Join the crew

I read something interesting a couple of weeks ago.

The company we most times are in has a huge influence on what we are like and what we do. Actually, you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. (Jim Rohn)

So, there´s a very good reason to choose your friends carefully! It´s easy to realize this theory is true. Isn´t it obvious that if you really like someone, you want to agree with them so they would like you too? It´s not always the case, you might enjoy a good quarrel, but maybe your subconscious is plotting against you... 

This allows you to develop to whatever direction you ever want! If you want to get fit, hang out with fit people who do sports and you will adopt their enthusiasm and become fit aswell. If you wish you would study more but feel distracted, tag along with hard-working students who seem do be doing well. If you´re middle-aged longing for adolescence, put a cap on and go to the local skate park...

In terms of self-developement, it´s consequently a good idea to hang out with people who are smarter than you. I have a friend who can discuss anything and knows loads about society and politics, and that´s made me become interested in “serious matters” aswell. 

A few years ago I was on a French course in France. When I got there I realised that most people were much better in French than me. But quite quickly I realized also that I would learn a lot more in that company.

All and all I think it´s important to have different kinds of people around because that keeps things interesting. However, don´t waste your time on people who discourage or bore you, load you with their own troubles or use you in some other way. Friends´ company should ideally be energizing, inspiring and uplifting.

Influencing people around you. That´s what this petty little blog is all about! I want to spread my ideas on good “slow life” and maybe help people find better ways to live and be healthier. This includes very basic indulgences with the best ingredients like these little sweethearts, my first raw chocolates!

Here´s the recipe: coconut oil, cacao powder, roasted and salted almonds, coffee, honey, vanilla extract and a handful of love.

Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes. (W. Gibson)

Quality moments

Cycling back from the gym after dark. (Now it means after 7pm.) MGMT in my ears. Street lights shine back from the wet street. The autumn air is fresh as ever. Awesome.

It´s been kind of hectic these past two weeks but there´s always room for moments like that, moments when you are just right there. Enjoying the sheer happiness of being alive and free. I can do precisely what I want and I´m not responsible for anyone. Except for myself.

Right now I´m really enjoying autumn because it has kind of more depth than other seasons. There is a special air of sadness but the inevitable arrival of winter doesn´t feel threatening to me. Transformations in nature are always fascinating, even brutal ones.

Sunlight is getting scarce and I´m determined to stay well. I´ve been reading way too much about nutrition and it´s getting a bit overwhelming. I´ve read so much that now there can be two completely opposite views in one matter, e.g. whole grain or dairy producst. I´ve lost my sense of "right and wrong". To eat or not to eat? That´s the question and you can never be sure.

Health can mean different things to others and staying well is a very personal thing because people have different metabolism etc. After studying superfood, raw food, low-carb diet and the likes I´m back to square one and I have to say it´s a relief. There was no ultimate "truth" after all. Just one word is loud and clear in my mind: quality! That´s what everyone can agree on. It applies to many things besides food.

There´s no need to give up anything. Nearly every "bad" food can be replaced with a better version. (Chocolate is a perfect example. Google "raw chocolate" and your life will never be the same again.) There may also be foods we are eating just out of habit or because we´ve always been told they are healthy. Maybe it´s time to stop and re-think, especially if you have any health problems (obesity, fatigue, flue, headache, insomnia, depression...) It´s important to remember that medicine companies don´t care about your health. What is the purpose of any company? To make money, of course...

Your food shall

be your

medicine and

your medicine

shall be your

food.

-Hippocrates

I don´t recommend getting obsessed about food because there are more important things in life. It´s enough to question "official recommendations" and listen to your body because it´s pretty smart as it is. And actually you know already what good food is. It´s logic. Pasta sauce from a jar or from fresh ingredients? Quality of food is closely connected to quality of life.

Happy happy joy joy

It´s annoyingly important to seek happiness these days. More important is to be content and do things you like. This may sound really obvious but do people practise what they preach? And why are there so many obligations in life? As the Finnish saying has it: in this life only dying and paying taxes are obligatory!

Also, in the words of Steve Jobs who just passed away, life is too short to be doing something you don´t enjoy. It´s pretty straight-forward, and true. But still I know many people who do things just because “they´re supposed to” or because they don´t have the courage to change things. You go to the gym because it´s a healthy hobby even if it bores you to death. You maintain unsatisfying friendships because you´ve been friends forever. You´re stuck with your job because you don´t have any other education...

It may be hard to find your true passion in working life, let alone to make drastic changes. Yet I still think here in rich western countries we have a lot of choice and freedom and the society helps us in many ways. The worst thing that can happen isn´t normally very fatal. Of course the society would rather we graduate quickly and work all our lives effectively. That doesn´t sound very humane to me. The notorious “system” doesn´t support soft values like freedom and happiness.

It´s useful try to imagine how you would feel when you´re very old. What kind of things do you look back at? What do you regret? I like to tell myself at the moment of decision making: do whatever you would regret the least!

In other words, if you feel in your heart/guts/stomach that something better awaits, trust your instinct! Even the craziest ideas can come true if you put some thought and effort to it. Homer Simpson said: Trying is the first step towards failure. But it might aswell be a step towards success.

When you find something you truly enjoy, you don´t even have time to long for something better. Slight changes can always be made but everyday life should be atleast satisfactory. Happiness is its by-product. It´s a passing moment; autumn light through curtains, smell of fresh coffee or touch of a hand. Joy can bubble and burst or maybe it just sits inside your chest like a cooing dove (easy there, Shakespeare!). Did you ever feel that way because you bought something nice? I didn´t think so. Happiness is something more profound and inexplicable. Like someone said: Ask yourself if you are happy and you become unhappy. (Sorry for my quote diarrhoea!)

I know some fool-proof tricks to feel happy. It might not work for everyone but just try unless you´re busy realizing your real calling in life...

• learn new skills and develop yourself
• be out in the nature
• see beautiful pictures and movies
• create something beautiful yourself
• listen to good music (I mean really listening)
• play games and win from time to time ;)
• joke, fool around and laugh out loud (LOL)
• have crush on someone
• make fantastic food out of good ingredients
• get excited
• plan a trip
• be close to other humans, hug and smooch :*
• be close to animals e.g. stroke cats
• help others, volunteer
• smile for no reason (yes, you will look like an idiot)
• grow herbs or other plants
• set a goal and achieve it
• ...