This is a story from my past and should really be called: “The time an apartment exploded at a hotel in Portugal where I was staying.” But before I dive into it , let me give you a little context. At the time I was around 18 or 19 years old. I had just relocated from my hometown Bollnas to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. I'd worked a variety of odd jobs, including stints at coffee shops and bars. However, one particular coffee shop in a cool part of Stockholm stood out. It was a night coffee shop, and the owner, a woman who started it, hired me to work the night shifts. Looking back, I can't believe I worked there alone without any security, except for a mysterious item hidden behind the counter. (I think it was some sort of teaser spray.) The coffee shop became a late-night meet up hub for taxi drivers, various authors, artists, and night owls. Little did I know that the owner's daughter, entangled in a cult-like sect, would soon take over. She tried to bully me out of the job and filled the place with sect members. Soon, even the local taxi drivers began suspecting I was part of the cult. It was a weird time. During this time, I met people who had been brainwashed by different cults and organisations. My curiosity got the better of me, and I began reading about cults and the stories of those who had left them. Finding a place to rent in the heart of Stockholm was challenging even in those days. Eventually, I stumbled upon a small, cute apartment just a couple of blocks away from the coffee shop. The apartment owner told me the previous tenant had left suddenly, leaving behind a strange collection of items, including chainsaws and axes. Plus, he had accumulated a mountain of debt, owing thousands to various banks. The situation was kind of weird, but I felt desperate for a place to stay. This was also a time when mobile phones weren't as common as they are now. Instead, we relied on old-school phone booths to make calls. I also couldn't install a phone line in the apartment due to the previous tenant's issues. One day, as I strolled through Stockholm, I saw a sign from a company called Gudrun Sjoden. They were looking for models to go to Portugal for two weeks, and they didn't just want professional models; they wanted everyday folks. Without thinking twice, I applied and got the job, quitting the coffee shop. We went to Algarve, which is in the southern part of Portugal. It was my first encounter with Fado music (Fado means fate), the country's traditional tunes, and the sandy beaches, which were simply breathtaking. We explored orange farms and mediaeval villages while working on the photo shoots. During this time, we stayed at a hotel close to the beach. My model friend and I were on the eighth floor, and we had a late start the next day, so we decided to go out and enjoy the local nightlife, which resulted in us getting a bit "smashed." Unbeknownst to us, the couple living a few floors below us had accidentally left the gas on in their apartment. When they returned home, they lit a cigarette, and the resulting explosion was nothing short of catastrophic. But the most incredible part is that they survived, just with some injuries. Now, here's where the gratitude kicks in. Despite what happened, the couple below miraculously lived to tell the tale. It was a good reminder to take life one day at a time and cherish each moment. And as I reflect on this experience, I can't help but feel the urge to return to that beautiful place one day. Until next time, take care, and remember to live each day to the fullest. Catch ya later! 🌟🏖️ Yenny Noosa, Australia ✨ ✨ Here is a share of my recent adventures in the world of gratitude, inspiration, and personal growth. Even as someone who preaches the power of gratitude and has created Gratitude Digital Journals, I occasionally find myself falling off the gratitude waggon. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of life and forget what truly matters. So, last week, I decided to get back on track and reignite my gratitude practice. Below are a couple of things that happened when I started to practice gratitude again: ✨ Reconnecting with Books One of the many things was rediscovering my love for books again. It had been ages since I'd set foot in a library, and when I finally did, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of criminal novels, some inspirational and some spiritual books. Among the gems I found was a book by Dolores Cannon titled "The Three Waves of Volunteers and the New Earth." Reading it reminded me of my purpose and why I'm here - a topic worth exploring in a future episode. I also found some of my favourite Swedish Noir criminal novel authors, especially Camilla Lackberg. Her books are hard to put down! I also found an amazing inspiring book by author Mari Andrew called “My Inner Sky, On embracing day, night and all the times in between.” ✨ The Artist's Way to Creativity As I continued, I realised that writing was a vital part of it. However, I'd often find myself starting but then losing my creative flow. A friend introduced me last year to "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron. This book is a source of creative inspiration and a practical guide for discovering and recovering your creative self. I committed to writing every morning, and, at the time of writing this, I'm on day 28, which, as they say, is when a habit begins to form. ✨Embracing Health and Fitness Gratitude has always had a way of creating a ripple effect in my life. It also sparked a desire to focus on my physical well-being. A couple of weeks ago, I walked past a local gym and decided to take a peek. To my surprise, they were offering a free month of sessions with no sign-up fee. I joined, and, as of now, I'm in my sixth or seventh week of spinning classes 2-3 times a week. It is exhausting but fun! ✨ Securing My Sanctuary Finding an affordable rental in Australia can be quite challenging, and I have been lucky so far to have a place to call home. I just signed a lease for another year this week, and the rent increase was much more manageable this time. I couldn't be happier about my lovely spot in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. I feel so lucky to live here! ✨ Connecting with Amazing People I have found that the more you work on yourself, the more you connect with like-minded people. These connections often happen for a reason. ✨ Audiobooks Galore I'm an avid fan of books, but audiobooks have a special place in my heart. I just discovered that Spotify has released over 120,000 audiobooks here in Australia! Now, I'm speeding through them to absorb as much knowledge and inspiration as I can! No more boring car drives! ✨ Crafting a Bucket List Journal One of the recent sparks of inspiration was creating a bucket list journal. I'm currently working on a printable version as well as a digital edition for iPad and Android users. Stay tuned! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ To tie it all together, I want to leave you with a powerful message from the one and only Robert Edward Grant. (See YouTube video below) He delves into the concepts of “mentalism” and gratitude, emphasising the importance of what we think and believe, which creates our reality. He also highlights the role of gratitude in raising our vibrations and countering fear. And most importantly, he encourages us to remember why we're here. Have you ever considered your purpose and what truly lights up your life? For me, it's about sharing stories, spreading joy, and raising vibrations. It's about the little things that make life shine. Until next time, keep shining and embracing the beauty of life! ✨ 💗 Yenny 💫 Pssst 💫 - If you would like to know more about my product updates, receive monthly freebies, my podcast and upcoming courses, make sure you subscribe to my 💌 NEWSLETTER 💌 A great TED talk by Robert Edward Grant, as mentioned in my latest podcast show. 💜 Gratitude practise. Does it really work? 💜 What happens when you practise gratitude? And does it really work? The only answer to this that I can say from experience is YES! Amazing things happen when I practise gratitude. It might not be noticeable at first but gradually, things shift and change in my life for the better. It is a work in progress, though, and I have found I need to treat it as a job, but a fun one, and keep going. As they say, "Keep it simple" and that is something I have done. In the beginning, I took on too much, got overwhelmed, and stopped. So this is what I do. Each morning, I begin my day by listing three to five things I'm grateful for using one of my digital gratitude journals I have created for iPad and Android tablets with GoodNotes. And in some cases, I do it the traditional way, using a pen and paper. Here are a couple of positive things I have found out that have happened when I practise gratitude: 🤍 Finding Light in the Darkness: Gratitude has enabled me to see 'glimmers' of hope even in challenging times. It has gradually removed resentment and negativity, making room for more positivity. 🤍 Creating Vision Boards: By practising gratitude, I've learned the power of visualisation through vision boards, manifesting a clearer picture of my desires. 🤍 Choosing Positive Relationships: As I've embraced gratitude, I've become more careful about the people I allow into my life. Negative influences have naturally faded away, making space for more positive connections. 🤍 Listening to My Intuition: Gratitude has heightened my intuition and encouraged me to follow my heart in all aspects of life, leading to better decision-making. 🤍 Becoming a Better Listener: I've not only become a better listener to others but also to my own needs. This self-awareness has enhanced my overall well-being. 🤍 Improved Sleep: Despite already being a good sleeper, practising gratitude has further improved the quality of my sleep. Less anxious nights. Win-win! 🤍 Synchronicities and Coincidences: The more I've delved into gratitude, the more coincidences and synchronicities I've experienced, reinforcing that I am on the right path in life. 🤍 Mindfulness and Living in the Present: Gratitude has helped me live in the present moment, understanding that as they say “today is a gift” and no matter how much I plan for tomorrow I can’t control the outcome. Here is some inspiration "Today Is A Gift" from Kung Fu Panda. Starts at 1:40. 🤍 Minding My Own Business: This simple yet powerful practise has allowed me to focus on my own path and growth, ultimately enabling me to help others more effectively. That’s it! What do you think? 💜 Yenny 💜
Link to the Podcast episode HERE.
Psst...I have a confession to make…
I want to share a little secret with you: I am absolutely addicted to creating podcasts. This is my fourth podcast, and I must admit, I am also a huge fan of listening to podcasts. And one more thing: I have struggled with practising gratitude. It's not something that comes naturally to me, but I've come to understand its importance in my life. So, in the first podcast episode CONFESSIONS OF A GRATITUDE JUNKIE, I'll take you on a journey through my podcasting experience and share how gratitude has played a positive impact in my life. The Beginning of My Podcasting Journey Around 8 or 9 years ago, in 2015, I started my podcasting journey, actually as a response to a significant life change - a separation. While it was my choice, it also brought feelings of guilt and anxiety. During this challenging time, I decided to explore the power of connection through podcasting. With a microphone and fuelled by a desire to connect with people who had faced their own life struggles, I set out to interview individuals from different backgrounds. This was the birth of my first podcast, "Everyday Light Warriors." (No longer active)
Everyday Light Warriors:
A Healing Journey "Everyday Light Warriors" was a podcast where I interviewed people who had encountered various life challenges, such as miscarriages, amputations, accidents, grief, divorces, addiction, and more. These people shared their stories of resilience and the glimmers of hope they discovered on their journeys. Not only did this podcast help others, but it also became a source of healing and growth for me. Through these conversations, I connected with others, learned valuable life lessons, and improved my podcasting skills. As a former photographer I also combined my photography skills and ended up doing an exhibition to shine a light on mental health and suicide. LINK TO THE NEWS ARTICLE HERE.
Noosa Stories:
Exploring Noosa - Sunshine Coast: I embarked on another podcasting adventure titled "Noosa Stories." This podcast focused on interviewing business people in the Noosa area on the Sunshine Coast, QLD - Australia. Having originally hailed from Sweden, I found my soul space in Noosa and wanted to explore the concept of finding one's true home. "Noosa Stories" allowed me to connect with the local community and share their inspiring stories. I also got to connect with new people, which was great! Ascension Talk with Yenny: A dive into healing and beyond a few years ago, I launched "Ascension Talk with Yenny", a podcast dedicated to exploring topics like healing, aliens, UFO encounters and more. This venture allowed me to delve into a different aspect of my interests and share my experiences as well as stories from people around the globe. Listen on: Spotify | On my website (second podcast on the page) Through my podcasting journey, I encountered remarkable people who left a profound impact on my life. One interviewee gifted me a one-year yoga membership (thank you, beautiful Lauren, founder of Zenko Yoga), which kickstarted a journey towards physical healing. This led me to practise yin yoga, which, in turn, prompted me to start running and make other positive lifestyle changes. Thank you for reading. ❤️ Yenny
Check out my podcast below. Subscribe on:
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