Our news
What France and Japan Can Teach Us About Self-care and ‘Savoir Vivre’
Do you sometimes long to have a weekend, a day, or maybe just half an hour or a few minutes for yourself and do something that brings you joy? Life can be busy and hectic, and when we are particularly busy, we might think that we just don’t have the time to take a little…
6 Tools to Deal with Overwhelm and Get Back a Lighthearted Feeling
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, frustrated and irritated and wonder where to start with everything that needs to get done? The kitchen sink might be full of unwashed dishes; the washing machine is beeping, as does the phone; your little ones call “Moooomy look!” and you catch them last minute before a self-built chair castle…
“It Takes a Village…” – The Importance of Having Supportive Tribes to Enjoy Life, Live Your Dreams, and Fulfil Your Goals
This well-known phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has been used very frequently over the past decades to express the important role that community plays in raising children. And while I could not agree more with it, as a mother of two little children myself, I would extend this proverb even further…
What We Can Learn from the U.S. About Developing a Positive Mindset
Our thoughts and words matter You might have heard about the famous poem, attributed to various people, which says: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words;watch your words, for they become actions;watch your actions, for they become habits;watch your habits, for they become your character;watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Our thoughts play…
How the Japanese ‘Ikigai’ Concept can help us reflect on our life purpose
When living in Japan, I loved learning about Japanese culture and was fascinated by many beautiful Japanese concepts. One concept, that stands out particularly to me is the one of ikigai, which can be roughly translated to “the reason for living” or “meaning for life.” Iki means “life” while gai stands for “value” or “worth.”…
The Japanese ‘kaizen’ principle or how little improvements can lead to great results
Japan and the ‘kaizen’ principle While living in Japan, I noticed one personal trait in many people: the willingness to keep learning and improving. One of Japan’s most famous sushi chefs, Jiro Ono, has worked all his life to consistently improve the sushi that he offers in his well-known restaurant. It can be tiny things,…
The Indian concept of ‘jugaad’ or how to find practical solutions and get things done
“Shall I turn the music up louder?” The rickshaw driver screamed while making eye contact with me in the rear-view mirror. I felt my ears would explode already, and I was about to go deaf. So, I screamed back: “No, thank you. It is already quite loud like this.” The tuk-tuk driver looked amused. He…
How to Bring the World Back Home If You Feel Nostalgic for Traveling
“Our homes are not defined by geography or one particular location, but by memories, events, people, and places that span the globe.” —Marilyn Gardner Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, traveling behavior has changed for most of us. Even though a year and a half into the pandemic, some cautious travels are…