Tamil Nadu is calling....

So I am off to India in February for 3 months. It all feels very overwhelming and sudden but I feel it's what I am suppose to be doing and though my mind may be cotton woolish, my heart is full of excitement about this adventure. I am so fortunate to be able to take part in this ICS program and have to have the chance to learn all about International Development from the charity Restless Development.  While I am away I will be volunteering with a group of fellow 18-25 year olds and together along side national volunteers we will be able see the positive impact the charity has on lives of young people. We will also have the chance to implement our own ideas in the communities we are based, around the areas of Livelihood and Employment, Civic Participation and Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights. Restless Development aim to inspire young people in the UK and overseas to become active citizens, who are passionate about long term, sustainable community development.

Young people are most affected by the most persistent problems in the world, yet are frequently overlooked as part of the solution. Restless Development's mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development. Their strength comes from being led by young people and young professionals, from the boardroom right through to the field. They have been working hard since 1985 and over the past 29 years, programmes reaching over 7 million people directly and indirectly.

Just thinking about all the amazing work the charity does makes my fingers jingle with anticipation for what I will be apart of. While away I will be staying near or with (no clue yet) a host family who will cook and take care of us. Electricity, running water and flushing toilets may not be apart of my time while I am away so communication will be limited. However would like to share my experience with as many people as I can so I will be writing a journal each day and when I can I will upload extracts and photos for everybody to see. Maybe my time India can encourage more young people to take apart of the ICS program and become an Active Citizen.

Together we can change lives and create communities with a sustainable future and ever lasting smiles!

Before I leave I am having a thank you meal, so I can let everyone know how thankful I am for having them as apart of my life over the past few year. I know friendships come and go even when you think they will be for always but there are some slow consistent friendships that just grow stronger each day. So if you are coming to my meal, never forget how grateful I am for meeting you and may you stay safe and joyful over the next few months. And to all who aren't coming; there have been so many who have touched my heart, each day I learn new things, meet new people. Each encounter adds a new  painted detail to my soul and without that I wouldn't be me! I wait in wonder to see who tomorrows friend will be, but for now sweet friends take care and sweet dreams!

Stay Beautiful,

     Zsofia xxxx                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

We use 3 

Underneath the smile

A light low between twiggy branches
As the rain drips down from the sky,
The moon admits in the darkness
A desert of clouds
I see sorrow in your eyes...

Hiding it behind happy thoughts,
Colored sands of the way we were,
The branches form a comforting support,
Wind whistles through the trunk

Glazed eyes hide you in an bliss of yourself,
Tears coating your heart,
We still love you for who you are,
The sun will raise again

Dreams drift in the rivers of your mind,
Like Autumn your leaves have gone,
Like Winter a chill covers your thoughts,
Breath within the unfamiliar of your loneliness

There are a hundred things she tries to chase away,
Things she has tried to forget,
The things she can't even let herself think about,

For that's when the birds scream
And the worms crawl 
And somewhere in her mind it's always raining
a slow and endless drizzle.


We can't always smile and even when we do there is often something much more powerful hiding underneath it. The smile is simply a mask we put on and sometimes we wear it so well we even convince ourselves  that everything is alright. This thought saddens me, happiness is a way of being not just a forced persona. So I wrote this poem. It's not a happy poem, which may seem odd as this blog is supposed to be about cheering people up but it can't be skin deep and so many all over the world have sorrow in their eyes. How I wish I could take their pain and burdens away. After you read this, please say a little pray for all of those who carry sadness and pain, maybe it has almost become apart of them. Please wish that they are released from the terror of their memories, their thoughts,their minds and maybe their current life threatening situation. May a stone of their burden be shed as the new day dawns let it bring hope.

Thinking of you all,

Zsofia xxxx

The search for beauty within us all

We're surrounded by beauty, natural, aesthetic, sunshine or a celebrity. It be easy to forget about inner beauty. A beauty within us all, so pure and delightful if we let it glow.  When I was younger I felt this desire to spread kindness and happiness. Where ever I traveled I would leave messages of my gratitude or even just to wish a person well. I would leave them in a friends house after I visited; a receipt at a cafe or places such as the doctors or a bus stop on a rainy day, somewhere a person may need cheering up.  I know if I found a note with positivity, on a day I was sad it would make me smile. Sometimes I carry homemade cakes around in my bag in case I see someone who needs to be shown some compassion.  At Christmas time I would give strangers Christmas cards. If I ever see anyone who looks cold I will buy them a drink, or sometimes all I can offer is a conversation but when you think about it that can mean more to someone than any of the above. Giving a stranger your time is more sacred a gift than some money or cake. Giving some of your time away shows the other person that you are interested in them, in their well-being. 'Time is a healer' after all according to Eva Cassidy. Asking someone how they are, if they had a nice day engages you into their lives with a kindness far grater than dropping a coin in a hat would. 

So I shall do my best to help others smile. Everyone deserves to smile, some just need to be reminded how wonderful they are sometimes.  You're eyes light up when you smile

For a long time I would send my friends weekly poems or what I called happy texts. A text reminding them of all those in their lives who care for them; a message of hope, showing them all the beauty of the world which surrounds them; or even just to say I am thinking of them and to wish them sweet dreams. Everyone needs to know that someone cares, to feel that they matter. They all matter to me.

Today I was walking into town and I saw a sleeping bag and some rubbish at the side of the road and I thought about how many times a day people must see it and think to themselves, oh gosh that's terrible but continue to walk on by,some may give money. There was no one around as it was day time but come night it would be a different story. The sleeping bag would become a shelter for a very cold body, which lives in fear and worry. So today, I didn't walk past, I didn't give money, I wrote a note with my number on and a message that read 'please contact me if you would like to talk to a friend or information on night shelters'. The likely hood that someone will read it and respond  is very slim but at least they should know that they aren't alone.  No one is alone, not truly alone, for we are by their side. 

Anyway continuing with the theme of spreading happiness where ever I can, I will talk about myself. During the past few month I have struggled with anxiety and lost touch with my inner beauty. The part of me that makes me feel alive and happy. Everyday activities were a struggle and I could no longer find beauty in the world. For as long as I remember I have found joy in the small everyday things with such enthusiasm; a gesture of kindness or having a positive outlook on any situation. I believe that if I could do that then I could always have a reason to be happy. But as I said for a while I lost that ability to find happiness where ever I was, it was no longer a part of me. I am working on finding my own inner beauty and happiness again and I wish to help others do the same.The ability to smile and see beauty even on the darkest and gloomiest of days. 

 When I feel anxious and alone more than anything I want to feel wanted, someone to show me that they care and to share a smile with me. That's what my aim is, to help all of the people around the world who feel helpless and sad know that they are Wanted and Loved and Cared for and that when they are ready I am waiting to be their friend. My angel wishes idea is just that, to help spread love and care to others when they are at their most vulnerable. For one of the most terrible things in life is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved. So please contact me if you know someone who needs to reminded of their value. 

'Where ever you go, let no one ever come to you without leaving happier' Mother Teresa 

Sunshine on my shoulders

I like the sunrise for it brings a new day.

I like a new day as it brings new hope.

I like the sunrise blazing in the new sky.

Nighttime is weary and so is my heart

Every evening I wish upon a star,

That my brand new bright tomorrow isn't very far.

When that deep inky blue curtain of the night,

is raised up high, way out of sight;

I smile for I know the sun isn't far

I like the sunrise so heavenly to see.

I like the sunrise,

I hope it likes me

Earlier this week I took the train to visit my cousin to clean her house to help with some charity fundraising I am doing. On the way I was struck with how beautiful the sun was as it shone through the window and bounced off the leaves in the fields. The sun is all around us, never failing to raise and shine each morning and I must say it never fails to make me smile. The sun is a natural beauty which is never going to leave us. So always look at the sunshine and admire its effervescence when you feel sad, the sunshine loves you and it's love, like it's glow, will never fade.If you smile at the sunshine that's one definite smile a day, or one more than you had before. Smile at the sunshine for it is smiling back at you.

Stay Beautiful,

         Zsofia xxxx

'Remember you're the one who creates the sunshine in the world' Snow White

Apple and Pear Porridge Crumble

I love porridge; I especially love porridge in the winter months, all creamy, fruity and warming in the morning. All through December I have been eating porridge with a variety of nut milks and fruits and spices. I have been having oat porridge, buckwheat porridge, chia overnight oats and even baked porridge. I have porridge on the brain and secretly between you and me I wish I could have it for every meal. With that in mind I have created a baked apple and pear porridge but at the same time it's a crumble. I can eat it for my breakfast with hot coconut milk and then afterwards in the evening I can have some more for pudding with vegan vanilla ice cream or coconut cream. Mmmmm super duper scrummy! Waking up in the morning and having porridge makes me happy, creating new flavours for my porridge makes me happy and this blog is all about happiness and  ways of showing ours and sharing it. So I hope you  like my recipe and it makes you happy too. 

Ingredients

Stewed Apple and pears filling:

4 red apples chopped and peeled

1 cup of  fresh blueberries (frozen will work just as well) 

2 Pears

an inch of fresh ginger

1tbsp maple syrup

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1/2 cup of coconut milk

For the topping:

2 cups of rolled oats

1/2 thinly sliced almonds

2tbsp desiccated coconut

2tsp cinnamon

1tsp ginger

3 tbsp maple syrup

2tbsp of coconut oil (heaped)

a pinch of salt

1/4 cup of chopped walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 190c and lightly grease a baking dish about 11 by 9 inches.
2. To make the stewed fruit filling put the chopped apples and pears with blueberries, cinnamon and maple syrup in a pan. Pour the coconut milk around it so it covers the bottom of the pan and gently simmer on a low heat. As it cooks make sure that there is liquid at the bottom of the pan, if it starts to stick add some more coconut milk or water. 
3. Peel and grate the ginger onto a plate and then add to the pan and cook for about 20 mins, until all the coconut milk has evaporated and the fruit is soft.
4. Leave to cool to one side whilst you make the topping.
5. In a large bowl mix together the oats, desiccated coconut, cinnamon, ginger, salt and almond flakes.
6. In a  pan heat the maple syrup, coconut oil  together until all incorporated together smoothly. Take off the heat and stir in 1tbsp of the stewed fruit, feel free to be generous with fruit, fruitier the better I always think! Pour this over the the oat mixture and combine well, Sometime at this point I add some more chopped apples and pears just as I can't get enough of them!
7. Spoon the stewed fruit into the dish and spread evenly. Now spoon the crumbly mixture over the top and pat down.
8. Sprinkle the walnuts over the top and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the oats are all golden and bubbly around the corners.
9. Let the dish cool for 5- 10 minutes and serve either with warm almond milk and some maple syrup or with ice cream, depending on what your heart desires.
10. Keep the dish wrapped up in the fridge and it will keep for up to 5 days.

As you can see I can't help myself when it comes to pomegranates, don't they look like little red jewels? They look beautiful but also taste delicious. I hope you all have a lovely day and please remember to keep smiling.

Stay Beautiful,

      Zsofia xxxx

Peace Begins with a Smile

Wouldn't it be a wondrous thing if a smile could travel around the world. 

Your smile, a gentle sweet smile. It has the power to do just that, to brighten a strangers day.

It will pass from person to person like a gentle breeze touching all who receive it. 

Isn't that a beautiful thought.

A little smile which you hardly thought about could light up someones heart when they least expected and truly needed to be shown compassion. 

We all have hearts,

We all need to be shown that someone cares,

To know that we are loved 

We all sometimes need  help to smile.

It's so easy to rush about our lives with out a secondary thought of the interactions we have on a daily basis. We are all so busy, ruled by the hours of the day and tasks we must complete rather than the people we meet during in the day. Let's take a moment to think as we next walk down the street to make a conscious effect to take notice of the people we see and meet, and then smile. You never know, they may need cheering up. Wouldn't you like to receive the gift of a smile on a day you were sad, I know I would.

Stay Beautiful,

     Zsofia xxxx

Every time you smile at someone it is an action of love,

 a gift to that person, a beautiful thing (Mother Teresa)

Angel Wishes

                    'In the arms of an Angel, may you find your comfort here'   

   

  As we arrive into the New Year let us think of those who have no one to love them; let us pray for those who are alone and helpless and help us to remember to be compassionate. So many people live each day in fear, scared and frightened. May they have strength. For those who are cold and hungry, let them have shelter, warmth and food. And for the people who feel alone, may they know that they have a friend in me and that they are loved. May all the people around the world feel care and love in their hearts this year, a love which is never failing.   

I have been thinking for a while now about this idea which I think I shall call angel wishes. It began when I realised how lovely it was to simply be asked how I was, did I have a nice day? When people ask questions like these they are taking a genuine interest into our lives, into us. It means a lot but this small act of kindness means even more if we happen to be having a bad day. Thousands of people have bad days everyday of the year but  if someone took notice, maybe their day wouldn't always be so stormy. 

So I am proposing we all think of others that little bit more. Ask a friend how they are feeling, smile at a stranger and make a wish each day for those who need friendship and love all over the world. With this I would like to suggest people sending me their wishes so we an create a chain of good thoughts and positive wishes for the new year. Similarly if you have a friend or know someone who needs a letter, a message just to be reminded how much they are valued and loved please email me their details so I can send them a little hand written poem and message from the 'angel', to let them someone is thinking of them, which hopefully can light up their day. If I can create just one smile from this then I know that is one smile more than the world shared before. 

So please I ask you, write to the angel at zsofiailona@googlemail.com, even if it is for yourself, help me spread some enchantment, for a pure smile is the greatest gift off all!!

Stay Beautiful, 

Always your friend,   

                             Zsofia xxxx