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Sicily–a wine lover’s paradise

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Sicily has been producing wine for almost 4,000 years – but it’s never been as varied or interesting as it is today—and it continues to push the boundaries in flavor and variety. Sicilian wine stems from a strong sense of duty toward the land and the people of Sicily.  It celebrates the contrasts of the land and shares them with the world.  Wines have become expressive of the land. According to Greek legend, it was Dionysus, the god of wine himself, who planted the first vineyard at Naxos. Archaeologists have discovered evidence that Sicilians were drinking wine as far back as the 17th century BC, long before the Greeks arrived in the eighth century. But at no point in Sicily’s millennia-long history of viniculture has the world been so interested in what’s being produced. Today, Sicily is Italy’s biggest wine making region, with 100,000 hectares of vineyard producing 30 per cent of Italy’s wine and more wine than all of New Zealand. It’s also one of Europe’s most exciting wine regions, and business is booming.  These new wines are a far cry from Marsala, and from the heavy-bodied, high-alcohol product that was once used to bulk up anemic reds from other regions, which the island had become known for during the decades following the 1950s. By 1987, just over 76 per cent of the wine produced in Sicily was bulk wine. Sicily’s status as an oenophile’s dream destination really began to take hold in the 1990s and early 2000s as a new generation of producers caught onto the region’s excellent winemaking conditions – a variety of microclimates, altitudes, and soils. In 2011, DOC (denomination of confirmed origin) was introduced, a legal wine designation that identifies wine produced in its area of designation – from Cerasuolo di Vittoria from the region of Ragusa, to Passito from Pantelleria. Drive across Sicily, and the changing landscape is astonishing – from arid vistas and rocky outcrops that look like they come straight out of an old Western, to lush green vineyards, groves of silvery olive trees punctuated by colorful wildflowers, and black volcanic plains. It’s not surprising that many Sicilian winemakers refer to the island as a continent, so different are the various terrains. While 90 per cent of the island’s vineyard area is located in western Sicily, it’s the volcanic region of Etna that is attracting the most attention globally with mineral-rich reds.  A decade ago, there were just 10 producers in the region. Today, there are close to 130, producing around 1.5 million bottles annually. As much as Sicily’s wine industry has changed over the past three decades, some things remain the same. Many wineries continue to harvest by hand – even the largest, like Donnafugata – and the conditions mean it’s fairly easy to grow grapes organically. One thing that is changing is the wine industry’s approach to tourism. As Sicilian wines gain increasing global attention, visitors are flocking to the island in ever greater numbers expressly to visit the wineries. As a result, several wine paths – such as Catania’s path from Fiumefreddo to Piedimonte Etneo or the path from Sant’Alfio to Trecastagni and Viagrande – are being actively promoted and many wineries are expanding to offer accommodation, dedicated tasting and food pairing. At Donnafugata winery, sustainability is integral to the winery’s ethos, and in 2008 they introduced a night harvest, which negates the need for cooling the grapes and resulted in a 70 per cent energy saving. At the Cottanera winery, the vineyards are located on the northern slope of the volcanic Mount Etna, 700m above sea level, where they grow over mineral-rich lava stone without any irrigation. Most of the work is carried out by hand by a team of 25 women, who also harvest the grapes, as is the tradition in Etna.  It’s like family. Barone di Villagrande, one of the oldest wineries in Etna, has a history that can be traced back to 1726. Valle Dell’Acate winery focuses on the traditional grapes of Sicily.  There are seven different soils on the estate, each used to produce a distinct grape variety. In a project titled “Seven Soils for Seven Wines”, Valle Dell’Acate is creating a profile of each soil and how it impacts the grapes. Wine helps the world understand Sicily, from it’s ash to it’s heart.  Are you ready for a taste? For personal coaching on how to make distinctive positive changes to your life, (or if you’d like to get together over a bottle of Sicilian wine 🙂 ) please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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Essentials for in-flight comfort: short flight edition

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I’ve had a lot of people say to me, I love to travel, but I just hate the flights!  I laugh a little inside as I LOVE to fly.  I look forward to that time on a plane where my cell phone will not be ringing (at least not yet!).  I guess I’ve always been able to get comfortable on a plane, but there are a few “essentials” that make the trip, wherever I’m headed, much more enjoyable.  Here’s some of the gear in my carry-on–for short haul flights of only a couple of hours. Water bottle:  Even on short flights, it is important to stay hydrated.  This is for the benefit of your skin, your eyes, your digestion and your mental focus.  Yet, if you’re in the air for only 2-3 hours, you may only get one pass by the flight attendants with the refreshment cart offering water.  Even longer flights might not offer water when you are most thirsty for it.   I admit it, I’m thrifty, so I just can’t spend the high prices airports love to charge for a bottle of water!  I find bringing an empty bottle with me, filling it at the fountain inside of the security checkpoints and bringing it aboard gives me all the refreshment I need, whenever I need it. Antibacterial wipes: You’ve heard about all the bacteria that are found in planes, particularly on the tray tables and arm rests, right?  Ugh!  Anti-bacterial wipes to the rescue!  Right after stowing your carry on, give a quick wipe to the arm rests and tray table, and any tech buttons you plan on touching.  Its a good start to landing healthy. Tissues:  The last thing you need is to get s runny nose and not have a tissue, or, have someone in the seat beside you in the same predicament.  Bring a travel pack of tissues and you’re ready to share. Big Scarf: I used to think the idea of layering up was obvious to female travelers, as we may often be traveling from one extreme in temperature to another–with a third thrown in up in the sky between them, yet I am still amazed at what I see people wear to fly.  I’ve been on flights that feel like ovens and others that feel like freezers, so I like to be prepared for both.  My typical flight look is pants/leggings/long skirt with a short sleeved top, a long cardigan, and a trusty big scarf.  When I say “big”, I’m not exaggerating.  I have a few I fly with regularly which are large enough to be blankets for a twin size bed.  They also need to be lightweight and sqishable into small spaces, and to not look ridiculous when you wrap them around your neck, so I opt for silk or lightweight wool.   My favorite pashmina style big scarf is from a trip to Nepal, and a few of my usual silk ones are cut down sarees from India (just bring the saree to a tailor to get the seams finished after cutting).  These are some of the “functional souvenirs” I’ve picked up along the way.  Not only do they come in handy, look beautiful and feel so comfortable, but they remind me of my adventures there each time I use them. My favorite pashmina style big scarf is from a trip to Nepal, and a few of my usual silk ones are cut down sarees from India.  These are some of the “functional souvenirs” I’ve picked up along the way.  Not only do they come in handy, look beautiful and feel so comfortable, but they remind me of my adventures there each time I use them.   5. Mints: I don’t know why but it is my experience that people in the seats beside me on shorter flights are more chatty than those on longer flights.  Carry along some mints, and you’ll feel fresh for any new friends you make beside you. 6. Earbuds: In case you don’t have a chatty person in the seat next to you–or maybe more importantly if you do and need to tune them all for a while, come prepared with your own earbuds to connect to your phone, mp3 player or in-flight entertainment system. 7. Your smile and grace: Perhaps the most important thing you can take with you when you head to the airport is a smile and some grace.  You never know who you will meet, and who you may influence or inspire with your actions.  You also never know what you may encounter–hours of delay, cancelled flights, short staffed flights during holiday seasons–oh, you get the idea.  Think positively in any of these situations, just smile, be kind, and your trip will be a lot more pleasant. For personal coaching on how to have a great adventure wherever you may travel, or to make distinctive positive changes to your life, please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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Raise your words, not your voice

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“Raise your words, not your voice.  It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” -Rumi I’ve been watching the news lately and getting more and more disappointed with how people try to get their demands met.  Whether it is someone disputing a charge at a store, or working towards a major social issue, what the news captures on film is always the same–people (often groups), yelling as loudly as they can, and usually reducing their vocabulary to a few words, or worse, curses, rather than well thought out points.  People yelling over each other, getting louder and louder.  Can any message really get across in all that noise? What happened to civilized debate?  What happened to conversation?  Reason?  Where do the thinkers go when a fight gets going?  What’s with all the yelling going on? Ok, I understand that sometimes, you need to vent.  To get it all out.  Fine.  Scientific American even published a study a few years ago stating that a bit of yelling was healthy.  I agree that it is not a good idea to hold in your frustrations and anger as that could lead to health issues.  Go yell in the woods, or in your bathroom, just not at each other.  Or better, find a different method of communicating your needs in a way that leads to positive action towards that goal. When a problem really needs to get solved, and multiple people are involved with different opinions on the topic, can we just stop all the shouting and cursing already?  It may just be my personal experience, but it never seems to get anywhere. Before you start to think that I’m some prudish woman who doesn’t ever curse, hardly.  I’ve been known to go on a few tirades.  And while I am rather soft-spoken most of the time, there are times when I yell out of frustration, or to get someone’s attention. Now I can be a fairly opinionated person and I tend to surround myself with friends who are equally strong in their convictions. When a bunch of us get together, normal conversation can spark passion for a topic that isn’t shared by others in the group–and that’s often where the “fun” begins, and voices get louder.  So over the years I’ve found a few successful methods for resolving fights and keeping friendships intact, with a lot less yelling: Take a breath and mentally visualize having this fight inside a library or a hushed art museum, or the hallway of your child’s school, or anywhere you know you should not be yelling.  Then try to lower your voice to one you would respectfully use in that place.  This often helps bring down the volume of your opponent as well.  Try not to let your voice get louder. Agree to walk away from a fight until you “cool off” and can discuss the issue more rationally.  If this is with a friend/spouse/lover, it could be “I love you but I see we disagree on this.  I want to fully understand your opinion, but I cannot focus on it while I am in this emotional state.  Can we sit down later/tonight/tomorrow to discuss more and move on to something else right now?” Agree to disagree.  There are times when two people are just not going to see eye to eye on something, no matter how much thought, kindness or empathy goes into the discussion.  If you care enough about the person, you can see past the issue that you disagree on and just agree to disagree. Bring in a moderator.  Sometimes, when you just can’t get to an agreement, but you really don’t have the option of agreeing to disagree either because a decision is time sensitive or life changing, it can help to bring in a third person who understands the pros and cons of a situation and can help get the two of you to see eye to eye on a plan to move forward. Consider a third option.  When an argument gets heated, sometimes it is hard to see past what you are arguing about.  In simplest terms, just because one of you loves chocolate ice cream and the other can’t stand it, doesn’t mean that there aren’t dozens of other flavors to try.  Take a step back and look at all the options.  It may stop that argument in its tracks! Often, you will remember that you had a “big fight” with someone a week ago, but can’t remember what is was about.  Sometimes in the heat of a conflict, we also need to ask ourselves “will this decision even matter by tomorrow/next week/next year?”  Often just answering that is all you need to stop the fight. Wishing you all many peaceful, meaningful, and low-volume conversations ahead! For personal coaching on how to make distinctive positive changes to your life, please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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Calm & Kind Conversations–the Buddhist Way

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In the post “Raise your words, not your voice” I took the original quote from 13th century poet and Sufi master, Rumi, and gave it a twist–going on a bit of a rant about all the noise I hear from conversations these days.  And by noise, the focus was on volume, as well as unnecessary “clutter” such as curse words.  Today, we go to the Buddhists for inspiration on communication. We all want to be able to communicate in a way that allows us to be heard and understood, as well as respected.  We (hopefully) want to add our positive light to the interaction.  Ultimately, we may want an action to result–whether that is coordinating help from your spouse and kids to manage this week’s busy schedule,  understanding from the friend you just watched a film with on your perspective of the trippy narrative, or a new client from a proposal you just pitched.  Maybe you just want to interact with a flight attendant in a way that makes the 9 hour flight over the ocean more pleasant for both of you.   This is the Buddhist Way. Your conversations aim to be calm and kind.  Yes, your points can be passionately argued, but in way that leaves all involved feeling positive. We have often heard the idea of asking yourself four questions before you speak: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it helpful? And added a bit later to the “three gates”, does it improve upon the silence? These questions can be traced back to Buddhist, Sufi, Muslim and even Quaker traditions.  They beautifully capture the mindset and the positive energy we strive to add to any conversation.  If we could all just ask ourselves these four questions before any interaction, the world could be a much more peaceful and joyful place. Friends of mine would say I was a “woman of few words” as I speak quietly and in the most simplified way that I can to express myself.  Yes, it is possible for me to break out all the multi-syllabic words garnered from decades of subscribing to the New Yorker and enjoying hundreds of Sunday NYT William Safire articles through the years, but I have found that for myself, the more simply an idea is expressed, the easier it is to be understood.  This is particularly true when traveling, as complex phrases or colloquial terms tend to get lost in translation.  Building on that, the easier an idea is to be understood, the faster it can be acted upon, as further clarification is not necessary.  This lesson has come in handy in boardroom strategy sessions, with friends from around the world, and when trying to motivate a group.  Of course it also applies to conversations with your children, parents, or romantic partners. Even when you are having a fight, or I should say, ESPECIALLY when you are having a fight, it is important to check your words against the four questions and then simplify from there. Have you already mastered the art of Buddhist speech?  Then let’s go deeper into the eight-fold path of the Buddhist way: The Buddhist Way: To speak consciously, clearly and concisely, without anxiety To respond instead of react To speak in a way that is kind, honest and helpful To know when to speak and when to stay quiet (and there’s number four!) To stay engaged while listening To express yourself so that others can hear you To nip potential problems in the bud before they become meltdowns To be comfortable in silence with no need to fill space with talk We may go into this even deeper in a future post, but it seems like a fairly straightforward no-brainer of a guide to peaceful interactions, don’t you think? Now, imagine being on a road trip and there are four of you crammed into a car and you’ve got ten hours or more ahead of you.  Or you are at an extended family holiday dinner, or maybe a staff meeting at the office…  Wouldn’t you LOVE if everyone could follow the Buddhist Way?  Ahh, now we may have reached bliss! For personal coaching on how to make distinctive positive changes to your life, please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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stretching with the sunrise in NYC

Mind, Body, and Manhattan: Wellness Adventures in New York City

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Welcome to New York City!When visiting New York City, it is incredibly easy to find fitness and wellness activities!  The challenge for me is always deciding which delicious food to try on each visit as there are just so many options.  But instead of wandering off on a tangent that will surely land us in a fantastic pizza spot or insert-you-favorite-cuisine-here (NYC has them all!), let’s focus back on wellness… Sure, NYC might be known for its pizza and bagels, but don’t let that fool you—this city is a paradise for anyone looking to stay active and recharge. Whether you’re stretching into the sunrise at Battery Park, savoring farm-to-table goodness at Union Square, or floating your stress away in a sensory deprivation tank, New York has you covered. Let’s explore all the ways you can prioritize your mind, body, and soul while soaking up the best of the Big Apple. Start your day with the Sunrise: A great Ayurvedic practice, as well as one for productivity, is getting up with (or before) the sun.  I love starting the day, and particularly my first day in a new city, by watching the sunrise.  Head down to the North Cove, a part of Battery Park in Manhattan that is one of the top places to go in NYC if you want to see the sun peak over the horizon. Eating local:  I promised myself I wouldn’t go off on tangents about food in this article as there are just SO MANY great options, But for the sake of wellness, here’s just a few food-related bits to share: Many of NYC’s restaurants offer “farm-to-table” menus with locally sourced organic ingredients.  Or you can check out the Farmer’s Markets and pick up your own local produce, cheeses, breads, honey, meats and more.  The Union Square Greenmarket is my personal favorite as it is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday year round and also allows for a stroll through Union Square Park, and a visit to the huge Barnes & Noble and Paragon Sports stores just across the street. It is easily accessible by subway as well.  For more details on all the greenmarkets in New York, visit: https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket Put one foot in front of the other: Like most big cities, New York City is easily walkable.  The terrain is flat, streets are well marked, and there are wide sidewalks just about everywhere.  Keep clear of the heavy “office areas” during rush hours though or you may find yourself being pushed along with the crowd of coffee-wielding, fast-moving locals on their way to or from work.   Yes, there is an amazingly efficient subway and bus system, as well as those iconic yellow cabs, not to mention Uber, Lyft, etc. but your feet really can bring you everywhere you want to go.   My favorite way to escape the noise of the city is to stroll through Central Park, where you can get lost for hours and not realize you’re in the middle of a city, or though the art installations along the elevated HighLine park downtown. Escape to Central Park: Right in the center of the city craziness is a carefully designed tranquil park with many things to offer.  Stroll the paved paths, picnic, watch a concert, enjoy the street performers, take an outdoor class, or just take a nap on a sunny patch of grass. Founded by a certified Fitness Trainer and official NYC Sightseeing Guide, Fit tours will raise your heart rate while showing you the sights in Central Park.  One option allows you to run five kilometers on a route that encompasses the park’s most famous locations. Or, try the sunrise yoga walk, or perhaps enjoy a two mile walk/jog course from one side of the park to the other interspersed with strength training exercises.  https://fittoursnyc.com/ And while you’re in the park, head over to the Boathouse, where you can rent a rowboat and enjoy the waterways within the park while still getting in some exercise (weather permitting). From the water you will get to see many turtles and birds that are harder to see from land, including egrets and loons. Surround yourself with water:  Water may be one of the best sources of wellness on the planet.  From drinking it to soaking in it, or just watching it, the body is nourished and the mind is instantly calmed.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! A subterranean indoor water spa, called Aire is located in a beautifully restored historic building, which is fitting since it strives to closely replicate ancient Greek and Roman bath traditions. Pools of varying temperatures fill the sprawling space, which is lit by candlelight, and guests are encouraged to journey through the baths at their own pace. While you can’t move in, you can extend your stay by booking a massage package. 88 Franklin St. For more information visit www.beaire.com  Try a boating day trips offered by Gild Hall. The historic Wall Street boutique hotel has three unique summer packages for guests who want to get out on the water. The Historic South Street Seaport Summer Package offers a boat ride for two aboard the Pioneer, a 130-year-old schooner, and includes admission to the South Street Seaport Museum. You can also have a picnic at Gild Hall’s Felice (a lovely Tuscan restaurant), followed by two pints back on shore at the historic Paris Café.  Thompson Hotel Everyone loves Brunch so why not eat it on a boat? The Shearwater CLassic Schooner offers a two-hour champagne brunch sail ($95 for adults, $45 for children ages 3 to 12) with a buffet (and, of course, champagne). Just be sure to be there by 11 o’clock or you’ll miss the boat, literally.  For more details, click here.  For dinner or lunch try Hudson’s at Pier 81. Aboard this three-story, 160-foot yacht you will see breathtaking views of the New York Harbor as you sail to the Statue of Liberty and nibble on shareable plates and full entrees. Float away your stress: Float tanks are gaining popularity around the city, and

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Unconditional Abundant Affection

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Every dog owner thinks they have the best dog.  Every one of them is right. Well, maybe mine is a little cuter, softer, smarter, crazier…maybe, but you could likely argue this for hours if your home (or bed) is also shared by a dog.  They give us “that look” or make that sound that only the “dog mom” or “dog dad” can interpret (admit it though, it usually means “feed/walk/play with me”). Dogs have a simple view on life.  The eat when they get hungry, they sleep when tired, and they play when they want to.  Some are very particular about their food, or their bed, or their toys, I get it, but their needs are still simple, and the love they give us in return more than makes up for that sad eyed “demand” to go for a walk at 5AM.  And they appreciate fully everything we do for them. So what is the lesson here?  Stop arguing with your friends over who has the best dog?  No.  The lesson is one of seeing the world the way a dog sees it.  I’m not saying we should start sniffing garbage or water hydrants, I’m saying full reversal of mindset.  A dog isn’t thinking about problems.  She isn’t cluttering her life with stuff.  She isn’t having meaningless interactions.  What if we tried spending a day living life with the outlook of a dog: simplifying our needs and giving unconditional and abundant affection?  What is the worst that could happen–a belly rub and some treats? For personal coaching on how to  make distinctive positive changes to your life, please get in touch with me through the contact form by clicking contact me above. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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About us

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What will you find here at Wabi Sabi Wonderful Life?  Well, my life is built around travel, food, wellness and empowerment.  If you found this site through the travel teases and motivational posts on social media, you’ll find that spirit expanded throughout the site.  If you just want to read the blogs you’ll find all sorts of recipes from around the globe, sometimes re-created to suit a western kitchen or adapted to locally available ingredients.  All are tested (or written) by me, and yes, that cute dog in some of the photos is my trusty fluffy kitchen companion. You’ll also find travel tips (how to pack, etc.) and ideas on how to travel with wellness-in-mind to some cities I’ve been to recently–just look for our “wandering in wellness” posts.  You’ll see my wellness practices include Ayurveda, yoga and meditation, and greener, cleaner living overall, yet open-mindedness and a desire to explore leads me to feature many things that may not fit within what would normally be found on a wellness and empowerment site.  Why is that?  Well, love and joy come from many places and for me, food is a frequent conduit for both.  So as I desire to share love and joy with all my readers, you will see some “maybe-indulge-only-once-in-a-while” recipes.  Deal? Here’s my thing: All of us need to find our own flow and follow our own flow.  We need to have strength in who we are and be accepted for that (as well as learn to be accepting of others who may hold different beliefs or practices).  So many struggle with this, especially when we are in transitional phases of life: changing careers (or considering it), starting a business, divorce or loss of partner, empty nest, retirement, or even something as simple as moving to a new place. If you want to go deeper with us, one-on-one phone/skype/live coaching sessions are available to get you motivated, help you determine your path, or help keep you on it, whether that is in diet/fitness/lifestyle, or in starting a new business, enhancing your performance in your current career, or improving your personal relationships.  At Wabi Sabi Wonderful Life, we help you reach your goals, in a way that feels fresh and fun, not forced. Head over to the contact us page and drop me a line if you’d like to learn more.  If you want to go even one step further with us, sign up for one of our transforming selective small group “Empowered Adventure” travel programs.  These trips will take you to amazing locations where you will be immersed in local culture, while also enjoying daily wellness and growth-oriented activities.  When you return, you will be transformed, physically, mentally and spiritually…and you’ll make some new friends along the way. We embrace the uniqueness of each individual and aim to enhance her strengths and overcome her challenges.  Articles on the site share time-tested ways to help you improve wellness, particularly if you are a frequent traveler (or want to become one!) while our friendly, judgement-free coaching customizes unique programs to address your health, career or emotional needs–empowering you to be ready for whatever life has to offer. Join us in exploring how to use self-care practices from around the globe–from Ayurvedic practices that date back thousands of years–to herbal and natural approaches–and even some of today’s trends.  We show you how to incorporate wellness routines into your busy lifestyle with ease,  so you can quickly begin living your best life.  Welcome to the journey!    

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