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The goal for independent restaurants in this environment is to pivot, learn, grow and adapt and become aware of food trends. The trends will help restaurants in 2022 to keep and attract new customers.

Diners today are Instagram conscious, internet savvy, Yelp aware, and Google Reviews fans. Diners are fanatics about the quality of their food and where it is sourced from. They want locally sourced ingredients, chemical-free, color-free, and free of GMOs. Eating healthy is the benchmark. Diners are aware of the footprint on the environment that food not sourced locally causes.

I talk to Professor Aris Moussoulides from Larnaca College in Cyprus about food trends.

Aris please tell me a little about you? 

I was born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus. After graduating from the Swiss Hotel Management School Les Roches (Diploma in Hotel Management) with Merit in 1990, I completed in 1992 a Master of Science degree in Hotel Administration at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. After working in top positions in the Swiss and Cypriot Hotel Industry for more than a decade, I joined academia in 2001 working as a tenured lecturer at the then-largest college in Cyprus as well an Associate Researcher on various projects at the Athens University of Economics and Business Management (as a team member of ReSEES). On 9/2/2016 I successfully completed a Dprof (Doctor of Professional studies degree) in Hotel and Tourism Management at Middlesex University, UK and that was a milestone in my academic career as well as my personal life.

Currently, I am employed at the “Larnaca College” where I hold the rank of Full Professor and Head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management! At the same time, I am also employed as a Senior Researcher at the world-renowned “International Center for Research on the Environment and the Economy”, working as a full research team member on two EU and one UN-funded project. My current research interests and publications are found in the fields of Sustainable Development, Service Quality in Hotels, and Seasonality in Tourism.

As a professor in a hospitality school, what is your goal in teaching the students? 

My main goal is to pass to them the knowledge regarding Hotel and Tourism Management that I have gained in the three Academic Institutions that I graduated from as well as the knowledge that I have gained during the many years of experience that I had in top management positions in the Tourism Industry.

How important is food in the overall curriculum? 

Food is extremely important since it is a vital element of the Hospitality Industry.

Tell us about the new food trends in Cyprus? 

The latest trend in Cyprus is the creation of small, family-run Cypriot taverns, mostly situated in small villages, that are offering a different type of meze dishes (various small dishes of traditional food items similar to the tapas dishes in Spain) which apart from the local element in them include also the element of experimentation with new ingredients and tastes. 

What is one trend that you like and is sustainable? 

I really like the new trend of the small family-run Cypriot taverns (mentioned above) that are mostly situated in small villages because they offer a sustainable product that respects and supports the local environment, the local community, and the local economy. In order to justify my position let me just tell you that these establishments operate in small villages, normally in premises that have a strong local character (architectural wise), hire local staff from the local community, and buy mostly local ingredients.

No matter what trends come and go food needs to be tasty? 

Definitely because at the end of the day food is a product that needs to be appealing to the palate of the customer.

How has food changed in the last three decades? 

It has become more sophisticated with new trends and ideas influencing international chefs from all over the world. At the same time, it has also become healthier with the inclusion of lighter dishes that have gained popularity over the years (for example sushi meals).

How does eating healthy impact us overall? 

Eating healthy has many advantages. Firstly it fights physical health problems that are related to obesity such as diabetes and heart problems as well as helps immensely with mental health problems including depression. Then it increases productivity and generally leads to a better quality of life.

What advice you would give to students wanting to get into hospitality? 

My advice is to go for it! This is a wonderful Industry that opens many professional doors worldwide and has a lot to offer to a young graduate. Let’s not forget that Tourism (the Hospitality Industry is a sub-sector of the Tourism Industry) is the largest employer on earth. And as I always say to my students all that you need in order to be successful in the field of expertise is a solid education, common sense, discipline, and willingness for hard work.

How do you balance faith family finances and food as a professor? 

With great difficulty, due to my very busy schedule, and some correct time management which is a skill that I have acquired during my undergraduate studies in Switzerland.

The post The New Food Trends in Cyprus appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Nirmala Srivastava founded Sahaja Yoga in 1970. During meditation, seekers experience self-realization. Sahaja is a Sanskrit term consisting of ‘Saha’ is ‘with’ and ‘ja’ is ‘born’. In the Buddhist dictionary, it is ‘innate, denoting the natural presence of enlightenment or purity’.

Dr. Girish Gupta, a management consultant, and practitioner of Sahaja Yoga Meditation talks about its advantages.

Girish, it is a pleasure to have you here. Please tell my global audience a little about you?

I am a management consultant, advising companies on the best ways to manage and operate their business, which includes business strategy, operational techniques, marketing, branding, and skills like time management. I help companies become efficient, increase synergies and increase their footprint by attracting new business.

What did you do for your Ph.D. thesis?

I did my Ph.D. in Marketing Management.  The thesis was – Study on the Industrial Product Marketing Strategy of selected companies in India.

Explain your yoga style and how it is linked to your faith.

I practice Sahaja Yoga Meditation. It is Self-Realization or Actualization. Sahaja Yoga is given by our Divine Mother, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi who is the founder of Sahaja Yoga. It is practiced in more than 180 countries across the world. For more details, one can visit www.sahajayoga.org. As far as faith, you can see various miracles in your day-to-day life. You also have peace from within.

Is there any special God you worship?

After practicing Sahaja Yoga, you get the knowledge that all Gods are one and equal. They all lead you to take only one path. The path is the truth that one can feel in his/her nervous system.

How do you embrace good and shun evil?

As we practice Sahaja Yoga and get better, we get established in it. At that point, one automatically comes to know through vibration what is evil and good. You act accordingly.

Do you follow any specific diet?

No, I do not follow any specific diet. However, I surely try to follow a disciplined routine. I take Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.  I make sure there is no interval of more than 4 or 5 hours after each meal. For me, a meal can also be having fruit.

What are the advantages of doing yoga?

People perceive yoga as only physical activity, but actually, yoga means one’s Reunion with all-pervading power which is God’s love flowing everywhere. This reunion can be achieved by self-realization meditation only. I also recommend physical exercise like walking, jogging, cycling, going to the gym, and swimming.

Tell me about Indore and some good restaurants and your favorite dishes.

Indore is located in the western part of Madhya Pradesh. It is a developing B-class city in India. Indore was awarded as best city for cleanliness two years in a row.

Indore is famous for food-loving people with a variety of tastes, different food outlets, and restaurants for their sumptuous meals.  Indore has a food market (Also known as khau gali) that operates from 8 PM to 12 PM. You get a variety of food from Chinese, South Indian, pasta, Jalebi, Kachori, Samosa, etc.

I do not have any specific favorite dish. However, I like Kadhi (made from curd), and butter paneer masala and am fond of sweets. Shreemaya, Sayaji, and TGB are some good restaurants in Indore.

Give me some tips on being a good husband and I will follow up with your wife to see if you are doing these things.

I would strongly recommend trusting each other blindly. Keep quiet when the other person is angry (don’t argue at that point in time). Once when things are normal and cooled down explain your point of view. Love each other without any expectations.

How do you balance faith, food, finance, family, and your career?

Don’t take your office worries home and vice versa. After practicing Sahaja Yoga meditation, you get a work-life balance easily.

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Ashley Wray is a Millennial. She is barely 25 years old, got married, divorced, has seen 26 countries, and is starting a business. She is honest, real, vulnerable, and in touch with what is going on in her life. I got together with her over a coffee to talk about love, peace, food, faith, family, finance, travel, spirituality, nature, women empowerment, the future, and about her being a Goddess.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8^th every year. It is an important day for women’s rights. On February 28, 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized a Women’s Day in New York City. In 1910 at the International Socialist Woman’s Conference, German delegates Paula Thiede, Kate Duncker, and Clara Zetkin suggested a ‘special Women’s Day’ be organized. In 1917, women gained suffrage in Russia and March 8 became a national holiday. Women’s Day was celebrated only in communist and socialist countries. In 1967, the feminist movement adopted it. In 1977, the United Nations began celebrating it.

Four Columns is all about inspiring and empowering women to live a balanced life. To celebrate Women’s Day, I am interviewing various women, from different backgrounds.

Ashley Wray, you are one of the most real, vulnerable, open people I have met in my life. So, tell me a little about you?

Firstly, I just wanted to thank you for interviewing me and having me on your blog.

I haven’t quite figured out my “life purpose”. I know for sure that part of my purpose is definitely making other people feel validated and loved in this life. I was bullied when I was younger and that helped me realize that I wanted to work in a field where I could positively impact and help people. I love exploring different healing modalities. I’m currently exploring shamanic healing. I find shamanic healing very interesting.  I hope to be able to one day offer this healing to my clients around the world. I love traveling. I’ve traveled to 26 different countries with Guatemala, Mexico City, and Arizona next on my travel agenda. I’m a modern Goddess, feminist, and lover of all living things.

Ashley you are barely 25, have been married for a couple of years and divorced. Walk me through the experience and what did you learn and how did you change because of it?

Jerry, I’ve always thought about writing a book, about how my early days impacted me so strongly and made me the woman I am today. It’s hard to go really into those experiences without writing pages and pages worth but I’ll do my best to really give your readers an idea of who I am today and my story.

I moved to England when I was 19. I was very unhappy and I was wanting to escape a very abusive situation. I had this dream to start fresh and couldn’t think of a perfect place to do it but to move to a country across the world. The thought of being foreign in a foreign place where I knew absolutely no one and no one knew me was the perfect scenario.  This was the first time I had left the abusive situations that I had been in and out of for over 10 years.

It wasn’t until I left Canada, that I felt safe enough to start the self-healing process. Within that healing process, I meet my ex-husband a couple of weeks after moving to England. Looking back, I understand that the attraction to each other was so deep because we were both wounded soldiers.

What I learned most from that situation was the “Law of Attraction” and how real it really is. Like attracts like. He intensified all the wounds inside me, the feelings of not being worthy of love and not being good enough to receive love is what I felt most when I was with him. I continued to pretend that I was fine but I was desperately falling apart on the inside. On the outside, I was posting the most Instagram-worthy photos of us in love. I wasn’t authentic, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to be but that I was ashamed to express the real me and what was going on in my world.

This was a long lesson that lasted 4 years and I’m so grateful for all it taught me. I learned that the people that we attract are mirrors of what we are needing to experience or lessons we are meant to have in this lifetime. It’s all for a reason and maybe that reason will never be known :). 

What does female empowerment mean to you in the 21st century?

Female empowerment to me means feeling empowered to rise in our own unique ways and support each other and all the woman around the world on their journeys. It is such an important historical time to be a woman. Women all over the world are rising and stepping into their power. It is  F*#^!N$ AMAZING to be a part of and to be a woman in 2019! For so long women have been suppressed and to finally be a part of this generation, to be able to break free of the suppression is amazing. We can stand together knowing that we have each other’s back. I am all for the #metoo movement, #timesup movement, and #freethenipple movement.

You are a big fan of getting in touch with yourself. How did you come to this revelation and how are you helping other people heal?

I’m able to get in touch with myself the most by disconnecting from the world and connecting to the universe. I love planning a 2-day retreat or solo vacations when I’m feeling like I need to realign with myself again. I’ve found that having a strong self-care foundation is really important for me and so I’ve found things that I know bring me instant joy. These things include a special hot chocolate recipe, a walk by the water, a foot massage, writing in my journal, and meditation. I believe that I’m helping others heal by being my most authentic self. I’m working through the feelings of shame and guilt and giving myself permission to be free by being ME. I hope that allows other people to feel like they can be themselves also.

What do you do for work and do you feel fulfilled with what you’re doing?

I work at a clinic in Toronto called Province Apothecary doing intuitive organic facials and I also educate health-conscious brands on the benefits of natural health and skincare. I’m in the middle of creating my business called Moonspace which is a healing space for the modern-day woman. I’ll be offering personalized intuitive readings, energy medicine treatments, and meditation circles. I really want to create a beautiful space where women can be honored and celebrated. My intention is that women will leave the space feeling restored and empowered.

Let’s talk about spirituality. I am a big fan of unconditional love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, compassion, do good to others, overcome evil with good, charity and forgiveness. Do we have anything in common here? What is your spirituality and is there a place for God in that?

I’m definitely a spiritual person- I believe in the oneness of the universe. I like having an open mind and being open to everyone’s beliefs. I love learning about different religions and creating something that works for me. Sometimes I pray to God, other times Buddha. I chant, I sing, I dance. I consistently live from my heart, a place of love for others and the world. I’m grateful either way for the source that watches over me and listens and responds to all my prayers.

Food nourishes the soul. Is this sentence relatable to you?

Food is my medicine and so is drinking plenty of water. Eating healthy is important to me because its another form of self-care and love. My body feels more alive when I’m eating fresh foods and I have a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. I love cooking and I love getting inspired by cookbooks and travel. I’m not a vegan or vegetarian which I think most people think I would be. I love tuning in to my body and asking my body what it needs. Sometimes my body will tell me it wants a plant-based diet for a week or so and then it will totally switch things up and wants a chicken burger. Someone once asked me if I was a “flexitarian” SURE! If I need a label… call me a flexitarian ;).

I love nature, it is the best gift we have received from our creator. How do you connect with nature?

I feel so connected when I’m in nature. I’m so grateful that we are able to have a connection with nature. I love the warmth and I feel like I come alive the most when I’m in warmer climates because I’m consistently connecting with nature.

I find my relationship harder with nature living in Toronto in the winter because I find it difficult to be outside in the cold. I am totally a tree-hugging hippie lol- I’ve hugged so many trees.

When my ex and I first broke up and I moved back to Toronto in the summer I would go to the lake every single day. I would whisper to the lake, the flowers, the birds, and the trees and tell them my worries. I felt listened to, I felt held and I would always leave feeling lighter and more connected to myself. I can’t explain the healing that started to take place by connecting to these elements but I wanted to give back to nature. I felt like I was receiving such an abundance of healing that I wanted to give back to Mother Earth the way she gave to me so I would bring the birds seeds and I would pick up garbage by the lake.

Nature has healed me in so many ways. I’d love to move somewhere warm one day. I went to Hawaii for vacation a couple of months ago and took surfing lessons WOW! A totally different connection to nature. I’d love to surf every day and be in warm saltwater.

How has meditation helped you in dealing with stuff?

Mediation has become a part of my everyday morning ritual when I first wake up. It’s time that I dedicate myself to breathing and connecting back to myself. Meditation has taught me how to breathe and how important my relationship with my breath is. Our breath is what keeps us alive and we can always use our breath as a compass for how we are feeling. If our breath is very fast, we are probably feeling anxious and if we control our breath, we can help feel less anxious and calmer. Meditation has given me clarity on what I’m wanting to manifest in my life. Quieting my mind and listening to my soul’s sweet whispers. Where will she take me next?

Ashley, at a young age you have seen a lot, done a lot, experienced a lot. What is next?

Thank you, Jerry. I’m not sure exactly what is next. I’d love to continue to fall deeper in love with myself, build an empire, continue to rise with other women, fall deeply in love one day with someone who worships me, travel more of the world, have a home somewhere hot by the beach and feel so much joy and happiness in my life.

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Kathryn Dickson is one of Canada’s top travel bloggers, an adventure seeker, a tired parent of 2, an award-winning television editor and content creator based in Toronto. I wrote about The Durham Regional Forest Trail for her piece on The Best Hiking Trails For Families in  Southern Ontario.

The post The Durham Regional Forest Trail appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented – Sonja Lyubomirsky

Prologue

On a cold day in January 2016, I am flying to London, UK, to get trained for two weeks for a dream job. The same year, one of my closest friends, Bill McLean, died of cancer. I was like 2017 better be good. In November 2017, a high school classmate died of a heart attack. In February 2018, I was talking to one of my closest friends from university, and that same night, he passed away. His death hit me hard. It took me a good six months to recover. 2019 was going well. I had great plans for 2020. In one week in December 2019, I was laid off from a start-up, Debbie was diagnosed with cancer, and my mom’s health was deteriorating. In March 2020, the day I was going to get a job offer, the COVID quarantine hit. Talk about a perfect storm.

My parents, friends, and work colleagues were all commenting on how well I was handling the storm.

Do you want an abundance of physical, mental, and social bliss? How about feeling optimistic, happy, and connected even during challenging times? I am sure you want better sleep, self-esteem, high energy, a stronger immune system, better emotional intelligence, and to build a capacity to forgive.

I have the answer. It is gratitude.

What is Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation – Brian Tracy

The Oxford Dictionary defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It is derived from the Latin word gratia which stands for gratefulness, grace, or graciousness. When a human being receives something whether tangible or intangible and shows a thankful appreciation, it is gratitude. The person focuses on the positive in their life. Positive thinking helps the person to connect with something bigger than them, to other people, nature, and God.

Thesaurus has a few synonyms for gratitude and a whole subset of words and meaning attached to it. The synonyms are thankfulness, gratefulness, tribute, acknowledgment, appreciation, benediction, and recognition for the good in their life.

Gratitude and forgiveness have been my two biggest weaknesses. I have written extensively in this blog about it. It was only after marriage that Debbie has taught me about these two amazing qualities.

Modern Psychology and Gratitude

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Martin Seligman a famous psychologist did something very revolutionary more than three decades ago. Until that time psychologists focused on negative emotions like stress, addiction, trauma, and mental illness. Seligman looked at altruism, compassion, happiness, forgiveness, optimism, and gratitude.

Robert Emmons is the world’s leading expert on gratitude. His research has shown that expressing gratitude has a positive impact on human beings by improving their mental, physical, and relational well-being, and the effect lasts long.

Randy Kamen another psychologist talks about focusing on what you have rather than what is lacking in your life. The goal is to retrain the brain and to see the positive.

Gratitude was always part of the philosophical and religious domain in academia. So, it is interesting to see Psychologists getting interested in this area.

The benefits of An Attitude of Gratitude

I’ve had a remarkable life. I seem to be in such good places at the right time. You know, if you were to ask me to sum my life up in one word, gratitude – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

An attitude of gratitude is a choice, a habit that has to be developed and strengthened daily to gain the benefits. Gratitude detaches us and redeems us from negative feelings and toxic emotions. Gratitude leads to joy. Gratitude has a positive influence on the brain that is long-lasting. Gratitude improves relationships and problem-solving skills. Gratitude makes us better learners. It may seem contrived in the beginning but trust me as time passes you will notice a big difference.

The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology in a study in 2014 stated that gratitude improves self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences published a study in 2012 that found that gratitude improves physical health. In the same year, the University of Kentucky’s research on gratitude found it improves empathy and reduces aggression. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in a 2003 study concluded that gratitude helped people in building resilience after 9/11.

How to develop an attitude of gratitude

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change – Wayne Dyer

Keep a Journal

In 2011, research published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being found that writing a gratitude journal improves sleep. I have found this has helped me tremendously. I have a personal gratitude journal. It is easy for me to focus on friends that I have lost, setbacks in my career, career moves I should have made. I do not stress on coming up with things or making up stuff.  By keeping a gratitude journal, my mental health is better as I am not focusing on envy or resentment but focusing on the positive in my life and how blessed it is.

However, I am focusing on:

I still have an amazing set of friends from grade 8, high school, university, and the business world. There are a few in Toronto that I have been doing breakfast or lunch once a month for the last 25 years

I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, clothes, money in the bank and two cars outside

Grateful for OHIP (free medical care in Ontario)

I am in good health

I have a job working from home

Living in one of the best cities in the best country in the world

People who we do not know cooking food for us

People driving Debbie to her appointments

Debbie and Jean love me unconditionally

I am one of the few people I know that have both their parents alive

As you focus on the positive, you are more joyful. I even tell Debbie, what if cancer happened a decade back? She was running a daycare and Jean was only 6. I have never created a fake sense of blessedness. I focus on counting all the blessings I have.

Say and write thank you often

Today I wrote a note of thanks to all the people who are delivering meals to us. I thank fellow bloggers for following me or inspiring me. As you show your appreciation you just get this great feeling. You are also nurturing your own relationship with the other person. Let them know how they impact your life. I also want to challenge you to write a thank you letter to yourself.

Practice breathing

I am horrible at meditation. One of the things I do is just sit and breathe. It calms me down. As I breathe I just focus on all the positive things that are happening in my life. As I am practicing gratitude I am also training my brain to focus on the positive aspect of life. As I breathe, I am also focusing on the positive that is going around me. The brain is calm. The positive affirmations are entering your subconscious mind.

Pray

I do this often and often go for long walks just to contemplate.

How to deal with challenges that stop you from being grateful

If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul — Rabbi Harold Kushner

We all have a critical inner voice. That negative inner voice has to be silenced. If it is not silenced it can play havoc with us feeling grateful. If you listen to the inner voice you can become bitter and resentful and not allow any love or compassion to creep in.

I want to show an example of listening to the critical inner voice versus embracing gratitude.

I have planned a golf outing with a friend of mine for Sunday afternoon. I am looking forward to it and as the day approaches it is raining heavily. I freak out. I get worked up and emotional that the day is ruined. I take it personally and start blaming the weather for my mood. I take out my frustration with my wife. My perception was that the rain messed up my weekend. My negative thought patterns which started in my critical inner voice have now been blown out of proportion. It has a negative influence on my wife and daughter.

My friend, on the other hand, was also looking forward to playing golf. He accepted the rain and surrendered. He called me and told me that he will focus on cleaning the house and then cook for his wife. He also thinks the grass does not have to be watered. My friend made a conscious and intentional decision to make the best out of the situation. At the end of the day, it is all about perception. My friend surrendered with humility.

Epilogue

The last few months have been hectic. I was going to work then rushing back, cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. The truth was I was burning out. All my life from a young age I have been a volunteer. Even at the new job, I was driving people. Someone approached me at the office and said ‘Jerry, this is the time for you to be selfish. COVID-19 is happening and your wife’s immune system is compromised. You do not have to drive anyone’.

Someone challenged me to ask for help. I hate asking for help. The person reminded me that I am stopping other people from getting blessed. It was my pride and being a control freak that did not want to ask for help. And then due to high winds, my fence came down.

As a result of that conversation, I pleaded for help. I just explained what was going on in our lives. Carolyn Gerber who was bringing us meals for the last couple of weeks made a meal train, and the love, support and offers just poured in.

On Monday, after I was looking at the damage the wind had done and was stepping out, I see a van parked in front of my house. I see some young kids in the back of the car and the mother offers me food. Her name is Devon Dienesch. I am blown away. We have a quick chat and we have a few common acquaintances and I take the food inside. Debbie shows me the note with the food. Later that night I read the note and I just started crying. Here was this encouraging note from an innocent child.

I have a choice to focus on the fence and all the other challenges I am facing or seeing the goodness in all these people who are going out of their way and serving us.

I was then reminded of the time in grade 11 and 12 for early morning service at Bishop Cotton School, reading in front of 300 boys, Philippians 4:6: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

I remembered Arun Sachdev a heart surgeon visiting from Thailand and as Vipul Goel was driving us to Niagara, Arun started quoting Psalm 7:17: I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. I am like you still remember those scriptures and you are Hindu, dude.

No matter what comes my way, I will be grateful. I know many of you are going through challenges. It is not going to be easy. Be grateful.

Photo Credits: Brooke Cagle Gian Cescon Erriko Boccia Gabrielle Henderson Priscilla Du Preez  AndriyKo Podilnyk

The post Discover the transformative attitude of gratitude appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Anna is 31 years old from Stavropol, Russia and has lived in St. Petersburg for 15 years. She graduated with a degree in clinical psychology. However, she did not pursue it as she did not like it. She presently works as a purchasing manager for a chain of stores that focus on clothes for tourists.

She loves dancing, listening to music, photography, traveling, painting, spending time in nature, by the sea or in the mountains and leading an active life. She is not interested in going to Mars and loves Earth and everything it has to offer.

Anna wants people to know that Russians are “kind, sincere, hospitable, united and fair people. We do think differently. We are a resistant bunch as life is difficult in Russia. However, we enjoy life.”

For the first time, I have conducted an interview through Google translate which made it interesting.

Talk to me about the city you live in? What is the food, restaurant, and fashion scene? Why should we visit it?

Stavropol is small, beautiful, and picturesque with a population of 900 thousand people. In 2018, it was in the top 10 cleanest cities in Russia. Stavropol has a rich history, is close to the mountains, and is incredibly beautiful. We do not have a lot of restaurants. However, our cuisine is famous for its dishes that are hearty, spicy, rich, and colorful. The food is like our people, temperamental and welcoming. As our guest, you will be well-fed, cheerful, and happy. Once you visit Stavropol, you will never forget it. When you visit, see the sunrise against the mountains as a backdrop. The mountains are 3257 meters above sea level. Also, drink our delicious wine and dance the folk dances with us.

How important is your family to you? What are some of the fun things you do with them?

Family is a sensitive and very difficult topic for me. My father passed away eight years ago. I live with my mom and we focus on enjoying life. My mother makes very beautiful jewelry with her own hands. I love to visit the mountains with my mother and she paints beautiful landscapes. I also snowboard.

We have a family curse which is funny and mysterious. We have all had our front teeth knocked out during childhood. When I was 7 years old, a boy from high school pushed me. I fell and knocked out a tooth. My dad at the age of 8 had his tooth knocked out while playing hockey with a friend in the yard. My mom at the age of 9 was involved in ballroom dancing and accidentally knocked off her front tooth.

What does women empowerment mean to you as a 21st-century woman?

The woman of the 21st century has been given many rights and this has led her to become stronger, powerful, and independent. Men are not taking care of women and cannot accept matriarchy in a family setting. Women take care of everything in the home and cope with all the issues. I find it a challenge to find a man to start a family with. I had a few relations with men and found them weaker morally.

Life is difficult for all of us. Help me understand something difficult you went through and what you learned from it?

The death of my father has been the most difficult and tragic event for me. It affected me personally. I had to grow up, make decisions and become responsible fast. Until my father’s death, I was a carefree person. I knew my dad would always be there to take care of my problems. My mom got depressed and we dealt with his death together.

My paternal grandmother had a tough time as she buried her husband and her only son. I spend a lot of time with my grandmother as she gets lonely. I go to the park and the movie theatre with her. I have it good and do not complain.

How has social media changed you?

Social media is part of our everyday life. My day does not begin with coffee but going through the news feed on Facebook, Instagram, and VK on my smartphone. You soon realize you get so immersed in it that it takes all your free time. You do not have time to develop an independent mind or read literature or go to the theatre. You get caught up in it and see other people live their lives. I finally realized that it was invading my private space and so I do not see the news feed as often.

If you had a choice to have a meal with 5 men or women who would it be and why have you chosen these people and what question would you ask them?

I would love to go for dinner with my father and talk to him about how much I miss him and how life is not the same without him. The second is Lesh. I would not go to a restaurant with him but to the seashore. I would make a tent and have a romantic dinner with sandwiches and a thermos of herbal tea. The third would be Jared Leto. I am fascinated with his creativity and outlook on life. I just want to be around him and enjoy the meal. I would like to have dinner with Pavel Durov the founder of VK and Telegram in a luxury restaurant in Dubai. I admire him and his success and would like to ask him about his business skills, taking on risks, and embracing failure. Finally, it would be someone from a teenage shelter. I would like to mentor her. I would tell her to stay from alcohol and drugs and to become the best she can.

Talk to me about things you want to change about Russian men?

I want Russian men to become teetotalers. Alcoholism is rampant and has created lots of problems. Other than that, I like everything about Russian men.

The post From Russia With Love appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Be Happy Quote

If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap. If you want happiness for a day – go fishing. If you want happiness for a year – go fishing. If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else – Chinese Proverb

Jaishree Nenwani is a blogger focusing on happiness. I catch up with her and talk about life and her mantra, be happy.

Jaishree, thanks for this interview. Please tell me a little about you.

I’m just another girl next door.  A font of beaches and forests.  A couple of years ago, I faced some health issues, that confined me to my home. That was the time when I started my journey as a homepreneur. My first home business was a recruitment agency (I have a background in HR). This venture did well. But I wanted to do something more. More than just “work”.

What is GetSetHappy all about? Who is your audience? Why should we read it? What is the main message?

Well. GetSetHappy (GSH) is all about being Happy! Being who you really are and doing what matters most. When I started GetSetHappy, I was only focusing on sharing knowledge about self-improvement. My posts were only focused on achieving happiness. But over a period of time (in the course of my writing journey), I realized that happiness is not talking about happiness, it’s more of actually being happy. For me, happiness is a real state of being. So, eventually, I started writing about everything that makes me happy, right from traveling to lifestyle, food, fashion, beauty, health, and wellness. And one more section that I added to GSH is “Becoming a Homepreneur”. I added this because I wanted to share with my audience what I am good at i.e. home business. In the last couple of years, I worked on various projects, and different business ideas and finally, I landed up on blogging. My blogging journey is all about what I have learned (on both life and professional fronts) all my life.

Initially, my audience was people who were interested in reading about self-improvement. But now, most of my readers are interested in becoming homepreneurs. 

How did you come about with the idea of starting a blog?

I just started with the idea of sharing my ideas on happiness and self-improvement. I never thought that blogging could be a big business. So, it just happened.

Define happiness. What is it? Is it achievable?

For me, happiness is a state of contentment. One can become content with whatever he/she has. But we often base our happiness on our achievements. “I’ll be happy when I have….” and when we get that, the quest for the next goal begins. We continue to postpone our happiness.

It is 100% achievable (rather I would say attainable) at this very moment, only if we choose to be happy. So, it’s a choice.

Everyone faces challenges but being unhappy won’t let you overcome the problem. Instead, when we focus on happiness (keep our vibes high) problems pass away with ease.

Does social media help us to be happy? Everyone is always posting about their amazing life and you watch that and you are like my life is crappy.

I like social media. It is a great way to connect with people on both personal and professional fronts. In fact, I got the opportunity to connect with plenty of my childhood friends through Facebook only, but at some point, I think we have to balance our time to be more productive! We often waste lots of time mindlessly scrolling through the social media posts of others and comparing ourselves with them.

Social media has created unnecessary competition and comparisons. These two are the self-created enemies of happiness.

Are happiness and joy one and the same?

Now, this is a tricky question! Well, I have heard people counting the differences between joy and happiness. But I personally feel when you feel happiness (lasting happiness) in your core, there is no difference between the two. (I may be wrong but this is what I feel).

Talk to me about some challenges you have faced in your life and how you have overcome it.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in my life was a severe health condition at a point of time when I was at the top of the world. Great job, happy relations. That was the turning point in my life. But it is said rightly that every obstacle comes with an opportunity. This condition became my ally for the inner journey and true happiness.

Walk me through the city you live in. The hustle, bustle, streets, food, and restaurants and why should we visit it?

I come from the city of foodies. The capital city of India- New Delhi. It is a vibrant place. People in my city are fond of dressing stylishly and food. One can enjoy a wide variety of food here, especially street food.

Delhi offers a large number of jobs in different sectors. If you are in Delhi, you must try the street food and go shopping.

Delhi is also rich in history, there are lots of beautiful monuments and parks which depict the stories of Mughals.

Delhi is famous for its cultural diversity, mouth-watering food, shopping, history, and luxurious lifestyle. It’s worth visiting for those who want to discover new places.

What does women’s empowerment mean to you?

Women’s empowerment means a lot to me. In a country like India, where gender inequality still exists, women’s empowerment plays a role. Although women are becoming self-empowered, they are giving value to themselves and their choices. I am glad such women not only stand by themselves but also for those who need an external push to get on.

How do you balance food faith finance and family in your life?

Balance is my priority. All these 4Fs are important to me. Well, I start my day with few minutes with myself, it’s the time when I meditate, reflect, and plan my day ahead. I believe in going with a plan. I know everything doesn’t go as per the plans but planning ahead makes me feel balanced and prepared for the day-long challenges. For me, planning is the key.

The post Happiness appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa is a lavish, all-inclusive resort occupying a flourishing swatch of the manicured jungle with an enticing private beach, about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta. The 420 rooms have jetted tubs and furnished terraces, and the master suites have outdoor whirlpools.

Before you read my review, I strongly recommend that you read my article on how to enjoy an all-inclusive vacation.

My review of this resort will be broken into the following sections:

Introduction

How to enjoy the food at this resort

The Chef’s table

Have a romantic day at the Palladium

Take in all the activities

Do a tour

Alejandra Sanchez Mendoza invites me to Chef’s Table, which takes place every Friday night at the Palladium Vallarta.

I plan the perfect romantic day with my wife. We order room service for breakfast. Later we go for a massage at the Zentropia Spa. We go for a walk down Love Street and head to Chef’s Table. Executive Chef Isau Zepeda and his team are waiting for us.

I am on a cliff, seeing the beautiful Pacific Ocean with the San Madre Mountains as the backdrop. The waves are hitting the rocks and the guitarist is strumming a romantic tune.

Christian the Master Sommelier and Mixologist greets me with a cocktail he has just made. I am not a big fan of cocktails. He offers me the Diosa del Mar. It means the God of the seas. I take a sip and I am impressed. The reposado tequila along with a hint of liquor 43 goes perfect with the puree of guava and berries and just the right amount of basil and sparkling wine.

Chef Isau has written the menu in the form of a score with the notes that are played by each different ingredient. Christian has set the perfect note with this cocktail.

The table is set with white linen and I feel like I am in heaven.

The professional waiter brings some warm bread and butter.

The first course is the Arugula Salad with Apple.    It is marinated with oregano on top of an emulsion of goat cheese with chipotle and caramelized walnut cilantro perfume. Christian serves the Casa Madero V Rosado Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Parras Coahuila. Apple with Arugula is a marriage made in heaven. The caramelized walnut is like the perfect honeymoon.

The rose just goes perfect with the salad.

The deep salmon color rose shows on the nose and the notes of rhubarb and the dry finish go perfectly with the salad.

The next dish is the Lobster Cream with Crispy Dried Chili. Christian serves it with the Casa Madero Chardonnay, Valle de Parras Coahuila.

To me, nothing is more luxurious as well as comforting and delicious as a silky gorgeous bowl of lobster bisque. Chef Esau has pulled all the classic techniques to make this amazing soup.

The soup is light and stimulates my palate and the white wine is the perfect complement.

The Jamaican Sorbet with Mezcal and a touch of Tajin is the perfect palate cleanser. The mix of dried and ground red chilies, sea salt and dehydrated lime juice mix give the sorbet the right amount of seasoning.

The main course is the Surf and Turf  Beef fillet stuffed with flower and lobster with mashed Castilla pumpkin and a bed of mole of almonds with a caramelized coffee.

Will Christian decant the red wine? Yes, he does.  The master takes the bottle and pours it in the glass decanter and lets it breathe.

The best surf and turf I have ever eaten. The lobster is seasoned with tequila and it shows. A piece of art. The Casa Madero 3V, Valle de Parras, Coahuila is smooth.

For dessert, we get the Corn delight with vanilla ice cream guajillo chile sauce and red berries.

I am expecting a dessert wine, a sherry something sweet to drink. Christian shocks me and gives me a Gavilan Reyes. Mon Dieu. He has broken the cardinal rule. The Mezcal Negra, anchos Reyes liquor, lime, grapefruit, and salt comes as a shock to me. However, I try it and it is the ying-yang of food. Bravo, Bravo.

The Chef’s Table has pizzaz, swagger, bold flavors, outside the box thinking with the perfect ambiance to end an amazing romantic day. When I go out for dinner, I want my thinking challenged, I want to be surprised and shocked at the same time, I want the umami delivered, I want something unique and different and I want the meal made from scratch, sourced ethically, using sustainable methods and have a unique setting. Chef Isau delivered on all points.

For 40 U$  per person, this is the best meal I have ever had.

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