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It was my sister’s birthday this week and we celebrated it wearing Disney princess dresses & watching Frozen 2, fun is not just for kids! It’s sometimes good to go back to childhood to let our imagination wander and express itself freely. Dreaming is good for your health ... Besides, I should have mentioned this in my article last week Healthy Routine, because it’s certainly part of my daily life. Re-read my previous articles: So, this animated film gave me inspiration for this week’s article.  The 4 elements: Air, Fire, Earth and Water come from a Greek hypothesis dating from the 5th Century BC according to which everything in our world would be composed of one or more of these 4 elements. This then extended to cosmology, describing the cosmos as coming from these 4 elements. In addition to Ancient Greece, many other cultures believed in a similar principle: Persia, Babylon, Japan, India and China. It was during the 12th century, during the Crusades, that the Occident discovered this belief. Modern physics demonstrated that this theory was inaccurate, by discovering the presence of many complex atoms. Nevertheless, the 4 elements are still a philosophical subject, and some tribes still believe in their power. So, have we really discovered everything?  Today, I’ll focus on the inspiration that these 4 elements give me. You know that I love photography, I widely share my photos on this blog & on my social media: And I’ve already been a contest finalist as I’ve mentioned in: Like any self-respecting artist, my photos are always associated with specific circumstances and obviously have a story of their own, it’s probably my writer side that stands out. I take you with me to discover the magic of our planet Earth, seen through my eyes.  Earth Planet Earth, the closest thing to us, not only our home, it’s also our centre or our inner self. In fact, in the representation of the universe in cosmology, the Earth is at the centre. It represents stability, solidity, abundance, it’s also the element of speaking. Cold and dry element according to the principles of Aristotle, it’s associated with autumn. This photo, like all the photos in this article, was taken in Crete in 2018. This one more specifically in June 2018, after the Freezing of my eggs in Madrid, and I was in great need of refocusing on myself, after several months of stress and 3 attempts, finally crowned with success. The softness of the light at the end of the day is very soothing and comforting, a way of reconnecting with the Earth and with myself.  Air Air or wind depending on the culture, it can move things like clouds or seeds. It’s the flow of energy, it allows to breathe, it symbolises the breath of life. It reflects the mood, our soul and it’s associated with knowledge. The element is humid and hot like steam, and corresponds to spring. This photo is very symbolic for me, I took it in November, while I was writing my book My Solo Wedding in Santorini. I like observing clouds, this pic made me want to create a series on them. There’s an expression I often use: “sky is the limit”. I love it. Believe in your dreams and never stop chasing them, even in dark times, this is what this photo means to me.  Fire Fire is associated with spirit, heart, physical strength, courage and passion, but it’s also a symbol of purification and resurrection. Besides, phoenix is represented as a fire bird. This element is hot and dry, and therefore represents summer. It’s both light and heat, I think my photo captures this image quite well. I love sunsets as you discovered it in my article on this, with pics taken from all over the world. There's something magical and fascinating, hypnotic about a sunset. Crete is a beautiful place for that, and I was able to have fun with my camera, this light is an essential element of my recovery.  Water Essential to our planet and our body, because they're both made of 70% water. This element exists in different forms and circulates in cycle. It’s also soothing and beneficial, it’s linked to our health, and more particularly to our immune system. Wet and cold, you guessed it, winter is its season. I saved it for the end, because I love water, I’m a water sign, nothing surprising therefore. My travel destinations often have the sea as a landscape: It’s something that relaxes me a lot and I live by the water whenever I can, or I go to a spa or even both! Re-read Spas Around the World. Definitely what I would miss the most if I had to live on Mars, planet without water (read Article Mars)… While I was writing my book, I was going for a walk by the sea almost every day, right in front of my flat. It gave me strength, energy, peace and of course inspiration! In this photo, I wanted to show that we can be soft and peaceful (by the colours), while being strong and powerful (the waves). This is the mindset I’ve discovered during my introspection, and this is what I’ve chosen to keep ...  No article next week, I have a few days off... Next Article: Saturday July 4! Have a good week, Believe in Magic!! Love & Joy, L.
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Following my excesses as Quarantine Queen, back to good habits… After celebrating mums with my article Cretan Pottery, last week, today I’m going to give you my tips for staying young, fit and sharp at any age, especially as my birthday is approaching!  Mind It’s important to keep a brain activity throughout your life, it helps to maintain and create more neuronal connections, essential for memory, learning and motor skills for example. Jim Kwik mainly inspired me for this:
You'll find your brain sharper after that, your memory will improve, you’ll find solutions more easily, you’ll be less clumsy and your concentration will be better.  Spirit
Also read my article Thank you.
For example: "I am fit and healthy" becomes "Why am I fit and healthy? ". Mind likes solving problems, and affirmation as a question would help to be more proactive. I use both forms, according to the message, one model speaks to me more than the other. It's up to you to try both. I put my last video at the end of this article, it's about my Personal Notes.
 Body
With the confinement I kept dancing, ballet & ballroom, which I can practice alone at home, really great.
 Beautiful nature... Nutrition
Here's a non-exhaustive list with my preferences:
But generally speaking, everything natural and non-industrial is good for your health. It’s up to everyone to find their own dietary balance, especially if you have allergies or intolerances. I’m against restrictive diets, I've tried lots of them until I was 25, it works only temporarily and above all it dramatically stresses our body and mind. However, eating and choosing healthy food becomes a habit when you do it regularly ... There are all kinds of apps to help you check that your daily intake of vitamins and minerals is satisfied, and especially to show you where the hidden sugars and salt are.
Obviously keeping a social and family life is important, so adapt this principle to your needs. When I dine late on weekends, I stick to have at least 12 hours between the end of dinner and breakfast. Each person is different, and this rule can of course vary. This method has been proven to burn fat more easily, especially it gives your stomach time to self-clean and repair, what it can't do when it’s full or in the digestive phase.
 I’ve created my healthy routine over the years, and I continue to improve it with exceptional coaches and mentors: Vishen Lakhiani, Jim Kwik, Ronan Oliveira, Paul McKenna, Marisa Peer, Mat Boggs, Jon & Missy Butcher, Michael Beckwith... It’s important to do this every day, and to combine all this, I get up an hour earlier in the morning to apply the Robin Sharma power hour: 20-20-20, 20 minutes of exercise , 20 minutes of meditation and 20 minutes of learning. Time for myself whatever happens during the day ...  Be aware that our life expectancy is getting longer, so taking care of your body and mind is essential to get the most out of life. And I repeat it to you constantly but being happy improves our health and our longevity, so take advantage of happiness! My previous articles: If you have any question or want more advice, contact me here or leave a comment below. Love & Health, L. We’re going to celebrate Mother’s Day in France tomorrow, which made me think of pottery, because let's be honest who never offered one for Mother’s Day, or even made one at school? To tell the truth, I already thought of writing this article previously, but it had been replaced by Single and Superwomen 4. Especially on this Saturday June 6, I celebrate something very special to my heart: the freezing of my eggs in Madrid! I’ve mentioned it last week in my article Happy Anniversary. Maybe one day I will have the chance to have a pottery too... But for the moment, let's go back to Crete, great place of this craft, still very popular today. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum (one of the most important in Greece) is a great place for pottery, from the Neolithic period to the Roman period, and obviously from the Minoan period too. At first, pottery was ornamental, representing human forms, and sometimes animals or objects. They were used for rituals, magic, or as amulets or toys. Then, widely developed as funerary objects, they filled the graves and tombs of the deceased, before finally becoming utensils for everyday life. You will notice the colours, shapes and patterns which are sometimes very elaborate. Cretan pottery is one of the most beautiful pottery I’ve ever seen. As a reminder, the pottery is made from terracotta. These objects were found in various places of the island, in the tombs and the ruins of the palaces, including Knossos, remember I’ve talked about it in my article Crete Episode 1. They cover more than 5,500 years of history! I’ve rarely seen a collection so rich and so well preserved; this museum opened in 1883. Also, the tiny Archaeological Museum of Chania (city that we've visited in my article Crete Episode 4) displays a small but very nice collection. Above all, some artefacts date from the Roman period, or they're from workshops in Corinth and Athens (I’ll tell you more about it in a future post). We can see toys, perfume bottles and very pretty figurines too… And for those who love history and artefacts, my previous articles: Obviously, I went to visit a pottery and ceramic workshop, on the Lassithi plateau (place mentioned in Crete episode 3), to see what it looks like. They still use a potter's wheel and all the objects are painted by hand. I’m sure you won’t see pottery the same way now… And at the end of the article, the trailer of an animated film highlighting a Super mum! Have a great week everyone! Love & Joy, L. |
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