It's nice to see things in a different perspective. 

Viewing the sky through the trees. 

Watching the garden while sitting on top of the roof.

Staring at the cat from under the table.

Whichever way we'd like to view the world,

may our horizon always expand.

Have a great weekend!

XOXO,

Arni

How's your week going?  This weekend will be a big celebration throughout the Middle East.  It's going to be Eid Al-Fitr or plain  Eid, marking the end of Ramadan.  Fasting during the day will be over during this usual three-day holiday.  Festive lights illuminate throughout the city at night, shops busy with ongoing  sale, gift giving, and huge feasts as families gather.   Most of the expats given the long non-working holiday, usually jet off somewhere for a short break.  

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage

 to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide

I happened to come across Jiwok , a personal trainer that could be downloaded in your MP3 player.  You might have heard of it and have registered already.  There are different training programs tailored to your goals  from losing weight, marathon training, running faster or merely improving fitness.


It's up to you if you like it rough - in boot camp style or a gentle encouraging coach.  There are also available Jiwok music along with the coach's voice.  There is an option for using your preferred music playlist.  Register for free. It automatically comes with a free trial along with a recommended diet & your personal fitness journal.  There are various subscriptions to choose from according to what best suits your needs.

I'm living a sedentary lifestyle so I have opted for a training program - Running Continuously for 30 minutes.  I have been doing it for the last 2 months or so, twice a week. With our 49 degrees Celsius heat (120 deg. F) outdoors this summer, it is possible to do so in the comfort of the gym.   Running has helped me tremendously in dealing with stress and anger management. :)

My birthday is coming up next week. The hubby and I agreed to go away for 8 days  to celebrate both of our birthdays. We're both July babies. Instead of gift giving, we thought we'd enjoy a holiday together.  With some air miles bound to be expired soon, we thought of using it to treat ourselves to some couple-time adventure in a new country.  A paradise setting infused with Creole culture sounded really appealing to us. 

This was one of my Goals for 2012 .  "Living each day like there's no tomorrow as well as creating new memories with the hubby."   I'll be away from the blogosphere for about a week, but will definitely capture inspiring interior design images  and the scenic spots during the trip that I will be featuring here later.

Have a great week ahead!

I'll definitely miss you

XOXO,

Arni

What to do on a Saturday?  For those living in the gulf with no work today and wouldn't like to spend money except for gas, try this: 

At 6:00 AM, drive to Jumeirah Beach Road turning right (Abu Dhabi Bound) at the intersection before Jumeirah Beach Hotel towards the open beach.   There you'll have this magnificent view of Burj Al Arab.  

I was alone.  The weather is refreshingly cool. Take a thermos of hot coffee with you, a shawl and you're good to go.  If you'd like to linger further, grab a mat with you and a good read.  It is relaxing because there are lots of parking space available  and you don't even have to pay for a parking ticket yet this early in the morning. 

I unwillingly tried it recently and loved it.  The above photo however was taken around 9AM.   The waves at six are huge and there are a lot of graceful surfers on the water and joggers on the shore.  There are occasional tourists along the pavement snapping away.  The salty breeze and sound of the waves will definitely resonate throughout your day.

XOXO,

Arni

How's your Sunday unfolding?  For those in the gulf, how did your weekend go?  Mine was a lazy and quiet weekend. Lots of introspection and self pampering of sorts. 

Each of us has our own definition of happiness.   Some are looking for them outwards, but the best ones are usually found within.  Not in the collection of things, but in the delightful celebration of each moment, and in the subtle yet persistent search to feel whole by finding our passion and our purpose.

I usually experience it whenever I'm holding a paintbrush as I breathe linseed oil and turpentine. A connection to God instantly takes place.  As though I was born to do exactly this.   I braved the outdoors a few times as well as the silent peeks from passersby.  I usually seek a quiet spot,  with my mp3 player  continuously giving tribute to Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach.  Everything feels right and I am tearfully ecstatic despite the fly circling around me and my utter disbelief once to see a passing boat-full of  french visitors and tourists on the water in front of my easel. To my surprise, they started taking pictures of me as the tour guide announces at the boat speaker, ''Regarde, il y a une artiste!''

To those of you who found joy in  what you're doing and to the rest of you who are seeking  a better place of wholeness and fulfillment.  When in doubt, I dare say, "Why not?"

XOXO,

Arni

A wonderful Happy Easter Sunday to all of you!  What are you all up to today?  Some of us have some time off in the gulf,  while the rest have to go to work today.  I'm on  a part time work, part time vacation for the next few months, so to speak.  As this season brings forth tradition, I can't help but wonder, how did we start practicing such a tradition in general?  Perhaps it's something we have been born doing.  An activity we have grown accustomed to.  Way back from our parents' parents? A family custom?  A cultural norm?   

Let's go micro. What about our personal tradition?  Our habits.  They say that it takes between 21-28 days to form a habit. A continuous repetition of something will result to an automatic and effortless activity.   Is there a habit you wish to create for yourself?  Let's say, spending an hour reading a book after dinner instead of watching TV.  Or, going to the gym.  Doing something without thinking while avoiding that other voice giving a lot of excuses. Constant practice. 

So what is the good habit you wish to build?

XOXO,

Arni

Playing with the camera this morning, I found my cat lazily lounging at his favorite spot. 

His purring content during his leisure time is admirable.

We are always multi-tasking, feeling guilty if we're not doing something.

Why don't we take in the pleasure of doing nothing today.

 Claim it. Breathe It. Feel good about it.

Just be in the present.

XOXO,

Arni

1. Dinner in style at a Michelin-star restaurant.

Last night, I invited my hubby to fulfill a lifelong goal to dine out in style.   Michelin stars started in France in 1926, so why not experience it in a Three-star Michelin restaurant with a contemporary french flavor that has very strong traditional roots.  With perfect timing, I immediately booked reservations two weeks prior when I heard that the 3- star Michelin Chef, Pierre Gagnaire is visiting Dubai this month.  Time Out Dubai featured it as one of the highlights of the social and culinary scene in January. 

Whenever I used to hear ''live in the present'', ''live like there's no tomorrow'', ''seize the day'', I didn't really understand it.  Either the past entirely clouds my vision, or I'm looking right through binoculars far out into the future.    I don't know about you, but when I go to the cinema to watch a film that I was excited for for weeks, as soon as I'm inside the movie theater, I'm more thrilled to see the trailer of upcoming films, more than the film itself.

Guilty, I never really appreciated the present. I just didn't know how. I was devoid of feeling the happiness and excitement in the present moment , after reaching a destination I have always wanted to visit.  Or whenever I achieve something  that I extremely worked hard for.  I was always busy looking ahead, for the next big thing.  I failed to enjoy the small moments.  I was incapable of it.

The past successes, my family, my loved ones,  all the victories over challenges that I have been through, flashed before me. Looking back at my life, where I am now despite unfulfilled desires, frustrations and challenges, I sincerely answered, "Yes, I am."  I was in fact ready to accept that if this was all my life was about, if this is it, I am ready, whatever happens.  I am indeed happy for the decisions I made. No regrets.

With that, I started to become aware of the things I didn't notice before. How blue the sky was.  How beautiful the wind was on my skin.  How thankful I am for my job.  How nice the coffee was.  How thankful I am for feeling good that morning.  How grateful I am for my colleagues, my boss, my friends, the house where I live in, for being able to drive to work.  Everything changed.  Now I understand what it means to be in the present. To put a stop to everything and breathe in the small moments and be grateful for them. This is my initial breakthrough for 2012.  To live each day as if there's no tomorrow.  

Image via the wellness warrior