In my last post, I mentioned that I love getting up with the sun.

I have a question for you. Or more than one actually. Did you notice that the trees are changing their colours (at least in most parts of Europe)? Did you realise how bright the yellow leaves can turn when the sun shines on them? Do you listen to the leaves crunching under your feet? In winter, do you ever appreciate the cold days that allow you to snuggle under a blanket on the sofa at home to watch a movie and drink a hot tea? Without rain we would never appreciate the sun as much.

You probably understand what I am getting to here. OPEN UP YOUR EYES. Appreciate the world around you. It too is living by its own clock and I just love following that. Isn’t it great that we have to wait 6-9 months to go skiing to feel all that excitement for it? What I almost love more than summer is making plans and looking forward to the sunny, warm days. When I went on my travels I was so excited for a whole year of summer. I couldn’t wait to be able to go surfing on Christmas, go for a January swim in the Pacific Ocean and just enjoy this different climate.

“Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you No one else Can speak the words on your lips”

Natasha Bedingfield

Guess what: the last two months of my trip I was searching for shadow more than I was chasing the sun. We always want what we can’t have. Right now I am here in Austria and the days are getting colder and even had to wear my winter jacket and gloves already. And let me tell you, it excites me so so much!! I am so looking forward to the days when I step outside and my eyes and nose burn from breathing in, because the air is so cold. Especially the time before Christmas will be amazing. Standing with a Glühwein in my glove-protected hands, next to friends when it suddenly starts to snow for the first time. The magic these small flakes spread, can be felt almost under every skin.

I want to make you aware that if the summer days are too hot for you, the autumn ones too rainy, the winter’s too cold and spring’s not warm enough, you are never gonna be happy. Some things in life you cannot change, so find the strength in yourself to not let your happiness be defined by circumstances. Learn to run in the rain and make the best of the things that are out of your control. Use these days to work on what you can control. Make yourself happy.

I just love life’s little details and I can draw so much energy from them. Appreciating a full moon with more than just a foto. Turning around to look at an especially beautiful leaf. Taking the dog for a walk in the woods when the leaves are being swirled around by the wind. Listening to birds sitting on a hedge or watching a sunset that illuminates the whole sky. Situations that won’t be noticed by the ignorant eye energise me.