Life is now!

So how are you finding this challenge? It is a simple exercise but a very important one- right?

I have written down down a few things that I’m immensely grateful for:

1. Health- mine and my family’s. I’ve been struggling to shift something that very stubbornly does not seem to want to leave me. It’s left me very tired and at points very annoyed. So health is definitely something not to take for granted and something to be very grateful for.
2. Family- my near and dear ones. I have a great family- very strong independent and thoughtful family members. How could I not be grateful for them…
3. Friends- I have some great friends. Recently I haven’t paid as much attention to all my friends. Friendship is something you nurture and also a give and take relationship. I’m grateful for my friends and all the opportunities they have given me. And for all the listening at times…
4. Career and life coach. This year, I decided to approach someone to help me untangle my career life a little. She’s given me so many great advice. It’s one of the reasons I decided to focus on the positive. I know for some people being positive is more normal… for others it is not. But we can all make a choice to focus on the positive! Every single one of us. I have always been into yoga and eastern medicine has fascinated me. I’ve tried acupuncture a few times and it’s actually been helpful for me. I fully realise that we all have different believes and different things work for different people. I fully understand, embrace and accept that. I do believe in energy and vibrations. Something that Gabby Bernstein talks a lot about. I am right now following her in the periphery. I guess it’s about being open minded.
5. My determination. When I was 18, I decided to move away from home to a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language nor knew a single soul. Nuts- yes probably. Would I do it again- most definitely! It’s made me who I am today- all the good and the bad. Because admittedly who is perfect…?!
6. Blogging. I am truly enjoying this journey and see my blogging as a long term thing. Will I continue blogging every day? Don’t know… but I’m the kind of person who thinks, analyse, have monologues, love talking, discussing, helping, making a difference and hopefully can make people realise that life is precious and amazing. In the good times and the bad. If we did not go through tough times- we wouldn’t know what good times feel like. Right? Make the most of it!!! I love the comments and discussions we have here. And I feel this is just a start for me. I have finally found a hobby that I enjoy. I’m not even sure it’s right to call it a hobby even…

Here are a few of my a philosophical “Good Things” I’ve written down so far. I know a habit doesn’t form in 7 days- but I hope that it is a start for some of us and something that will form into a habit that we will do automatically every day because it makes us feel great!!! I truly, truly recommend…!

Christmas is approaching and it’s approaching fast. To make this period more fun and less stressful I recommend creating lists. You can use different lists and download them on your phone or iPad for example. You can of course also use the good old pen and paper. You can set a budget and start listing who you need to buy what for and how much you are willing to spend.

I’ve downloaded a few and will most likely use the “Manage Christmas list”. It seems to be one of the more straightforward ones.

I also recommend that you start saving down items in wish lists. Some shops that I use and like, such as John Lewis you can create different type of lists and name them after people or groups. In Amazon you can do the same.

If you start this already, I can promise you that you will feel a lot more prepared when Christmas arrives. Because one thing for certain is, it’ll be here before we know it! You can also use these lists and buy gifts in advance on Black Friday. Black Friday is on November 23 this year. And why not take advantage of it by saving down favourites in various shops online and buy things when they are cheaper?! If you’re ready to just hit buy online you also beat the crowds. Unless you enjoy the busyness that day! Personally, I will try and get most things online this year. Hopefully that will be possible here in Denmark but I already know that I miss shops here that I’m used to in the USA and in the U.K.! I recommend however to fully enjoy this countdown period now to Christmas… 48 days left and counting…!

A very dear friend of mine, Sam ❤️, gave me some very cute recyclable bags a few weeks ago. They look amazing and are very practical to keep with you. It’s also a good way to stop buying plastic bags whenever you do.

Sass & Bell

It’s a really cute shops with presence in the U.K. It looks like you can also order to the USA as it directs you to their US online shop. Take a look! They even have personalised items which could be good ideas as Christmas gifts. I really recommend (in particular the recyclable bags!).

Pictures from their Webshop

Today I wanted to share with you the best cities to visit in 2019. Bear in mind that any kind of list like this is of course subjective depending on who has written it and where they live- and most likely other factors too. Nevertheless, according to Lonely Planet the first city is:

1. Copenhagen. This surprised me. Not that I don’t like it here, but that it’s the first on the list of cities to visit in 2019 did. It is a great city which has a lot to offer and to see. Visit Copenhagen here you can read more about this city!
2. Shenzhen in China is the next city that the Lonely Planet recommends. It’s also called “Silicon Valley” of China. Seems to have quite a bit of culture as well to see and explore.
3. The next city is in Serbia called Novi Sad. I have visited Croatia and can recommend this area. It’s beautiful!
4. Then follows Miami in the USA. I have to admit that I am a little bit tempted to go and visit. Anyone been here?
5. Then we have a city which sounds rather interesting in Nepal- Kathmandu. I’m sure that would be quite an adventurous journey to do!
6. Next is Mexico- Mexico City. I’ve been to Mexico a few times and always had a good time. Nice food and a lot to explore.
7. The next city is in Africa- in Senegal and the city that the Lonely Planet recommends is Dakar. I really love the fact that the list of cities is so diverse! If you’d visit them all in 2019 it would be a bit like doing a world trip?!
8. Next is Seattle in the USA. I’ve been here but that was a few years ago. I recall going to Starbucks!
9. Then on the list we actually have Croatia; Zadar. As I’ve said earlier, this is truly a great place to visit! Beautiful landscape and very blue sea.
10. The last city is in Morocco called Meknes. I imagine this to be full of things to see with lots of exotic smells from a myriad of warm spices.

As with all of these lists, of course they are subjective. I do like that this list seems to be quite diverse. Do you have any travel plans for next year? Do you have a travel list with places that you’d love to visit?