<\/p>\n
We talked about favorite authors and novels, and how nice it is to unplug from technology and read a good book\u00a0(preferably sitting on a porch overlooking the Adriatic Sea – as my co-host, who lives in a small coastal town in Istria, described.\u00a0 <\/p>\n When she mentioned that, I remembered how a few years back\u00a0I asked another friend (also an author) to read an article I was writing and provide me with feedback.\u00a0She replied with\u00a0“I\u2019m on my way to the coast. I won\u2019t have\u00a0internet access\u00a0or a computer. It\u2019s just me, a beach towel\u00a0and a few good books. I\u2019ll get back to you in two weeks.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I almost cried when I read her reply, sitting in my home office in front of my computer screen with an overwhelming number of open tabs, emails and social media messages coming in every minute… There are notifications about\u00a0bills and\u00a0work inquiries. There are messages from my kids\u2019 school teachers, the swim team, the band, the theatre, the parent club of juniors, the parent club of freshmen, the parent club of parents who like to plan things just to plan things\u00a0(LOL).\u00a0 The phone beeps with texts from kids\u00a0and their friends\u2019 parents trying to coordinate get-togethers. I sighed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sitting on the beach in Croatia – under the shade of a fragrant and thick pine tree, with a gentle breeze keeping you cool, reading a book – sounded like a dream.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But\u2026 when you want something that you know will benefit you and those around you, you make necessary changes to get it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You put effort into adjusting the little things in life to make room for what you want to be spending time on.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.4em” custom_padding=”|8px||7px|false|false”]<\/p>\n Did you know that a couple days ago was\u00a0World Book Day? I got up early to do a live Instagram and Facebook chat with Marijeta – a dear friend in Croatia who helped me publish (un)Broken in Croatian. (Apparently, World Book Day is big in Croatia, with bookstores running special deals and events, and it was great to be a part of it!)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We talked about favorite authors and novels, and how nice it is to unplug from technology and read a good book\u00a0(preferably sitting on a porch overlooking the Adriatic Sea – as my co-host, who lives in a small coastal town in Istria, described.\u00a0 <\/p>\n When she mentioned that, I remembered how a few years back\u00a0I asked another friend (also an author) to read an article I was writing and provide me with feedback.\u00a0She replied with\u00a0“I\u2019m on my way to the coast. I won\u2019t have\u00a0internet access\u00a0or a computer. It\u2019s just me, a beach towel\u00a0and a few good books. I\u2019ll get back to you in two weeks.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I almost cried when I read her reply, sitting in my home office in front of my computer screen with an overwhelming number of open tabs, emails and social media messages coming in every minute… There are notifications about\u00a0bills and\u00a0work inquiries. There are messages from my kids\u2019 school teachers, the swim team, the band, the theatre, the parent club of juniors, the parent club of freshmen, the parent club of parents who like to plan things just to plan things\u00a0(LOL).\u00a0 The phone beeps with texts from kids\u00a0and their friends\u2019 parents trying to coordinate get-togethers. I sighed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sitting on the beach in Croatia – under the shade of a fragrant and thick pine tree, with a gentle breeze keeping you cool, reading a book – sounded like a dream.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But\u2026 when you want something that you know will benefit you and those around you, you make necessary changes to get it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You put effort into adjusting the little things in life to make room for what you want to be spending time on.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/tatianacameron.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/FINAL_Blog-Banner-TC.com_-3-1024×390.png” title_text=”FINAL_Blog Banner TC.com” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.4em” custom_padding=”|124px||124px|false|false”]<\/p>\n You learn new tools.\u00a0You open up your mind to see solutions in places where before you only saw\u00a0challenges and obstacles. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You loosen up the rigidity of your expectations\u00a0and you find yourself\u2026 well,\u00a0maybe not on a two-week-long tech-free retreat on a beach in Croatia, but sitting on a blanket under a pine tree in your own backyard, reading a favorite book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few hours later, while in a book club I’m in,\u00a0I reminded myself how awesome it is to be on the \u2018other side\u2019 of that \u2018wish come true.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And here is the best part:\u00a0creating a life that \u2018feels good\u2019 is good for health too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t mean leaving your job and selling your house so you wouldn\u2019t have all the bills that need to be paid. It doesn’t mean\u00a0moving to another country\u00a0or canceling your cell phone plan.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It means becoming more aware of all you do\u00a0and then creating pockets of time that will have the same qualities as that \u2018dream\u2019 life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In my certification training this week I\u2019m \u2018practice\u2019 teaching about the Five Senses. Everything we experience, we take in through our five senses. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everything affects us accordingly – it either brings us nourishment, or it stresses us out. It helps us to be happy, peaceful\u00a0and fulfilled, or it makes us agitated, scared\u00a0and overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reading an inspiring book, listening to some soothing music, gazing at nature, enjoying the fragrances of spring (or a small pouch of lavender from Croatia\u00a0 <\/p>\n Now THAT can create a beautiful and rich experience, and consequently, life. And it doesn\u2019t require you to\u00a0restructure\u00a0<\/em>your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, I challenge you to pick up a new book this week. If you aren\u2019t a reader, there is always the Audible app and audiobooks. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or, recall a favorite book you\u2019ve read and talk to someone about it – what you liked about it, how it made you feel, what you learned from it, and how it may have affected your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.4em” custom_padding=”|16px||6px|false|false”]<\/p>\n You learn new tools.\u00a0You open up your mind to see solutions in places where before you only saw\u00a0challenges and obstacles. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You loosen up the rigidity of your expectations\u00a0and you find yourself\u2026 well,\u00a0maybe not on a two-week-long tech-free retreat on a beach in Croatia, but sitting on a blanket under a pine tree in your own backyard, reading a favorite book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few hours later, while in a book club I’m in,\u00a0I reminded myself how awesome it is to be on the \u2018other side\u2019 of that \u2018wish come true.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And here is the best part:\u00a0creating a life that \u2018feels good\u2019 is good for health too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t mean leaving your job and selling your house so you wouldn\u2019t have all the bills that need to be paid. It doesn’t mean\u00a0moving to another country\u00a0or canceling your cell phone plan.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It means becoming more aware of all you do\u00a0and then creating pockets of time that will have the same qualities as that \u2018dream\u2019 life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In my certification training this week I\u2019m \u2018practice\u2019 teaching about the Five Senses. Everything we experience, we take in through our five senses. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everything affects us accordingly – it either brings us nourishment, or it stresses us out. It helps us to be happy, peaceful\u00a0and fulfilled, or it makes us agitated, scared\u00a0and overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reading an inspiring book, listening to some soothing music, gazing at nature, enjoying the fragrances of spring (or a small pouch of lavender from Croatia\u00a0 <\/p>\n Now THAT can create a beautiful and rich experience, and consequently, life. And it doesn\u2019t require you to\u00a0restructure\u00a0<\/em>your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, I challenge you to pick up a new book this week. If you aren\u2019t a reader, there is always the Audible app and audiobooks. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or, recall a favorite book you\u2019ve read and talk to someone about it – what you liked about it, how it made you feel, what you learned from it, and how it may have affected your life.<\/span><\/p>\n \n \n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.4em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”|124px||124px||”]<\/p>\n Here is one of my all time favorite singers\u00a0Ella Fitzgerald singing a song about writing a book\u00a0\ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I can\u2019t wait to sing it in one of our live streams!<\/span><\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.4em” min_height=”49px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”]<\/p>\n)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/ul>\n
)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
), tasting the sweetness of a piece of fresh fruit, holding someone\u2019s hand or running our fingertips over the smooth pages of the book we hold\u2026. <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
), tasting the sweetness of a piece of fresh fruit, holding someone\u2019s hand or running our fingertips over the smooth pages of the book we hold\u2026. <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
Music<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
<\/blockquote>\n