' Coffee and Felicity! :D

“The thought of two thousand people crunching celery at the same time horrified me.” 

― George Bernard Shaw

Alas, I will never be a vegetarian! There, I've said it. I've no war against greens, in fact, I'm dear fond of the lot - well most, but lettuce sanctimony isn't one of my noble virtues. 

I did try once or twice, but square things about yourself, you ought to face. The silk smooth glide of a fluffy  tomato-basil omelette is a sample of  luscious temptation. Unjustly depriving myself is a thought too terrible. Truly, I am carnal, sigh! 

Oh, I do admire my vegan and vegetarian friends. The ones with years have proven the merits of their chosen lifestyle. They posses a certain calmness - a lightness -  and are true founts of nutritious wisdom. I've become a more sensible, more aware eater because of them. 

It was a rather stale afternoon, laced with stifling heat that prompts stodgy headaches when I stumbled on the archived picture above. Why ever do I take food photos, one would never know, except to reason that it provides a sort of offbeat delight.  

That warm lovely tomato crepes with that creamy fresh asparagus topped on toast touches a bouquet of bucolic memory for me. I am raptured back to that sonorous breakfast morning, to that rich black coffee sip, to that person and our affable companionship, and to the whole of it delectably good and well. A pretty frame of a sumptuous life, you could say is - love and thrice felicity.

“Pursue that which is not meddlesome.” ― Lao Tzu

“If I had just a little bit of wisdom I should walk the great path and fear only straying from it.” ― Lao Tzu

“Failure is an opportunity.

If you blame someone else,

there is no end to the blame.

Therefore the Master

fulfills her own obligations

and corrects her own mistakes.

She does what she needs to do

and demands nothing of others.” 

― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

“Those who know don’t talk. Those who talk don’t know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can’t be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.” 
― Lao Tzu

“She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent. She does not affirm herself, and therefore is acknowledged. She does not boast and therefore has merit. She does not strive and therefore is successful. It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.” 
― Lao Tzu

“Whoever is planted in the Tao
will not be rooted up.
Whoever embraces the Tao
will not slip away.
Her name will be held in honor
from generation to generation.

Let the Tao be present in your life
and you will become genuine.
Let it be Present in your family
and your family will flourish.
Let it be present in your country
and your country will be an example 
to all countries in the world.
Let it be present in the universe
and the universe will sing.

How do I know this is true?
by looking inside myself.” 

“The Master is her own physician.

She has healed herself of all knowing.

Thus she is truly whole.” 

― Lao Tzu   

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” 

― Lao Tzu

Setting the Tone for the Next Three Months

My will shall shape my future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in  the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key.  ~ Elaine Maxwell

Perhaps I should start filling up that travel and eats page in the bar above, because here I am with a cup of sweet hot decaf coffee typing away, till later I presume. Those travel articles will have to wait for a moment. Right now I prefer inspiration to prod me towards action. I'm in my

rubber shoes you see, geared up good and quite willing to start my exercise regime.

Quite willing. I say, because, let's face it, I'd rather be doing something else than huff and puff. No, it isn't easy and I am my own worst enemy at times, but I have a goal, and am internalizing how powerful I would feel once I hit that glorious day I can say I am the fittest I have ever been!

Going for my core desired feelings in terms of wellness is important to me. I want to feel...

1. Strong and fit
2. Dedicated and Unfailing
3. Goal inspired and Conquering

The whole three months, no matter the holidays, will be a pivotal succession of first phase goals achieved, is what I have in mind. I will not allow anything or anyone to distract me.

No world affair can sullen me, no political catastrophe can disturb me, no personal drama can sidetrack me, no obtrusive person or event can divert me. No. I am not available for any type of shenanigan that will not benefit my goal. This goes for all other parts of my life as well.

" One discipline always leads to another." ~ Jim Rohn

A Fresh Perspective

Years of writing and it never dawned on me till now that I could possibly be doing this blog thing wrong, haha! I never fancied myself a lifestyle blogger - never aimed for that either. I went the path of self - analysis and it's accompanying revelations. I guess, I am at heart, still the academic, zeroing in on internal musings highlighted by cubes of photo portraits that give a simple sense of where I am or have been. 

Going through my mounds of travel photos, eats and coffee hangouts, smack dubbed me with the realization that I am possessed with a plethora of writing cues to dig from. I could have done hotel revs and fancy dining revs instead of just keeping it all neat tucked in my social media FB and Instagram account. 

I could have talked about that lovely great time I had by the Park Royal Clark Quay Hotel pool just lounging on my own and taking in a drink...or that romantic candlelight dinner by the river where the Italian chef asked us if everything was to our liking ..or the beautiful evening boat ride that was short of the memorable moment in my life.

I could have written about the lovely fine dine San Francisco dinner my husband and I had...or the pastries at Mara's Italian place in Little Italy...or that Sonoma wine tasting trip that rendered us both tipsy haha! 

I could have talked about where to eat and where not to eat in Hong Kong,,or how windy it was in Las Vegas...Oh goodness, just a sample! 

Well, it's not too late. Tomorrow I'll start organizing my topics in relation to my health and beauty journey, my travels, my restaurant experiences, my recipes.... I have to say  goodbye to the old style me....This year ushered in a lot of new adventures...new perspectives..the old seem to be fading..away...making room for all the fresh new things life comes a - bringing. 

" Discovering The Sweet Potato Soul Lady " :D

I feel strangely ill touched today like coming down with colds. Chesty feels, acid reflux, muscle aches and lethargy seeping in. All the icky ugh works and I know where this is heading. Must shake the feeling! This lasts a day or a couple of days so I need to take in lots of fluids and sleep it off. A good yoga stretch and some light cardio to break out sweat will probably make me feel better later.

Memorably Singapore last August 2017

Right now, I'm sipping organic Echinacea Tea which I bought from my favorite organic  store,  Healthy Options but is available online as well. The brew is calming my senses and unclogging my sinuses. I'll lay off on the coffee and stick to caffeine free tea for the rest of the week. For good measure I'm mediating later. I don't have candles but calming music will ground me. 

Regrettably,  I slacked off from my workout which was gaining ground a week ago. At seven am today, before the husband left, he candidly reminded me of my routine and added I looked svelte the last time we went out last Friday. Flutter eyes me, haha!

It's only Tuesday and I  sure can see what three days of junk food binging can do to my body. Mcdonald's had that new garlic parmesan spicy chicken burger, and on a whim, yesterday, I impulsively had to try it! Can you believe that?!?

What on earth is wrong with me? All my niggling crazy habits drive me crazy!

BUT, I'm glad my body still visibly responds to the effort I put in. Not as fast as my younger years, need to keep that in mind! What to do is make sure I get consistent, consistent, consistent! Yes, as consistent as I've been with my acne treatment which is about already clear, thank the good Lord!

I looked disastrously creeps last month and remember the moment I couldn't believe how hormonal dried and pimply my skin had developed. The doc said it would take about four weeks regular application of dermatologist prescribed magic serums for my condition to improve. True enough, it did! I have never had skin as good as I do now!

Which got me thinking that if I would apply the same four week method to about anything I want to do, heck, I believe I'd get there! There being the point of whatever it is I want to achieve. 

Tea collection

Reminds me of Danielle Laporte and her "desire goals" approach. Like how do you want to feel at the end of the day, the week, the month, the year? Then wrap your effort around your core desired feelings. I'll get to that in a private journal later. 

Right now, up above's a picture of the Sambal Tuna  I cooked up a month ago. A reminder that I'm capable of decent healthy meals and have no need for craving junk food.

On the subject of food, there's a Youtube lady I find wonderful! I found her channel yesterday while searching for healthy prep meals. She goes by the name SWEET POTATO SOUL! How lovely is that, haha!

When I say amazing, I mean she is totally amazing! Sweet potato may be so much younger than I am but I just connect with her vibe! Here's a sample video from her channel. 

She makes me want to become vegan! Realistically, I don't  think I  can give up a few slices of meat and fish, but she inspires me to rewire my brain and retrain my taste buds. Everything she cooks looks delicious! Plus, I adore her cute cozy no fuss kitchen with its well stocked herb collection. As I take note of one meal after the other, I realize how much I truly want my lifestyle and food choices to diversify.

Really, I treasure the phenomenal people the divine heavens reveal to me, whether online, through a book,  or in my walking life. Every soul I meet  addresses an answer, a help, a lesson that prods and pushes me towards the attainment of my life goals and the revelation of my higher self. 

"Treat Your Mind with Respect"

“Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people's weaknesses. 

Avoid being one of the mob who indulges in such pastimes. 

Your life is too short and you have important things to do. Be discriminating about what images and ideas you permit

into your mind.  

If you yourself don't choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest. 

It is the easiest thing in the world to slide imperceptibly into vulgarity. But there's no need for that to happen if you determine not to waste your time and attention on mindless pap.” ― Epictetus, The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness

Mindless pap is what I'd call it, because what better way to phrase trifling distractions that otherwise shape - shift an otherwise productive mind? It's about time we ditch all the crap the dark side this world dishes out - constantly - and get focused on the unfolding of everything constructive.

 Let's rebuild hope. Let's rebuild common sense, because frankly, I miss my urban mind; That mind that pushes up daisies from a concrete slab, that mind that aspires and surges and lifts inspite of the world's degeneracy. 

Everyone is in perilous danger because sickness and violence has morphed into a bizarre form of entertainment. Bloody deterioration assaults our every day and the stigma notches by degree - per hour. Like  the "Mad Piper" of lore, a collective voice of evil lures us all into a pool brimming with contaminants of pessimism. 

Fight back by treating your mind with the respect it deserves. Take no heed for anything that could draw cynicism, including dispirited talk and the drivel of mindless activities. Be wary of witless company. Better to befriend your soul - the succor of Nirvana, than to parcel illumination away by entertaining habitual bunglers.

“Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.” ~  Epictetus

Core goals for the week: vitality, energy and clarity sunrise after sunrise.
Core desired feelings: fierce, intense, potent, vivid, formidable and spirited.
What I will NOT do: Read or listen to the news. Nothing inspiring there. Slack off. Take no you cant have that or do that or be that for an answer.
What I will do: "CONQUER"
Archetype: Athena

Affirmation: You must find the place inside your self where nothing is impossible. - Les Brown