Jasmine – the scent of summertime.

The air is dense, the warm wind blowing the sweet Jasmine scent through the windows.
There is no sea breeze coming through today, nor does it seem to be. It’ll be a warm, restless night – the ones we dreamt about when we were 3 layers deep in blankets, the sky still pitch black at dawn.
The Jasmine comes by and reminds me of past seasons, the strength of where I’ve come from, the days spent in my bed, far too deep in my own head. Days where nothing made sense and I could barely focus on the present surroundings. The loving check ins from my family to make sure I was still there.

Jasmine reminds me the sun is here and the darkness has past. That spring has sprung and summer is bound. The endless adventures that are never around in the other seasons – sunny days with friends, dancing on the grass to music that fits just so right. An endless youth the everyone embraces, the acceptance of long lunches with the wine freely flowing, laughter so full and raw as if to shake off the winter cobwebs. The colours of white fresh linen, salmon, blue hues and open toes. Less layers yet more more colours.

The sand burns our soles, a feeling we thought we may never feel again. Trips to the beach are daily if not twice, it doesn’t matter if your bikini isn’t dry, it goes straight back on with a towel grabbed. The rush from the car to the shoreline. The relief as your toes hit that cool salt water, which was once too frightening on your skin is now embraced, soaked and quenched like thirst through our bodies.
It may be the way the sun sparkles are little more on the vast ocean, the lighter blue hues or the soft white sand that’s inviting us. Whatever it is, we know its a summertime thing.

The Jasmine being a warm scent to our senses, the slow call say its almost time to relax, the holidays are en route where time won’t exist but your friends and families will. Funny t-shirts, hats and presents, laughter around the tables, the stories of everyones latest on-goings, the unsaid hope for the new year, the strength and new outlook we’ve all gained since the turn of 2020. Those that we became closer to, realised we can’t do without and those that we once just seemed to keep around.

The routines we had to mix up, now we don’t have to result back to what we didn’t like, the new exercise we prefer from our previous one, the new podcast or blog we discovered deep in an online spiral which is now assisting our self-growth, love and acceptance.

The new virtual book or quiz night that wasn’t even a thought because for some reason we were all too busy, busy doing nothing that important when we look back. We’ve re-evaluated and made the time for those we love and care for with distance not a bother.

Jasmine, a time to walk your dog before it gets too hot, the subtle hint that blows in the warm wind, the motivation to seize the day with it’s sunny disposition. There’s no gloomy days, they are long gone for now. 3 months of heaven, what we all long for – the summertime holiday.

Embrace the seasons

 

How amazing is it that the world around us transforms every 3 months.

There’s the scorching heat of summer,

The magnificent colours of fall,

The bitter coldness of winter,

and the welcoming rebirth of spring.

I’m not going to lie, I live for long glorious hot summer days spent in with friends at the beach. But why is it there are only certain things we do when the weather tells us to.

Summer is the season that always seems to go too fast, it’s the one filled with the most adventures, exploration and good vibes. Everything is just perfect when you’re in that moment of laughing with friends over ice-cold cocktails after you’ve spent the day learning how to surf whilst topping up that everlasting tan!
When that sun sets on the horizon and that orange glows, breathe it ALL in and I promise you summer will always be inside you.

The dreaded passing of our summer adventures into fall doesn’t have to occur if you continue to create new ones!
The beach is still there, the ocean might be colder as the days start to get shorter but the healing powers of the salty shore and the charming shells can still be collected.
Explore on road trips with friends out to the forest, hills, countryside and look around at how this transformation provides an awe-inspiring backdrop to your next Instagram photo, if you don’t believe me just look at Boston, Massachusetts during the fall!

The feeling of isolation during a cold, bitter winter doesn’t have to be as dark as the sky looks!
Light those fireplaces, not for warmth but for the added coziness of inviting your closest friends round and slowing right down! That cup of hot chocolate can be made on the stove whilst listening to the rain pour down on the window. Be thankful that you’re inside in your warmest pj’s and let your mind and body re-set. Read those books by the candle light and sip that perfected mulled wine.

By the time spring comes round, you’ll be feeling re-energized and refreshed!
Open those windows and let that slightly warmer, fresh air through. Watch the gardens defrost and start to bloom with new life! You’ll be inspired to do the same, shake of the winter stillness with a spring clean in your home and starting turn those soups into salads. Summer is almost here . . .

Embrace

Let’s embrace this crazy, wonderful ride….

Right now, stop and take one deep breath in and out, look around and tell me what you can see, feel, hear and smell.

Is the sun shining or has the rain come out to play?

Are you wrapped up in a big warm blanket or is there a gentle breeze on your skin?

Is your favourite song playing, people laughing or a baby crying?

Is the aroma of freshly grounded coffee awakening you or is the delicate smell of a scented candle drifting by?

Now think about where you are with life right now…..right this moment, think of your family and friends, your job, your daily routine, your upcoming plans.

How do you feel?

Whatever emotion has been stirred, whether its joy, contentment, unsettled or sadness you need to know that is the right emotion for you right now.

Let’s be ok with it.

It should be embraced, feel it deep within, let it rise and if it’s not what you want to feel, make a cup of tea, look around and work out what needs to change.

You are on the right track, believe in yourself, right this moment and if there is something minor or major that needs to change, be adjusted, eliminated or added to your life then let’s take one step at a time to get yourself feeling your best, fight through the struggle on the bad days and smile from your heart on the good.
Keep on embracing all the feelings, the people and situations your coming across, they are all part of your path, embrace every single moment.

You are doing great, embrace it all.

X

Trust in the universe

 

Deep magic occurs when you take a deep breath and go within yourself.
It happens every meditation session no matter how small, every single yoga class and each word you write in your journal. You’ve just got to take the time and reflect, feel the magical energy that’s stirring and most of all begin to trust in the universe.

The universe knows what’s coming your way and it could be nothing of your dreams but it’ll always be something more powerful, beyond what you could ever imagine.
I know each day you struggle its hard, all too much some days and the tears are unstoppable but it’s all part of the process, the universe is prepping you, its making you strong, it’s clearing what no longer needs to be in your life and is taking you to the next level the tears are cleansing your soul, your new grand adventure is coming.

When you take that deep breath, take another and then just one more. I can tell you you’ll start to feel something stirring, listen to the silence, feel your soul peacefully welcoming you back and feel your gut saying “trust me, we’ve got this, please relax, the universe and I have you”!

You can surrender, release the worry and rush with each deep breath.
Let it all be, what’s mean to be is coming and what’s not has gone by.
Stop being impatient my dear every day is a new step on to the right path, just breathe, laugh, let go and trust in the magic of the universe.

Gratitude: What I Know For Sure.

GRATITUDE; ˈɡratɪtjuːd/noun
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
synonyms: gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, recognition, acknowledgement.

After reading Oprah Winfrey’s book “What I Know For Sure” last Christmas I made the change! There were a number of points I haven taken from the book and happily recommend it to anyone who listens, but this one part in particular hasn’t faded from my mind.

In one chapter Oprah spoke about her Gratitude dairy that she has written for a number years, decades even! Three things she’s thankful for each day. Seems easy doesn’t it? I thought why not give it a go myself! So as the first day of the New Year approached I got out my new diary, loving the atmosphere and celebration of a brand new beginning, the excitment of 12 whole months ahead of me! I was ready to begin!

As my journey commenced it really opened my eyes to how much beauty there is around in every single moment of our days! I felt more happier, excited and colourful even! Sure there might be days were you feel like nothing’s going your way and there’s a big dark rain cloud hovering over you, but did you notice the hug your mum gave you this morning? The nudge your dad came in to give you to awaken you in time for work? That smile the person at your local coffee shop gave you? The bus driver who saw you running towards him and waited? The person who held the lift door for you as you hurried in? That “rainbow” on your kitchen floor has the afternoon sun hit the glass window? The smell of your neighbours garden flowers as you walked by? The beautiful butterfly that also joined in? The uncontainable happiness, excitment and joy your dog has when he sees you approaching the front door? The joke your brother told you at the dinner table? The softness and comfort of your own bed and pillow at the end of the day?

We all rush through our days self absorbed and forget to look around, stop and smell the roses as they say! We countdown the days to Friday afternoon, the weekends with our family and friends but what’s wrong with RIGHT NOW? This very moment we’re in, our friends and/or family sitting next to us watching the TV, reading their book, staring at their iPhones, sharing stories of their days and  laughing amongst each other. These are the true moments that need be cherished, we need to show our gratitude for the fact they are all still with us, healthy, happy and safe!

The universe works in mysterious ways and everything we come across in our lives is there for a reason. Good or bad we need to be thankful for the lesson it teaches us, something’s might not even have a meaning or lesson behind it but it provokes something in you. Why is that you and your best friend connect closer than your other friends? Why did you fall in love with your partner and not anybody else? Why was it that you got every green light in peak hour traffic? Was it to keep you out of an accident? Whatever these reasons are we’ll never know but let’s all take a minute just to say thank you!

Thank you for allowing me to wake up and face another beautiful day which someone else didn’t get gifted with today.

Thank you for the friends and family I laugh, share and cry with and the fact that I’m not facing my journey alone.

Thank you for the fresh air, warm home and food that I have been fortunate to have knowing the fact that there are some out there who will never get to experience this.

And here’s to us starting on our Graitude journey to pause, take in and see the beauty around each and everyday!

Pursuing what you love

Do you ever get up in the morning half-heartly and begin getting ready for work?

The same sound, press of the alarm button at the same time each day. You grab your phone aimlessly and quickly scroll through your social media feed checking out the updates that occurred while you was sleeping, enviously look at the ones who do what they love, the photos that grip you on Instagram and make you think “how did they get to do that?”.

You stumble your tired body to the bathroom. Jump out of the shower and put on your already laid out outfit from the night before.

A little more awake now and you head to the kitchen for breakfast and that “instant wake me up” coffee. You keep telling yourself to start getting up earlier, exercise and take the time to enjoy your breakfast each morning as the birds are chirping.

Realising the time, you rush together your bag, keys and swig down that last mouthful of coffee, already needing your next one.

You arrive at the train station, same people, same seat, different day. You glance around the train, never is there anyone cheery and smiling. Anyone who looks enthusiastic for the day ahead.

Why is this?

Is it because we put our dreams and hopes of what we truly would love to being doing on the back-burner, waiting for the”right time” that “someday”?

Is it because of the safe security and routine of the same thing each day, the same people, the same pay each week? Is the fear of the unknown really that scary?

Is this how you envisioned your life would turn out, is it a story worth telling?

Why not make the change? Why not start to take those steps towards doing what you really love, what you would leap out of bed for every morning before your alarm! What’s stopping you?

The fear is only in your mind.

You’ll never know what the future holds until you’ve given it your all and what’s really the worst that can happen? You’re happier, you have time, you have confidence and a spring in your step! Sounds terrible to me!

Give it a go!

The world is really your oyster – a phase I never understood until I quit my job and started doing what I love!

I dare you to come and join me!

Vitamin Sea