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Health of myself and my close ones is what i´m most grateful for. As well i´m grateful to be able to have food & clean water everyday. Often times these things we just have and forget how lucky we are

I am a mother of two children who is constantly anxious about how to meet our daily meal. I work very hard to see that things go well for my children, but my husband,who is the father of my second child and jobless has not been helping out. Rather he would get up in the morning and nah....nag when he gets back from a drinking place ask for food and sleep, then nag at night when he gets back. This has caused me constant pain and depression. I am looking for a way to get out of this. But how do I do that with no savings. I am so deeply sad. It hurts

Hey everyone.... This is my first post where I would like to share my thoughts on getting out of the stress we face at work, at home, etc. During this pandemic each and everyone of us must have faced a mental pressure like "come on leave me alone". Yes we all felt the same. Though everything is back to normal I would like to share some ideas that I had followed to overcome this stress which may help you all at times in future to come out of all the pressures we face and have our own happiness. 1) Planning out a random on spot trip- This is the thing which I loved the most and it really helped me a lot to overcome stress. People who work please make sure you are available on a weekend and students make sure that you don't have school on saturday and all your works are completed. Plan for a nice one day trip the night before. What we did was we planned the night before during our dinner and the next morning we were off to the trip. If there are kids in your house never ever inform them about this trip let it be a surprise for them. Because the surprise that they get along with the unplanned trip increases their happiness and reduces a lot of stress from their school works and also improves their mental health. Well back to the point. Plan for the trip the night before and leave to some nice hill station or a field or a river or some beautiful place nearby. Come out of the concrete jungle we live in for a day. Enjoy yourself. Take nice pictures of the nature you enjoy. Cherish the memories. Make sure you take necessary stuffs like water, food, extra pair of clothing, a camera if you can, cash in hand etc. This way you can get a relief from stress, forget everything for a while, be happy and improve your mental health. 2) Indulge in the things that you love- This is another way that really helped me a lot. I love creating mandala arts so making them really helped reduce my stress. You can indulge in any activity that you love to do say singing, sports, cooking, etc. Literally anything that you like. Working on the things that we love helps reduce depression and stress. 3) Families are First- Stop your works for a while and take a break. Have a conversation with your family. Spend more time with them. Because there is no one more supportive than our parents and family. Have good time with them. 4) Take timeouts- Take regular breaks in between your work. Break in the sense not getting into social media and doing a vigorous swiping or checking on other person's status or texting random stuffs. Breaks I mean are take a break in between your work go outside or to the balcony see the outside world, get fresh air, have a glass of water, come back and start with your work. Getting into social media or anything in mobile increases the stress and makes us even more tired as our eyes are stressed so much by looking into laptops and mobiles. And also sitting in the same spot weakens our spine and creates back pain. So walking out to the porch or balcony and seeing the outside world gives us a quick refreshment, makes us active and gives ability to work even faster, reduces stress both physically and mentally. 5) Get in touch with your buddies- Meet your friends in person or talk to them for a while. Going out with them also helps in reducing stress. 6) Reduce unnecessary anger- It's more like pouring fuel into the fire. It doesn't even help but increases the stress even more. So avoid getting angry and try to solve the issue in a calm manner. So these are some things that I follow to overcome stress and I hope this would help you guys too. Thanks for reading. Have a great day ahead. Be positive and always remember to be kind!!!

Thanks for the links, much food for thought and the heart!

People didn't accept me and now i am scared to approach them. When i fell ill i didn't suddenly became aware of my illness, slowly little by little my body parts was showing abnormalities. I was in discomfort , not able to do anything , consults with many clinics but no one knows. People around me ignored me , didn't believe me , my family was fed-up (even though it wasn't years, i salute to those families who keep patient with their children, when children face some kind of illness which can't go away soon but takes years to get well) so in the end my family was so fed up that.. when i told them i really can't go to loo because i can't support my body, they said i am just not trying enough. 2years, when slowly my body was like this. My faith in family was fading and at-last i became numb. Family to me, i owe them like it's debt. Loan i have to give back with interest. In this time, friends left me because i was slowing them down "sorry i couldn't type text or hold phone to call because my hands is falling". All left. I wasn't even able to eat, i supported my hands in my knees to hold my jaws and move so my jaw could move (because after one chew i had to rest 2min then chew, same for hand) could hold the spoon for more than few seconds. At last, when my brain stop working for 1sec and i fall with no movement at all. Mom and me to go to biggest hospital in country and then doctor team sent me to neurologist. Then they find out i was diagnosis with "mysthania gravis". Had operation , plasma phase and still on medicine though but i am so much better. At that time no one was there but then my spiritual energy was with me. God was with me all the time. God was the only one with me. God give me positivity. God never mad me realized that i was alone. Now i want to know, will some one accept me in this world? Not so perfect me? I could do all the things normal person could do. But i am highly sensitive like a baby. If outside weather is hot/cold and i suddenly enter in AC/heater i will have fever and rest for 3days. When i go outside Uber driver drive roughly and my body become feverish and i have to take pain medicine and rest for 3-4 days. Every seasonal changes occur , high perfume/smell , high intensity food . Now i am scared... Can I live with this weak body? Will some one accept me this way?

What are exercises , yoga and food can help to reduce anxiety and stress?

Hi: I'm a long time humor writer who over the course of the last 3 years has really gotten into happiness and positive psychology. Along those lines I'm trying to create a cartoon that is funny and promotes positive affirmations and happiness. Which is interesting and challenging since much of humor is based on pain. I'd love the groups food back.

What is Food Yoga Food Yoga is defined as, “a discipline that honours all spiritual paths by embracing their core teaching – that food in its most pure form is divine and, therefore, an excellent medium for expressing our unconditional love and purifying our consciousness. “ Food is an integral part of live, it is the first and foremost essential things that helps to sustain life. One can use food as a tool to achieve progress spiritually - maintaining healthy and pure eating habit is a key to successful spiritual life. Food Yoga is all about employing as much techniques possible to make your food pure and healthy and more than that, divine. Food and God In Hindu religion, the practice of offering food to God is very common. The food that is offered to God is referred as, ‘Naivedhya’. The naivedhya is prepared using pure ingredients and are cooked by trained cooks. The naivedhya offering is not same for all the gods, they differ from deity to deity. For example, modhak is offered to Lord Ganesh and urad vada is offered to Lord Hanuman. The neivedhya offered to the Lord is referred as, ‘Prasad’. The prasad is distributed amongst the devotees. Food and Spirituality Hindu religious scriptures prescribe sattvic food for spiritual development. Like men, food too is classified as Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamsic foods. Depending on their character, foods influence people, sattvic foods promote spiritual leaning whilst food with rajasic qualities boost worldly desires and tamsic food makes you lazy and addicted to senses. Examples of Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamsic foods Sattvic foods They are the purest form of food. Sattvic foods calm the mind, rejuvenate body, and improves your spiritual inclination. Benefits of Sattvic Foods · They reduce chronic disease risks · Sattvic food helps to lose weight · They promote longevity · Aid physical and mental strength · Are easy to digest List of sattvic foods Below is a list of well-known sattvic food items falling under various food categories. 1. Vegetables: Spinach, Carrots, Celery, Potatoes, Broccoli, Kelp, Lettuce, and Peas. 2. Fruits: Apples, Bananas, Papaya, Mangoes, Cherries, Melons, Peaches, and Guava. 3. Juice : Fresh Fruits Juice, Carrot Juice, Spinach Juice, and Bitter Gourd Juice. 4. Grains: Barley, Amaranth, Bulgur, Millet, Quinoa, Wild Rice, and Maize. 5. Nuts and Seeds: Walnuts, Almonds, Peanuts, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Unsweetened Coconut, and Flax Seeds. 6. Oils: Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Flax Oil, Mustard Oil, and Ghee. 7. Dairy products: Cow Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Coconut Milk, and Cashew Milk. 8. Legumes and Beans: Lentils, Moong Beans, Chickpeas, and Bean Sprouts. 9. Beverages: Water, Non-caffeinated Drinks, and Herbal Tea. 10. Spices and herbs: Coriander, Basil, Nutmeg, Cumin, Fenugreek, and Turmeric, and Ginger. 11. Sweets: Honey and Jaggery. Rajasic foods Rajasic food is believed to be stimulating in nature and may cause physical and emotional stress. Too much of rajasic diet may make life imbalanced. Effects of Rajasic foods · It overstimulates the mind and body. · Can lead to hyperactivity. · Contributes to the overexertion of the body. · Can cause stress, and anxiety. · Can make a person angry. List of Rajasic foods Below is a list of popular rajasic food items falling under various food categories. 1. Vegetables: Eggplant, Onions, Capsicum (Bell Peppers), Leeks, Hot Peppers (Chilis), Potatoes, Radishes, Sea Vegetables, Sprouts, Tomatoes, and Cauliflower. 2. Fruits: Dates (dried), Guava, Lime, Lemon, Apple, and Banana. 3. Grains: Millet, Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, and Parboiled Grains. 4. Nuts and Seeds: Hemp Seeds, Peanuts, Sprouts, and Sunflower Seeds. 5. Oils: Avocado Oil, Hemp Oil, Peanut Oil, and Sunflower Oil. 6. Dairy products: Fresh Cheeses, Cottage Cheese, Egg, and Yogurt. 7. Legumes and Beans: Yellow Dal, Kidney Beans, Navy Beans, and Red Lentils. 8. Beverages: Coffee, Caffeinated Teas, Decaf Tea, and Coffee. 9. Spices and herbs: Asafoetida (Hing), Cayenne, Chili, Black Pepper, Garlic, and Salt. 10. Other: All fermented food, Ice Cream, Olives, Salt, Vinegar, Commercial Almond, Hemp or Rice Milk, all Caffeine. Tamasic foods Tamasic food is not good for body and soul. Intake of tamasic food leads will cause harm to humans in all possible ways. Effects of Tamasic foods · Causes stagnation in thinking · Is a source laziness and lethargy · Results in intense mood swings · Would reduce life span List of tamasic foods Below is a list of well-known sattvic food items falling under various food categories. 1. Vegetables: Mushrooms, Pumpkin, Onion, and Garlic. 2. Fruits: Plums, Watermelons, Avocado, Apricots, and all over-ripe fruits. 3. Grains: Wheat, Rice, extensively refined grains, dried and packaged Pasta. 4. Nuts and Seeds: All old or exposed to light, Chia Seeds. 5. Oils: Vegetable Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Canola Oil, and all older than 1 year or rancid. 6. Legumes and Beans: Urad Dal, Black Dal, Pink Dal, and all canned items. 7. Sweets: Artificial sweeteners, White Sugar and refined sugars. 8. Others: Alcohol, all animal flesh (Beef, Chicken, Fish, Goat, Lamb, Pork, Shellfish), barbecued or blackened food, food with preservatives or synthetic ingredients, deep-fried food, frozen food, leftovers, condiments, smoked food, microwaved food. Knowing what to eat is an important step in practising Food Yoga. Now that you have learnt the same, it is time for you to put it into practice.

Hey Riaz, how is thou’st faring this fine day? Go on then, piqued the grey matter now...tell us some random things about yourself my friend. Fave animal, person, food, book, film, quote and, this is a very important one: something no-one on the planet knows about you (apart from those here and present) but now they do...ie ‘when I pump/break wind/farted/parped’ I usually pull my face at the dog, esp’ at meal times haha! Laughter is the best medicine! 🤗😂

We are cutting down on food that is packed in plastic. Is there an unpacked alternative? Or at least one with less packaging? Packaging that is easier recyclable? I gave up on my favourite cookies as there's more plastic packaging than actual cookies. These decisions will also encourage corporations to produce more of what we buy. We are also quite determined to repair everything, and if it can't be repaired, we buy it second hand. Here in Europe, I want to acknowledge that it is both a financial and time privilege even to make these choices and cook with fresh, local, organic ingredients from scratch. My privileged lifestyle choice is imitating how people with very little income have to make ends meet.

Well, of course am speaking about 80% of the human beings that their salaries can't reach the end of the month ... Money is the base money is how you can breath , is not the source of happiness in itself but it will give you the dignity to not ask other for charity. Let's be honest and practical: once you put food on the table you can begin your pursuit of happiness unless you will be traking how to survive like animals and animals doesn't know that happiness exists...

There are no bans or restrictions in place for travel into Tanzania. Commercial flights to and from the East African nation are in operation. With international travel back in motion, many tour operators (including us at Twende Africa Tours) are once again in the swing of things and running Kilimanjaro climbs. Our mountain crew is fit and raring to go, and have already led quite a few groups of climbers to the roof of Africa since August 2020. * We regularly update the information in this blog post to reflect the latest coronavirus-related news and developments pertaining to travel to Tanzania. Robert, James, Roger and Andrew at the summit of Kilimanjaro this October! The coronavirus in Tanzania Tanzania, like many countries, closed its borders to tourists in early 2020 in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19. For a while, there were no climbers on Mt Kilimanjaro. This hit mountain crews hard, as they had no work during this time. Midway through 2020 Tanzania’s President John Magufuli lifted the travel ban, and the country has remained opened to foreign visitors since. A quiet Kilimanjaro climb … Climbers have been trickling back into northern Tanzania to attempt to summit Mt Kilimanjaro ever since Tanzania reopened her borders. That said, the slopes of Kilimanjaro are still relatively quiet. For those eager for an uncrowded Kilimanjaro climb, the conditions right now are uniquely favorable. Even the usually busy routes up the mountain, like the Lemosho and Machame, are relatively empty. Take a look at this short, inspiring video showing the unusually quiet climb experienced by our friend Nick while climbing Kilimanjaro in July 2020. Get your Local Kilimanjaro guide! All you need to know for a successful Kilimanjaro climb. Tanzania and Covid-19 test requirements Tanzania doesn’t require you to take a coronavirus test prior to flying into the country. That said, please be sure to check for any requirements in place from your home country, any transit country, as well as the airline (or airlines) you’re flying with. Coronavirus testing near Kilimanjaro If you require a Covid-19 test while in Tanzania, no problem. You can have a test done for about $100 at Selian Hospital in Arusha or Mawenzi Regional Hospital in Moshi (the two towns closest to Kilimanjaro and Northern Safaris). The current turnaround time for tests results is 72 hours. We can organize testing for you! We’re happy to arrange this test for you. We’ll also drive you there, of course, and organize to receive your results. Please note, however, that the onus is on you to request a coronavirus test if one is needed. This means checking with your airline and home country to see if a test result is required prior to travel (as well as the timeframes involved). Both Arusha and Moshi have hospitals where you can get a coronavirus test if you decide you need one Safety precautions when travelling to Tanzania during the pandemic The Government of Tanzania has put certain safety measures in place to help prevent the spread of coronavirus through the tourism sector: All travellers are advised to wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose (though this isn’t mandatory). Everyone is advised to sanitize their hands regularly – and properly! You are given a Health Surveillance Form to fill in on the airplane. Upon arrival in Tanzania, all travellers will have their temperature taken in the airport – those with symptoms of the virus will be taken to a government-sanctioned hotel for a 14-day quarantine (at your own expense). Kilimanjaro climbers can also anticipate temperature checks at their local hotel and at the gates to Kilimanjaro National Park. If you’d like to know more, please read the Government of Tanzania’s Standard Operating Procedures for the management of Covid-19. Face masks and hand sanitizer Please bring your own protective face masks for your time in Tanzania. You won’t wear them on the mountain, as there’s already limited oxygen. But it’s a good idea to wear a face mask during your travels before and after the climb. Face masks aren’t compulsory in Tanzania, but we do advise wearing them, in keeping with the recommendation set forth by the World Health Organization. While hand sanitizer is provided at most establishments and we provide it for you during our climbs, we still recommend having your own personal hand sanitizer that you carry with you at all times. How Twende Africa Tours is protecting staff and climbers from the virus Safety has always been a top priority with Twende Africa Tours. Accordingly, all of our Tanzania lead staff have undergone specialized Covid-19 prevention training. And we follow all of the new standard operating procedures set out by the Tanzanian authorities in terms of Covid-19 prevention. These measures include: Temperature checks Mask wearing (not on the mountain, as breathing is already too difficult at high altitude) Social distancing (especially on the mountain, when face masks can’t be worn) Regular hand sanitization Twende Africa Tours climbers can be confident that we take all necessary precautions to protect the health of our staff and clients. Our cooks wear protective face masks when preparing your food. And we implement social distancing wherever possible – an easy thing to do when actually trekking! “I climbed Kilimanjaro in October 2020 during the pandemic difficult times and it was a great break after being locked down for weeks in my home country (France). Tanzania is luckily a very safe place in this regard.” Steve, For further client feedback, please take a look at our Trustpilot score and reviews. Tanzania’s coronavirus statistics As of June 2020, the Government of Tanzania stopped publishing official data on the number of coronavirus cases in the country. This means we do not have any coronavirus stats for Tanzania at this time. Twende Africa Tours’s amended booking policy This year has been a real doozy! So much has been (and remains) up in the air, making travel somewhat difficult to plan. We want to enable you to book your adventure with confidence. With that in mind, these are our assurances in terms of all existing and new travel bookings … 1. Flexibility For all bookings, we’ve reduced the number of days before your departure that you must give notice in order to make changes. Our notice period was initially six weeks, but now it’s just three weeks. This means you can change your trip, for any reason, up to three weeks before your scheduled departure date. No hassle, no questions asked, and no charge. If you choose to amend your booking, you can select any new departure date. We’re very flexible, and will work on a case-by-case basis to ensure the best solution is found for you! 2. Support from your trip manager Your dedicated trip manager is always on hand to help with any questions you have prior to your trip. We want you to feel confident and safe before leaving for your trip. Your trip manager is always up to date on local travel regulations and restrictions, and so is equipped to guide you through your travel process as smoothly as possible. 3. Reduced booking deposit To give you even further confidence to book, we’ve reduced our booking deposit amount by half. It was $5250 and is now just $100. 4. Financial protection Rest assured that your money is protected when you make a deposit with Twende Africa Tours. We don’t sub-contract, which means that the money you spend with us, stays with us. 5. Small groups Our travel groups are always small. This offers security, access, camaraderie, and a better connection with your destination. For social distancing efforts its a real plus. If you want it to be just you and your mates, chat to us for more information about making your trip private! 6. Want your own room? We got you! If you’re joining one of our small group trips on your own, good on you! Solo travelling is all the rage right now. It’s up to you if you want to have your own room or share with someone else. If you do opt to share a room, your roommate won’t change for the entire journey to support social distancing efforts. As always, please feel free to contact us at any time! We’d love to connect with you and talk adventure travel.

Hi, it's great to have you! ? For me, Id' say it's food and sweet treats, my dog(!), and fresh flowers ?

Hi :) Haha I had to chuckle a little when I read 'dogs' ?Things that make me feel happy warm and fuzzy are food, hugs, cuddling, and online shopping ??

Food for thought ✨ Thank you for sharing!

There are many different ways to start your day, and it depends on what works for you and in your life. A lot of people like to start their morning with a little meditation, a few sun salutations, or perhaps some journaling. ? Some like to start their day with a walk outside or some kind of exercise to get their body moving and the blood flowing. ? When it comes to diet it is also really individual, and what works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else. In general I'd say, eat clean, wholesome foods, lots of fruit and vegetables, and a healthy balance of protein/carbs/fats so your body gets all it needs. I personally also believe in not restricting yourself, just trying to think of balance and moderation. You want to fuel your body with nutritious and tasty food, but you also want to enjoy life and have an ice cream or a piece of cake when you feel like it ?

Years ago I began to struggle with recurring depression. I read books, went to therapy, and tried many things to get myself out of it. Over time, I discovered that there were many things I could do to feel better, but I would often just forget (or not want to do them). So I made myself the "I don't feel good and want to feel better" checklist which I could refer to when I felt badly. I've never shared it before, but figure this might be a good place (sorry it's super long - I was going to attach it as a pdf, but couldn't attach pdfs here) The "I Don't Feel Good and Want to Feel Better" Checklist Oftentimes, when you don’t feel good, you have a hard time listening to the positive voice. As a result, you may be tempted to think that "something is wrong” - with your life, with your relationships, or maybe even with the world. Before jumping to the conclusion that you need to quit your job, abandon your partner, or go hide in a bunker, review this list to see if there’s something more internal that you can do first. * Have I had good posture recently? (TED talk Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are) * Has the rest of my physiology been positive? (facial expressions, type and quantity of movement) * Have I done anything that gets me moving in an excited / animated way? (dancing, a sport I like, etc) * If I’ve been doing anything that’s been negatively stressing myself, can I be a little kinder or more gentle to myself in some way? * Are there any things (responsibilities, etc) that I’ve been taking on myself that really aren’t mine (either because they’re unnecessary, impossible, or belong to someone else)? * Have I gotten enough sleep? (quality and quantity) * Have I eaten mostly healthy food recently? (lots of vegetables and low sugar) * Have I had enough water to drink? (impacts mood, fatigue, etc) * Have I exercised recently? (worked up a sweat, did some resistance training) * Do I have any physical pain or soreness that I need to handle? (foam rolling, other) * Have I been meditating regularly? (or doing a meditative activity) * Have I regularly been doing an intentional gratitude practice? * Have I been outside in the sun and fresh air? * Do I remember Why I want to be positive and have I pondered that regularly? (Simon Sinek - Start with Why) * Even if I am planning to leave or change my current situation, have I fully accepted the present moment exactly as it is? (Eckhart Tolle) * Have I been doing breathing exercises regularly (Wim Hoff)? * Have I chosen an exciting purpose or a goal that I’m moving toward? * Can I just consciously make the choice to be positive? * Have I been having fun and enjoying things without being too serious? (Listen to music, eat good food, etc) * Have I remembered that challenges are actually good in the long run, and therefore not allowed myself to get upset by things I perceive as making the world worse?

I know that some people might not agree: But one of my gifts are knowing when someone is trying to manipulate us. And I have never trusted the Government(except trump), I have done extensive digging into the subject and my thoughts are that there is something not quite right. Even if there is a virus out there. It’s not as bad as you think. If they actually advertise how many people die of just a reg flu, the number would be higher. This is the only time, with all of history’s of plegues and epidemics that we are isolating the healthy. These people have an agenda. They want to separate us from one another so we don’t discover the true that we are stronger together then apart. The media is ruled by the few that seek to keep us from knowing who we truly are. And how powerful we are when we realize that there is no different between you and I. We need to show them that we aren’t scared by there lies. We need to stand up and show them by gathering together with out our masks in front of our leaders. And say we have had enough. And we as the majority (we the people) should be telling what we want our world to be. We want a world that’s chemical free, free fresh food grown locally with out chemicals, free education. Which would allow us to the choice to be who ever we want to be. When people are given a choice without limitations, they will be a more happy and productive person in society. Money decided equally across the globe. Or better still no money needed. There would be no reason to steal or be jealous or be insecure. When everyone gets the same opportunities how much more advanced we would be. We have been lied to since the beginning. And it’s time for people to wake up to the horrible truth that we are being controlled. And we can have this life i described, if we unit as one all over the world. And eliminate the evil that seeks to destroy us. Copy and paste this into you search Engine. You can help by joining the movement and help people realize there is more to life then we could ever imagine. https://youtu.be/lEV5AFFcZ-s Also stop watching media on tv. They are only telling you what they want to to believe is true; Epoch times app is available with real news. You also could watch the “fall of the cabal” . https://youtu.be/PIJxuHibz_I Sending energy, light and love to protect you all Be good to one another and remember fear is more contagious then a virus. Don’t let them stop you from living your life to the fullest. Staying connected to one another is the best weapon of all. sorry for the long rant, I woke up and I was Mad . No one hurts my family, ( my fellow earth people. )

I am really grateful for many things in my life: like my health, my family, my job, the food, the air, my upbringing, people around me... But lately, I noticed that I'm grateful only for selective things and I'm a bit confused and sad about it. It happened that there is a person who did something for me what was really nice but that I didn't ask for it and I also need to admit that I didn't really want. However, the fact that the person dedicated a lot of time and effort into this I could at least appreciate. But somehow it felt wrong for me. Like lying. So, I preferred not say anything. However, the person noticed it and got disappointed. It's like someone gave you a gift that you don't really like but at least you can pretend that you would like it. Or the fact that someone is giving something to you. I was wondering if this was my ego who overruled my actions and I could not figure out how to change it. So, I decided to be really open about it and tell it to the person like I feel. That I'm ashamed that I can't be grateful for this. However, this was completely the wrong thing I realized as I put myself in a victim role and it didn't improve it for the other person. So, I'm just confused and I'm looking for answers how I can stop my behavior and be more grateful. In the past, I did a lot of gratitude practices like journaling, lotus of gratitude but somehow I stopped it because I had other priorities. I feel I need to restart them again. But I'm not really sure if this would resolve the situation. Did anybody else experienced something similar? If yes, can you share some advice?

@Danica2020 Thank you for adding that. I haven't looked deeper into it yet, but it already resonates. One of the most hands-on (or hands-off for that matter) learnings through MBSR for me was related to eating. Listening to my own needs and not mistaking the need for a break for hunger as I used to, not mistaking thirst for hunger. Not mistaking the need for self-care for hunger, not trying to ease stress through eating. As the amount of food I consumed did shrink, I also got more conscious about what, when and how much I eat to be fully satisfied. I'll take a closer look into intuitive eating. :-)

Time and again people are seeking happiness outside of them. Always in the pursuit of happiness, from people, things, luxuries, travel, etc. So where does the real happiness lie? Have you pondered or are you seeking happiness? Well after lot of dwelling and seeking happiness outside, I finally realized happiness lies within. So does knowing happiness lies within help us be happy??? What do you think? Well knowing, believing and actually practicing are 3 different things. We often know lot of things; that we have learnt from people, books videos, etc.; we believe in things that we have dealt and experienced in the past, but when it comes to practice it daily, well very few do it diligently. It's all in the daily practice, that we can experience happiness. Happiness is the self realization journey from receiving to giving. From childhood, we keep receiving things, from food, shelter, love, education, luxurious items, etc. from our family/ closed ones. And here forms the pattern of receiving and we feel entitled for all that we have received. But as you move from this phase of young kid, teenager to adult your role switches from receiver to giver. But how natural is this process of giving? While some may be givers right from their childhood, there are others who seldom move from receiver to giver. It is this pattern of receiving that creates unhappiness and people are often in the pursuit of happiness; not realizing that happiness lies within and when you give be it food, love, time, small or big things, etc. that sense of satisfaction gives immense joy and happiness which you never experience when you are a receiver. The happiness is momentary and last until you receive something more, little more and more and more. And this thirst of receiving doesn't get quenched with more but increase further. How how does one move from being a receive to giver - Rather than waiting for being happy, make others happy; - Rather than waiting to receive food, make food - Rather than waiting for appreciation, you appreciate. Take these steps of kindness each day, to be a happier and joyful you. So will you take the leap from being a receiver to giver?

I'm a registered dietitian nutritionist and wanted to add to the mindful eating resources shared in Week 1. Intuitive eating is a concept that is gaining more popularity in the dietetics field, and it's an eating framework that I follow myself. It is different than mindful eating in that mindful eating is a part of intuitive eating. In other words, intuitive eating encompasses mindful eating and then expands into other principles. I like to describe intuitive eating as a self-care framework for eating that rejects the diet mentality and honors your hunger and emotions with gentle nutrition, discovering satisfaction with food, and joyful movement. The most recent edition of the original intuitive eating book is out, and there are also workbooks for adults and teens. Here's a link for more information: https://www.intuitiveeating.org/

This is so useful, thank you for sharing! I always check the ingredients on food stuff in the grocery store because I try to stay away from processed foods for the most part. I like to eat fresh and clean and once you learn a bit about how to bake/cook/make different things and dishes, you will also start to question why the ingredient list on the store bought item contain certain things, or why it is so long to begin with ? I have always found many vegan recipes or dishes friends have told me about contain a lot of processed foods, or vegan 'replicas' of meat products that have a massive list of items that make no sense to me. Looking forward to seeing some new yummy vegan recipes to try! ?

What is veganism? ? The Vegan Society defined the vegan diet in 1944 as "the principle of the emancipation of animals from exploitation by man". Later, it was clarified as "to seek an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man". Veganism is a philosophy or way of living that excludes all forms of cruelty to and the exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Veganism also promotes the use and development of animal- and cruelty-free alternatives that benefit the animals, humans, as well as the environment. What do vegans eat?! A vegan diet comprises all fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, and pulses. These can be prepared in endless combinations. You never have to eat the same thing twice in a month, unless you really like it, of course ? Once I decided to adopt a vegan diet, I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity and richness of it. I began experimenting with different ingredients and flavours and tried to make a vegan version of all my favourite dishes. After a few months, I didn't miss animal products at all anymore and now, six years later, I sometimes even find it a bit odd when I come across a smoothie recipe that calls for cow's milk, for example! It's more than just a diet. It's a lifestyle. The "hardcore" vegans avoid the exploitation of animals for any purpose, at all costs and make sure everything they consume is cruelty-free; from clothing and cleaning products to cosmetics and other personal hygiene products. There are still very many brands and companies that test their products on animals. For a list of cruelty-free brands, see here. Compassion for animals is the main reason people choose a vegan lifestyle these days. However, more and more evidence shows that a vegan diet is beneficial both to our health and the environment. PETA shares more about why eating meat contributes to climate change and harms the environment. Healthy vs "Unhealthy" vegans Vegan diets are considered healthy as they lack significant amounts of cholesterol (linked to heart disease) and include nutrients, fibre and antioxidants that are vital to our health and prevent dis-ease. However, it's definitely possible to be vegan and still have a poor diet. Living in a world where processed foods are available on every corner and take over most aisles in our supermarkets, all diets, including a vegan one can be inundated with junk/unhealthy food, i.e. the absence of whole foods. An 'unhealthy' vegan diet would be one that lacks essential nutrients that come from the list of foods mentioned above. Ideally, we should try to eat a whole foods diet at least 85% of the time, while leaving a bit of leeway for the Beyond burgers, french fries and vegan Ben & Jerry's. Whether you choose to be healthy, 'unhealthy', or somewhere in between, remember, it's your body. Do what's best for you and don't mind what others think. Respect yourself, and also respect the choices of others. One thing that's worked for me in making healthier choices over the years is looking at the ingredients of everything I buy. If it has more than five ingredients, and or any of which I can't pronounce, I leave it on the shelf. That said, every once in a while, it's important to TREAT YO SELF to whatever it is you want, be it a juicy vegan cupcake, a greasy meat-free burger or an XXL cheezy fries, and enjoy every bite, GUILT-FREE. Recipe Share My vegan adventure is far from over, and every day brings new culinary experiments which I'd like to share with everyone here. My favourite dishes are those that require ten or fewer ingredients and 30-45 minutes of prep/cooking time. I hope these recipes serve as an inspiration to those who love spending time in the kitchen as much as I do. All the recipes are adjustable to your taste and what's available to you where you live. Feel free to comment and share what works or doesn't work for you, or any alternative hacks or ingredients you find useful or not so much. And remember to have fun in the kitchen! ?‍??‍? Bon appetite!

I've asked myself the same question when the pandemic first started and people were panic-buying toilet paper ? I think the impulse came from an irrational fear that something like the zombie apocalypse would happen and we wouldn't be able to leave our houses for months on end. It's a known fact that most of the world's culture is based largely on consumerism. We buy things we don't need, eat when we're not hungry, and desire things we don't need to fill a hole, an emptiness. That constant feeling of hunger - for food, money or power. A false belief that leads us to blindly consume more and more and more... Yet what we really all crave is CONNECTION. With ourselves, with the earth, nature, and our partners, family and friends. Life indeed is about experiences and the expression of love in all forms. Thank you for sharing ✨