We are mom and dad, who in addition to being parents, do research on healthy lifestyle and cancer. We would like to achieve a healthy, balanced and meaningful life. In our pursuit, we sift the healthy from the unhealthy, the simple from the complicated advice. The blog also includes random musings on topics other than health and parenting. Send us a message at applyforlife@gmail.com, mikelifesteer@gmail.com or through the contact form in the sidebar.
Is it a life in urban or suburban surroundings? Or maybe in the wilderness?
Below is the story of three women, who seem to have found their perfect life.
The first lady is Jonna Jinton. You can watch her story here. Jonna changed her life eight years ago, when she moved from the city to the north of Sweden. Nature taught Jonna many lessons, among which that “… you can never feel the wonderful, comfort feeling of warmth if you have not yet been cold.”
Stephanie Jarvis, the creator of The Chateau Diaries, lives in a 16th century French chateau. Her weekly vlogs are addictive. The episodes are a mixture of renovations, decorations, cooking, travel, and hosting. As an added bonus, Stephanie is the most charming lady with a great sense of humor.
This Holiday season, I am a big fan of the Christmas videos put together by Jenny Mustard. The videos awakened my Christmas spirit. I admit - in the days before the Holidays, my Christmas spirit is somewhat muffled by the work, the worries about the future and the overall media noise.
I learned a few neat ideas from Jenny, such as this one of gifting a list of “dreams come true”.
You can watch Jenny's video THE MOST ROMANTIC CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER, a very mustard xmas #19. In brief, the idea is that you and your closest person/partner write down what your dreams are (e.g., dreams about hobbies, health, travel, etc.), and exchange these lists on Christmas. Your buddy then helps you achieve one of your goals/dreams in the next year.
This gift is great for many reasons, but the best in my view are these two benefits:
First, by writing your list of goals/dreams, you develop a better understanding of yourself: who you are, what you want to achieve, what you want from life, at what stage of your life you are.
Second, your closest person gets to know you better and this makes life so much easier and clearer. We frequently co-exist with our partners without even knowing each others innermost desires and wishes.
This type of gifting is also great for a birthday of a teenager or an adult - it is a nice way to encourage self-reflection and sifting through our values.
I did, twice. At first, I was jealous and envious, but then I said to myself, why not dream about the life he has?
Life is more palatable with dreams in it.
I dream that one day, I will be at least marginally financially independent and buy a small shack next to Mercola’s estate in North/Central Florida or somewhere else…
I will have a small garden with a few fruit trees: cherries, pears, apples, peaches, apricots, and may be figs? I will coax my spices into rampant growth, and grow a profusion of celery and carrots (my favorite snack). If I can grow tomatoes, I would consider my life complete, as I can entirely survive on tomatoes, feta cheese and good crusty bread. Hm, how about a vineyard? I could also live on grapes and cheese.
Flowers are my weakness, so they will fill every nook and cranny not assigned to raising food. I might even accommodate a few beautiful hens for their eggs.
The shack will be close to the beach, so I can take long walks by the water, breathe the fresh ocean air, and absorb the uplifting expanse of sky and ocean merging in one on the horizon.
I will also limit my daily food intake within 6-8 hours, so that I can benefit from the intermittent fasting regimen (this timing allows the organism to dip into the fat storage for energy).
Taking care of my own needs may get boring, so I would definitely find a good cause to fight, or at least spread the word about healthy and creative life.
I may also go back to drawing, something I have not done since my teenage years. Drawing, back then, was the equivalent of meditation. It was a time of complete disconnect from the everyday din, and immersion in the world of the picture.
Pablo Picasso had said: ‘If you can imagine it, it’s real’. I feel it, I see it, I am almost there. I dream.
