Steven, kidding right?
I travel in time all the time.
The main activity of my mind is time travel.
I imagine what things could be like and remember the experiences I had.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, if I'm able to let go.
Letting go is important, it was something I couldn't really do in the first 35 years of my life.
Time travel to the past is great, it's great to remember the great moments in the past, whether they were positive or negative. It gets a little less interesting as that gets my point of reference and I bring that up all the time. It is also less interesting if it avoids me to experience the present moment, maybe something similar and different. I found here a big step forward, to acknowledge that, that happens. Acknowledgement is a beginning for many things.
Time travel to the future is great, it stimulates my imagination and sometimes lets me do things I couldn't have imagined. Of course, my imagination can also create the reference that I live up to. If that is the case, it can sometimes be very difficult to carry with me and the disappointment can also be very great if it doesn't work that way.
So today, thanks to a meditation practice, observing my time travel is very interesting. Instead of always going all the way as in the past, I observe it and see how it can help me. If it can be positive, I go on, if not, or if I'm not sure, then I just let it go and go to something else.
An example to clarify this, which I can imagine everyone has seen.
I'm ready to sleep in my bed and something pops up in my head.
It can be something I've lived (from the past), something I imagine (for the future) or often a mix of both, which means that I've been through something (a certain experience) that makes me imagine an act for the future.
Sometimes this kind of time travel, can make it impossible to sleep.
What I do, then, is observe it all.
Observe the experience of the past, what is a fact and acknowledge it, and I can't change it anyway.
Then I observe the imagination of the future, often strongly related to the experience of the past.
By observing it, it gives me a sense of calm. However, it often does not allow me to sleep yet.
I then look into my observations and try to connect them with myself.
Why do I think that way, why do I feel that way, what will change my reaction to the situation...?
Sometimes by doing that, everything is so clear, that I can let it go and that it doesn't need more attention on my part. Sleep well!
I sometimes said that there are times when it's just too strong. For those moments when people used to tell me, sleep over it. Yeah right, that's exactly why I can't sleep. What helped me in those cases, was to get up and write down everything that turns so hard in my head. About my future imagination (or sometimes even partly of what still bothers me from the past) and when I have done all that, it is easier for me to stop time travel, to say that everything is safe on paper, it will reappear when it has to come up again and I can easily concentrate on how tired I am and have a great liberated sleep.
I managed to get time travel to help and not destroy me like it used to.
#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #giveupfear #timetravel #letgo #lettinggo #Acknowledgement #meditation #observing
When I began to realize how much suffering I created in the world, it seemed to me a moral duty to eliminate that suffering. At the best I could and for everything I am aware of. It is clear that before my changed eating habits, I was not at all aware of any suffering I was creating.
Of course, I quickly understood that in order to:
- Get meat on my plate -> animals have to suffer.
- To drink milk -> animals have to suffer.
- To eat cheese -> animals have to suffer.
- ...
and of course this was also one of the sources and motives to eat in this other way.
I have to admit that I felt much better with the realisation that I didn't let the animals suffer for my food.
After that step, I realized that, that is only to remove a part of the suffering.
It is a great step, now certainly not the only one.
Another important pillar in general is suffering for our clothes.
It is not only the animals that are suffering, also the people who are often mistreated and have to work in terrible conditions.
The tragedy on 24 April 2013 in Rana Plaza, when an eight-storey building in Bangladesh collapsed, where more than 1,100 people employed by garment factories were trapped and killed, is truly a smash right in my face of what I constantly ignore and what my over- and wrong consumption does to this world.
Is this what I want to spend my money on?
My soul mate couldn't accept it either and decided to start her own project in this direction, L’Envol du Colibri (https://www.lenvolducolibri.be).
For me that was all very clear, psychologically I could no longer give money to a company that is not respectful of all living creatures on earth.
From that day on, any clothes I would buy would be 'ETHICAL', 'FAIR TRADE' and 'ORGANIC ORIGINE'.
I must admit that the journey was not easy, not everything was easy to find.
Most of them are only available through a webshop.
Still, it is most likely that if I’m looking for something, one day I will find something.
Here's a list of everything I've bought since then and clothes I really love, full of love!
Mud Jeans for men at L'Envol du Colibri 👖☮💟🐖🐄🐑🐇🌿☘🌷🌎❤👌👍 everything at L'Envol du Colibri: Polo from ARMEDANGELS, Jeans MudJeans and shoes VEJA 👕👖👟✅🕉🔜🌏☀❤
Check out: https://www.lenvolducolibri.be/categorie-produit/hommes/
L'Envol du Colibri also for MEN ❤👕☮☯🌍🙏👌👍
Organic, ethical, fairtrade sweater from ARMEDANGELS at L'Envol du Colibri 😍🙏👍👌❤
https://www.lenvolducolibri.be/categorie-produit/hommes/
Dad & daughter !
VEJA - Transparency, organic materials, fair trade sourcing. 👞👟🌍👍
Cold in the winter? Not in this Jacket from Hemp HoodLamb, bought at L'Envol du Colibri 🧥🧣🌨❄☃💖👌👍
Hoodlamb is leading the reemergence of hemp in fashion design. As one of the world’s most incredible natural resources, we believe hemp is the key to creating truly sustainable fashion for the future.
I love water 🏞, I love the beach 🏖, I love the sun ☀... I just didn't feel aligned anymore with my conventional swimwear and gave it to charity.
I was very happy to find recycled, ethical, fair trade great swimwear of Thinking MU.
I'm completely aligned again for the summer! 🌅🌴☀
HappyCow Vegan Guide's (Global Guide To Veg Restaurants & Health Food Stores) Love Veggies T-shirt 🐮🥦🥑☀
Mud Jeans - Fair Trade, Ethical, recylced and circular fashion.jeans. 🕺🇳🇱👌
VEJA - Transparency, organic materials, fair trade sourcing. 👞👟🌍👍
Want to wear a suit and some more classical shoes, check out FAIR and avesu avesu VEGAN SHOES 🇵🇹👞👟👌👍🌿⭐🌞
Playing in the fitting room 👔👕👖👟
Shirt from KnowledgeCotton Apparel 👔 and vegan sneakers from Onitsuka Tiger, not sure the shoes are organic, ethical and fair trade...
T-shirt 'LOVE all animals' from Mercy For Animals 🐄🐮❤💕👌
Short from prAna 🌞⭐🌟🌈🏜👍
prAna quote:
'From the farm to the factory to our closets, we all have an opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment.
Start asking questions about your clothes in the same way you ask about the food you eat, and you can help fundamentally change the way clothing is made.'
T-shirt 'Be the change you want to see' from OVIVO 🇧🇪☮🌅🏝👕👌
Short from prAna 🌞⭐🌟🌈🏜👍
prAna quote:
'From the farm to the factory to our closets, we all have an opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment.
Start asking questions about your clothes in the same way you ask about the food you eat, and you can help fundamentally change the way clothing is made.'
T-shirt 'Be the change you want to see' from OVIVO 🇧🇪☮🌅🏝👕
Looking for a fair trade more classical shirt 👔👞👌❤?
Mr. Manchette
Mr. Manchette is een nieuw Belgisch merk dat staat voor trendy en exclusieve mannenhemden. De naam verwijst naar de klasse van mooie manchetten en de heren die ze dragen. Mr. Manchette wil op ongedwongen wijze mensen overtuigen open te staan voor eerlijke en ecologische mode, vandaar de slogan ‘Uncuff your style’. Sta open voor nieuwe mode. Durf je eigen stijl te creëren.
Respect vormt de rode draad doorheen Mr. Manchette. We produceren met Respect voor Mens en Milieu. We kiezen voor biokatoen en eerlijke productie. Zowel de modellen als de stoffen zijn amper seizoensgevoelig. Hierdoor gaan we in tegen de huidige fast-fashion-cultuur en gaan we resoluut voor duurzame mode.
Fair trade underwear? 🧦👙👌☘🌍
Boxer from Saint Basics (https://www.saintbasics.com/)
Iedereen verdient een beetje feelgood, elke dag. Daarom maken we superzachte basics van natuurlijke stoffen zoals eucalyptus. Mooie pasvorm, anti-geur, geen schurende labels.
Zo’n 95% milieuvriendelijker dan gewone producten. En 100% vrij van pesticiden, sweatshops, kinderarbeid en oneerlijke handel. Wij geloven dat het de meest feelgood basics zijn die je ooit zult dragen. Sterker nog, we garanderen het. Geen goed gevoel over onze basics? Dan je geld terug!
Dus wees ook een Saint. Begin je dag met een goed gevoel over wie je bent, hoe je er uitziet en de keuzes die je maakt. En help ons dat gevoel te verspreiden. Samen maken we wereld een beetje mooier en aardiger.
Socks from Richer Poorer (https://richer-poorer.com/)
Richer Poorer is innerwear that makes every day a good one: well-made, beautifully designed socks, boxer briefs, and tees you can’t wait to put on and don’t want to take off.
Born from humble beginnings to elevate ordinary objects, we believe that design, color and utility can improve your daily outlook. That California roots can grow effortless style. And that staying hungry and resourceful keeps us nimble on our feet.
I love water 🏞, I love the beach 🏖, I love the sun ☀... I just didn't feel aligned anymore with my conventional swimwear and gave it to charity.
I was very happy to find recycled, ethical, fair trade great swimwear of prAna.
I'm completely aligned again for the summer! 🌅🌴☀
Short from prAna 🌞⭐🌟🌈🏜👍
prAna quote:
'From the farm to the factory to our closets, we all have an opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment.
Start asking questions about your clothes in the same way you ask about the food you eat, and you can help fundamentally change the way clothing is made.'
Looking for a fair trade shirt? 👔👕🇧🇪☮
Belgian brand Stanley Stella provide them!
You can buy as a normal consumer or as a professional to make your company branding clothes fair trade and ethical!
Support local artists like Ardecho07 🇫🇷👩👌👍 that provide inspiring messages & designs, 'Safe the world' in an organic, ethical, fair trade men's T-shirt from Stanley Stella 🇧🇪👔👕🌸❤
Support local movements like DierAnimal for a better tomorrow for all living creatures on earth 🐮🐷🐗🐖🐑🐄🐐🐰🐁🐰🐔🐣🐓🦆🐬🐠🦀🐝❤🙏
In an organic, ethical, fair trade men's T-shirt from Stanley Stella 🇧🇪👔👕🌸❤
Sport, yoga, sleeping... fair trade pants from Living Crafts (organic textiles) 👖🕉🙏🙃👌
Wonderful underwear from KnowledgeCotton Apparel bought at Hempmade Leuven in Leuven 🌍👍👌❤☮🐄🐖🙏
T-shirt 'Safe The Humans' from Thinking MU - Sustainable fabrics, Fairtrade, Local productions... You close the loop 🌍☮☯❤🙏
My luggage gets lost at the airport 😕✈🛍👕 I have decided that if I buy something for the different days of my stay, it must be fairtrade 👕👌👍🌎❤☀ I bought the long-sleeved shirt from Alternative - "We love our planet & we’re mindful of the impact we make on it & its people." 🌎☘☮🙏
Tshirt with my favorite vegetable 'KALE' 🥑🥦🥕🥒🐄🐖🐑🐇❤🙏👌👍 with 'coton biologique', 'pas d'OGM', 'FAIRWEAR FOUNDATION', 'ILO (International Labor Organisation)', 'certifiée GOTS'...'aucun compromis', 'éco-responsable' et 'parce que considérer encore les animaux comme des ressources exploitables ça n’a aucun sens écologique et éthique' of the beautiful brand VGTL ❤❤❤
Lovely shirt from Studio JUX bought at HarvestClubin Leuven 🌍👍👌❤☮🐄🐖🙏
Lovely socks from Living Crafts, natural textiles, ecology & fairness as top priority and long life instead of fast fashion. Ecological conviction is more than a nature-loving business.
They suit well in these Vegan Veja shoes 🧦🕉
Excellent linge de lit de Kalani
- La surprise : vivre une réelle expérience de plaisir, depuis la commande jusqu’à l’inoubliable sensation de bien-être ressentie en se glissant dans ses draps. Une réelle expérience esthétique, sensorielle, tactile…
- L’excellence : dans les produits et les services, la qualité sans compromis est notre mantra.
- Le progrès : moderne, intemporel, simple et efficace.
- La transparence : une traçabilité et des informations complètes sur le développement durable, les produits et les coûts.
- Le partage : équilibre et partage dans la chaîne de la communauté Kalani, les fermiers, ouvriers, employés, associations soutenues… et vous !
Keep doing what you do lovely people!
#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #quickguidemalefairtradeclothes #moralduty #eliminatesuffering #tragedy2013RanaPlaza #LEnvolduColibri #ETHICAL #FAIRTRADE #ORGANIC #Mud Jeans #ARMEDANGELS #VEJA #Hemp HoodLamb #Thinking MU #HappyCow Vegan Guide #FAIR #avesu #avesu VEGAN SHOES #KnowledgeCotton Apparel #Onitsuka Tiger #Mercy For Animals #prAna #OVIVO #Mr. Manchette #Saint Basics #Richer Poorer #Stanley Stella #Ardecho07 #DierAnimal #Living Crafts #Hempmade Leuven #Alternative #VGTL #Studio JUX #HarvestClub #Kalani
Very often when I run when it's very hot, it rains, very windy, it snows... and I meet people on my path, they say: 'courage', 'I feel sorry for you', 'hold on', 'be strong'.... This when I am actually smiling and very happy. It makes me realize how often in the past I blamed the outside world for not doing anything.
Oh, it's cold, it's raining, it's raining, there's too much wind, it'll be too slippery... all these are easy external parameters to do nothing. I used to do that all the time before I changed my eating habits. Then I listened much deeper to what I really love, and realized that this kind of apology disappeared.
I realized that I wasn't listening to my insides at all and was really overwhelmed by the outside. In me there is a love for all sorts of fun things and I just didn't listen to it. I was way too busy with other things, like blaming the outside world, sitting on the couch, watching TV, eating worthless food.... and last but not least, working 75% of the time of the day to get some money, with whom I have no real plans instead of paying debts or spending them on possessions.
Really Steven, is that it?
When I changed my eating habits and looked inside much more, I discovered that many (if not all) of the answers I am looking for are really in there. I soon found out how distracted I was from what I feel real life. I was doing things that let me get a glimpse of how to go on without really knowing why? I was inundated with information that only encouraged me to keep doing that.
I had to conclude that behind many of the things I thought I should feel good with (distractions), were things I couldn't have imagined.
When I discovered all the experiences I really liked from the heart and being able to let go of the outside, there isn't really much that can ruin that experience.
I love to feel good and therefore take care of myself, to listen to my body (not my mind) and to try to make the best decision for it at any moment.
I like an energetic feeling, so I do a lot of sports, I like the Basketball game as a team and I like to run consciously as an individual.
I like to be surrounded by living creatures, so any chance is good for that.
I am really grateful that today I am able to follow my inner self, love every second of my life and be completely at peace with the outside world.
#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #giveupfear #listentoinside #blamingtheoutside #lookinside #experiences #listentobodynotmind #energeticfeeling #likeBasketball #surroundedbylivingcreatures #grateful #followinnerself #loveeverysecondoflife #peacewithoutsideworld
I feel like everyone's struggling with weight at some point in life. In these often difficult times, I've tried time and again to follow some of the advice I've received, or bought in, from around the world. The typical; eating less, eating restricted, following a very determined pattern...are all kinds of diets that I have tried and the best they could do for me was to keep the weight for a very short period off. Nothing worked for me in the long run.
With what I know about nutrition today, I find these results more than normal. The food I know today as food is a commercial product, made to perfectly match my taste preference and makes me crave it to the fullest. This is a commercial model, not a health or care for my body model. It is purely based on profit and making sure that I consume the maximum amount of it.
Because it's made that way, it's obviously very hard to resist. If there is a product that makes me hungry, perfectly matches my taste, tempers my hunger a little and then comes back stronger to need more of it. Isn't that what food does for me today?
Well then all I have to do, is get out of this vicious circle. Unfortunately it took me 35 years to realize that by sharing this here, I hope it will shorten the period for everyone who is searching for it. If I keep eating it, I will keep craving it, no exception there. What if I stop eating it and replace it with a full plant-based diet? That is exactly what I have done!
The result, no more restrictions, I eat as much as I want (until I feel physically full), I taste food much better, I know when I'm hungry or full and of course the best result many people want, I've gone to my ideal weight and I've barely gain any weight eating that way.
What have I done, done nothing, changed everything?
As I have already explained, the need to lose weight is often pointed out to sport or moving. As I explained here, sport is not the answer, sport is what keeps me fit and vital, I've always exercised a lot, now I've never lost the weight I wanted to lose.
Explore with nutrition based on whole food plants, it might very positively surprise you, like it did with me!
Happy discovery!
#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #giveupfear #strugglingwithweight #plantbaseddiet #wholefoodplants #Happydiscovery
As can be read in my first post here, it's quite easy to cook for a vegan.
Our culture quite often predicts, after my invitation, that I will be invited, so everything goes well.
Then comes the moment that I invite again, oh no, not yet, HELP!
I can't make another couscous, can I?
No, it shouldn't be like the couscous mentioned in the first article.
Let's take a look at Italian cuisine and make spaghetti, pizza or ravioli this time!
Spaghetti:
The sauce is very similar to couscous.
I would take the same ingredients, just add:
1 more bottle of peeled tomatoes and to make it more like spaghetti
Tofu or seitan (to fry in the pan with some spices)
Some lentils (can also buy it bulk, rinse before cooking, cook for 10 minutes in water and then rinse again before adding them to the sauce).
Personally, I don't like vegetables (over)cooked, so instead of 2 hours for couscous, I just heat them up and boil them for 5-10 minutes, certainly no more.
For pasta, the ideal solution is to use courgettes for this purpose with a spinner.
I can eat them raw, or put them in an ovenproof dish, in olive oil, pepper, cover them with foil and put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 200°C.
Of course, I can still buy more traditional pasta, so I opt for the milk and eggs free option such as spelt, rice… and follow the instructions on the package to get them aldente.
Pizza:
Pizza is an easy one, very similar then when going to the Pizzeria (restaurant). Of course, always make sure they prepare them fresh, if it's a frozen pre-prepared pizza, it's not easy to remove the cheese. Otherwise, just ask for the vegetarian pizza, which most large pizzeria’s have on the menu and ask to have it without cheese (so often without mozzarella). Normally in the dough there is no milk or eggs, now I can always ask to be sure.
That's right, vegan pizza!
Of course, I can also buy it in the organic shop, which is easily available at Biostory in Jodoigne.
I can also create it myself by buying or creating the dough
adding tomato sauce and all the vegetables I want or like to eat.
In my case, onions, mushrooms, peppers, peppers, peppers, peppers, olives.....
Ravioli:
Ready to buy in the local organic shop!
In general I can even add some vegan cheese, available in the local organic shop.
Bon appetit!
#peace #goodfood #nature #fruitsandvegetables #wholefood #freedom #giveupfear #helpinvitedvegan #cookforavegan #vegancouscous #biostory #jodoigne #veganitaliancuisine #veganspaghetti #veganpizza #bonappetit
