But the changes I’ve made in the past eight months have felt organic. I’ve followed my voice from within even though, at times, I’ve been out of my comfort zone. Some of the changes I’ve made have seemed crazy at times – especially to my surroundings. But the changes I’m sharing with you today have made me a happier person. I feel at home in myself – maybe for the first time in my life.
So let me share the five changes I’ve made…
#1: I sold my car and started walking
Not having my car would save me $13.500 yearly! Money I can now invest in something else. All my life, I’ve been driving, even if I just had to go up my street. Walking was something I would never consider. But apparently, I’m a changed woman because I sold my car and started walking. Letting go of my car has been the best gift I’ve given myself in years because I discovered how much I love walking. I walk wherever I can, and if the weather is terrible or the distance is too far, I will grab a bike, a cap, or borrow my husband’s car if possible.
It’s been surprising to see the reaction from my surroundings. For many people, letting go of their car is unthinkable. It would also have been unthinkable to me a year ago. But after I’ve experienced all the benefits of walking, I feel so good about my decision. I’ve had many beautiful walks throughout the past eight months. I walk about 100 km a month, and I’m lucky to live in a city with inspiring shops, funky architecture, a lovely coastline, and the woods all within walking distance, so I can always find a beautiful route.
#2: I changed my diet
Fasting is not about depriving yourself of food. It’s about prolonging that rest period you give your body when you sleep at night. When we sleep, our bodies cleanse and heal. The longer we allow that process to continue, the more the body can heal. All the positive articles I read about fasting convinced me to give it a go.
The first few days, I just ate my breakfast an hour later than usual. Then I waited two hours, then three hours, and finally I skipped breakfast. I could feel the positive impact on my body within the first week. My energy level was super high, my mood was great, I was thinking more clearly, my joints felt younger, I slept better, and my skin improved.
Those positive experiences took me down a rabbit hole of the fasting world. I wanted to know everything about this topic, so I read a ton of books, articles and listened to all the podcasts I could find on fasting. This eventually led me to the Intermittent Fasting lifestyle. I eat delicious, nutritious food every day – and plenty of it. I just have a smaller eating window of 6 hours. I typically eat my first meal at 2 pm and my last meal before 8 pm.
Since experimenting with intermittent fasting, I’ve lost 20 kg (45 pounds). My skin and hair look healthier, and my 48-year-old body feels more like a 28-year-old body. I move better; I feel flexible, fit, and strong.
Today, Intermittent Fasting has become a natural part of my life. I don’t even think about it. I focus on energy food and eat mostly vegetarian. I’m not depriving myself, and I get cake and wine several times a week. It’s about finding a healthy balance that works, and that balance can look differently depending on who you are and how you live.
If you’re interested in knowing more about Intermittent Fasting, I recommend reading “Fast, Feast, Repeat” by Gin Stephens or “The Complete Guide to Fasting” by Jason Fung. Another tip is to watch Dr. Mindy on Youtube if you want to get all the nerdy info about fasting. Her videos are super informative and helpful.
#3: I bought my dream home
I thought I would live in my current home forever until my husband and I spotted a beautiful old, yellow house with dark green windows. Like a happy, golden sun in the middle of our city, it made us fall in love with its history, architecture, and quirky details. The house is old, built in 1909 for an architectural exhibition.
As I’m writing this, the house is going through the last phase of the renovation. It’s completely restored with new heating system, new electricity, new roof, ceilings, walls, floors, bathrooms, doors, and windows. I cannot believe we are moving in just one week! I’m a bit stressed and overwhelmed but also incredibly excited.
Selling a home, buying a new home, and renovating a historic house is truly time demanding. The amount of work we have had to put into this project has been crazy. We have renovated many homes before, but this has been our biggest design project ever. I will for sure look forward to getting a bit of rest on the other side of us moving in. What I’m most excited about is to enjoy the garden this Summer, work in my new studio and host my future photography workshops in this beautiful place.
#4: I have organized ALL my things
I’ve donated so much stuff to charity, including 15 large bags of clothes and shoes. I’ve looked at EVERY little thing in our home and asked myself, “do you absolutely need this”? “Do you LOVE it”? “Does it serve a purpose, or is it just taking up space”? Asking those questions helped me let go of so much stuff. I only want to keep things in my house that I genuinely LOVE and/or use.
Going through all my stuff has been a challenging process. It’s always overwhelming to start, but gosh, it feels good when every piece in your home has a place and purpose. I’m considering living with a wardrobe capsule of 30 pieces, but I don’t think it’s realistic for me. I love the idea, but I still have too many pieces of clothes I love. At least now, I can fit my wardrobe into one smaller closet.
#5: I started Painting Again
My love for photography was so BIG that painting just wasn’t on my mind anymore. But one evening over dinner, my husband and I talked about creativity, and he suddenly asked; why don’t you start painting again?
I laughed at him. I told him it was too long ago… that it was silly… The next day I ordered paint and a canvas. Why? It’s still unclear to me, but I’ve been painting a little every day since – I find it very relaxing and a wonderful break in all the busyness with packing, renovating, and moving.
Will I keep painting? Only time will tell. For now, I just do it for fun – Free play with no purpose. It puts a smile on my face and joy in my heart. That being said, photography is still my BIGGEST love! That will never change.
With Love, Christina
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