...
and this is why I am calling to you my like minded readers... please share this post and add my as a FB friend if you want... ask you friend to join us in this community of "world changer" because the more the merrier... and because if we do not give up, we will succeed!!!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Time to look back on a life experience
Hello!
almost a year ago I announced my decision to move from Montreal, the city I grew up in and thought I would never leave, to Moncton 10 hours drive away... I did that with a #108daystoanewlife perspective (you can read my posts about those 108 days in the section labelled 108 days!).
I wanted to change a few things... I wanted a quieter and yet even simpler life... I had goals and objectives and challenges... You can read about it all if you want but my goal here is not to go over them in great details... All I wish to look at is HOW I lived through 11 months being away from every one I knew beside my husband and son...
We got into this adventure all together and aside from my son, who went to see his dad, none of us went back to Montreal and we did not even see anyone we knew in our "previous" life.
My ultimate goal was to live the life I wanted free of people's expectation and explanations to give and lessons to get... I didn't want to feel like I was letting anyone down... disappearing was the best solution to me. And it worked! I did manage to get exactly the life I wanted... it did take a little longer than I anticipated for everything to fall into place but this week, the last few puzzle pieces came into place. All good things comes to those who wait.
Main achievement for the year:
Got back to my natural hair color : sometimes I still think about dying it again.. but then I realise that people here got to know me and love me this way! Why bother and waste money putting some chemicals in my body???
I started really dressing the way I want - and even got to a really low number of clothes... This is super cool and a time/money saver. I only own clothes I love and feel great in. REALLY.
I did get over my shopping addiction. FINALLY. I really have no interest in shopping and when I really do need something, I feel like I am wasting money... and try and extend my need as much as I can before I go and buy it! I also only get "on sale" stuff... or pre-owned! Some would say I have become "cheap" I like to think I have become savvy... or wise! We pay things, in general, way more then we should.... waiting for a sale is legitimate.
I managed to keep plants alive! I have 4 thriving now and hoping to get a couple more. I will also start a herb garden and put flowers on my patio.
I have lost interest in watching television shows... I have Netflix and am following 2 shows (Dr Who and Supernatural) with my son but mostly to spend time with him... he loves to watch these with me! I also got a new interest in documentaries... but not anyone as I find most of them are not in depth enough and still are trying to put "normal" thoughts in my head without explaining the "why" I should think like that. I am now seriously ready to get rid of my television all together.
I enjoy spending time doing NOTHING at home... just watching the view of my lake!
I realised that all that matters to me is living a peaceful life with my husband and son... I enjoy cooking and learning about nutrition as well as reading. Taking walks outside, going to have a tea with friends or family... nothing else really matters. Doing yoga and more and more meditation.
I have refine the way I eat further more... staying away from process food at least 95% of the time... and working on it. I also cut down all process oil... But what are you eating you may ask??? Mostly starch (legumes, potatoes, rice, oats and whole grains) alongside veggies and fruits. With the occasional nuts and seeds. This is the diet of people in Asia and Africa who are 99% free of all the disease we know here and also in countries where people live the longest and active life. This is what I want for my life.
I am working part time doing work I love - no matter how disappointing this was to some, I enjoy it and I have no intention of ever working in an office ever again... I would miss the people's connection too much.
Now, I have also learned a lot about myself and the human nature in general while living this experience...
I am VERY independent and stubborn. And I love it!
When I care for someone I can go a long way... but if I don't or no longer do, there is nothing you can do/say to change my mind.
I do not miss "Montreal" AT ALL (and will never go back) and that shows my that I am more of a wanderer then I always wanted to admit to myself... I will definitely not stay put for the rest of my life!
I do not miss people in general... Loin des yeux loin du coeur.... Except for 2 friends and they know who they are!
Now about human nature...
people are full of good intentions... but rarely follow through. They rather found excuses. Easier.
people who get to know you for who you really are, are the ones who care the most about you. They know you are authentic and it builds a strong bond!
but unfortunately, most people are NOT authentic...
And last but not least, I have met a great deal of amazing people here in Moncton... many who came here from other places kind of for similar reasons to mine: run away from a life they no longer liked. Some who spend their whole life here but are bringing about change in this community. And some young people who honestly bring back my hope in human kind. Not many.... but we do not need many to change this planet... a few seeds can grow an amazing forest!
on that note.... hope you will have a chance to experience such a lovely life changing opportunity...
Really... you should do it!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
almost a year ago I announced my decision to move from Montreal, the city I grew up in and thought I would never leave, to Moncton 10 hours drive away... I did that with a #108daystoanewlife perspective (you can read my posts about those 108 days in the section labelled 108 days!).
I wanted to change a few things... I wanted a quieter and yet even simpler life... I had goals and objectives and challenges... You can read about it all if you want but my goal here is not to go over them in great details... All I wish to look at is HOW I lived through 11 months being away from every one I knew beside my husband and son...
We got into this adventure all together and aside from my son, who went to see his dad, none of us went back to Montreal and we did not even see anyone we knew in our "previous" life.
My ultimate goal was to live the life I wanted free of people's expectation and explanations to give and lessons to get... I didn't want to feel like I was letting anyone down... disappearing was the best solution to me. And it worked! I did manage to get exactly the life I wanted... it did take a little longer than I anticipated for everything to fall into place but this week, the last few puzzle pieces came into place. All good things comes to those who wait.
Main achievement for the year:
Got back to my natural hair color : sometimes I still think about dying it again.. but then I realise that people here got to know me and love me this way! Why bother and waste money putting some chemicals in my body???
I started really dressing the way I want - and even got to a really low number of clothes... This is super cool and a time/money saver. I only own clothes I love and feel great in. REALLY.
I did get over my shopping addiction. FINALLY. I really have no interest in shopping and when I really do need something, I feel like I am wasting money... and try and extend my need as much as I can before I go and buy it! I also only get "on sale" stuff... or pre-owned! Some would say I have become "cheap" I like to think I have become savvy... or wise! We pay things, in general, way more then we should.... waiting for a sale is legitimate.
I managed to keep plants alive! I have 4 thriving now and hoping to get a couple more. I will also start a herb garden and put flowers on my patio.
I have lost interest in watching television shows... I have Netflix and am following 2 shows (Dr Who and Supernatural) with my son but mostly to spend time with him... he loves to watch these with me! I also got a new interest in documentaries... but not anyone as I find most of them are not in depth enough and still are trying to put "normal" thoughts in my head without explaining the "why" I should think like that. I am now seriously ready to get rid of my television all together.
I enjoy spending time doing NOTHING at home... just watching the view of my lake!
I realised that all that matters to me is living a peaceful life with my husband and son... I enjoy cooking and learning about nutrition as well as reading. Taking walks outside, going to have a tea with friends or family... nothing else really matters. Doing yoga and more and more meditation.
I have refine the way I eat further more... staying away from process food at least 95% of the time... and working on it. I also cut down all process oil... But what are you eating you may ask??? Mostly starch (legumes, potatoes, rice, oats and whole grains) alongside veggies and fruits. With the occasional nuts and seeds. This is the diet of people in Asia and Africa who are 99% free of all the disease we know here and also in countries where people live the longest and active life. This is what I want for my life.
I am working part time doing work I love - no matter how disappointing this was to some, I enjoy it and I have no intention of ever working in an office ever again... I would miss the people's connection too much.
Now, I have also learned a lot about myself and the human nature in general while living this experience...
I am VERY independent and stubborn. And I love it!
When I care for someone I can go a long way... but if I don't or no longer do, there is nothing you can do/say to change my mind.
I do not miss "Montreal" AT ALL (and will never go back) and that shows my that I am more of a wanderer then I always wanted to admit to myself... I will definitely not stay put for the rest of my life!
I do not miss people in general... Loin des yeux loin du coeur.... Except for 2 friends and they know who they are!
Now about human nature...
people are full of good intentions... but rarely follow through. They rather found excuses. Easier.
people who get to know you for who you really are, are the ones who care the most about you. They know you are authentic and it builds a strong bond!
but unfortunately, most people are NOT authentic...
And last but not least, I have met a great deal of amazing people here in Moncton... many who came here from other places kind of for similar reasons to mine: run away from a life they no longer liked. Some who spend their whole life here but are bringing about change in this community. And some young people who honestly bring back my hope in human kind. Not many.... but we do not need many to change this planet... a few seeds can grow an amazing forest!
on that note.... hope you will have a chance to experience such a lovely life changing opportunity...
Really... you should do it!
love&peace,
nath
xox
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=734016786
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