Book Update: a HAPPY Collaboration

In the hopes that all of those who celebrated had a great holiday of Thanksgiving, I'm here to share some exciting thankful news and info while you all are still in the thankful spirits! And if the holiday is not celebrated in your country, you should know by now that it's never a bad day to give some thanks.

So, how about we talk some happines today? If you're not familiar with "Happy" yet, it's about time I introduce you! HAPPY is a documentary that takes us along on a journey all around the world in search of what really makes people happy. The movie uncovers the "secrets behind our most valued emotion" through a combination of interviews with the leading happiness research scientists and real life "ordinary and extraordinary people". 

Happy people behind HAPPY share my belief that gratitude plays a huge role in shaping your happier frame of mind, and I am more than happy to finally let you know that Derek Silvers, who is the transcriber and does all things publicity for the movie (and who you might already know via the Happy Blog), and Roko Belic, the HAPPY director himself, both personally contributed to the upcoming thankful book by yours truly with their thankful thoughts!

And although I can't yet share the outcome of our thankful dialogues and there's no official movie release date yet, there's something you can get your hands on almost right away - HAPPY is available for pre-order! I believe Derek can explain all things happy better, so you can read more about this limited time deal (and so much more!) here. 

Ahh, who's just as excited as I am?!.

A Quick Question

I'm just curious, have it ever happened to you that you wanted to tell someone 'thank you' for something personal but felt too shy, inappropriate or awkward and never thanked them in the end?

Personally, it happened to me before. It wasn't until I started practicing small "acts" of gratitude (even if silent ones of which only I was aware) often enough that I started feeling completely comfortable in expressing my thankfulness and giving thanks out loud so openly and so often. So, I guess for some people it does take time and effort to be able to voice it. However, some don't even try. This is why the idea of the Thanksgiving holiday is such a good idea.

Travel & Thank: Day 9. Of Home, Sunrise and Chocolate

Yesterday night before going to bed I started getting kind of homesick… But not homesick for my actual place of residence back in the home country - I yearned for my aunt’s house here. Quite funny, if you ask me - I’ve never felt this way about a place I lived at before, and this house is not my home and not even my house. Not being too sure what to make of it, I found a reason to be thankful for it – if that’s what missing home feels like, I’m definitely glad I’ve finally felt the feeling. It feels really good.

As for my plan to watch the sunset that didn’t quite work out, I decided to make up for it and watch the sunrise instead. I’ve never really watched it before either, so I’m thankful I was actually able to wake up at 6 am. The best part about it was seeing half of the sky still being a starry night sky with a halfmoon and the other half looking like an early morning skies, stars versus clouds – amazing!.. If only my camera could capture this magical site!

The social highlight of the day happened on my way back to “home, sweet home” when me and my charming taxi driver discovered an interest in common – dark chocolate (and Lindt Chili chocolate in particular). Discussing all the varieties was a whole lot of fun - I guess I’ve never really so randomly met another chocolate lover who’d be equally as interested in talking to a stranger about cocoa percentage in favorite kinds, ways to eat it and TV shows covering the subject... He adds chocolate to his chilie sauce and to him it tastes okay.

So, all in all, it was another good day in country C.!

P.S. The day is not over yet though. I’m sitting on the third floor of the aunt’s house and I’m finally ready to watch the sun set.

Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The ‘Thank You’ Project blog ©2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author’s actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

Travel & Thank: Day 8. Getting Upset is Not an Option

Today was the day when I fully and truly realized the impact this year of thankfulness had on me.

I thought I was comfortable being alone before… Compared to now, this must’ve been another kind of comfortableness, because now I’m superiorly at ease with myself. I don’t even notice the difference in my perception of myself and the way I carry myself when I am alone or with somebody else, if you know what I mean.

So, back at home I booked a one night stay at a lovely boutique hotel located at the town’s most beautiful bay – the main idea being to occupy a perfect sunset watching spot (remember how I confessed I’d never done that?). I was obviously to go alone, and this was fine until I arrived and it felt as if I’ve been here million times before. While chilling by the hotel’s pool somehow I could just sense that everyone around me was being a whole lot more self-conscious, watching their step, thinking what others think of them etc. And me? I was just truly enjoying myself.

Another new thing is, I don’t even get upset. I only just realized I even forgot getting upset was an option when upon arrival I was told I wouldn’t be getting the view I wanted, which was uber important since the whole reason of me being here was to watch this sun set… (I got a room upgrade as a compensation though, but frankly, do I really need two bathrooms when I’m here alone and for one night only?). I totally forgot getting upset was an option when it turned out I was given wrong information and thus was late to watch the sunset from their restaurant’s balcony - the new sunset watching location they suggested. Instead, I enjoyed what was left of it – the sky was still full of beautiful colors. While at it, I also found out I was too early for dinner, but as I happened to chat up the right hotel person about this whole sunset thing, I was treated to a truly private dining experience. I was seated at the restaurant’s sofa (where they don’t even serve food) so that I could watch the leftover sunset, and I was served before the opening time as I mentioned I was hungry already. There just was something truly exceptional about eating in an empty restaurant, something very home-like - a feeling of being very welcomed. And that was when I realized all of what I’ve just confessed.

Maybe the day and night didn’t quite go according to plan, but I am thankful for the alterations that happened. I just wouldn’t be able to plan and execute something like a room upgrade and a very special dining experience, and maybe I wouldn’t have had a chance to become so aware of how easy it’s finally for me to just be me.

Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The ‘Thank You’ Project blog ©2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author’s actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

Travel & Thank: Day 7. Such a Small Town, So Much History



Still not much tan, but I'm clearly enjoying myself, can't you tell?

Since today the weather was even worse than on my glorious beach day - the skies completely blanketed with clouds - I spent the day exploring some of the major local historical sites, including the town's old and new forts, harbor, some ancient ruins and tombs and a church. This was a whole lot of walking, stair climbing and picture taking - a great work out both for me and my camera battery that died sooner than I was done enjoying every minute of my historical escapade.

 

I'm very thankful the day allowed for this much sight-seeing and cultural exploration. Be it a sunny day I'd be so tempted to spend at least half of it on the beach or by the pool that I just wouldn't get such a great chance to feel THIS historically accomplished!

Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The Thank You' Project blog 2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author's actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

Travel & Thank: Day 6. Experiences Collector or Broccoli to Die For

I'm a true experiences collector. If I were given an official acknowledging paper or some sort of a certificate for each thing I've ever tried but had no real business trying, I'd have a huge pile of such paper verifications by now.

For instance, I've never house hunted before - not for myself, nor with someone else. I remember seeing the activity in movies when I was a kid and thinking that it was kind of cool and very grown-up looking. Well, today was my first time!

I was asked of a favor to check out some properties here in country C. on behalf of someone else and, let me tell you, it was a very different experience - exactly the kind of a new thing I like to try and am always thankful for. I was driven around town and shown whatever I wanted to see, and maybe it would've been even more fun if I was actually looking for a place of my own and needed it here in country C. - one of the apartments I saw today looked 86% like my dream bachelorette pad. One thing I know for sure is that when I'm finally house hunting for myself I'll have this priceless experience and use the tricks realtors use to my own advantage. (I was definately making careful observations, yes!)

On another note, the food at the Thai restaurant I mentioned before is a reason good enough to make a really quick come back to this resort town - their broccoli is just too amazing for words! Had it again tonight and my stomach couldn't be more thankful, oh my. I'll probably be back again before I leave.

P.S. I'm thinking people who wonder how come I manage to truly enjoy my solo trips abroad need to read my blog. See, it's just impossible for me to get bored even if I travel alone - I attract non-boring things just like my food plates attract delicious broccoli. Okay, this last line was kind of lame... My excuse is I'm just having way too much fun!..

Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The Thank You' Project blog 2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author's actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

A Thankful Favor?

The Thankful Survey is looking for more thankful respondents!

Once the survey reaches its 100% response capacity (we're at 40% right now), I'll be sharing the results with all of you and it's something I'm really looking forward to - I'm seeing some interesting patterns already! 

If you still haven't participated and want to do me a little favor (and this way contribute to the upcoming book), either follow this link or use the "Thankful Survey" tab above to submit your thankful answers. The survey's short and easy, so have no fear!

Travel & Thank: Day 5. I Wouldn't Dare Say It Wasn't a Perfect Beach Day

This was the day that I decided to devote solely to the beach. This also happened to be the day when the weather was less than beach-perfect - it was chilly, it was cloudy, it was really windy and the skies were dropping occasional water tears here and there.

No beach time that day meant messing up all of my "beach all day long" plans - a thought I couldn't bear thinking. I had plans to occupy one of those pricey sunbeds at the beach deck by the hotel we visited with mom and aunt a few days back, and I had my perfect beach outfit ready - I looked so good I was jealous of myself.

I contemplated for only a bit - I realized that if anything could stop me from spending the day at the beach it was only me. The weather didn't matter as much as my devotion, so off to the beach I went. Think I regretted it? As if! I came around and found all the reasons to be thankful for.

First of all, chilly meant I would have no problem being outside under the sun (or should I say clouds?) all day. I could sunbathe all I wanted and not get a heat shock. Secondly, windy meant more people thought it wouldn't be a good idea to spend the day by the sea. The beach was almost empty, and I was the only one at my fancy beach deck. Due to its price it's almost empty daily, but even those usual one or two couples were nonexistent that day which meant I had the whole deck to myself - perfection! And last, but not least, everyone seemed to be extra attentive and extra eager to be helpful, which I believe was both because the staff had less people to cater to and because the less than perfect weather didn't mean less than perfect beach experience. In the end, I wouldn't dare say it wasn't a perfect beach day.

Bottom line, life is what you make it and experiences can be created. You decide!


Disclaimer: Travel & Thank is a mini-project within and is part of The Thank You' Project blog 2009-2010. Travel & Thank updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author's actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.

Travel & Thank: Day 4. Flowers for Myself

Random thankful thoughts of the day: 

1) If being alone at the house yesterday felt slightly weird, then today morning it felt perfectly normal already. I woke up and it felt just fine, and I was thankful for the peaceful state of things all around me;

2) I’ve been here for three full days, but this morning was the first day when I sunbathed by the property’s pool, and since it was the first time it felt positively new and interesting – something to be thankful for, because if I keep relocating beach-wise I won’t have the time to get tired of the property’s scenery;

3) Such serenity here, I’m feeling completely relaxed for the first time in a long while. I don’t even miss the internet! Went to an internet café nearby to get online quickly and regretted it – I think this was more of a habit rather than a desire to check on things. It suddenly felt like work and I had to remind myself I was on vacation. I left the place earlier than my pre-paid time was up, thankful that a quick trip online made me realize how truly relaxed, stress-free and easy I felt these past days;

4) Saw they were selling roses at a nearby supermarket and bought myself a bouquet. Such joy! A simple gesture of appreciation given to myself. Highly recommended!

5) It seems it’s always easier to get lost when you’re exploring a new town on your own. When you have a partner, one of you just always seems to remember more of the focal points on your explorative route. When you don’t have a partner, it makes it more adventurous and makes you more focused. It also makes you more comfortable being alone overtime.

6) It’s usually not that easy to creep me out, so I’m actually thankful I got to feel and enjoy the feeling when visiting some of the ruins here today all by myself. I bet it wouldn’t feel the same if I went with someone else!

 

7) Local Thai restaurant’s food is AWESOME. So delicious I could barely stop eating. Dessert didn’t fit in, so I’m thinking I’ll have to come back and repeat. And only now do I realize that I didn’t even once think of the fact that I was dining out on my own. Did I mention that with time you learn to really appreciate your own company?

Disclaimer: Travel & Thank™ is a mini-project within and is part of The ‘Thank You’ Project blog ©2009-2010. Travel & Thank™ updates are featured twice a week, are pre-written and not made in real time - each post was created during the author’s actual vacation in the mid-fall of 2010. For privacy reasons the names of the persons, places and geographical locations may have been shortened, abbreviated or changed and are not subject to disclosure.