Five things

Good morning dear readers! This Friday I wanted to write a bit different kind of post. Five things that make me happy lately. When it’s cold and dark outside for many months, it’s easy to feel bit lethargic, unmotivated, etc. I have tried to “cope” with the Winter the best way I know of, by surrounding myself with things and people that make me feel great, give me the drive, motivation and an over all great feeling when I’m with them or doing those, mood lifting things.

It goes without saying that my family and friends are the number ones, but they’re not things/ activities, so here’s the list of things that make me happy this Winter:

BEING THANKFUL/ WRITING DOWN MY THOUGHTS

Being thankful is such a cliche, but if you just stop for a moment and think about it… How many days in a week you can actually say that you’ve been or have remembered to be thankful? I got quite embarrassed when I have realized that sometimes, I have remembered this maybe once a week, sometimes, not even that. It’s so easy to get preoccupied with your daily life, filled schedules, errands, work, troubles… It’s so easy to loose the track of great, little things that happen to all of us on daily basis, but because we don’t give them the attention or acknowledge them, they somehow just “slide” through as if they have never been a part of our day. I have decided that I’ll find a time each day to write down at least 3 things which I’m thankful for in that certain day and also some of my thoughts, worries, wishes… Writing down those things gives you inner peace, puts things into perspective and for sure, will be a nice thing to read in a few years from now. 🙂

AFTERNOON TEA BREAK

Let’s been honest, I have a “tea break” throughout the whole day! 😀 I simply love tea so much and I can’t imagine a day in my life without at least 3-4 cups of tea. Afternoon break is something which works so well for me when I want to just sit down for a moment, unwind and get my thoughts together. That’s when I usually just pour myself some tea, grab a snack and just stare through the window. I used to look/ stare through the window when I was younger on daily basis. That was my “meditation” moment… Time to dream of lands far away, of dreams and wishes that I couldn’t wait for to come true someday… I have now started to do this again. Call it visualizing, daydreaming, whatever you want, but it makes me very peaceful.

WORKING OUT

Working out in the Wintertime is my sanity pill! 🙂 I work out 2-3 times a week at the gym and the rest of the week I just try to get in at least 30min long walk outdoors. Staying active and having a moment to take care of your body is just a necessity… Hygienic matter, just like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, changing bed sheets, etc. We’re in 2016 and it shouldn’t be considered that people who go to gym are either going there to just loose weight or pump the muscles and look like Terminator. I go to the gym to listen to uplifting music, get the natural adrenaline shot and release any stress that might have piled up.

DRESSING UP

I love dressing up! It’s just something that I have strongly implanted in me ever since I was the littlest girl. Once, I was watching my Russian grandma get ready and that moment will forever stay in my mind as the moment when I have realized that dressing up, putting your make up on and fixing up your hair aren’t vain actions. That is called self-love, that is empowering and that is also respecting not just yourself, but also people which you’ll encounter that day. Person doesn’t need to have all the money of this world to look presentable, to look “clean” and taken care of. I feel that when I’m dressed/ made up well, I feel well and I have the power I need to deal with anybody, be it a random person, friend or an authority. I feel confident and that is very important if you want to ever do anything or get anywhere. Confidence and presence is what makes a world of difference.

MY BLOG/ MY PHOTOGRAPHY

My blog ( including my photography ), which has turned into my job too! New, exciting times are coming and I can’t wait to share more about it all in a short while. I have put a lot of time, heart and effort into this blog to grow and the work has started to pay off. I can’t wait to see where this blog will take me and I’m more than excited to bring you along. I can not thank you all enough for the constant support, all of the comments that you leave, for just stopping by and reading… You are all such wonderful individuals and to know that I can inspire even one of you, it means the world to me. Besides being the best mom, sister, woman, etc. I can be, my main mission in life is to inspire people with whatever I do and wherever I go…

Please DO share what are the things that make you happy? How do you cope with the Winter?

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

Photography by: Natali K. photography