Day 26: Spa day

Oh yes, it's time for a SPA DAY!!! A day to indulge in relaxation and pampering! As I mentioned in the previous post, you should learn to treat and love yourself more. Of course, if you already do that, don't overindulge as you might turn into a narcissistic ego maniac and no one will want to be in your company! In case you still haven't discovered the wonders of a spa day, or you keep postponing it, I say - schedule a day for yourself and go to a spa! It could be once a week, a month, either way, whenever you can - do it. It's totally worth it! You will get rid of all the toxins from your body and will feel refreshed, rejuvenated and energized. Of course all your worries and troubles will disappear for a day (and possibly longer!). Go to a sauna, book a massage, get a facial, a manicure, pedicure, whatever you like and/or can afford and just try to relax and spend a day not worrying about the real world. You may even want to take your favorite book or magazine you never have time for to catch up on your reading while you relax between sessions...just be and relax... Such a day will help reduce your stress level which is the cause of most illnesses today, will help you feel and look healthier and more beautiful. Seriously! It also helps your circulation, cause most of the time we are not moving as much, we sit in front of a computer and in time our body gets stuck so we need to get the blood (and energy) flowing again. Another thing you can do it share a spa day with your BFF or your special someone! It can bring you closer together and you will both feel more relaxed after the whole day, which is of course a good thing for both of you! If you have a low budget, pick at least one thing that you feel would make you feel better and that could be good for the beginning. Also, you can make a spa day in your home (see links below for ideas)! Have a day for yourself or make a party out of it and invite your girlfriends for a spa day at your house! It's a fun way to hang out with the girls and treat yourself. For guys, I suggest - go to a sauna and/or get a massage - alone or with friends. Just detox and relax! If you're a person who doesn't like heat or doesn't like to be touched by a stranger, just have your spa day in the comfort of your home. It can be really nice too! You can create your own treatments for facials, peeling scrubs, etc.. either way, you WILL feel better!

If you don't know where to start here are some useful websites!

WHICH MASSAGE IS FOR RIGHT YOU?

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/massage/a/massage_types.htm

Create a spa day in your own home! :)

http://www.wikihow.com/Give-Yourself-an-Amazing-Spa-Day

http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Yourself-to-an-at-Home-Spa

13 DIY at home Spa tricks!

http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2008/11/13-diy-at-home-spa-tricks#slide=1

SPA BASICS (useful info!)

http://spas.about.com/od/spabasics/u/spabasics.htm

10 THINGS NOT TO DO AT THE SPA!

http://spas.about.com/od/spaetiquettebasics/a/nottodo.htm

Hope this helps!
Let me know how you treated yourself and did you make a habit of having a spa day in your life. 

Have a great spa day!

Day 25: Take yourself out for lunch!

I have this tradition with a few of my friends from primary school. Over the years, our paths have taken us in different directions, but we decided to keep at least one tradition - having dinner together whenever we can. Then we would catch up and spend quality time together enjoying a nice meal. 

But how much time do you actually spend alone with yourself? The relationship with yourself is actually the most important one. If we take time and effort to keep our friendships alive why don't we invest in the relationship with ourselves? It is important to treat and love yourself because you will be a happier and more content person. Therefore it will come naturally to treat other better and simply feel great! There are many ways to treat yourself, and this is just one of them. I will definitely post more on this topic in the following posts! :) Sometimes we think people would consider us weird if we sat alone in a restaurant and just eat alone, or they would look down on us. Not sure how men feel about eating alone, but in some people's eyes a single woman sitting alone can seem lonely...but only if you allow it! The thing is, if you can't be alone with yourself, how can anyone be alone with you? You should love your company and enjoy it! Go to your favorite restaurant and order your favorite meal or simply discover a new place and try something new! Either way, enjoy your meal. You can take a book with you and read while you wait for your meal, or simply enjoy sitting by yourself, observing people and sipping your favorite drink. Try that special dish you never dared to order, order the biggest desert, or treat yourself with a nice cocktail or good quality wine. 

It's YOUR day so enjoy it! :)

Let me know how it went! Where did you go, what did you have, how did you feel? Was it weird or did you feel comfortable?

Day 24: Write new lyrics to a familiar tune

Nowadays you have so many karaoke music on YouTube of popular songs, so you can sing along. There are also many videos with lyrics to popular tunes. So, I was thinking, in order to boost your creativity a bit, why not try writing completely new lyrics to a familiar tune? It could be your favorite or maybe one that you feel inspires you. Listen to many different styles, check out different singers - male and female, groups, old and new...get some inspiration and listen carefully... Choose ONE song that really speaks to you - musically or with words. Maybe the original lyrics can inspire you when you write yours. Change some words or change everything! You can create a completely new meaning to a song you choose! It could be really interesting, not only for you but also for others. I would suggest that when you figure out what your lyrics are - record the song with your lyrics! One thing really important to bear in mind when writing the lyrics - sing them while your write them, cause you have to be able to sing them well. See how they fit when singing. It really depends on the song but really, keep it simple. They can rhyme, but you don't have to overdo it. Analyze other tunes and see how their lyrics work and try to use the same pattern to form your own. If you don't feel comfortable singing the tune, why not ask some of your friends that you think could do the honor? They might really enjoy discovering new meaning with YOUR lyrics!

Being a jazz singer, I often encounter different lyrics to same tunes. Then I pick the ones that I feel better. Sometimes I even write my own, when I can't feel the original lyrics. It's not that unusual in jazz, cause at the beginning most standards were instrumentals and then later someone wrote lyrics to them. Play a little and be creative! 

I would really love to see what you came up with, so post your lyrics in comments and let me know which tune it was! If you recorded yourself, feel free to share! Maybe people will start singing your lyrics instead! :) 

Day 23: Free hugs for everyone!!

 

When I first heard about this idea I thought it was brilliant! As the guys who started this "free hug" campaign state on their website - Sometimes a hug is all what we need! Which is totally true! Sometimes I think hugs are underrated, cause it means a lot to everyone when they give AND receive a warm hug from someone. It doesn't matter who, as long as it's genuine... It truly can make you feel better and your day seems brighter. And I mean if you give or receive. Also knowing that you made someone's day nicer is a wonderful feeling! So, it's a double bonus! 

Check out these guys and how they did it and see how you can join the movement - http://www.freehugscampaign.org/ 

Organize a free hug campaign in your town! Get your friends and family together and go to a public place with signs offering free hugs! I'm sure you will have people respond nicely because no matter how hard you try to be serious and cool, EVERYBODY APPRECIATES A WARM HUG! Undeniably! Also, you'll probably surprise most people cause when they get out of their homes I'm pretty sure they won't be expecting a hug on the way to work. ;)

What I read on this website is also that somehow this campaign was banned!! Unbelievable! So, make sure to check your local laws before embarking on your Hugathon!

Check out how it works on that website and check out this video to see how it goes! 

Have nice hugging session!!

 

Day 22: Be a weirdo for a day

I read somewhere that - popularity is for mediocre people. Well, I don't like classifications and I do believe in equality, but we all know that many people will not dare to do certain things even though we have all thought of at least a thing or two that others wouldn't approve of. Some people are just weird because they dare to do everything most of us wouldn't! 

So why don't we all try at least for one day to do something unusual and just be weird! Try being a weirdo for a day and do something that will make people stare in amazement! Don't care what people will say or think - at least for a day. One day maybe you will be more relaxed at being who you are and do what you feel like without worrying if you will be embarrassed or humiliated. Just be sure that's what you want to do and be comfortable at looking ridiculous! It's actually quite liberating and a lot of fun! :))

Here are some suggestions...

• Wear something funny, like a mask, costume, a funny wig, paint your face or anything that would visually make you look weird and go somewhere public, like buy groceries! :) 
• Sing or dance while walking on the street! You may have an iPod and earphones but the important part is to sing out loud and have a blast doing it! Sometimes I see people singing on the street while walking by themselves and I think that's pretty damn cool! Just enjoy it and most likely people will secretly think they wish they could do the same ;)
• Start laughing in public transportation like you just heard the funniest joke ever! Laughter is contagious and most likely you will make others laugh with you!
• Go to the park and start practicing cartwheels or some other acrobatic stuff. It could also be some activity you enjoy doing, like Tai chi, capoeira, yoga, juggling, etc...

There are so many things you can do. Being alone while doing it is what actually makes it weird for others cause we are not used to seeing people having fun on their own. It happens, but if you think about it, it's quite rare. Of course, if you have a friend or a group of friends to be weird with, you can do more fun stuff together! Think of weird activities together and make them happen. 

Important notice - PLEASE don't hurt or humiliate others! Be respectful and be nice! This is not about making other feel uncomfortable! It's about YOUR weirdness and hopefully encouraging others to join you and make their day more interesting and unusual. ;) Also this is a really good cure for boredom! 

Here are more ideas on what you can do to be a weirdo for a day! 

For beginners, just to get rid of that feeling that someone's watching you...try this, it's not hard and not that weird actually...

http://www.11points.com/Personal/11_Things_That_Are_Weird_To_Do_Alone,_In_Increasing_Order_of_Weirdness

These ideas could be fun to do! And are definitely weird! ;) 

http://www.squidoo.com/weird-things-to-do

Funny and weird things to do!
http://www.randomthingstodo.com/funniest

Nice and weird things (a mix of many)
http://www.randomthingstodo.com/best

Day 21: Plant some flowers!

So, recently I had a pretty disturbing experience in my own home. Some might think it's not a big deal, but knowing certain information I was feeling really uncomfortable. I woke up one morning and found 3 dying bees on the floor near my balcony! I immediately called my room-mate who is quite skilled in the areas related to nature and asked her what to do. She grabbed some honey and went to feed to bees. They immediately started eating the honey and soon after two of them got better and flew away. Unfortunately it was too late for the third one and she passed away...it was a sad moment, but I was happy that at least I got to save the other two! They were really struggling and I have no idea what happened but they sure were hungry! It could be the pesticides, or simply the lack of flowers...
 

The reason I am posting this is because I would like to try to raise awareness on this subject. We keep cutting trees and flowers and ruining nature around us like it's not important. The thing is we are destroying the very thing that is keeping us alive and we are messing with the natural balance in the world. All creatures matter, because of this balance. Even though we may not see it, it is there and we do make a difference. Check links below for more details!

So the idea is - go plant some flowers! It can be a fun activity you can do with your friends and/or family. Spending time in the nature or just working with earth gives you so much energy and you are doing something that will definitely not only be pretty but will make a difference. You can do it in the community garden, your friend's/neighbor's garden or even your own balcony! Let me know which flowers you planted and post photos so we can see and appreciate your little garden! :)

Flowers' importance in nature is everywhere—they can feed insects, birds, animals and humans; provide natural medicines for humans and some animals; and aid in a plant’s reproduction by enticing outside pollinators. Without flowers, plants would merely be green, and the world would be a duller place.

Get informed!

Info about bees being endangered species and why it is important to keep them alive!

http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/insects6.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/13/honeybee-problem-critical-point

The importance of flowers

http://www.littlehomesteaders.com/2013/04/the-importance-of-flowers.html

Day 20: Volunteer for a day

I started volunteering in college and I worked in several organizations, from helping the disabled while horseback-riding (a very special and wonderful therapy) to office work in an NGO focused on promoting higher education abroad. Both experiences have made me a richer person. Not only did I help someone else and contributed to the community but I also gained valuable work experience! There is an inexplicable feeling when you help someone out that no amount of money can give. Honestly, it fills your soul and it's not hard to do when you know it's for a greater good. Apart from that great feeling of doing something bigger than yourself, you get experience in a field you normally wouldn't get. For me it was great, cause by the time I graduated I already had several years of work experience and education necessary to upgrade my skills. Getting a job after that was much easier!

Anyway, try it! Go to your local volunteer center or go online and check what possibilities are available. Pick the field you'd like to get involved with and offer to help. So, it could be - work with children, arts, helping the disabled or/and the less fortunate, organizing fundraisers and charity events, going to the seniors' home and spending quality time with the elderly...there are many options. Choose the amount of time you would like to dedicate to others. In the beginning it could be an hour a week, then you can change it and who knows, one day it could be an hour (or more) a day! 

There are also short term and long term possibilities. You can start locally and then go international, cause there are lots of opportunities abroad. Usually they cover your accommodation and food expenses in return for your help. Check out the possibilities and see what is available!

I'm sure you will find happiness and content in this and not only your days will be sunny but you will  make other people's days be sunny as well!

Let me know what you chose to do and how it made a difference in your life! 

Don't know where to start? Here are some links to get your started! 

Croatian Volunteer Center

http://www.vcz.hr/english-info/

Global Volunteer Network

http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/

Do it!

http://www.do-it.org.uk/

United Nations Volunteering - Online volunteering!

https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en/index.html

All Hands Volunteers

http://hands.org/volunteer/

Africa Heartwood Project

http://www.africaheartwoodproject.org/index.php