Changing The world
Best Steps to ‘zero waste’ Jasmine Birtles on money And investing Beyond the void of modern living 9 ways to balance your sleep
100 ways a girl can say
YES to Happiness
My Journey Into Harrods’ Fine art Jewellery Best ways to
Surf An overflowing wardrobe The latest on
Taste, style, health, travel and culture
RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | THE WOMAN RE-IMAGINED | RICHWOMAN.CO | WINTER 2020 | £18.00
Accessible, Effortless, Empowering JW PEI is a Los Angeles based accessories brand founded by a husband and wife duo. The inspiration behind the brand was upon the idea that fashion should be accessible, effortless and empowering. Minimalist design in sustainable vegan materials is at the heart of the brand.
Made for Each Woman JW PEI with its modern minimalist aesthetic, puts forward and seeks to celebrate feminine beauty and strength through fun and creative fashion.
Vegan Leather + Recycled Plastic Sustainability is in JW PEI's DNA. We use high quality canvas, polyurethane, and certified fabric made from recycled plastic bottles.
Contents Regulars Cover Story: Dr Novie Johan: 100 Ways A Girl Can Say Yes! To Happiness, 152 The Faces Behind This Edition, 32 Editor’s Letter, 41 Five Star Insights, 110 Winter Wishlist, 136 Gems From The Stars, 262
Fashion Celebrities Lingerie And The Changing Face Of Fashion, 46 Luxury Brands: Fashion Shows At Your Fingertips, 50 Best Way To Surf And Overflowing Wardrobe, 52 The Real Power Of Styles , 56 Inside The Glamour Of Haute Couture, 58
Travel How Powerful Is Your Passport, 70 Vitamin SEE - The Best White Sand Beaches In The World, 74 A Spin Into Lisbon’s Royal Love Story, 82 Are Trains Making A Comeback?, 84
Happy Home 8 Easy Steps To Beat Chaos And Enjoy Harmony During Quarantine, 92 Inspired By Nature, 96 Creating A Luxury Living Room, 98 A Christmas To Remember, 102
Culture & Lifestyle Hether Picov: Apps For Good, 110 Surinder Arora: Hard Work Runs In The Blood, 114 Louise Oliver: A Role Model For Success. Socially Distanced Santa, 124 Was Christmas Ever Cancelled?, 128 Selfridges’ Greenest Christmas Ever, 136 The Ultimate Daycation, 140 Christmas Staycations Re-Imagined, 142
Women & Society Maggie Berry Obe, Women’s No 1 Global Matchmaker, 146 Jasmine Birtles: What Money Can Buy, 160 Dr Hillary Nash: From Saving The Oceans To The Frontline Of A Pandemic, 166 Sarah Sabraoui: Dream BIG, Start Small, 172 Giselle Rufer: A Legacy Of Time, 176 Changing The World: Unlocking Our Full Human Potential, 186 Living A Double Life: Fear, Shame, Mental Health Issues And Eating Disorders, 190 Why Evolution Depends On Diversity, 193 My Journey Into The World Of Fine Art Jewellery, 194
Food & Nutrition Want To Release Quarantine Weight? Don’t Skip Breakfast!, 200 12 Good Reasons To Meal Prep, 202 Elements Of Good Nutrition, 206 The Alba White Truffle, 210 Eat Right, Keep Moving, 214 15 Easy Healthy Snacks To Make At Home, 216 9 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet, 222
Health & Wellness The Power Of Luxury Self-Care Rituals, 232 5 Best Self- Care Tips To Feel Rich, Luxurious And Confident, 234 How To Boost Your Resilience To Become A Happier And More Fulfilled Woman, 238 Parents & Quarantine: What Is It About Teenagers That I Just Don’t Get? , 242 9 Ways To Balance Your Sleep Cycle And Stay Focused While In Self- Isolation, 246 A Girls Confessions, 250 How To Keep A Journal, Free Your Mind And Take Control Of Your Mental Health, 258 How To Tap Into Your Emotional Freedom, 260
Cover Look
Changing The world
Dr Novie Johan
Best Steps to ‘zero waste’ Jasmine Birtles on money And investing Beyond the void of modern living 9 ways to balance your sleep
100 ways a girl can say
YES to Happiness
My Journey Into Harrods’ Fine art Jewellery Best ways to
Surf An overflowing wardrobe The latest on
Taste, style, health, travel and culture
RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | THE WOMAN RE-IMAGINED | RICHWOMAN.CO | WINTER 2020 | £18.00
30 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Silk Satin Jacket: Paule Ka Hot Pink Mini Azaelea Dress: Self-Portrait Photography: Michelle Judd Studio: The Gallery SW3
Cover designs by: Darie Nani
RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE THE USA EDITION
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Arti Halai Arti Halai is a television presenter, reporter and producer, she has worked with some of the UK’s largest organisations like the BBC, ITV, ITN News Channel, Carlton, LWT and Mirror Group. She is a consultant, advisor and trainer on presentation, media and communication skills, working both in the UK and abroad. Arti has set up a number of successful businesses under the Fleet Street Group including a PR agency, creativ e design agency, consultancy and training business. She is also the host of the Five Star Insights podcast by Rich Woman Magazine
Meet the
FACES BEHIND this edition
Lesley Calvó
Lesley Calvó has always been an entrepreneur, starting up and running her own company straight after she left university. Whilst achieving great success on the outside, on the inside Lesley experienced high levels of anxiety, depression and workaholism. Through her own journey of self discovery and finding ways to align success and happiness, as well as to run a business and thrive internally, she became aware of her unique essence and joined the awakening wave of entrepreneurs who consciously unlock and reclaim the life they deserve.
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Carla Kaufmann
Carla Kaufmann has an masters degree in law from the university of St. Gallen. After working for PWC she bought the online platform companymarket.ch and is ever since working in a highly specialised ecommerce business. In 2012 she also founded the association geschaeftsfrau.ch where especially women get trained in taking over a business.
Tatjana Kotoric
The experienced stylist Tatjana Kotoric is known for dressing the men and women at the largest Swiss media company. Tatjana has developed a completely new styling concept that makes you look and feel just as good. She conveys her knowledge in a very pleasant way so you learn to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion.
Danna Levy Hoffmann
A leading health and lifestyle coach and an expert on living a nourishing lifestyle. Danna offers deliciously sustainable lifestyle-changes, providing women all over Europe with reinvigorated vitality, smarter eating habits and sustainable nutrition solutions.
Claire Corbett
Claire Corbett is based in Zurich. Originally from Ireland, has lived in the US, France, the UK and now Switzerland. With a vast start-ups experience in the Silicon Valley and corporate banking, Claire is the founder of Golf Morocco and Right Point, and is helping other entrepreneurs to adapt their business in this time of change.
Susie Poole
Susie Poole is a climate change/energy thought leader and an advocate for women empowerment, particularly for leading the transformation to a post carbon and sustainable economy. She is a partner of a global permaculture climate change initiative – 52 Climate Actions, a partnership of 10 International organisations. Together with her role at WOMENWAY, Susie aims to empower women and organisations to create a better today and a tomorrow to look forward to...
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Martina Fink
Founder of the transformational program Perfectionist Rehab and the host of The Glow Life Podcast, Martina helps perfectionist and high achieving executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like you overcome overwhelm, trust your intuition, and feel great in your body, so you can work and stress less, love yourself, and feel alive again.
Helena Zachariassen
Helena grew up in Helsinki, in the capital of Finland, as a part of a small 5% minority of the country, the Swedish speaking Finns. Since she was born her family spent all their summers out on a remote island in the archipelago in the Baltic Sea, with no electricity, running water or other commodities but the sauna. She learned to love the simple and beautiful nature life there, loving the rough island climate, picking wild blueberries for breakfast, waking up to the sounds of the sea and the sea gulls, and falling asleep with the never setting sun during the summer days of endless light. With a Masters in sociology and social psychology from the University of Helsinki, as well as a certification in life coaching, Helena is constantly seeking the magic of joy in all her endeavours. In the last 15 years she worked in different fields of the corporate world, mainly in international business consulting with a special interest in career and personal development and growth. At present she lives in Switzerland from where she runs her own consultancy practice with the desire to inspire, support and help others living a healthy, balanced and happy life to their fullest potential. Helena is the Founder and Owner of My Happy HomeCertified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach
Anandi
Anandi is the creator of ‘Sleepology® which is designed to resolve sleep issues with a specific methodology using principles done in a particular order. Anandi is an Ayurvedic consultant, NLP practitioner, Senior yoga teacher and teacher trainer and has been in the wellness field for 30 years. She’s also the author of ‘Breathe Better Sleep Better’. Anandi has appeared in the press all the major glossies including Cosmopolitan, Women’s fitness, Psychologies, Daily Mail, In the Moment Magazine, Spirit and Destiny and the London Evening Standard.
Sarah Kopinsky
Sarah has extensive business and executive advising knowledge. She works on social innovation projects which focus on making tremendous social impact and lead healthcare change. Sarah has previously worked with leading higher education and healthcare organisations to make important tools and scientific information accessible to clinicians and the public to help in peoples (self)actualisation and better meet its real needs. Sarah has an MSc in general psychology.
Deborah Hladecek
A truth seeker, Deborah is the founder of The Clary Sage. A NAHA certified aromatherapist with diplomas in body product formulation, natural parfumerie, herbalism, and energy medicine, Deborah created luxury ritual self care products and tools to nourish, balance and restore your vitality Reclaiming the ancient wisdom and cultivating a relationship and knowledge of plants has been essential to her holistic approach. Located in ZĂźrich, Switzerland, Deborah offers the local community aromatherapy workshops and other alternative healing opportunities.
Asiya Durrani
Asiya Durrani is a visionary and creative business strategist with great experience in defining and directing fashion/luxury brand vision. With over 25 years experience she is globally recognised as a creative business developer and a solid reputation for establishing international brands, Asiya's focus on defining ‘brand direction’ gives her an unique perspective into the world of fashion.
Roxana Mohammadian-Molina
Roxana Mohammadian-Molina is an advisor to tech companies across the GCC, Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member at London-based FinTech company Blend Network. A former banker at Morgan Stanley in London, she now sits on the Board of Women in Finance 2020 and focuses on investing in, growing, and advising tech companies. Roxana is hosting The Smart Investress Podcast and a regular columnist for Sovereign Magazine
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Klara Debeljak
Klara Debeljak is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the Founder of Nourishi, a nutrition consultancy specialising in women’s health. To learn more about how you too can transform your health through personalised nutrition and optimising your sleep, movement and stress management, apply for a 1:1 discovery call with Klara
Patricia Ordody
Patricia Ordody is a holistic Health Coach supporting busy, career-driven people in making nutritional and lifestyle changes to improve their mental, physical, social and emotional health for a happier and more successful personal and professional life. She founded her company Health is Wealth because of her personal health journey, through which she became passionate about helping anyone with similar struggles related to work-life balance, addictive behaviours, weight management, hormone health, stress management and more. Visit her website to learn more and contact her today for a free discovery call: www.healthiswealth.ch
Douglas Ballard
Douglas Ballard (douglasballard.com) is an accomplished international Energy Healer. Douglas is down to earth and very approachable. Currently practicing in Belgravia, London, Douglas is well recognised for his success in treating anxiety, stress, exhaustion, immune-related illness, back, shoulder and post-operative pain. Clients nearly always experience a sense of calm, unwinding and relief on their path to wellbeing. Douglas’s Energy Healing touch works extremely well alongside conventional therapy, helping to mitigate and restore the harsh side-effects of drug treatment, surgery and radiotherapy.
Anna Cortesi The Editor in Chief of of Healthy Woman Magazine, Anna Cortesi is a Certified Dietitian, Clinical Nutritionist, Personal Nutrition Coach, Wellness Influencer, and Owner of Cortesi Nutrition. Her passion for nutrition is routed in her own story when she struggled with eating disorders and aims to upgrade the everyday lifestyle of other women. Anna is an internationally recognised nutrition expert, with experience in the various roles of orthomolecular nutrition, weight loss, longevity, human body, psychology and overall health.
Annette Ebbinghaus Annette Ebbinghaus is an ASCA certified Master Sophrologist as well as a Hypnosis and NLP Practitioner, Mindfulness and Cardiac Coherence Coach working with adolescents and adults since 2008. Her professional life progression went from MSc Civil Engineer building bridges, MBA working in industry and academia to a complete shift to mind and body health when she became a mother while living in Singapore. Her signature work is teaching adolescents techniques to support their mental and emotional health.
Zeenat Noorani
Zeenat Noorani Resilience Wellbeing Coach, NLP, Hypnotist, Kinetic Shift, Mindfulness, EFT Practitioner, Speaker, Mentor &Author Helping you to “Empower Your Mind To Have The Life You Desire�
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Gemma Nice
Gemma Nice is the founder of Easyoga.co.uk and helps women repair the relationship with themselves, their partner and their family without seeing a family therapist, changing their personality or leaving their job. Emma lives with her husband and their two children in the country in West Sussex, United Kingdom, enjoying a well balanced, happy life, with outdoor walks along the river right across the road from their home.
Ysanne Lewis
London based Timing Adviser, Astrologer, Speaker and Author. Ysanne’s work spans over 40 years and she celebrated her ruby work anniversary earlier in 2019. She has clientele in the USA, Asia, Europe and South Africa. Working with individuals, families and businesses, she seamlessly weaves the meanings of cycles, timings and patterns in educational, inspirational and humour-filled ways into the beautiful tapestry which is Life. She acts as a bridge and navigator between the maps of the heavens and our inner landscapes and their timekeepers. Her consultations are for individuals, relationships, optimum timing for events social, business and for start ups, children’s birth charts and for re location. Ysanne is also a colour therapist. An award winning author of “THE TIME CATCHER- How to time your actions to turn challenges into opportunities.’ Proceeds from the sales of this book will aid the eye clinic in Spiti Valley India.
Dr. Marina Nani
Marina is an advocate for Social Edification which she is coining as a new industry, building up purposeful leaders, helping women from around the world to make a significant difference within themselves, their industry and their community. Founder of MTN Press, Marina is the Co-Founder of eight niche Publications, including Sovereign Magazine - Business, Tech, Finance Rich Woman Magazine- The Woman Re-Imagined and Healthy Woman Magazine. Marina believes that there is a genius in each individual, regardless their present circumstances and when individual, unique talent is not celebrated, it is a cost to the individual prosperity and, consequently, a loss to society. Sharing success stories in her Talk Show, The Stardust Hour, guests from around the world are delivering value to an inspiration hungry audience. Marina's sole focus is to empower at least one million women worldwide, help them understand their genius and become aware of their true worth.
Looking forward
SPRING 2021 EDITION
Wishlist Homes
The complete guide to luxury properties
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Editor’ s Letter
You could wait for a miracle or become one
M
iracles always happen at Christmas and this letter is nothing short of a miracle. It aims to be a message of love and gratitude to inspire you to love yourself first, a kind reminder that the miracle you are waiting for is here already. At a time of great difficulty in human history, Rich Woman Magazine chronicles a lifestyle shift revealing the seeds of new beginnings, a new attitude brought in by remarkable women and men who value what they have already, instead of what they don’t. A digital and print publication, RW offers a happy medium for philanthropic minds and affluent women seeking a sustainable enriched life. Every page brings you the difference a female perspective can make, a difference that might otherwise remain absent, unseen and unheard, a difference that ignored will definitely leave humanity at a great loss. In the Winter Edition we curated a collection of topics to show our men "the other half’s" life real story, and show our women, who they are designed to be once they dare to re-imagine themselves. In this edition we featured female leaders, creatives, mothers, wives, sisters, entrepreneurs inspired by their unique passion, their love for humanity. Exclusive to Rich Woman, Arti Halai brings you the Five Star Insights Series where she interviews exceptional British entrepreneurs who took their vision to the ultimate level of success and prosperity: Surinder Arora (page 114 ), Louise Oliver (page 120) and Heather Picov (page 110). We hope to make you curious and confident about the future, about the possibility of becoming the next big thing. Our cover girl this winter is an agent of change. Dr Novie Johan has made happiness the focus of her life and now, more than ever, she can inspire us all to re-imagine happiness. It is her belief that every woman can love and transform herself into a happy woman through the power of self-love.
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102
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In the cover story (page 152) she shares her own experiences, as well as her thoughts on how women can be happy in everyday life. “Health, happiness and success go hand in hand. Whatever we do in life, we are seeking the same thing – desire to be fulfilled and to live a life of contentment.” This Winter’s Wishlist is short for good reason: we all learned to be grateful for what we have already- what makes us think that we will be happy with more? We looked into those places that only London can offer, where you dwell into the emotional value of gifts, and enjoy an experience that brings you together as a family (page 140). Ahead of the Royal train trip departing first Sunday evening in December, from London Euston station, with William and Kate covering 1,250-miles in over three days, we curated a few ideas for your own train adventures in 2021 (page 84). At every page turn you are reminded that your human potential is greater than any challenge (page 186). We invited along a few exceptional women who left the UK, , seeking happiness (page 194) or relocated to the UK, dreaming big but starting small (page 172 ), to share their own solutions on lifestyle, health, travel, beauty, fashion and the future. Filled with fresh, untamed talent, this edition brings you plenty of original ideas to inspire you at a time when good news is in short supply. I want to thank our team of columnists, editors, designers, and guest contributors for delivering authentic content, inspiring us all to deliberately honour the women in our lives. We give you over 270 pages of wisdom and knowledge, from remarkable women and men who dare to re-imagine themselves, their lifestyle, their dreams and hope for the future. Until the Spring Edition, enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Marina Nani
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P.S. I was about to sign off the final version of this edition when I realised that the real message I want to convey in this letter is not about you, the woman you think you are, but the heroine who resides inside your untold story. The evening before going to press, I watched "In the shadow of Mary Seacole" with David Heartwood, who went on a three-year journey across Britain, Jamaica and Crimea, to document the efforts made to unveil a statue honouring this amazing Jamaican woman. During the Crimean War, Mary Seacole made the wellbeing of soldiers her life mission. Listening to her story, it became clear to me that if we want to change the world, we have to give men the chance to grow up in the shadow of heroines. The statue standing opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, might very well be honouring one exceptional woman, but the question is how many other extraordinary women took their story to an early grave? Behind Mary Seacole’s statue. there is a beautiful, heartbreaking story. It took a brave group of passionate people who, 100 years later (and £500,000 later), gave Mary Seacole the recognition she deserves. If anything, Mary's statue marks the beginning of an unequivocal social shift where women are key to human kind’s future. We might need to face a few inconvenient truths, confront social conditioning, not just for the sake of being politically correct but willing to change, put the wrong, right- this is what Rich Woman does best: unveiling a statue for another woman who deserves to be honoured while alive.
Fashion fades, only style remains. COCO CHANEL
Celebrities, lingerie and the changing face of fashion.
W
ith all the time in the world at our fingertips, women across the world are, secretly or openly, shopping luxe loungewear and lingerie on digital channels to overcome isolation's blues. Time to step up or compromise your style? With luxury designers fighting to reach our sense of style and comfort while spending time at home, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to fashionable loungewear that makes us feel good and look good. Disruption hit hard the retail of luxury fashion/apparel, beauty and luxury markets, and adapting new shopping habits, going all digital, seems to be the default setting of doing business today. Retailers and brands are under added pressure not only to meet but to create the demand of today’s omni-channel shopper. Digitisation of the supply chain can help thrive in isolation while key industry executives take strategic measures backed by digital intelligence, to navigate this tumultuous time. The last few weeks are an emotional roller coaster of a festive season, with emotional highs and lows, however, luxe loungewear seems to be thriving in isolation. We looked into your favourite brands and made a collection that you could give a try. Love-able, silky soft and floral, each piece is the result of an army of designers who live to create your next favourite piece of choice to express your identity.
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Marlies|Dekkers shuns the lingerie tradition of lace, ribbon and frill Dutch-born Marlies Dekkers launched her undressed lingerie collection 1993. With her modern vision on lingerie, she started a small lingerie revolution in The Netherlands and later throughout the rest of the world. Marlies Dekkers designs from her own vision of life and aims to accentuate women’s selfconfidence. Her motto is “dare to dream, dare to grow, dare to be”. She considers the woman’s body as her canvas and embraces its beautiful parts with the modern straps in her designs. Celebrities and artists alike adore marlies| dekkers and love to be seen in it. From singers to actresses and the world’s most in demand ‘it’ girls, these are a few of her favourite followers: Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Fergie, Kelly Rowland, Nicky Minaj, Nelly Furtado, Dita von Teese, Sarah Jessica Parker. Every collection has a different story behind it. Her main inspiration sources vary from philosophers and artists, powerful women, to her own life experiences. Each story is told by the unique design, colours and print of a collection. Her designs are known for their radiance of power and self-confidence, as well as for their groundbreaking style, perfect fit, detailed finish and the use of modern materials and innovative techniques.
Agent Provocateur inspired by vintage oriental design Agent Provocateur's Yasuko takes luxe loungewear to a whole new level with Yasuko. An exquisite classic kimono with a relaxed fit includes wide sleeves and a flowing waterfall front. With cuts echoing traditional Japanese shapes inspired by vintage oriental design, this beautiful range features exclusive new bird print .
Dolce&Gabana- Talent skill, blended together
and
Dolce&Gabbana brings a wave of timeless Sacred Heart accessories and jewels to complement these sexy shirts and tops floral prints and more pastel colours than ever to brighten your time at home. We took an insight look at the process of creating the next masterpieces. "Once the painting is finalised and printed on natural fabric, it's time to create the pattern and then, to cut the model. Step by step, the final creation takes shape. "
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Next in Fashion Made the Digital Cut Digital services are blossoming in the isolation age, as we spend time at home and our fashion addiction can't be starved. Netflix's Next in Fashion, hosted by designers Tan France and Alexa Chung brought together eighteen designers who competed in rounds based on design trends and styles aiming to influence what people wear worldwide. Inspired by the 10 episodes, Amazon launched an unexpected drive for luxury fashion with a $1,000,000 prize for the next generation fashion design in a competition called Making the Cut. Hosted by Project Runway's Heidi Klum and fashion consultant Tim Gunn and featuring Naomi Campbell, Carine Roitfeld and Nicole Richie, the 12 gifted fashion designers are in good company while they travel to New York, Paris and Tokyo. They faced challenges and tough assignments, but playing along celebrities cameos from the likes of Naomi Campbell, Carine Roitfeld and Nicole Richie, makes it all well worth it. With the world on lockdown, taking time for yourself, prioritising your bespoke self care, exercising, watching Netflix or spending 'me time' with a cup of your favourite tea is all acceptable now, in a new reality that seems to be a dream for some and a nightmare for others. All depends what you choose to feed ...
&
LUXURY BRANDS
FASHION SHOWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
It would be nice to choose whether to meet physically or not but if we don’t meet in persons, the experience has to be equally intense
“L
Alessandro Michele, Creative Director, Gucci
By Asiya Durrani ike many who have worked in the fashion industry for the past decades, I have quite some time before the Covid-19 pandemic, questioned the relevance of the current fashion calendar. Due to the multiplication of fashion weeks, shows, celebrity and influencers playing central stage instead of the designers creations and the inevitable budgetary costs. Saint Laurent’s decision to opt out of Paris Fashion Week started people talking and rethinking the format of shows. The Parisian house, whose past shows have included the spectacular backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, opened a sharp debate by announcing it would “not present its collections in any of the preset schedules of 2020”. This has followed with the Gucci brand, opting instead to take control of its own calendar. Saint Laurent’s move is shifting tides obviously and at stake is Paris’s status as the epicenter of fashion.
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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashion’s governing body, has cancelled Spring/Summer 2021 men’s fashion week and launched a digital alternative. The principle of the official fashion calendar is maintained, the event intended for professionals will be available to a much wider audience in this format. It will allow to showcase Paris and the creativity of the houses listed on the calendar of the Paris fashion Week with unity. Paris wants to remain the fashion capital where key, creative and leading events take place. Paris is a hub as all the big houses are located there and true business of ordering, pivoting developments and the heart of fashion beats. In Milan Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana announced that it will present men’s and women’s precollections during Milano Digital Fashion Week from 14 to 17 July. The digital platform will feature video content, all organised in a calendar with slots for each brand. For its part previously the British Fashion Council said that London Fashion Week will go ahead during scheduled dates 12 to 14 June, with a digital platform, and will merge its womenswear and menswear shows. Paris’s Haute Couture Fashion Week will go digital this July, translating the craftsmanship of couture to a virtual format for the first time. Videos from accredited Couture Maisons will be aired on a dedicated platform from the Federation. The videos will be accompanied by additional content and a roll out on a schedule, mimicking the flow of a physical fashion Week. The Spring/Summer 2021 presentations in September will depend on governmental measures and whether there are international flights and no second wave of the pandemic. New York, London and Milan fashion weeks in September are also still in position to go on as scheduled, however most likely in the new format, as for now. As regional organisations make difficult decisions around the future of fashion week, designers are left wondering how a unifying event could be replicated, or a new event invented, to take health and economic conditions into consideration. Houses that can afford it, either economically or creatively, can say “We can present where we want, when we want and to whom we want.” This is the direction Alessandro Michele Creative Director of Gucci has announced stating,
“It would be nice to choose whether to meet physically or not. But if we don’t meet in person, the experience has to be equally intense.” Hardly even needing to add that rules are no longer appropriate, that from now on, shows will be experimental in format. For sure, digital will be the prominent player. Several technologies involving the digital experience including Google Glass to watch a show from home, AR, VR, avatars as models and holograms are all in the pool of thought. While these technologies have been tried and applied to some extent, they haven’t fully taken off by fashion shows. Bringing the human element to the shows, with 360-degree sound, vision or new tools allowing the audience to comment on the show live. VR maybe more suitable to accessories than ready-to-wear which requires staging in movement. Also again this is extremely expensive for a 20 mins show and possible by houses that can afford as younger, smaller brands will find this an impossible cost. As the fashion world and shows are a “ necessity” in the world and a truly relevant business, we can expect rapid innovations in this short time. The challenge of the physical shows will be to very limited audiences but the relevance of physical shows remain important because of sight and feel. Fashion Houses will become broadcasters, embodying diversity of content, targeting different audiences and time of airing worldwide. Fashion shows will be smaller respecting social distancing and presentations where you can receive guests 10 by 10. Going back to shows in salons of Maisons or in the Atelier, with an ultra exclusive dimension, with this current era in mind when presented. Fashion shows are not going to die. There will be restrictions and much change for some time. Like all group entertainment, sport, theatre and exhibitions social interaction will develop into new evolved presentations. About the writer: Asiya Durrani is a visionary and creative business strategist with insight for defining and directing fashion/luxury brand vision. With over 25 years experience as a globally recognised creative business developer and a solid reputation of establishing international brands, Asiya's focus on highlighting trends in order to define ‘brand direction’ gives her an unique insight into the world of fashion.
Best ways to surf an overflowing wardrobe By Tatjana Kotoric
I
f you are one of those ladies who are desperately looking for the perfect outfit in front of their overflowing wardrobe in the morning, you are not alone! How would you like to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion? Here are a few tips that work a long way
Less is more How do you choose your best outfit in your everyday life to radiate joy and confidence? When you swim in a very large wardrobe, it is difficult to commit to a clear personal style; you quickly lose track of things and switch between different styling directions. This means that the desired effect of your style does not come across clearly and you are constantly tempted to make new quick purchases that you later regret or buy clothes that you don’t really need. Somehow the joy of a piece of clothing seems to be dependent on the length of time it takes to consider the purchase. With quick purchases, the joy often fades as quickly as it came. The overflowing closets are the result of the “fast fashion movement”, which seduces us every day with new bargain offers to make purchases and leads us to believe that we have to try out every fashion trend. We all know the negative consequences of fast fashion and there are several sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to clear your closet: donation, recycling, and don’t discount selling your gently used clothes. Somebody is going to love them! To create outfits that make you feel radiant and confident, first, you have to declutter your wardrobe of dated, worn out and ill-fitting clothes. There is nothing more overwhelming than a huge closet filled with clothes you no longer want and no longer can wear. If you want to build up your signature wardrobe and enjoy what you wear every day, it is time to say good bye to your past loves. 52 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
The art of enjoyable shopping We consume at a fast pace and are conditioned to believe that “more is more”. Take enough time to think about whether the new outfit suits you and your personal style. Is it even necessary? I often hear from my clientele: “I have a huge wardrobe and nothing to wear” It is nothing wrong with indulging in spontaneous purchases from time to time. But if you don’t want to lose a lot of money and time, try to discover the art of enjoyable shopping, An investment in well-known classics and timeless pieces of high-quality fashion always pays off- it is passed on from generation to generation. For decades they have defied all fashion trends and have retained their reputation and value. If you are enjoying thoughtful shopping despite today’s fast-paced world, Congratulations! You took a big step towards your perfect style!
How to manage your image and signature wardrobe If you want to learn about how you view the world, your relationships and your future, open your wardrobe. At a closer look, every dress and belt, every coat and pair of shoes reflect your personality and outlook on life. Take time to think about what you want to wear at the next night out or board meeting. Plan ahead, as the clothes you pick are always telling a story about who you are and where are you going. Cloths are loaded with memories, good and bad. If you start your day staring at clothes that make you feel negative, this will impact your mood for the whole day ahead. Why not choose those clothes which remind you of a good day out, or a successful day at work? Always pay attention to quality and make sure you treat your clothes with the love and care they deserve. An army of creatives worked passionately behind the scenes to create your image. Your wardrobe is our personal business card. When setting up your signature wardrobe, give careful consideration to who you are and what impression you want to convey through your appearance. Gradually build up your image, one dress at a time. Like an art collector, you look for the perfect clothing and accessories that allow you to present your personality to the outside world in the best possible light.
GERRY WEBER Scarf with fine fringes | Available at www.gerryweber.com
About the writer: The experienced stylist Tatjana Kotoric is known for dressing the men and women at the largest Swiss media company. Tatjana has developed a completely new styling concept that makes you look and feel just as good. She conveys her knowledge in a very pleasant way so you learn to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion.
The Real Power of Style
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ashion, far from being a frivolous or superficial pursuit, can have a profound effect on our day-to-day lives. The clothes we wear have the power to completely alter both our own moods and the moods of others. From the cosy, comforting pyjamas we pull on after a long day, to the trusty little black dress that engenders confidence, to the expensive gym kit we wear to feel strong while we work out, our outfits speak to our inner psyches and the world around us. So what are the clothes that make us feel the most powerful, the most confident, the most fearless and the most ourselves in the workplace and how can we create and cultivate our own style?
The Changing Face of Workplace Fashion Sometimes to know where we are and where we are going, we need to look at where we’ve been. Women’s workplace attire has been a subject of controversy for many years, with employees suing their employers for discriminatory clothing policies and women’s outfits being scrutinised far more thoroughly than men’s. You only have to look at the intense media attention bestowed upon the clothing choices of female political leaders to see how much emphasis is placed upon women’s aesthetic appeal. But there is an inherent power to our clothing, a sense that we can do anything in an ensemble that makes us feel bold and full of verve.
MAX MARA Crepe wool blazer | Available at www.maxmara.com
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The Colour Palette There have been many articles written on subjects as diverse as: how to find the correct colour palette for your skin tone, how to match colours, how to use colour, how the colours you wear affect how others see you and many, many more. But there is some truth to this hidden (in plain sight) truth. The majority of shoppers (over 85%) believe that colour is the single-most important aspect when choosing a new item of clothing. Red is considered to be the ultimate choice for a daring, self-assured look, with blue being the colour of confidence and yellow the colour of optimism. We very often have go-to colours in our wardrobes that we know suit us but it can be an interesting activity to try on new, different hues and see how they make you feel.
Know Thyself With sustainability and slow-fashion becoming more and more ubiquitous, the idea of following trends and wearing looks hot off the catwalk has, ironically, become slightly outdated. The days when women would have to slavishly follow fashion’s latest styles are, quite possibly, over. With this brave new world comes with it multiple opportunities to create your own style, one that is unique and, most importantly, makes you feel good. In a recent article, published on The Psychology of Fashion website, Anabel Maldonado writes about the prevalence of trends and the tendency for people to fall back on them, when deciding how to cultivate their style. She advises the following: “I always discourage this line of thinking, and come strong with my fashion psychology theory, explaining that better styling can be achieved through an assessment of one’s personality traits and finding the aesthetic that best complements them.” And she’s not alone, with a piece in Psychology Today, clearly delineating between fashion and style, with style being “a reflection of your unique complexity as a human being.” For example, a beautifully-tailored, bespoke suit may make us feel powerful but we can make it our own by adding dashes of our own personality to it, like adding a necktie for a bolder look or wearing a pastel blouse with softer lines, to create a fusion of masculine and feminine elements. It depends on what you want. Fashion is the clothes we’re told to wear. Style is how we creatively develop our own self-expression through those clothes.
MAX MARA Wool and silk blazer | Available at www.maxmara.com
Slowly Does It One of the best ways to adopt this individual cultivation of style, is to embrace the idea of slow fashion, as mentioned above. Simply put, slow fashion is a reaction to the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. With the luxury fashion houses continually putting out new lines and high street retailers creating thousands of new products daily, the emissions from textile production account for more carbon emissions than the maritime shipping industry and international flights combined. For the individual consumer, this means buying less new clothing and, when you do, investing in long-lasting pieces that will weather the storm of passing trends. It’s a chance for us, as consumers, to slow down in all aspects. From genuinely thinking about what we feel really good in to then researching the brands that make good-quality clothing that fit our shape and personal style. It may be a bit of work at the outset but it can have lasting rewards.
Feeling Good Ultimately, our clothing should make us feel good, both physically, mentally and ethically. The effect of wearing the right clothes for you can be truly transformative, making us stand tall, stride out with confidence and feel totally and completely ourselves.
MAX MARA Cashmere blazer | Available at www.maxmara.com
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MAX MARA Blazer and trousers in wool twill | Available at www.maxmara.com
MOTHER & DAUGHTER
Inside The Glamour Atelier Zuhra’ Haute Couture Mother and Daughter legacy take us inside the glamour of Atelier Zuhra’s haute couture and philanthropic cause.
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s a little girl, Rayan Al Sulaimani always dreamed of glamour, inspired by a woman with a passion for majestic beauty, her own mother, who has always been her guiding light into haute couture. She always imagined that one day she would have her own couture house. When her mother Mousa Al Awfi launched Dar al Aufi boutique in Dubai, their clientele’s imagination was captured by her elevated sense of glamour. Rayan remembers how back then, her mother was greeting the most beautiful women from Oman and the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari who graced the evening. With a master’s degree in chartered accounting from London, Rayan carries along a self-confidence instilled by generations of women before her who always dreamed of girls like her becoming the successful business woman she is now…
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A b e autiful dress c ould change the way you se e yourself, re-invent your life, like the Pho enix
Atelier Zuhra showcased their collection ‘The Immaculate Flight of the Phoenix’ at the Royal Opera House, London in February earlier this year. It was a collection which will be remembered for entwined beautiful tailoring with modern innovation and couture. We ask Rayan and her mother who founded Atelier Zuhra, what inspired them to create luxury fashion and simultaneously help underprivileged women.
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What you we ar says a lot ab out your p ersonality as the way you dress is an opp ortunity for self expression. We are talking about the power of a wedding dress… Could a dress inspire a woman to reimagine her life? A woman’s wedding dress is like her dream coming to life, it is so much more than just a normal piece of clothing. What you wear says a lot about your personality as the way you dress is an opportunity for expression. Whenever we design a dress, we have to create something beautiful which reflects both the woman’s personality and the brand’s aesthetic. At the end of the day, my main requirement is to put a smile on my client’s face and make her feel special on the best day of her life. Since you have taken on the torch, what legacy has your mother left within the company? My mother is the main source of the achievements behind Atelier Zuhra. She is full of aspirations and I’ve seen her fulfil every desire of her own. This continues to consistently inspire me to always do the best that I can. I want to expand the Atelier and take the business to the next level, and become a brand globally recognised. I would want people all around the globe to wear our clothes and make my mother very proud by living up to her expectations alongside my faith in God.
What have you learned from your mother and what are the changes you want to make to Atelier Zuhra in the next decade? My mother has been my biggest source of inspiration in the field of fashion and design; she is the inspiration behind everything I create. We are working on new techniques and our approach is very universal in terms of our designs and ideology. I believe this will most certainly help us become recognised on a global platform. Your latest creation, ‘The Immaculate Flight of the Phoenix’ launched at the Royal Opera House, London in February this year is a Collection to be remembered for entwined beautiful tailoring with modern innovation and couture. What experience inspired you to create such a dramatic symbolic association with the phoenix rising from the ashes? The collection is called ‘The Immaculate Flight of the Phoenix’ and uses the imagery of the Phoenix, a powerful mythical creature, who is reborn over and over again. Therefore, this immaculate bird is symbolic of the idea that the end is only ever the beginning.
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MOTHER & DAUGHTER
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MOTHER & DAUGHTER
Mixing beautiful tailoring with modern innovation, in this collection we used a palette of black and grey representing the ashes. Alongside this we used lilacs and other ethereal playful colours which are associated with the rising sun and fire, illuminating it in the sky. How do you spend your Mother- Daughtertogether time? We spend most of our time together reading books on fashion, watching movies that inspire us and also travelling to countries that help us draw inspiration for new collections.
What are your immediate philanthropic plans and for the next decade? I recently donated to UNICEF a masterpiece dress at an auction for an underprivileged woman to wear on her wedding day. However, due to the current pandemic of COVID-19 many of my immediate philanthropic plans have been put on hold. But I will continue to take part in fashion shows, which donate money for good causes and will keep playing my part for society through auctions and charity donations. In the forthcoming year I plan to initiate my own charity project for underprivileged women—more details will be unveiled soon!
Travel
How Powerful Is Your Passport? What are your Visa Free Destinations in 2021?
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ith 2021 round the corner, we could only dream of a time when the travel bans are lifted and we are free to discover new places, experience destinations we wanted to visit before Covid-19 restrictions. How far can you go? Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the latest Global Mobility Report released by The Henley Passport Index delivers an accurate insight into the possibility of moving around, confirming the countries you can visit without a visa. If you are a British Woman your passport ranked 7th in 2020 and you have a list of 185 countries to visit Visa Free.
Photo by Braden Jarvis, IG: jarvisphoto 70 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Where would you travel in the third decade of third millennium? Perhaps you could try a smaller country, like the Republic of Singapore, a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia, with four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil; with English being the lingua franca. You could experience the beauty of multiracialism (enshrined in the constitution) which is shaping the local lifestyle, the education and welfare system and politics.
If you are a Canadian woman, your passport ranked 9th in 2020 and there are 183 countries where you can travel visa free. But with a country as beautiful as Canada, do you really need to travel abroad? Our recent survey shows that Europe is always a great destination for women living in Canada. If missing the sun, Portugal is bordering Spain and makes a great destination on the Iberian Peninsula. Salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, dating all the way back to the 16th century when its location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many aspects of trades as a powerful maritime empire. Wondering barefoot on the Algarve’s beaches or walking the cobblestone streets in Lisbon, there is always the chance, or the danger, of falling in love with this destination and relocate. You will never know unless you try…
View from rooftop bar at Lumiares Hotel & Spa, Lisbon: www.thelumiares.com
With its winding hills and tram cars, it’s no wonder Lisbon is often referred to as the San Francisco of Europe (bridge and all!)
If you are an America Woman, your passport will take you visa free to 185 countries. Ranked 7th in 2020, after Japan, ranking 1st, for the last three years. Where would you go? An Afghan Woman could only travel visa free to 25 countries, and a Woman born in Iraq is able to travel visa free in 26 countries. Here is the one mystery I struggle to understand: why is your next destination depending on your country of origins? Was it a choice you made before being born?
The Shard, London, United Kingdom. Credit: Aaron Gilmore, aarongilmore.com
Located in Knightsbridge on the edge of Hyde Park, The Bvlgari Hotel London is both a haven of calm in the centre of the city and yet under a minute’s walk from such landmarks as the famous Harrods department store. Since opening in 2012, Bvlgari has set new standards among the luxury hotels of the British capital. www.bulgarihotels.com
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26
27
28
United Kingdom
United States
Australia
Estonia
179
34
33
32
31
30
Panama
Macao (SAR China)
Grenada
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
St. Lucia
Grenadines
St. Vincent and the
Mauritius
Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica
Seychelles
Antigua and Barbuda
Uruguay
Vatican City
Bahamas
St. Kitts and Nevis
Mexico
Israel
Barbados
Brunei
142
144
146
148
150
151
153
154
155
156
159
160
161
166
167
168
170
171
172
174
178
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
Ecuador
Timor-Leste
Qatar
Kuwait
South Africa
Belize
Turkey
Albania
Georgia
Russian Federation
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Micronesia
Palau Islands
Moldova
Marshall Islands
Kiribati
North Macedonia
Montenegro
Tonga
Tuvalu
Colombia
Venezuela
Ukraine
Nicaragua
Vanuatu
Solomon Islands
Samoa
Guatemala
Serbia
Honduras
El Salvador
Peru
Paraguay
Dominica
The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 13 October 2020, and in certain instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here.
13
Slovenia
Latvia
Iceland
Slovakia
180
181
Lithuania
11
12
182
Hungary
10
Poland
183
Canada
Malta
Greece
29
25
Switzerland
Czech Republic
24
Norway
184
23
185
New Zealand
Belgium
21
Sweden
22
20
Portugal
Andorra
San Marino
19
Netherlands
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Brazil
United Arab Emirates
186
Ireland
France
Denmark
18
Argentina
187
Austria
Bulgaria
Croatia
17
Luxembourg
Romania
Monaco
Cyprus
Spain
16
188
Italy
Finland
9
8
7
6
5
4
South Korea
Chile
189
Germany
3
15
Malaysia
Liechtenstein
190
14
191
Singapore
2
Visa-free score
Japan
Passport
1
Rank
91
95
96
101
111
114
115
117
118
120
123
124
125
127
129
130
131
133
134
135
141
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
Cuba
Zimbabwe
Ghana
Philippines
Dominican Republic
Cape Verde Islands
Uganda
Azerbaijan
The Gambia
Zambia
Tunisia
Tanzania
Indonesia
Kenya
Malawi
eSwatini
Kazakhstan
China
Belarus
Lesotho
Namibia
Suriname
Saudi Arabia
Bolivia
Thailand
Oman
Bahrain
Papua New Guinea
Maldives
Botswana
Jamaica
Guyana
Fiji
Nauru
64
65
66
67
68
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
83
84
85
86
88
89
90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
Burkina Faso
81
Kosovo
Angola
Jordan
Algeria
Central African Republic
Turkmenistan
Guinea-Bissau
Comoro Islands
Chad
50
51
52
106
105
104
103
Somalia
Vietnam
26
28
29
32
33
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
46
47
48
49
henleypassportindex.com
Afghanistan
Iraq
Syria
Pakistan
Yemen
Palestinian Territory
Niger
Bhutan
Nepal
Mali
53
Cambodia
102
North Korea 101
Togo
Libya
Sudan 100
Madagascar
54
99
Lebanon
55 Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Iran
Bangladesh Senegal
56
Eritrea
Congo (Dem. Rep.)
South Sudan
Sri Lanka 98
97
96
Uzbekistan
57
58
Ethiopia
Nigeria 95
59
94
Myanmar
Djibouti
60
93
Gabon
Cote d’Ivoire
Tajikistan
India
Mauritania
Rwanda
80
61
Congo (Rep.)
Sao Tome and Principe
Liberia 92
Mozambique
Haiti
Mongolia
62
Cameroon
Benin
Laos 91
Egypt
Burundi
Sierra Leone
63
Kyrgyzstan
Armenia
Morocco
79
78
77
The Henley Passport Index: Q4 2020 Global Ranking
Vitamin SEE The Best White Sand Beaches in the World
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hen the cold weather gets the best of you, what could possibly prevent you from dreaming of a white sand beach and your next exotic destination? Must be a paradise kissed by the sun after your own heart, somewhere! Imagine yourself strolling along the white shores of sand and gathering loving memories. Where would you go? Until the travel ban is lifted we give you the Vitamin SEE, packed with the best white beaches in the world! Every single one of these destinations is calling your name!
Credit: Sean O. seanoulashin.com
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North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii Our editorial team had to agree that if we are announcing the best white beaches in the world, we must start with Oahu, Hawaii. The Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay are a stretch of coastal paradise, the mecca of surfing, known for big waves and professional surfing contests, snorkelling among colourful coral and fish and calm water. When back from the beach you could surf the shops, the Indie galleries, and Hawaiian plate-lunch spots filling Haleiwa town, or adventure into tropical gardens and pineapple fields.
Bora Bora, Tahiti The turquoise lagoon makes Bora Bora a superlative romantic suntrap. What could be better than being captive to this lavish natural beauty of a Polynesian island and its giant web of active break? Spoiled for choice, it will be hard to prioritise your time at the turquoise lagoon between long walks on the white sandy beach, sunbathe and swim or diving in the natural underwater park among fish and corals. Make sure you take a break before the midnight dinner on the beach. Matira Beach is an enchanting destination that can spark the magic in your life.
Credit: Julius Silver, www.foto-julius.at
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Nassau, Paradise Island, Bahamas Credit: Jared Rice, unsplash.com/@jareddrice
Words are not enough to capture the beauty of a tropical utopia, spread across 683 acres of pure euphoria. Nassau & Paradise Island are what the name tells you: paradise. While the beach calls for you to explore its serene beauty, there is a world of fine luxury in the unique culture and equally divine human heritage designed for your enjoyment. Local golf clubs, shops, hotels, restaurants could keep you mesmerised all day long just to lead you into the nightlife.
Saona Island, Dominican Republic Seriously stunning, the white beach at Saona is a paradise surpassing your imagination. The Dominican Republic’s largest coastal island, with a population of little more than 300 locals, Saona is part of the National Park of the East, memorable for the white sands, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters. Breathtaking sunsets, plate-crystal azure water, exotic drinks, Caribbean cuisine and Bali beds are equally inviting and comforting. Luxurious Nature and fine luxury define this unique island, its delicate white sand and the forest of coconut palms which bent towards the sea, forming the perfect natural backdrop for your memories.
Credit: Kamil Kalbarczyk, instagram.com/kamilkalb
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Credit: Sean Resa Cahya, unsplash.com/@bagus_resacahya01
Bali, Indonesia Beach life doesn’t get any better that contemplating a beautiful sunset over one of the 25 beaches in Bali. Salty hair, sun-kissed skin and a good book, are all included in your paradise. What could be better than walk along these stretches of golden sand, and retire into a beach bar or back to your five-star hotel, footsteps away from the mirage of waves.
Himandhoo, Maldives If you want to live the tropical dream, the beautiful lagoon in the W Maldives, is the right destination. Fully backed by the ocean breathtaking backdrop, its cool collection of vibrant, natural architecture is curated for perfect relaxation. Swim, snorkel or drift along and bask in the sunshine. Lounge, gaze and sigh in contentment at one of the over-water lagoon villas overlooking the breathtaking turquoise lagoon, or take a plunge from your deck.
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Escape to W Maldives, a luxury 5-star private island resort setting the stage to fuel guests’ lust for life. Imagine waking up to the sound of the waves drumming against the infinity pool, a wonderland of white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and breathtaking reefs. www.marriott.com
Credit: Xavier Coiffic, instagram.com/xaviercoiffic
Trou Aux Beach, Mauritius the Eden Garden could very well look like this strip of white sandy beach, a 35-hectare tropical garden, a turquoise lagoon with crystal-clear waters, on the north west coast of Mauritius. An idyllic setting where any girl dreaming her perfect wedding day, would enjoy dramatic sunsets and romantic breathtaking scenery. Awarded the World’s Best Beach a decade ago, the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ offers vibrant, spectacular landscapes, snow white sands washed away by turquoise waters. A perfect gateway!
A Spin Into Lisbon’s Royal Love Story
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ove is the most powerful emotion of all times and while world history is filled with wars and controversy caused by love stories, music and art galleries host priceless masterpieces inspired by love. We went looking into Europe’s most beautiful love stories and made our first stop in 19th Century Portugal. In anticipation of King D. Pedro V’ s birthday on 15 September, we take a spin into his love story with his Queen, Stephanie Josepha Friederike Wilhelmine Antonia, and the love legacy they left behind. They got married when they were both short of a few month of their 21st birthday. Welcomed with a lavish lifestyle at her new home, Stephanie wrote back to her parents a letter saying that Portuguese understood luxury better than dignity.
Keepers of the happy memories, the gardens at the Royal Palace are inviting for long strolls and nothing could stop you imagining The Royal Prince and the love of his life, Queen D. Estefânia holding hands and sharing concerns about the future of Portugal. After his loving Queen died, only 14 month after they got married, the King honoured her memory and focused on the development of his country. He became the founder of the School of Letters, getting involved in choosing it’s professors and courses himself. When Lisbon was evacuated during the pandemic, aristocracy had to leave immediately, but the Royal Prince refused to leave his subjects, and instead of seeking safe refuge, he selflessly helped the hospitals, the ill and payed tribute comforting the grieving families.
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Lisbon is still celebrating the Royal Prince and his Queen’s legacy for love, kindness and compassion. Casa do Príncipe takes its name after the Royal Prince, King D. Pedro V, and each of its 9 palatial suites and rooms refer to a meaningful part of this King’s life. Authentic frescos, 13ft height intricately stuccowork ceilings, real hardwood floors are enhanced by beautiful restoration work bringing along aristocratic grace, discretion and elegance. Right at the heart of Lisbon, Casa Do Principe is a place for love and compassion, facing the Príncipe Real Garden. Its spectacular location on the doorstep of fashionable shops and city sights, signature restaurants and historic attractions, makes Lisbon Europe’s most well-kept secret and inspire us all to imagine the next modern love story.
Are Trains Making a Comeback?
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ravelling on mountain railways, soaking up the picturesque English countryside or the dramatic Alpine views, it was an old dream that one day came through. As we travel by rail through the heart of the Swiss Alps on the world-famous Glacier Express, stunning scenery regales us. We’re immersed in this journey into different locations of luxury brands but found it difficult to superficially browse through the rich culture and natural beauty of Switzerland; it is simply breathtaking! Time to time, we put our heads down in our laptops to add a short note to the story we are working on. Flight Data showed a 91.8% decline recorded in July 2020 followed by August air travel international passenger demand plummeting 88.3% compared to August 2019. A web search away from finding the actual price of travel, you could easily learn that there is a price to pay for travels beyond buying your return ticket. Is there a return to the way we used to travel half a year ago? Or we need to go way back in time and re-imagine our travels? Air travel is one of the fastestgrowing contributor to CO2 emissions and global warming, adding to an all time high alarming body of evidence produced by overconsumption and over- indulgence of industries like fashion or livestock, well known for the harm caused to the planet. Recent studies show unequivocally that lifestyle choices could make or brake the future of the next generation, our own children, in this is not a myth.
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Take the train to cut your CO2 emissions by up to 90%
Easy choices to cut your travel CO2 emissions at present and in the future Eurostar commissioned independent research to assess the CO2 per passenger produced by a London-Paris Eurostar journey versus a London-Paris flight and the conclusion is that taking the train to Paris instead of flying, cuts CO2 emissions per passenger by a staggering 90%. Eurostar’s ‘tread lightly’ initiative, recycling their own waste and collecting it off the trains, positions Eurostar at the top of sustainable travel choices. What is the difference you make when deciding to become an eco aware passenger? A return trip from London to Paris by plain is 3.5 hours (check in and boarding time not included) and adds 244 kg CO2; same trip by train is 91% less, in 2.75 hours adding only 22 Kg CO2. You could make similar environmental savings as choosing Eurostar when compared to flying, travelling with Highspeed TGVs across France, which is using electricity from the same sources and are technically similar to Eurostar. Comfortable, enjoyable and more environmentally-friendly than any flight, with infants going free and great scenery on the way, you will find it hard to travel by plane in the future.
It is no secret that Eurostar offers sustainable choice for short-haul European travel, with a journey between London and Paris resulting in 90% less carbon emissions per passenger than the equivalent flight. Eurostar is planting a tree for every service that it operates across its routes, making customers active supporters of the reforestation of woodland in Europe. A city-centre to city- centre journey is less time consuming and if you are a frequent traveller, a quick check-in, up to 30 minutes before departure, it is not just convenient but is adding more life to your days, giving you the chance to enjoy and plan more quality time while away. For your yearly holiday, a generous baggage allowance with no weight restrictions, free wi-fi and onboard entertainment, are all great advantages that your family will enjoy.
Have lunch in London and dinner in Switzerland with a minimum of CO2 emissions Same way, you could leave London at lunchtime and have dinner in Switzerland without setting foot on a plane. Swiss scenic trains are worth considering as you can stop off at famous Swiss mountain towns, such as Interlaken and Zermatt. For your convenience here is the short list of the most scenic trains in Switzerland for your next journey: Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Jungfraujoch, Golden Pass, Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, Gornergrat Bahn, Gotthard Panorama Express, Luzern Interlaken Express and Mont Blanc Express.
Your travel reimagined: “Sleeping� Trains return with the promise of saving on CO2 emissions Looking to scale up to even more environmental friendly trains? Sleeper trains across South of France, from France to Italy or Spain, have fewer passengers per car than a high-speed trains and travel at lower speed than Eurostar, having one conventional locomotive instead of two big power-cars plus two more powered bogies in the adjacent passenger coaches. Sleeper trains make a significant saving on CO2 emissions when compared to flying but also take us back to a healthier lifestyle which could bring back the past good times. I guess, this is where our journey takes us a few steps back in time, all the way to a more glamorous age, conducted by brilliant minds who could help us reimagine travel as an unforgettable adventure.
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1. Venice Simplon-OrientExpress The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is quite simply the most famous set of carriages in the world, and on this overnight journey between London and Venice you’ll enjoy it at its elegant best. With its polished wood, sumptuous upholstery and antique fixtures, the train epitomises the glamour and elegance of the Golden Age of travel. You won’t just travel across Europe – you’ll also be transported back in time. www.belmond.com
2. Belmond Royal Scotsman Embark on a grand Highland fling on the Belmond Royal Scotsman as it travels through some of Scotland’s most dramatic heather-clad scenery. Ensconced in your mahogany-clad car, crystal decanter at hand, you’ll enjoy extraordinary meals prepared from locally-sourced game and the choice of over 50 single malt whiskies from the well-appointed bar. Combining Edwardian elegance with the comforts of a country house, the UK's only luxury sleeper train is an experience you’ll never forget. www.belmond.com
3. Golden Eagle, Russia This is an unique opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest rail journeys in unabashed luxury – passing endless steppe and travelling alongside the world's largest freshwater lake as you indulge in the finest cuisine as a pianist tickles the ivories. Your luxury suite features en-suite bathrooms, air-con in the summer, full heat in the winter, laundry services, and an English-speaking doctor on call. Traversing eight time zones has never been more comfortable. www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
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8 Easy Steps To Beat Chaos and Enjoy Harmony In My Happy Home During Quarantine Times & Beyond By Helena Zachariassen
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o we’ve all been at home with the family for weeks in a row now, so enjoying it enormously while others are going nuts. The Internet instantly got inundated with funny videos about moms getting grey hair in no time and drinking wine for breakfast. How were we, over night, to cope with working from home and at the same time becoming teachers, IT support, chefs,housekeepers, fitness instructors, nurses, coaches, mediators not to mention remembering there might also be a partner in the equation? Is there a way to truly enjoy the quarantine instead of getting on each others’ nerves every 5 minutes? I believe so. Honestly, there is no right or wrong. The simple truth is that both of these worlds and feelings are profoundly ok, even if they some days might take us by surprise and happen all at once! The most important thing is to acknowledge them and at the end of the day, accept them for what they are. Feelings. We are not our feelings. Let’s allow them to come and go. Just like the waves of the ocean. You create your own haven of harmony. I have 2 young kids, who are now 7 and 4. I love them to bits but with those two a beautiful chaos called life moved in too and hasn’t left since! However, these kids are the purest of joy gifts, and they’ve taught me more than anything that less is more, on so many levels. In the past few years I’ve decluttered our home and my life so thoroughly that I found my missing peace of the puzzle, became an entrepreneur as a KonMari Consultant & Lifestyle Coach in one go and I now support others choosing joy, organising and creating a home they truly love by simplifying their lives too. And I absolutely love what I do.
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What does it mean to simplify? Simplifying and decluttering your life is like an artichoke. Little by little you peel the layers away and with time you reveal the heart of it all. The things that truly matter in life. Are you able to see beyond what you already have in life? Gratitude goes such a long way and being able to cherish, appreciate and enjoy what is already there in front of our eyes. I’ve put together an introduction to simplifying your life, with small, easy manageable steps, doable during a quarantine or after. Whenever you feel the time is right.
1. Take down the expectations, a level or two You can’t expect as much from yourself and each other as before the lockdown. You still only have 24 hours in a day and one pair of hands. Relax and take a break. You’re perfectly imperfect just as you are.
2. Presence & grounding To reduce any potential stress levels the first step for you to do is turn off your phone and decide what kind of (stay-at-home) life you really want and need right now. Sit with the thought and let the answers come to you. Your intuition will help you find the most important things for you. Invite your kids to do the same during a quiet moment. The next step is to take out everything that isn’t what you want right now. And I don’t mean physical items only. We’re talking about social media, TV, the flow of (bad) news, junk food, negative people…you name it.
3. Minimise your to-do list It’s not the end of the world if you haven’t finished your never ending to-do list or that the kids’ homework is not perfectly done every single day. Do me a favour, cut down your to-do list to only a few carefully selected items for each day. You will notice how much more feasible it feels and maybe you tick them off quicker than you’d expected? Regardless: you are still enough even if you don’t finish a single thing.
4. Gratitude and togetherness It’s really helped my family to hold regular family gratitude moments to share and truly listen to each other, even if the needs are quite basic for the small ones, they might mean the world to them! The biggest wish for the kids has mainly been about doing a small activity together, all 4 of us. It’s the little things that matter most.
5. A tidy home truly equals a tidy mind Clutter is simply anything that stands between you and your ideal lifestyle. Your home can be perfectly tidy and still filled with clutter. Or it can also be filled with things and still provide an ideal source of growth. We’re all unique and one size does not fit all of us. Simplifying is not about minimalism, the amount of belongings or how it looks. What matters is how all these things help and support you move towards your ideal lifestyle. Think about how your home and environment make you feel? If you could get from feelings of overwhelm, maybe even hopelessness to light, happy, airy and joyful…would you do it? Lead by example for your family and start with any small (or big) tidying project that support you feeling amazing in your home. Tidying is contagious, you might be surprised…
6. Be more with less Be mindful about what comes in to your home. Shop less if you can, and if you do need to shop, be aware, do some research on the origin, material of the items and working conditions. Make sure you choose well, long lasting and environmentally friendly. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose is a concept that works perfectly well in any household, especially when you don’t have direct access to shops right now. And honestly, the less material possessions you own the easier your home and life is to manage and maintain.
7. Tidy tips and slow living When your home gets (too) messy invite your kids and family to take responsibility of a task or area, share the tasks and be involved. Let each family member visualise their ideal home and make a list of the most important organising goals for everyone. Make a visual list if helpful. Make sure that all things are returned to their homes after being used. As soon as people start leaving things around it will quickly get untidy. Ultimately the aim is to have less to do and to do more of what makes everyone happy!
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8. Find your inner Sisu Sisu is Finnish and has been defined as the word almost describing Finland. It has a vast amount of different meanings, from having guts to strength of will, determination and perseverance to sustaining courage. Sisu is in my Finnish DNA, it’s almost magical to us. Whatever your worries may be, find your inner Sisu – it will encourage and help you face your challenges. For more tips on home organising, a well balanced happy home and nordic living, head over to my blog, or follow me on Instagram. Stay healthy and happy in your homes!y
About the writer: Helena grew up in Helsinki, in the capital of Finland, as a part of a small 5% minority of the country, the Swedish speaking Finns. Since she was born her family spent all their summers out on a remote island in the archipelago in the Baltic Sea, with no electricity, running water or other commodities but the sauna. She learned to love the simple and beautiful nature life there, loving the rough island climate, picking wild blueberries for breakfast, waking up to the sounds of the sea and the sea gulls, and falling asleep with the never setting sun during the summer days of endless light. With a Masters in sociology and social psychology from the University of Helsinki, as well as a certification in life coaching, Helena is constantly seeking the magic of joy in all her endeavours. I the last 15 years she worked in different fields of the corporate world, mainly in international business consulting with a special interest in career and personal development and growth. At resent she lives in Switzerland from where she runs her own consultancy practice with the desire to inspire, support and help others living a healthy, balanced and happy life to their fullest potential. Helena Founder and Owner of My Happy HomeCertified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach
Inspired by Nature Design Accents for Your Home
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rchitects and interior designers, craftsmen and engineers who create our bedroom furniture and our open plan kitchens start with the human experience in mind. New trends are inspired from finding the balance inside our homes, harnessing creativity, driving new technology and innovation, reimagining our relationship with each other, ourselves and the outdoor world. When imagining your Post-Covid home, they all understand that everything changed already, and is evident that many households and organisations have undertaken radical changes and that includes the way we live. Spending more time at home, staycations and interactions are conditioned by a holistic approach to all human activities. Due to the pandemic designers have already started to consider a more holistic approach to the way we live in our homes, challenging the new reality of forced social distancing and spending so much more time indoors. Not surprisingly, the latest trends are human centred and focus on the welfare of the “bubble” in each household, attending to your loved ones emotional needs and wants, mental health, physical fitness, interior designers use human-centred approaches to address how we live today. Aristotle was one of the first to advocate for “love of life”, at the early stages of biophilia, delving into the term philia (friendship), the concept of reciprocity and its benefits to all involved in seeking happiness. Pre-pandemic lifestyle involved an average of 48 weeks or almost 400 hours a year in an office space, and yes, you brought your plant and placed it on your desk. As we approach the end of 2020, the time we spend inside buildings, cars and other small spaces is increasing and with it, our desire to connect with all things in nature, redefining the way we interact with nature, seeking a deeper connection with nature. With the technological advancement, there is a growing concern for a lack of connection with the rest of nature outside our reach; re- connecting with nature has become important, and we try to re-create that connection with nature at home. We are attending any available green spaces indoors, seeking more and more an interior design revolving around nature. The number of domestic and wild animals adoption is on the rise, the up-keeping of plants and flowers in and around our homes is very fashionable and reflects our natural love of life and a growing desire to sustain life.
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EDUCATION Human inclination for natural beauty is easily found in our desire to reestablish a connection with nature, in the way we decorate our homes. There are clinical evidences that it helps the neuro-endocryne and immunological system, and we show more consideration for nature when we are social distancing and spending less time outdoors. A good example would be the introduction of handles inspired by nature for every room in the house, a sustainable design strategy that re-connects people with nature, brings the natural world inside our homes and, at the same time, diminishes the side effects of living indoors for longer hours or travelling less than before the pandemic. You might be surprised of how little you need to fulfil your natural need of outdoor life and the vibrancy of natural beauty. At a closer look, every handle inspired by nature is able to re- connect with a specific natural environment. Every handle is designed to strengthen indoor life, unburden our cognitive system and recognise more information from experiences we had in the past in a natural environment. Same way having plants or murals with scenes from nature in patient's room in hospitals could speed up their healing process, having handles inspired by nature in every room, could help you relax and enjoy your time indoors.
Top Destinations for Design Inspiration In a recent survey by world renowned jewellery hardware designers, Pullcast, designers often quoted their sources of inspiration coming from some of the most wondrous destination on Earth. Their favourites included:
Douro Valley, Portugal Listed as World Heritage Site, The Douro Valley is known as the enchanted valley for its magical beauty. The Douro is a majestic wilderness, one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. Wine lovers and those looking for beautiful sceneries will certainly enjoy a trip to this beautiful part of the country.
Koh Samui,Thailand Thailand’s second largest island, lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It's known for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and dense, mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and posh spas. The landmark 12m-tall golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple is located on a tiny island connected to Ko Samui by a causeway.
Glenorchy,New Zealand Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middle-earth™ magic. Set against a background of native beech forest and towering mountain ranges, Glenorchy’s surrounds are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Crafting a Luxury Living Room How to give your living room a gorgeous makeover
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ometimes described as a sitting or lounge room, a living room ought to be comfortable, welcoming, and have a touch of luxury. Over time, it has gained more and more attention, and nowadays it is even considered by some designers as the heart of the house. Most modern living rooms serve more than one purpose and are the main area where guests stay most of the time, so it is important to have all the conditions decor-wise to make the best impact possible. LUXXU gathered some of the most beautiful living room design schemes, from a residential penthouse apartment to a modern minimalistic home with a neutral colour palette. These inspirations will be of great assistance for one to craft the most unique luxury living room space brimming with elegant products and sophisticated combinations.
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For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond and balance one another.
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Andre Putman
LUXXU Crackle Mirror. Available at luxxu.net
Luxury Penthouse with Major Opulence Perched in the highest floors, penthouses by definition are luxurious, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes from their glass curtain walls. Usually, they match those views with stunning interior decorations, where contemporary design takes on a new life and encourages creativity with unique pieces. In this interior, the green colouration of the sofas is a great contrast with the golden accents from the McQueen chandelier. It is one of those unique pieces inspired by one of the most irreverent designers of all time, Alexander McQueen. This masterpiece is as powerful as his exhibitions, combining the best of luxury with the most exquisite handmade materials. Maintaining the opulence that penthouse living rooms bring, the sofa can truly be a focal point of the room especially when it combines beautiful design with practicality and comfort. The black leather of the Anguis Sofa reflects the refinement of its manufacture and guarantees high levels of durability and comfort while its peculiar shape ensures outstanding adaptability to any design project.
Simplicity is the Ultimate Form of Luxury When given too many choices, people tend to worry that there is something better out there than what they decided on, and that is the main reason why sometimes less is more. In this interior, LUXXU chose as a statement piece the Waterfall Suspension made of brass and crystal glass that matches perfectly with the neutral-toned furnishings, certainly a gorgeous blend between simplicity and luxury.
Everything we create, we believe in redesigning your definition of art.
LUXXU’s Empire is shaping its future by setting trends with timeless pieces and refined elegance. Lighting was the start of a luxury journey stating itself as classic with a modern twist. Today, a new epoch unveils at LUXXU. Daring ambiances are an everlasting aesthetic language shared by every element. LUXXU now allows you to create those ambiances as the brand uncovers a crucial imperial complement, a Furniture Collection. Offering resembling noble materials and finishing, where customisation blossoms as brand capital. Be our guest and get inspired by a distinctive collection of timeless pieces.
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BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK Is orange the new black? Not if you take into account the enticing character of the black colour, as it is timeless and symbolises elegance, wealth, and power. That is one of the main purposes of a living room besides comfort, and this luxurious interior by LUXXU assuredly transpires that feeling. The Anguis Sofa pairs beautifully with the Ocadia Armchair, where materials such as velvet and leather create a fluid and rich narrative. All shades of black merged into this meticulous design get a glimmering touch courtesy of the Shard Suspension, which brings the whole decor together.
LUXXU Shared Suspension. Available at luxxu.net
A Christmas to Remember Amalgam of elegance and winter trends
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inter has come and with it, one of the most anticipated holidays. Christmas is the time to put it all on display, from the warm hues of gold, to the elegant accents of black and grey, and never losing the sight of textures with soft wools and leathers. It is the best time of the year to have the best interior design to welcome the whole family and share the warmth of a good fireplace while we wait for the present to be opened.
LUXXU compiled some curated interior design inspirations for a luxurious and delighted Christmas eve.
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The Snow White Look The soft tones of the snow-white look is beautiful although it can be hard to master even with Christmas decorations, it needs to have a perfect balance with darker shades and warm colours. With an amazing golden finish, The Waterfall Suspension gives a beautiful contrast to the lighter tones of this interior, making it the highlight. Add a lovely rug that not only keeps your feet warm, but also brings in some texture to an overall outstanding design.
Dark wood and light Leather details Black is a wonderful colour, a powerful neutral that is often used in small doses, however it can be used as the main colour for a room if all other shades are based on it. It’s also popular for leather furniture, as shown by the beautiful Charla Dining Table, it looks sleek and timeless in a luxurious living room especially when teamed with amazing gold-plated brass accents from the Babel Snooker.
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Fusion of Colours and Textures This interior is elegant and sophisticated, yet it’s not teeming with colour. Both the floor lamp and the suspension offer a cohesive look making the lighting the focal point. With a mixture of dark wood tones paired with soft grey leather, the complete dining set transpires a warm feeling. The perfect place to have a wonderful diner with the family while watching the snowfall.
Crystal Glass Surface The entryway is the first room that your guest stumbles upon, and the first impression is everlasting. Without a doubt the Trump Chandelier is the centrepiece in this beautiful interior, stunningly embedded into the staircase. The glass crystal reflecting the amazing checkered patterned floor that in turn contrast with the Christmas decorations in shades of green, all coming together in a fantastic design inspiration.
Culture
Apps for Good
Heather Picov by Arti Halai
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eather Picov is the Chief Executive Officer of Apps for Good. The award-winning education charity specialises in tech and has reached over 175,000 young people aged between 10 and 18 since it launched in 2010. Apps for Good helps young people tackle issues they passionately care about by creating digital products like apps and software. Partnering with schools, it is already opening new education and career pathways especially for girls and young people in challenging circumstances. Super excited by the mission, after Heather ran her first event for Apps for Good she was hooked and its success secured her a permanent job within the organisation. She describes her leadership style as collaborative, supportive and empowering those around her. She says, sometimes its better to just let people get on with things and get out of their way. Heather has learnt some big lessons in the role including not being afraid to ask for help, the importance of networks and building relationships and that being a leader doesn’t mean being perfect and having all the answers.
Art We start with art because as a teenager, Heather wanted to pursue a career in art or design but it is so far removed from what she is doing now, so what happened? Heather says “I always loved drawing all the time as a child, even in restaurants but my parents, never went to university and so they were keen for me to pursue a career in maths or the sciences, which I was good at in school. I guess they had images of a poor starving artist daughter and just thought no way!” She said it was very practical and sensible advice from their perspective. More shockingly, her school career advisors said at the time “I could just be creative in my free time.” Having read human biology at university she realised being a doctor wasn’t for her. Her passion for art was reignited when she moved from Canada to London fourteen years ago. “I did love art and art history as well as design and architecture which was one of the attractions of moving to London.” Heather is fascinated with the surroundings and environment that the capital has to offer. She says “the layers of history, the idea of what humans can create and the buildings from new to old that shape our experiences, I find so exciting.” She loves the contrast of the buildings too like the Gherkin building sitting comfortably close to the Bank of England or the Tate Modern looking across the Millennium Bridge to St Pauls Cathedral.
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Literature Heather’s love of history carries through to the types of books she enjoys reading, particularly in recent years. “I’ve started to read historical biographies of American politicians like Alexander Hamilton and Lincoln, as I don’t know a lot about that time in history.” She loves learning through reading and “the insight from the characters as well as getting different perspectives on things.” When I ask her if she has a favourite book, Heather says “not really, I like all types of books and take different things from each of them.” As a child she says she read mainly fiction as she wasn’t exposed to a wide range of books but that changed when she went to university and her interests broadened. Today she says “I read widely, fiction, non-fiction, popular books about history, science, art, psychology, science.” She describes herself as a “little bit of an introvert” and says “my dream holiday would be spending five days on a beach just reading!”
Cuisine
Music Our final section brings us to music. Heather says “I’m the least musical person I know and so self conscious about singing in public. I have no singing ability.” As a child she said she was forced to play the flute because “my sister played it but it was also light to carry and my parents also liked that they couldn’t hear us practicing in the basement!” I ask her what she listened to growing up and she says “80s music like Madonna, Wham and Whitney. I liked popular music. I remember my dad liked the Rolling Stones.” When I asked her if she had one special tune or song, Heather says “Lou Reed’s Perfect Day. My husband played it for our son in the early days to try and get him to sleep. It takes me back to those exhausting, overwhelming but also magical days with our son. Lucas. He is mischievous but amazing. He loves to dance to anything so we play him everything from Abba to classical music and he responds to it all, which is really fun.” Children really will dance to anything, anywhere at that young age! On that note I thank Heather Picov for sharing her Five Star Insights with us and bring the interview to a close. Don’t forget to tune into the Five Star Insights podcast.
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We move on and I ask Helen about her favourite type of cuisine. “The food for me would have to be the Ashkenazi Jewish food I grew up with, cooked by my grandmother’s – challah, gefilte fish, kugel (a sweet noodle dish), chopped liver. It takes me instantly back to my childhood. My grandparents were first generation Canadians; their parents were born in Russia, Lithuania and Poland, immigrating to Canada in the early 1900’s. They came with very little and started a bakery at home and my grandmother grew up sleeping above the ovens of the bakery business. – great in a Toronto winter, less so in the hot, humid summer. It grew into a large commercial, family-run bakery when it closed its doors last year.” She quickly tells me she is not a baker but more of a cook. Given her memories, I ask her about the importance of food in the Jewish culture. “I grew up around family gatherings and eating together and so much of the Jewish culture is linked to food. On the Jewish New Year we eat certain sweet foods, so you can have a sweet new year. Passover as well. I love that enjoyment of food, making connections and coming together around a meal.” Heather wishes she had got her grandmother’s recipes and says she thinks about how she will pass down this part of her heritage to her son. She says they are not a religious family, but like to come together around a meal once a week.
Location Given how important family is to Heather, it seems fitting that she chose the Amalfi Coast in Italy as her favourite location for a very special occasion. Heather says “We wanted a small wedding, something simple and we love good food, good wine and a beautiful setting. On the actual day we got married in a lemon grove. It was a working farm with views of the coast. Eleven people, my parents, sister, her children and my in-laws. It was just what we wanted.” When I ask her if she has been back since she says “yes, we have been back a few times and we’ve taken our son there too. I really like the Italians ability to appreciate the small things like good food and wine and that is what we really connect with too and we just knew it had to be this place when we saw it.” It really does sound the most magical day with a setting to match!
Hard work runs in the blood
Surinder Arora by Arti Halai
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elf-made billionaire Surinder Arora is an entrepreneur with an extraordinary and inspiring story. He is founder and chairman of Arora Group, one of the UK’s largest private hotel owner-
operators. Surinder arrived in the UK at the age of 13 in 1972 speaking no English. His parents had arrived a few years earlier and called for him from Punjab once they had settled in West London. Hard work runs in the blood. His mother held down three jobs and was extremely ambitious for her son. Surinder left school and had jobs with British Airways and Abbey Life. He saved and invested in property, buying derelict houses and converting them into bed and breakfast for airline staff. He eventually bulldozed the houses and built a hotel from scratch, convincing both lenders and British Airways to give him the contract to run a hotel for the airline’s crew. It wasn’t long before he was on a roll both buying and operating hotels and the rest as they say is history.
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Location Surinder has said in the past he worked 16 to 17 hour days but now he takes time out to relax and go on holiday and so I start by asking him where his favourite holiday location is in the world? Two places he answers. “One home and second my favourite place is Dubai as it is easy to get to and involves no jet lag.” It is also close to India where he spent his childhood and still likes to visit family. “Dubai has got all the comforts, good food and climate and I love being by the water.” So can he really switch off? Like any entrepreneur, he says, “not really but as long as I can check my phone once or twice a day for about 30-40 minutes in the morning and evening I am fine.” The phone is then put away, something he is learning to do with the help of his wife Sunita. He also says it is good discipline. The couple have a son and two daughters who are all married along with six grandchildren and the family often holiday together having just come back from a resort in Greece. This year Surinder suggested to Sunita that they take a trip to Japan, just the two of them as neither have ever been before. However, that was put on hold as the couple welcomed their sixth grandchild. Surinder says “I missed out watching my own children growing up so I want to spend as much time as possible with the grandchildren.”
Cuisine Moving on then to his love of food and Surinder says he likes all sorts of cuisine as long as it is hot and spicy! He loves Chinese, Thai and Iranian. Ofcourse he grew up eating Indian food but they don’t have that everyday at home. What he has to have is something spicy. He says sometimes he goes to really nice, fine dining restaurants, whether they are French cuisine or English and he sits there thinking whether he can ask for some Tobasco sauce or chillies. Growing up his mother cooked the meals, in between doing her different jobs but he never once saw his father cook during his lifetime. He says “I learnt to cook from my mother.” When I asked him what he cooked he said “I remember one year we were at our special friend Sir Cliff Richard’s vineyard in Portugal and Cliff was really missing a curry so I said to Sunita, I’ll cook for you all and I went to do the shopping. I cooked five or six dishes, Cliff loves okra, chicken, dhal, rice, chapati and then I went off for my chicken piri piri at my favourite restaurant, Ramires in Guia where the chicken piri piri dish actually originated from.” His most memorable meal takes him back 38 years to when he first met his wife, Sunita. The families had introduced them both for an arranged marriage. Surinder says without telling anyone, he took Sunita to Hatton Garden where he brought her a ring. He then took her to McDonald’s in Marble Arch and with their take-away they sat in Hyde Park on the day they got engaged, eating their happy meals. All I can say is “memories, are made of this!”
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Music Our third section brings us to music and I ask Surinder what he enjoys listening to? “I like music inspired by different occasions” he says. “I listen to all types of music from Bollywood to Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shreya Ghosal. She is my favourite singer and I couldn’t believe my wife, Sunita and son, Sanjay convinced her to perform at my surprise 60th birthday party because she doesn’t do private events. It takes me back to Sunita’s 40th surprise birthday party we held for her at Madame Tussauds. I thought I would get Lionel Ritchie to sing for her but his fee was £450,000 for an hour. Well I couldn’t afford that! Anyway, Sunita arrives and she sees a man with an amazing voice at the piano on the other side of the room and she’s so excited until she gets closer and sees that he is a Lionel Ritchie look alike, that I paid £3,000 for! So, naturally I thought Sunita was playing a trick on me but how she convinced the original Shreya Ghosal to sing live for my birthday, I’ll never know.” I ask Surinder about his long term friendship with Sir Cliff Richard, which dates back to 1999. “I wanted someone famous to open my hotel and my mum knew of Cliff who was born in Lucknow in India and his songs and since then, Cliff has opened all my hotels, except one.” When I ask him about his favourite song by the artist, he diplomatically says “I love them all, there are so many…of course, Congratulations, Summer Holiday, Devil Woman. Sometimes I joke with my senior team leader, if we haven’t spoken for a while and I say “We don’t talk anymore!”
Surinder count’s some of the world’s biggest stars amongs his close friends, incluidng Sir Cliff Richard. Credit: Eva Rinaldi
Art Well, I’ve got every intention of talking more with Surinder as we steer into our section on art. He admits that he would like to learn more about the art world. Surinder turns his attention to where we are sitting in the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. “I’m hopeless with colours, styles, textures, when it comes to choosing the interiors for my hotels” he confesses outright. We take a moment to view our surroundings with the light sandstone colour, use of chrome, high ceilings and dark wood panels. Surinder says “I like the fresh, crisp quality with clean lines. I want buildings that will be there for generations. This building is more than ten years old, yet it still looks new.” I ask Surinder if this style is what we would see in his home to which he replies, “I’m very indecisive. I’m happy to build buildings but the interiors I leave to my wife.”
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Literature Our final section brings us to literature and knowing Surinder enjoys biographies, I ask him whether there is a special book that comes to mind. “The first book I took on holiday was about the Oberoi Hotels. I was in the process of building my first hotel in 1998 and so much of the book related to my story. I’ve read every one of Richard Branson’s which I found really interesting. Another person I really admire and respect is Allen Leighton and his thoughts on leadership. I never had any qualifications and I really look up to people like that.” Surinder goes on to talk about his time as a football referee, “I know I have the power but I want the players to respect me and I know I have to respect them first. This is a principle I apply in my business today.” I ask Surinder if character is more important than qualifications? He says “Yes and no. I wanted my children to go to university and do their best because money can come and go but nobody can take away your education and qualifications.” He understands that not everybody is cut out for university and “silly degrees from the last 15 years are of no use to anyone.” However, he says “apprenticeships are just as good and if you are willing to work hard then nothing can stop you.” Talking about autobiographies, I mention that I have just finished reading Michelle Obama’s book, ‘Becoming…’ He is full of admiration for her, “I’ll be taking that on my next holiday with me. Thanks for the recommendation!” Finally, I ask Surinder about whether he has any intentions about writing a book about his life story? “I want to share my life experiences. Life is like Valleys and Hills. The real winners are not those standing at the top of the hill, they are those pushing themselves up the hill. All entrepreneurs say, never give up in life. I say it makes you stronger and a better person. I just need to find the time and the right person to help me write the book.” You heard it here first! I thank Surinder Arora for the very insightful, memorable and entertaining interview and for sharing his Five Star Insights with us.
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A Role Model for Success
Louise Oliver by Arti Halai
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ouise Oliver who has worked in the financial services sector for over 30 years and is co-founder and director of Piercefield Oliver. She is also UK President of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs – affectionately known as BAWE. A membership organisation, BAWE is a network for women who have considerable experience in running their own businesses. In her day to day work Louise is a certified Financial Planner and Chartered Wealth Manager, helping families and individuals going through life’s changes with a particular focus on divorce, business sales and bereavement. A role less than 10 per cent of women do in this sector. She is an expert commentator on the BBC’s Breakfast TV and Radio 4’s Money Box programme and has won several awards including Role Model of the Year in Financial Services. Lessons learned include it takes time to find to find the right team with shared values, ethics and passion and that not everyone is right for her business. She has also learned to say ‘yes’ to challenges and step out of her comfort zone.
Location Louise grew up on the doorstep of the Peak District and named her favourite location as the magnificent stately home, often voted Britain’s favourite country house, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. She has fond memories of visiting the grand estate, with vast grounds during her childhood and watching her two sons playing in the cascading fountains years later. “Escapism and beautiful” are the words she uses as she reminisces of the long strolls and lazy summer afternoons spent at Chatsworth House. She loves that “it has such a rich heritage and history combined with stories of intrigue, tragedy and scandal from generations of royal visitors.” She credits the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who live with their family in private apartments on the estate for the wellmaintained property saying “it can’t be easy looking after 125 rooms with more than 1000 acres of gardens and grounds!” Louise, was the eldest with two brothers in Sheffield and says “when growing up there were no PC’s, mobiles and we spent lots of time playing outdoors and visiting the House.” She is proud of being a Yorkshire “lass” and says “I went to a good local school and Yorkshire people are very welcoming, friendly and there was a real sense of community.” She now lives in Cheltenham but does go back to Chatsworth House whenever she can.
Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into over thirty five languages and sold twenty-five million copies worldwide. She is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. Credit: lucindariley.co.uk
Chatswroth House, Derbyshite. Credit: www.chatsworth.org
Literature The stories surrounding Chatsworth House lead us nicely onto her choice of literature. Louise has just finished a series of six books called ‘The Seven Sisters’ by Lucinda Riley. She loves books with a good plot, lots of twists and turns, love and tragedy and “this one combines that with a mix of fiction and historical facts.” The story is about “a wealthy businessman who adopts seven daughters and the legacy he leaves them are clues about where they are from.” Each sister is a different character with a rich heritage, so you have a sailor, a model, a musician, a healer coming from different countries like Brazil, Australia, Scotland, Norway, Spain and Kenya. “Her descriptions are so good and I’ve not been to Brazil or Australia but through the book, I feel like I’ve visited those places and I’ve learnt about things like Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the aborigines in Australia and the Maasai tribe in Kenya.” She enjoys biographies too and says “I liked Richard Branson’s book as it provided some good insight as to how he built his career.” Louise also likes self-help books like ‘Who Moved My Cheese’ by Dr Spencer Johnson. A popular book in the shape of a business fable, I ask her if she applies the principals from her reading to real life situations? “It’s short, to the point and makes you go out of your comfort zone and search for an alternative…you have to go with your fear and embrace it and challenge it and not be afraid to fail.” Reading time is normally on holiday or on the train down to London, “I would rather read than fall asleep on the train!” Louise’s choice of books resonates well with me and I went with her recommendation of The Seven Sisters. Suffice to say I couldn’t put it down!
Cuisine Moving on then to cuisine and when I ask Louise what tantalising delights tickle her taste buds she firmly states… “I love a good curry. I like spicy hot food.” And furthermore, Louise enjoys making her curries using fish, meat or vegetables. When she invites guests to her house, she says “I like to cater for everyone and increasingly, people are turning to vegetarianism, veganism so I cook all sorts of things.” Her love of cooking is shared with her partner, Stephen as she says “he enjoys cooking but takes on the role of ‘commis chef’ because he knows I’m good at it…and I often swap recipes with my younger son too. He has inherited my love of cooking.” Louise also says “I make a mean Yorkshire pudding and toad in the hole…never brought and always made at home.” She remembers growing up with Sunday roast, “though people don’t do that nowadays” and credits her grandparents for being “amazing cooks.” When I ask her where she gets her inspiration from she states “I follow recipes properly and I like Delia Smith, the Hairy Bikers, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver.” I comment that they are very different types of chefs and she says “I’ll give anything a go as long as it doesn’t take too long to make, I don’t want to spend hours and hours in the kitchen.” When I ask her if we will see her on Masterchef anytime soon, she laughs and says “Never and besides my presentation definitely needs work!”
Louis Armstrong visits Amsterdam, 1955. Credit: Behrens, Herbert / Anefo Nationaal Archief www.nationaalarchief.nl 122 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Music I tell Louise I have visions of her dancing and cooking in the kitchen to her favourite music which happens to be… “I like Genesis, Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Duran Duran…but I’m an 80s girl at heart” How would she describe herself at that time? “I liked fashion, I had blond streaked hair, but no perm as my hair was just too thick and my hairdresser refused, high waist baggy trousers…and I listened to varied music.”
Whilst she didn’t get the opportunity, due to lack of funds to see many concerts back then she has gone to revival music gigs over the years and seen bands like the Human League, Belinda Carlisle, Toyah; on the whole, she says they have met her expectations. She also says she went through a phrase liking rock bands like Guns and Roses, ACDC, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, “largely down to my boyfriends at the time…I think our music does change depending on the friends we have at the time.” Louise says she doesn’t listen to much classical and summarises her taste in music as “nothing specific, lots of different.” The one tune she says that “sums up how I feel about the world is Louis Armstrong’s, What A Wonderful World.” She says “the lyrics say so much… that we should embrace it, we should make the most of it, we should pause and look at things and appreciate the world we live in”
Art Leaving the music section on that profound note, we turn our attention to our final section on art. Louise starts by describing the artwork that adorns her walls at home. The painting is by a local artist to Cheltenham, Hamish Blakely. “There is a couple, doing a Latin American dance, maybe the Argentine Tango…I can see the detail of the muscles, the flow of the dress is amazing and I look at that picture and imagine my partner and I dancing together.” She laughs and says, she has tried the Argentine tango but has two left feet! When I ask her if she finds art emotive, she pauses and thinks before answering “Yes, it can be emotive.” I’m curious given her financial background whether she sees art as an investment tool? “I have to love art first before seeing it as an investment…and it goes on the walls, you see it so you have to like it.” She also describes a contrasting piece of art by her father in law, also on display in her home. “He was a draughtsman by trade and lives in Cambridge. He has used watercolours to draw some of the buildings there. I love the detail, its timeless, he is 89 so when he passes we will have that to remember him by.” Given the contrast of the bold strong shades and the delicate, sublime colours from the two paintings Louise has described, it is clear that art has to have meaning for her. We touch on theatre and Louise says she loved seeing ‘My Fair Lady’ in a small, intimate theatre setting. “I just love the story, rags to riches, the songs…I just want to be her!” She also has fond memories of taking her two sons, when they were 8 or 9 to see The Lion King’ and “their faces were mesmerised.” Recently her youngest son, called her and said “he wanted to take his girlfriend and mum to see the Lion King, he wanted to revisit it and I guess those memories stayed with him. It just shows if you take young children to see theatre, they can continue to enjoy it and appreciate it.” On that great sentimental thought I thank Louise Oliver and bring the Five Star Insights interview to a close.
Simple Pleasures, 2020 by Hamish Blakely. Credit: artsy.net
Dame Diana Rigg in Lincoln Centre’s My Fair Lady. Photo: Joan Marcus | britishtheatre.com
As reported by britishtheatre.com, Bartlett Sher’s production of Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical might be headed to the London Coliseum in 2021 Harry Hadden-Paton, Lauren Ambrose and Allan Corduner in My Fair Lady. Photo: Joan Marcus | britishtheatre.com
The Biggest Test of Our Resilience:
A Socially Distanced Santa by Douglas Ballard
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othing compares with the magic of winter: festive shows, a visit to a grotto, the winter fair, are all expectations which, by tradition, were embraced by our families for generations. But this year, around your Christmas tree, everybody will expect a socially distanced Santa. Times have changed and we have adjusted – in part. Adjusting does not mean that we have accepted the situation, but it is where we are at in the World and our freedoms have changed. We feel different now, like caged birds. You could say that we live in two worlds: the world about us and the world in our heads. Sometimes, when we travel, we feel so small, like a spec of dust. Sometimes, when we are worried, the world inside our heads seems multi-dimensional with layers of worry about the present and where things are going. Our heads struggle to work out strategies to ensure our future, and that of our children and parents, how we and they will survive and be happy. Conspiracies abound and we are confuddled with more and more conflicting seemingly disconnected information. I, for one, want to scream at what the media are saying. Yes, we have a very serious situation on health, mental health levels, economy and social cohesion levels, but it is shamefully wound up to such heights of anxiety, as it is their business to sell news. That is how they profit. Many people now no longer watch or read the news as too much negativity depletes our reservoirs of hope and self-belief. Yet, there are so many good stories missed about human courage, resilience, innovative new businesses and compassion as the bone of negative news seems more tasty than encouraging messages of human greatness. It is important that we look after ourselves to be strong for others. Just like the scenario of an inflight emergency, we need to put on our air mask first so that we can help others around us. Looking after our health and fitness, strengthen our immune systems are so important in weathering this marathon of mental endurance and loss of freedom.
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I am treating many people now with anxiety overload and depression as they struggle deeply to see their way forward. The tunnel of their despair is so dark they need help to illuminate their lives. Long established careers in travel, hospitality, sports and entertainment are suffering uncertainty and this affects our families, friends and lives as we had come to know it. Now, after the best part of a year, businessmen and women are facing extremely tough decisions about their workforces and markets, plus the looming Brexit changes – again whatever they may be adding to our uncertainty. The stress this is all having on key individuals, both making these decisions and on those at the receiving end, has never been so great since the world wars and great depression of the 1930’s – and it affects us all. Healing touches a part of their lives which is far deeper than the conscious and subconscious mind. We have an inbuilt selfrestore which works best at a point of deep tranquility tough to reach in our everyday lives. After such a roller coaster ride, we are coming out from the valleys of heartache, reaching out to peaks of hopes. Universal energy helps us activate a deep sense of calm and well-being, most people are craving for a ‘restore-level’ to aid ailments like anxiety, stress, back and neck pains, skin complaints, digestive disorder, immune deficiency, to name just a few. If we want to survive the rise and fall of joy which defines our journey, healing is possibly the only positive choice to make at this time. Christmas and New Year will be a welcome respite and Christmas is definitely in the home this year. We need to reach out to all around so all feel a sense of inclusion as loneliness is a killer. Let’s all make the effort, even at a short distance from each other in this socially distanced festive season. 2021 will bring as much hope as it brings challenges, and we will restore much of our well-being in the times to come. Be encouraged, no matter where you are in life!
About the writer: Douglas Ballard is an accomplished international Energy Healer. Douglas is down to earth and very approachable. Currently practicing in Belgravia, London, Douglas is well recognised for his success in treating anxiety, stress, exhaustion, immune-related illness, back, shoulder and post-operative pain. Clients nearly always experience a sense of calm, unwinding and relief on their path to wellbeing. Douglas’s Energy Healing touch works extremely well alongside conventional therapy, helping to mitigate and restore the harsh side-effects of drug treatment, surgery and radiotherapy.
Festive Lights: Was Christmas ever cancelled?
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he thought of re-sizing this winter festive celebrations is shaping in everybody’s mind. Could you be persuaded to leave the Festive Lights’ switched off this Christmas? As we are reaching the end of this strange year, we have to admit that 2020 is ranking really low on festive celebrations. Visiting loved ones or meeting friends and peers at Christmas seems a luxury as we repeatedly learn that celebrations and hugs are best held on Zoom.
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“
Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality and lifts the spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment.
WASHINGTON IRVING
Was Christmas ever cancelled?
Decorating your Christmas tree, switching the lights on, going to church, sharing good wishes, and cooking meals with family and friends while waiting for Santa Claus to come down on the chimney, are all part of the Christmas tradition. For two millennia, Christmas has been celebrated on December 25 and in 2020 is a tradition for a sacred religious holiday for some but a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon embraced by all. A quick look into the English and American national archives, shows us times in history when Christmas was cancelled and how it changed the course of history. When Christmas was cancelled, parties turned into riots, which led to rebellions in 1647 and 1648, and caused the Second Civil War. King Charles lost the war, he put on trial and was executed. The revolution in Britain and the birth of the Republic of Ireland are all historic facts due to Christmas being cancelled. One of the most anticipated days of the year, December 25, Christmas Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. Christmas was not a holiday in early America, as the English separatists that arrived in America in 1620 brought along their Puritan beliefs. Boston, a stop on a major trade route with the West Indies during colonial times, outlawed Christmas celebrations for 22 years. Anyone sharing the Christmas spirit was fined 5 shillings. There were no Christmas trees in any household between 1659 and 1681. Imagine Boston with no Christmas Lights! To celebrate Christmas, you had to travel down on the East Coast, to the first settlement in the Americas, the Jamestown settlement, in the Colony of Virginia, where Christmas celebrations were in full swing.
How Washington Irving Re-Imagined Christmas With high unemployment, the early 19th century was filled with economic uncertainty, gang rioting and class conflict. The city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot was established in 1828, by the New York city council. This is when upper classes changed the way Christmas was celebrated in America. Prior to that, in 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. ‘The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent.’, featured a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday, a metaphorical contrast to the reality of the American society. This imaginary chronicle of an English Manor House was reflecting Irving’s attitude on the spirit of Christmas, and his solution to resolve the conflict between different social status, by celebrating a peaceful Christmas regardless of wealth or social status. It is fair to say that Americans re-invented Christmas, and took it from its initial “carnival holiday” form into a peaceful family day celebration, filled with love, great food and joy. Every year since, Americans (and much of the world) dwell on the magic of Christmas and switch the festive lights on without fail. Here is a passage from Irving’s book:
But is old, old, good old Christmas gone? NOTHING in England exercises a more delightful spell over my imagination than the lingerings of the holiday customs and rural games of former times. Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality and lifts the spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment. The services of the Church about this season are extremely tender and inspiring. They dwell on the beautiful story of the origin of our faith and the pastoral scenes that accompanied its announcement. They gradually increase in fervor and pathos during the season of Advent, until they break forth in full jubilee on the morning that brought peace and good-will to men. I do not know a grander effect of music on the moral feelings than to hear the full choir and the pealing organ performing a Christmas anthem in a cathedral, and filling every part of the vast pile with triumphant harmony.
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132 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
There is something in the very season of the year that gives a charm to the festivity of Christmas. At other times we derive a great portion of our pleasures from the mere beauties of Nature. Our feelings sally forth and dissipate themselves over the sunny landscape, and we “live abroad and everywhere.” The song of the bird, the murmur of the stream, the breathing fragrance of spring, the soft voluptuousness of summer, the golden pomp of autumn, earth with its mantle of refreshing green, and heaven with it deep delicious blue and its cloudy magnificence,—all fill us with mute but exquisite delight, and we revel in the luxury of mere sensation. But in the depth of winter, when Nature lies despoiled of every charm and wrapped in her shroud of sheeted snow, we turn for our gratifications to moral sources. The dreariness and desolation of the landscape, the short gloomy days and darksome nights, while they circumscribe our wanderings, shut in our feelings also from rambling abroad, and make us more keenly disposed for the pleasure of the social circle. Our thoughts are more concentrated; our friendly sympathies more aroused. We feel more sensibly the charm of each other’s society, and are brought more closely together by dependence on each other for enjoyment. Heart calleth unto heart, and we draw our pleasures from the deep wells of loving-kindness which lie in the quiet recesses of our bosoms, and which, when resorted to, furnish forth the pure element of domestic felicity. The pitchy gloom without makes the heart dilate on entering the room filled with the glow and warmth of the evening fire. The ruddy blaze diffuses an artificial summer and sunshine through the room, and lights up each countenance in a kindlier welcome. Where does the honest face of hospitality expand into a broader and more cordial smile, where is the shy glance of love more sweetly eloquent, than by the winter fireside? and as the hollow blast of wintry wind rushes through the hall, claps the distant door, whistles about the casement, and rumbles down the chimney, what can be more grateful than that feeling of sober and sheltered security with which we look round upon the comfortable chamber and the scene of domestic hilarity? The English, from the great prevalence of rural habit throughout every class of society, have always been found of those festivals and holidays, which agreeably interrupt the stillness of country life, and they were, in former days, particularly observant of the religious and social rites of Christmas. It is inspiring to read even the dry details which some antiquaries have given of the quaint humors, the burlesque pageants, the complete abandonment to mirth and good-fellowship with which this festival was celebrated. It seemed to throw open every door and unlock every heart. It brought the peasant and the peer together, and blended all ranks in one warm, generous flow of joy and kindness. The old halls of castles and manor-houses resounded with the harp and the Christmas carol, and their ample boards groaned under the weight of hospitality. Even the poorest cottage welcomed the festive season with green decorations of bay and holly—the cheerful fire glanced its rays through the lattice, inviting the passengers to raise the latch and join the gossip knot huddled round the hearth beguiling the long evening with legendary jokes and oft-told Christmas tales.
How was the Christmas Dinner served? The dinner was served up in the great hall, where the squire always held his Christmas banquet. A blazing crackling fire of logs had been heaped on to warm the spacious apartment, and the flame went sparkling and wreathing up the wide-mouthed chimney. The great picture of the crusader and his white horse had been profusely decorated with greens for the occasion, and holly and ivy had likewise been wreathed round the helmet and weapons on the opposite wall, which I understood were the arms of the same warrior. I must own, by the by, I had strong doubts about the authenticity of the painting and armor as having belonged to the crusader, they certainly having the stamp of more recent days; but I was told that the painting had been so considered time out of mind; and that as to the armor, it had been found in a lumber-room and elevated to its present situation by the squire, who at once determined it to be the armor of the family hero; and as he was absolute authority on all such subjects in his own household, the matter had passed into current acceptation. A sideboard was set out just under this chivalric trophy, on which was a display of plate that might have vied (at least in variety) with Belshazzar’s parade of the vessels of the temple: “flagons, cans, cups, beakers, goblets, basins, and ewers,” the gorgeous utensils of good companionship that had gradually accumulated through many generations of jovial housekeepers. Before these stood the two Yule candles, beaming like two stars of the first magnitude; other lights were distributed in branches, and the whole array glittered like a firmament of silver. We were ushered into this banqueting scene with the sound of minstrelsy, the old harper being seated on a stool beside the fireplace and twanging, his instrument with a vast deal more power than melody. Never did Christmas board display a more goodly and gracious assemblage of countenances; those who were not handsome were at least happy, and happiness is a rare improver of your hard-favored visage. The table was literally loaded with good cheer, and presented an epitome of country abundance in this season of overflowing larders. A distinguished post was allotted to “ancient sirloin,” as mine host termed it, being, as he added, “the standard of old English hospitality, and a joint of goodly presence, and full of expectation.” There were several dishes quaintly decorated, and which had evidently something traditional in their embellishments, but about which, as I did not like to appear overcurious, I asked no questions. I could not, however, but notice a pie magnificently decorated with peacock’s feathers, in imitation of the tail of that bird, which overshadowed a considerable tract of the table. This, the squire confessed with some little hesitation, was a pheasant pie, though a peacock pie was certainly the most authentical; but there had been such a mortality among the peacocks this season that he could not prevail upon himself to have one killed.
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With a commitment to change the way we shop by 2025
Selfridges Unveils It’s Greenest Christmas Shop Ever!
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ith many shoppers focusing on family and traditions this year, Selfridges creative destinations and Christmas products capture the magical feeling of ‘Once Upon A Christmas’ enabling customers to make new memories and moments, either in store (available in London with a selection in Manchester and Birmingham) or from the comfort of their homes.
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Sustainability The Christmas Shop builds on Selfridges on-going commitment to change the way we shop with a product offer with a difference. Half of all products in the Christmas Shop, including decorations, crackers, cards and wrapping paper have one or more sustainable attributes, making it easier than ever for customers to shop for beautiful and original Christmas decorations this festive season whilst being kinder to the planet. The new sustainable collection features dozens of brands including many artisan and small enterprises, often UK based, and well over 1,000 different product lines – it is by far, the largest sustainable collection Selfridges has ever sold from its Christmas Shop and the largest on the UK high street. The carefully edited selection showcases an offer that make smart use of recyclable materials, pre-loved decorations and are clearly labelled with their sustainable credentials, such as being forestfriendly, plastic-free, or made from recycled materials such as glass or paper. The result is a stunning and eclectic collection of original products that are beautifully artisan in style, with many products handmade, made in the UK and exclusive to Selfridges. The unique earth-conscious edit falls in line with Selfridges’ transformational sustainability initiative, Project Earth, which aims to change the way we shop. Through Project Earth, launched this summer, Selfridges commits to ensuring that the most environmentally impactful materials used throughout the business come from certified, sustainable sources by 2025.
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Decorations This year, Selfridges offers a wide array of decorations for customers to explore, made with materials such as mouth-blown recycled glass and paper. New collections have been created in collaboration with suppliers specifically to utilise a wider range of eco-conscious materials such as handmade felt, and hand-painted paper mâché figurines with exclusive Selfridges designs. The offer also includes a new wreath selection that is handmade in the UK from pre-loved baubles, breathing new life into old Christmas decorations. In the Oxford Street store, customers will discover a ‘pick-and-mix’ bauble station that allows them to handpick their decorations in a bid to provide greater personalisation and move away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ multipacks that can often be packaged heavily with plastic. A take on this service will also be offered as a digital experience on Selfridges.com, where all baubles can be bought as single units and customers are free to mix and match as they please.
Crackers This year, 100% of crackers on sale at Selfridges are fully recyclable with no single use plastic packaging. Selfridges’ own cracker collections, made in the UK, come in fully recyclable boxes, each with ‘how to re-use’ guidelines on how to upcycle the decorative trims for future crafting projects. Wrap & Cards All cards and wrapping paper on sale in the Selfridges Christmas Shop are either FSC certified or made with recycled content. Personalisation ‘Thie’ Workshop New and exclusive for Christmas 2020, Selfridges launches Thie Workshop - a Santa-style workshop offering personalised decorations, gifting sacks, stockings and crackers. Thie Workshop is a sustainable brand using planetfriendly organic cotton, recyclable card and paper and reduced plastic packaging. The Thie Workshop product offer is available in London and online at Selfridges.com. The full Christmas Shop product offer is available at Selfridges.com, from the Christmas Shop on the fourth floor of the London store and a selection is available in Manchester and Birmingham.
The Spa at Bvlgari Hotel
The Ultimate Daycation Package
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littering pool, glass in hand, that holiday glow – you don’t need to board a plane this autumn to kick back and recuperate. The Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge has reopened its spa, with a tempting menu of revitalising treatments Positioned around the corner from Harrods and Harvey Nichols, the Bulgari Hotel London is one of six Bulgari properties across the world and it is every bit as glamorous as one might expect. In contrast to its Edwardiana neighbours, the five-star hotel is recognisable by its Portland stone exterior, while inside confidently mixes modernist angles and a highshine palette of black granite, polished mahogany and steel, designed by Italian architect supremo Antonio Citterio. 'Spa' is a modest term to describe the beautifully scented, subterranean wellness retreat hidden in the basement of the hotel. One of the largest spas in London, it is set over two levels and boasts a luxurious fitness studio, nail bar and 11 treatment rooms with one double spa suite, all enveloped in handsome chocolate and caramel hues. Belgravia society salon, Neville, also has a residence within the spa and offers everything from simple shampoos to cut and colour. The pièce de résistance is the 25-metre colonnaded swimming pool, lined with shimmering mosaic tiles in green and gold, evocative of Bulgari’s jewellery collections. It is framed by cabana daybeds that can be curtained off for privacy, thus demonstrating the level of discretion sought by its well-heeled guests. Guests can press a nifty button for champagne, smoothies or light dishes including mixed salads, fruit platters and puddings.
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Priced at £910, the new B.Beautiful Daycation package includes a 90minute massage, during which you are scrubbed, kneaded and polished to absolute, serene perfection; a 90minute reviving facial; a manicure and pedicure and a cut and blow-dry in the intimate Neville salon. Guests will also receive a 111Skin gift and 10 per cent of proceeds are donated to the Virus Free Found – a new corporate philanthropy fund by Bulgari, which supports Oxford University’s research into manufacturing and testing vaccines. Guests can also upgrade to the overnight B.Beautiful Staycation package, priced at £1,140.
Christmas is Re-imagined with the B.Festive Staycation
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he new B.Festive experience lets guests discover the magic and marvel of Christmas in London. The two-night escape – from 24th to 26th December – includes early check-in, festive amenities and stockings and special Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day dining at Sette restaurant. While enjoying the impeccable setting and services of the Hotel, guests may also immerse themselves in all the city has to offer this time of year, including Hyde Park, the lights in Knightsbridge, and London’s best shopping, just a stone’s throw from the property. Ten percent of proceeds from each B.Festive staycation will go to the Bvlgari Virus Free Fund, a new corporate philanthropy fund that supports Oxford University’s efforts to research, manufacture and test vaccines.
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Details Available for two nights from December 24, 2020 Accommodation & Rate (VAT included): B.Festive is a two night experience, priced from • £1,996 for two adults in a Superior Room • £2,771 for two adults and a child (under 12) in a Deluxe Room • £5,076 for a family of four in a Studio suite connecting with a Deluxe Double room • £15,000 for six people in a Bvlgari Suite with two superior rooms. Guests have the option to enjoy their meals in the privacy of the suite dining room or at Sette by Scarpetta
B.Festive Staycation includes: 24 December, Christmas Eve: • Early Check in • Festive welcome amenities on arrival • Sette by Scarpetta, Christmas Eve Dinner • Christmas stockings 25 December, Christmas Day: • Breakfast • Sette by Scarpetta, Christmas Lunch or Dinner 26 December, Boxing Day: • Sette by Scarpetta, Boxing Day Brunch • Late check-out For reservations or more information, please contact at +44 (0)20 7151 1010 or email london@bulgarihotels.co.uk
Details Available from December 3, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Accommodation & Rate: B.Family is priced from £1,170 (VAT included) per night for a two-night minimum stay for two adults and two children, in a Deluxe Room. B.Family Staycation includes: Arrival Day: • Little Gems welcome amenities and gifts • Three-course family lunch in Sette • Dazzle & Fizz entertainment session for 45 minutes, either virtually or socially distanced • Dazzle & Fizz activity hamper provided in-room • Membership of Vesta, the newly launched online family entertainment club from Dazzle & Fizz for four weeks • Private cinema experience in the Screening Room with snacks and mini-burgers served for all the family Day Two: • Breakfast for the family • 60-min morning family yoga session at Bvlgari Spa London • A take-away Bvlgari picnic lunch for the family • Dinner in-room for the family Departure Day: • Breakfast for the family • Late check-out
For reservations or more information, please contact at +44 (0)20 7151 1010 or email london@bulgarihotels.co.uk
The B.Family Staycation
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he classic family vacation is re-imagined with this new escape, which offers highenergy entertainment for little ones and relaxation for parents. Family entertainers Dazzle & Fizz are available for socially distanced or virtual activities such as cryptic challenges, arts and crafts, or story time. As night falls, guests will enjoy the ultimate family film night, complete with popcorn and sliders served in the private screening room. Upon arrival, each family receives four weeks complimentary membership to Vesta by Dazzle & Fizz, an online platform featuring activities, arts and crafts, stories and more.
Dame Emma Walmsley CEO, GlaxoSmithKline
British-bron, Emma Walmsley worked at L’Oréal for 17 years where she held a variety of general management and marketing roles in Paris, London and New York. From 2007 she was based in Shanghai as General Manager, Consumer Products for L’Oreal China, where she ran the company's Chinese consumer products business, overseeing global brands including L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline and Garnier, as well as Mininurse, a Chinese skincare brand. She joined GlaxoSmithKline in May 2010 as President of Consumer Healthcare Europe, rising in October 2011 to head its global consumer healthcare division as President of Consumer Healthcare Worldwide and a member of the executive team. In March 2015 she became the Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Healthcare. Walmsley was particularly involved in leading the company's sales drive in emerging markets. Under her leadership the consumer products division, one of the world's largest consumer health groups with brands including Panadol, Voltaren and Horlicks, made up nearly a quarter of GlaxoSmithKline's revenues. She took over as CEO of the company in April 2017, making her the first woman to run a major pharmaceutical company. Walmsley stated that her priority was for GlaxoSmithKline to become more adept at developing and commercialising new drugs. She announced a narrowed set of priorities for drug development, setting a target of allocating 80% of pharma R&D capital to a maximum of four disease areas. Walmsley has made much-needed changes, her most important move was "the transformation of the leadership team within R&D." Walmsley was ranked #17 in Forbe’s Power Women in 2019
Women & society
Maggie Berry OBE, Women’s No 1 Global Matchmaker by Dr Marina Nani
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ave you ever imagined going global? Maggie Berry, the “Matchmaker”, is known for blending an elite certification and connecting women- owned businesses into the global supply chain. Gone are the days when matchmaking was about finding an ideal husband. In today’s world, women executives know that time is of the essence. Why not take the hard work out of finding your supply chain partner? If you are a woman in business seeking success, knowing Maggie Berry is a must have privilege. Founder of Women in Technology Network, Maggie Berry has received an OBE for services to Women in Business and Technology. Currently, the Executive director for Europe at WEConnect International, Maggie Berry is responsible for the management, leadership and development of the organisation’s network of registered and certified women business owners across the UK and Europe. WEConnect International’s corporate members represent $1 trillion in annual purchasing power and are true pioneers in inclusive sourcing and global supplier chain development. In Europe the network is matchmaking women’s businesses with the likes of Accenture, EY, IBM, Intel, MSD and Proctor & Gamble. A passionate advocate for women working in tech roles for the last 15 years, Maggie has focused on raising awareness of women succeeding in business. Championing women is an ongoing challenge, and with the storm that hit the global economy in 2020, we reached out to Maggie Berry OBE to see how is she doing during the lockdown. What drives her while in self isolation?
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Locked in her home in England’s countryside and facing the heights of a tough reality, Maggie Berry is socially distancing with a new and unexpected sense of “as if”. Her travels, conferences and speaking engagements in Switzerland, Belgium, France and other countries in Europe had to be postponed, due the imposed travel bans, projects are stuck and progress made is cut down while supply chains are facing global uncertainty. Aware that not only her company was hit by this unprecedented epidemic but every supply chain is rethinking their strategic steps into the unknown, Maggie is living the life of a modern Phoenix. Instead of feeling trapped, she keeps calm and carries on, doing her meetings online, cooking for herself and her husband and transforming uncertainty into creative solutions for the millions of business women who are looking up to her answers. Her day job is sourcing women-owned businesses, certifying their products and services with multinational corporations through a global supplier diversity campaign is attracting millions of businesses from around the world. “The drive and the organisation’s global vision is all around women’s economic empowerment and putting financial power into the hands of women. Our network of womenowned businesses are stepping up to provide goods and services addressing the challenge of the current pandemic. The global vision and the passion is clear for everybody. From our CEO Elizabeth Vasquez to my colleagues, to my counterparts in different regions of the world, to all of the different support people who work with us to make this happen.”
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Reflecting on how her own passion for supporting the growth and development of women in business started, she tells us: “When I think back to being a student at university, then a little bit later at the beginning of my working life, I first started to really look at the women in business and business initiatives. Connecting with senior women who were incredibly generous with their time, with their insight, with mentoring, with informal advice, and listening to amazing men and women speaking at events about their career, sharing their journey, inspired me to grab opportunity with both hands… I took little bits from all the interactions and from a multitude of experiences that have come together and started to selfmotivate myself and package opportunities for women.” Maggie is socially distancing at present but she always loved working from home, and here are a few simple but effective morning rituals. “I work from home. Although I travel a lot and my husband commutes to London every day and he leaves the house very early, I give myself between 6:30 and 9 o’clock. That’s my time. I don’t go online in the morning, instead, I really enjoy having breakfast in bed, and then go for a run or exercise. When you’re sitting in front of a computer all day, every day, you have to look after yourself and your own energy levels. I don’t drink coffee, I’m a tea drinker. But I have to admit I would normally only have one cup of tea every day. I drink a lot of water instead.” Championing women requires a systematic ongoing process. How does Maggie mentally handle herself when facing challenges? “Spending a lot of time working from home or remotely, it can feel a bit lonely. I take each challenge as it comes and I try to break it down into constituent parts, to understand what are the elements of it, what’s happening, why, what bits are concerning me, what are my biggest worries and tackle those individually. You can’t just work it all out in your head by yourself. Sometimes it’s just a case of talking to a colleague. Sometimes I talk to my husband when he comes in and ask for his perspective on things. It’s about working out what the actual concern is and how I can tackle that rather than actually looking at a problem or a challenge in its entirety, because that can sometimes feel really overwhelming and calling on support when you need it. Knowing that there are people I can call upon if I need support is a key part of creating success.” Surrounding herself with a powerful team, she works with different teams for different projects, but what makes her so loved by her team?
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Receiving the Order of the British Empire was completely and utterly unexpected
“We have a small team here in Europe that work specifically on our campaign here. We’re part of a wider ecosystem. I try and communicate effectively. We are not working together in the same office but we work remotely, we’re in touch every day, multiple times every day. We use the phone, we use Skype, we use WhatsApp teams, whatever the technology is, we keep the communication channels open, all the time. I try to be really honest and clear about why I’m asking them to do different things and what the context is, so they know what’s going on and what they’re working on. We openly discuss what are the priorities and the challenges ahead. Communication is the key thing.” The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019 recognises Maggie’s outstanding achievements and she was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive The Order of the British Empire, one of the highest honours in the land. “Receiving the Order of the British Empire was completely and utterly unexpected, and the whole experience was just so amazing. Going with my family to Buckingham Palace where I actually received the medal from Prince William, who asked me some really great questions about the work we’ve done around women. During those couple of minutes with me he really wanted to learn more and that on its own was a complete honour. It also helped me understand more about the honour system in the UK. Made me think of other people who deserve recognition for the work they do as well, not only people in the business world, but also maybe some of the other people that I work with at the community association, people who volunteer hours and hours of their time to support that organisation. On reflection, there is so much more we can do as a society to recognise people who volunteer their time and support others. I feel truly privileged to experienced such an honour.”
About Maggie Berry Maggie Berry is the Executive Director for WEConnect International in Europe and joined the team in December 2012 – she has lead responsibility for the management, leadership and development of WEConnect International in Europe. Her role involves matchmaking women’s businesses with global supply chain partners and growing the database and network of over 1,000 selfregistered and certified women business owners across the UK and Europe – WEConnect International is active in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands. Previously, Maggie was the Managing Director of Women in Technology, an online job board, recruitment and networking forum for women working in the technology profession in the UK. She was involved with Women in Technology’s inception in the autumn of 2004 and managed all aspects of the website and the networking activities Women in Technology organised. She continues to run the Women in Technology Network on an informal basis in her spare time and she is a Freeman at the Information Technologists’ Company in the City of London. Maggie’s personal drive and focus is to increase the number of women who are succeeding and achieving in their business lives – whether they’re working in the corporate world or running their own business, are in the early stages of their career or are seasoned professionals. She does this on a day to day basis at WEConnect International and in her spare time everywhere she goes!
Listen to the full interview
The Stardust Hour Podcast Available on all podcasts apps or find every episode at richwoman.co/ podcasts
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S c u l p t e d S l e e v e D r e s s b y K A R E N M I L L E N P h o t o b y M i ch e l l e Ju dd
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100 Loving Ways A Girl Can Say Yes! To Happines s A conversation with Personal & Professional Development expert, Dr Novie Johan
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he latest World Happiness Report released in March 2020 ranked cities around the world, and showed how the social, urban and natural environments are affecting our happiness, girls and women seeking a happy life. Having someone to count on, having a sense of freedom to make key life decisions, generosity, and trust are some of the factors contributing to happiness. We reached out to Dr. Novie Johan, a London based lifestyle consultant to learn more about living a happy life. “Each day I see 100 loving ways a girl can say yes to happiness. Women need to be happy first”, she says. Dr. Novie Johan has made happiness the focus of her life. An agent of change herself, she believes that all women can love and can transform into happy women through the power of self-love. Here she shares her own experiences, as well as her thoughts on how women can be happy in everyday life. “Health, happiness and success go hand in hand. Whatever we do in life, we are seeking the same thing – desire to be fulfilled and to live a life of contentment.” She started by reflecting on the source of her own happiness, and later on she researched the topic of transformation scientifically. The findings have now been published in one of the top journals in management worldwide: Academy Management of Learning and Education (September 2019): Informal and Incidental Learning in Liminal Space of Extended Independent Travel. Her interest in people’s personal and professional growth and transformation continues to grow, as we are navigating challenging times. Here is her story, and how she lives her life based on her very own principals. What is the most important transformation you experienced? Since I was a child until my early teenage years, my extra-curricular activities were most important to me: I was busy dancing and acting, participating in modelling, operettas, dancing shows, advertisements and voice-overs for children’s and teenagers’ TV shows and audio stories. I really enjoyed all that I did, and I must say I wasn’t very studious at all. Then
my mom took me to my first European trip. For the first time, I saw a different world than what I used to know. For two short weeks I was travelling to various European cities. I loved it so much that I found myself inspired to study abroad! When I went back home, I suddenly started to study really hard so I could get good marks. No one, including myself, could understand this sudden change of heart. However, this change led me to study abroad and helped me later on with my academic discipline. On reflection, it was the first big transformation of my life, and it was completely unplanned: I never planned for it, and neither did my parents. Travel inspired me as a young teenager, and after that, life was never the same. What does transformation mean to you? Can it lead to happiness? Each person takes different meanings from their experiences. Throughout my life I have been transformed many times over, each and every time I travel, and each and every time I face new circumstances. Transformation, for me, was always a very positive experience. For that reason, I have always believed in transformation that is positive, is always available, and it is up to us whether we allow ourselves to observe and capture these opportunities to change. For me, transformation is never a heavily loaded word. I change along the way, and every change is natural and almost happens instantaneously throughout my life. We are born to adapt and change. We hear a lot about changing the world, as if it is a distant external goal, and there is a disconnect between ourselves and the change. The truth is that by changing ourselves first, we will inherently change the world. Becoming aware of our ability to transform into better people, makes us happier people. Each one of us is an agent of change. How do you define an agent of change? Anyone who is comfortable with change internally is an agent of change. I believe that when you allow yourself to be who you truly are, you become your authentic self and it is easier then to embrace change at the pace of its occurring without any interference from the outside. When it comes to personal transformation, change can only happen when you start loving yourself more. I will give you an example. A good friend of mine used to cry on my shoulder about her being unhappy with her body. I couldn’t understand it fully because I think she was beautiful the way she was. She used to be slim, but after a difficult time with her family, she gained more weight and started to hate her body. She wanted her old body back, but even though she had been on a diet, eating healthy, and exercising, she couldn’t release any weight. One day, when we were trying on new dresses, she complained about her body again. I moved her closer to the mirror so she could look at herself up close and asked her to say out loud: “I love myself and my body!”
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She couldn’t say those words and big tears started to roll down her beautiful face instead. I continuously encouraged her to express her self-love and self-acceptance. About a month ago, in one of our video calls, she told me: “Surprise!”. And surprise it was: She has lost about 26 kg (from 93 kg to 67 kg) just by doing the same thing I asked her to do, loving herself more! She finally found herself again and is feeling so much happier, as her body started to change for the better and she blossomed. The change continues as we speak, and she is getting her wardrobe ready for the upcoming season! Remember, she said she couldn’t love herself for a long time, ten years of her life, but the moment she decided to face that very challenge and love herself more, she took charge of her own life and made the changes she wanted. I never even told her to change, in fact I accepted and loved her for who she was, but she wanted the change and so she did. This is why I believe in self-love, and how it changes people, but that transformation does occur only when you love yourself. Transformation is happiness. Change is a form of happiness that needs to be shared with the world.
I believe in self-love and how it changes people (but) the transformation only occurs when you love yourself.
What makes you happy? As a business and lifestyle consultant, I lost count of the ‘aha’ moments and the men and women I helped to be happy. And, THAT makes me happy! I previously have worked in different industries, in a number of countries around the world: from profit to non-profit organisations, from academic work to humanitarian work. Early in my career, in Canada, for instance, I worked with the universities and varying levels of Canadian ministers, councils, and agencies on some interesting projects such as assessing the needs for training and calculating the returns on such investments, and investigating travellers’ behaviours and level of satisfaction as well as their impacts on the economy. Also in Canada, I worked with a large non-profit governmental foundation in Toronto helping the young workforce to start and take off on their career pathway in the retail industry. In the U.K., I have had a few interesting, happy roles such as working with an English mentee who worked for the Royal Household. I was mentoring him throughout the year, which included his service period during Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding, and preparation for one of the Queen’s summer visits to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. More recently, I also personally had one-to-one coaching sessions with a few international finalists of The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme who eventually met the Queen to receive their awards at Buckingham Palace, London. You love helping young people, young entrepreneurs/start-up with their goal alignments and continuous motivations towards success. You worked with the finalists of Social Impact Awards Switzerland over the years. What made you happy? One of the teams I worked with was Cuisine Lab, a non-profit organisation supported by the United Nations, who presented at the United Nations Peace Talks at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva and won 2017 Social Impact Award. I also attended the Social Impact Award Summit that gathered more than 150 winning entrepreneurs from across Europe, the Baltics, and some African countries to provide them with experts’ feedback about their new start-ups. For the local communities, I have contributed mentoring them when I was in Geneva as well as in London. And, again, that made me happy!
Best diving destinations: Cape Kri – Raja Ampat, Indonesia; Barracuda Point – Sipadan Island; Blue Corner – Palau, Micronesia; Blue Corner – Palau, Micronesia; Thistlegorm – Egyptian Red Sea; Shark & Yolanda Reef – Egyptian Red Sea; The Yongala – Queensland, Australia; Great Blue Hole – Belize; Source www.divein.com
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S i l k S a t i n Ja ck e t b y PAU L E K A | H o t P i n k M i n i A z a e l e a D r e s s B y S E L F - P O R T R A I T | P h o t o b y M i ch e l l e Ju dd
What do you do to maintain a happy work-life balance? I pay attention to what makes me happy. I look at my own routines and schedules and keep myself flexible at the same time. This allows me to focus on health, sports and happiness more seriously. For example, I walk everywhere, and I like to do fun things like: dancing, wall/rock climbing or even ice climbing, and diving, even right now, when there are restrictions on travelling, finding the time for the things I enjoy and value in my everyday life keeps me happy. Spending time communicating with other enlightening people, is nourishing to your inner self. I indulge in connecting with those in the same capacity of mind and heart, and enjoy spending time discussing various topics with them. Personally, I really enjoy spending time working on initiatives that help others, our environment and society, as I feel that I am bringing a positive impact to the people I work with. There are many things that could keep your inner-being healthy, you just need to discover what makes you happy.
Best Eggs Benedict in London: The Wolseley. 160 Piccadilly, St James's, W1J 9EB; The Eggs Benedict Cafe. 224 Merton High St, Wimbledon, SW19 1AU; Holborn Dining Rooms. 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN; Bistrotheque. 23-27 Wadeson St, E2 9DR
Afternoon Tea @ The Savoy, London. Traditional High Tea £75.00, With a glass of Louis Roederer Brut Premier, NV £85.00, with a glass of Deutz Rosé, NV £95.00. Book online: www.fairmont.com/savoy-london/
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You lived and worked in Switzerland, the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, and you have travelled to many other countries too. What is your favourite cuisine? What is your favourite dish? Home is an important place to me. I am a curious mind and I love trying new recipes in the kitchen. Growing up in Indonesia was a blessing, I was surrounded by delicious cuisine with a large variety of dishes. One of my pursuits has always been to sample local cuisine wherever life takes me. I enjoy food that is both scrumptious and healthy, and the winners go to Lebanese, Greek, Japanese and Korean food. It is hard to name what my favourite dishes are, since I love them all, but I love eating well. A quiet and serene breakfast is my favourite time of the day: the best way to start my day right. Eggs are my most preferred items – soft-cooked eggs (soft boiled or sunny side up), which usually are coupled with fresh fruit and tea. I make Eggs Benedict on special occasions. Alternatively, homemade oatmeal or granola, and fresh juices or smoothies are also my perfect breakfasts.
Top Yoga classes and studios in London: Re:Centre, Hammersmith, from £15 www.recentre.co.uk; FLY LDN; mobile hire and free online classes flyldn.co.uk; FLEX Chelsea, from £22 flexchelsea.com; The Power Yoga Company, Fulham, from £15 for 3 classes (first-timers), thepoweryogaco.com
delance.com
For lunch, I tend to keep it simple: any type of salads. I enjoy super ingredients, from quinoa to edamame, and like to play with seeds and dressings. For early dinner, I tend to have a combination of small-size meals: bite size or varied small plates if possible – from assorted appetisers and canapes to seafood dim sum and gnocchi al Gorgonzola and sometimes a small cheese platter. At any break-time, I enjoy my ‘whole rose bud’ tea from Savoy and my English finger sandwiches. I also like to end my day right, usually by having my hot chocolate or lavender tea before bed! If you haven’t tried this delicious beverage, Indonesian avocado milkshake is my favourite beverage recipe (they call it ‘Alpukat jus’ in Indonesia). It is made by simply mixing milk (or milk alternatives) and fresh avocados with a little bit of ice crush and additional dark chocolate for garnish and taste. Heavenly! Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the world came to an abrupt halt this year when we were asked to stay home. How did you adapt in order to remain happy and healthy? Since I was a kid, my favourite hobby has been reading books and quotes that are mesmerising about life and characters of people. My mom worked for a national publishing company, and one of the things I loved to do in my leisure time was going to the company’s many bookstores and get new books that talk about life, emotions, and people’s happiness. I remember my favourite book; it was a hardcover book that I truly cherished all my life: “100 ways to say I love you”. It was the first English book that I bought with my pocket money when I was about 12. I loved the way it looks at love, and it touched my heart forever.
I learned to surround myself with people who are exhilarating, not just to inspire myself, but also to contribute to their happiness and create a positive atmosphere around me. I love being surrounded by these kinds of people; it makes life worth living. It is so liberating to be able to discuss various things with them and at the same time it is so powerful to feel happy together with them. Indeed, each person’s life is an interesting book to be read. On this basis, my stay-at-home plan was ready to go. I continued to work by meeting clients online and over the phone as arranged; I wanted to minimise the disruption for them as much as possible. On a personal level, the lockdown gave me the opportunity to try many new homemade recipes. That, and stacks of read-worthy books, as well as plenty of people, friends and family to be in contact with virtually. In addition, my yoga mat has been put to a lot of good use! What the whole experience has taught me is that life continues to be a happy occasion when you adjust to change and continue being happy, willingly.
What do you think makes a woman special? What could be her superpower? In answering those questions, personally, I am the kind of person who is serious, but not too serious either. I love having a laugh, and I love comedy. Life should be lived seriously enough, but not being overly too serious that you forget about the purpose of life itself: to be happy. We come into this world to experience happiness. It helps a lot if a woman can be positive, also if she can be sincere in feeling happy for others, and in helping others. I am confident that love is the proposition that can make people not only happy, but also successful in life. You can be certain that when you have pure happiness in your heart, you will also be successful in life. Your happiness is so important, and that is what I am standing for. I would like to be the case of happiness for everyone involved, and I think every woman should be the same for each other. In answering your second question, considering that my first and favourite purchased book was about love, and I enjoy reading life quotes, I think to a certain degree I was also born a romantic and a thinker. What makes a woman unique and special is her life journey, and also the kind of belief that she has in herself. I personally made it through ‘living life’, travelling and meeting people along the way, and each experience helped me to see things differently. This can work in slightly different ways for different women. A woman’s ability to understand love is what makes her remarkable. A woman loves others as much as she loves herself. This is exactly what we need in the world today: a true understanding of love. Every woman has a superpower! I use my superpower to help women realise that, believe in that and do just that so they can enjoy much happiness in their lives. I want to leave you, the reader, with a simple question: What is your superpower?
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www.noviejohan.com
About Dr Novie Johan Dr. Novie Johan Ph.D., M.B.A., B.A. runs a personal and corporate consulting and coaching practice. Her main areas of expertise is Learning, Transition & Transformation, Personal & Professional Development, Cross-cultural Analysis, and Career Management. She has published and presented internationally in the fields of Management, Education and Sociology, and Hospitality & Tourism. Novie has worked and lived in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America and has travelled extensively. She studied at the University of Cambridge (U.K.), University of Surrey (U.K.), University of Guelph (Canada), and Swiss Education Group (Switzerland). In addition, she lectured & researched at the University of Surrey (U.K.), Griffith University (Australia), University of Guelph and Ryerson University (Canada). Novie is a Fellow of Higher Education Association, and an Affiliate of the Institute of Coaching (McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliate), a Member of Academy of Management and Association of Coaching. Travel and philanthropy are her passions as she continues to work internationally on research and projects that bring positive social impacts and transformations. During her time off, she enjoys yoga, dancing, rock/ice climbing, diving, and attending various sports and cultural activities. Contact Novie by visiting her website: www.noviejohan.com 158 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Stock Market, Futures, Bonds And All That – Interview With Jasmine Birtles By Roxana Mohammadian-Molina
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ith the summer in full swing, we are finally leaving our homes! Money worries, futures, stock market, bonds and all that stuff could wait- it is time to buy that new dress, have that new look, lift your spirit and help the economy; after all “Money must go round!” But how far can money take you in life? On reflection, perhaps you remember yourself as a young girl, decades ago, asking your mother: “Can I have a new dress for my birthday?” and her immediate, automated reply: “ Ask your father.” Or your best girlfriend confessing: “I hate money. My parents always fight over it. I don’t want to be rich. I want to be happy.” As the last few generations of women started to develop an interest for financial literacy, more women understand money and appreciate the freedom to create an enriched lifestyle. While men see money as the means to a secure future, they don’t like to spend, instead, they invest. For the most part, we woman are not as interested in investing. Sure we like to save money and we are really good at it but why do we not see money as a tool of growing our wealth? Official statistics show that most women find investing daunting, especially if they don’t come from a finance background. It is no wonder than that most traders are men and on a whole, trading floors throughout the world are mainly filled with men.
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If I put a bit of effort into spending less than I earn, I can make money quite easily. So why aren't women investing? We reached out to find women who went through a similar journey and now are at the top of their financial game, helping other women navigate through uncertain times and build their financial freedom. One such extraordinary women is Jasmine Brtiels. A celebrity financial and business journalist, TV presenter, owner of money investing website Money Magpie, is well known for her column My Glossary of Weird Financial Terms.”, Jasmine is no stranger to trading and the possibilities it offers. Surprisingly, this was no longer the case and after leaving university, she had a rude awakening about money management. Over a virtual cup of coffee, I sat down with Jasmine Birtles who shares her financial journey, her experiences and precious tips to anyone looking to start building their investment portfolio. I started by first asking her about how this journey into money and trading began for her.
What can you tell us about how this journey began for you? I don’t come from a numbers background, I did English at university and I’m really selftaught when it comes to investing. Like many people, I grew up in a family that knew nothing about investing. My parents didn’t teach me very much about it, so when I left university and I was freelancing, very quickly I got myself into debt. That was quite a rude awakening which I had to work myself out of. Then, I was working at the BBC business unit and started reading up about investing and money. And I had this sort of light bulb moment. I suddenly realised that money management, investing it’s not hard. It’s not the complicated thing it seems when you hear all those difficult words about the stock market and things like future and bonds and all that sort of stuff, it’s not that complicated. And I thought: “Gosh, really the principles are pretty easy to understand and quite logical. And I’ve just been wasting my time for all these years, sort of just managing day to day. If I put a bit of effort into spending less than I earn, and just regularly putting a certain amount of money away into different things, I can make money quite easily. How come I didn’t know this?” And I realised, well, nobody had taught me. This wasn’t something I was taught at school. This is not the sort of thing my personal friends would talk about. And so, I thought, well, I’m going to learn more about it, I’m going to do this. The first thing I did once I got out of basic debt was to focus on paying off my mortgage because I considered that was an investment in itself. And in so doing, I also set up a pension. And I understood the importance of spreading your money into different types of things just to cover yourself. And, so I started to learn some basics about investing in the stock market.
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Sadly though, women are still not talking about money as much as they should.
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Invest your money and spend what is left; don’t spend your money and invest what is left “Never depend on a single income. Invest to create a second source of income”- has always been my mantra. What are your thoughts on investing as a way to secure a second source of income? Well, I’m all in with that mantra and as I said because I was a freelancer and was trying to build a career as an actress, I really needed to have more than one source of income. So, I agree that is very important. Especially for us women, the idea of being financially independent is essential. Sadly though, women are still not talking about money as much as they should. I would say women tend to only start thinking about that seriously in their thirties or when they start having children. But even then, there’s still a reticence to openly discuss financial goals and ambitions. There’s still a narrowness of expectation and women keep going to savings. There’s that saying, “men invest, women save” and I think it’s a lack of confidence. It’s not something that has been in the culture so much. And it’s not the sort of thing you talk about in the playground or around a coffee with friends. Fortunately, this is slowly starting to change as there are more wellknown female investors and women are talking about it more – certainly older women are, but there’s still a long way to go. You touched upon some of the factors why women tend to invest less, and you mentioned the generational differences. I was wondering if that may have something to do with the younger generation’s perception of investing? Investing still sounds like a big word and younger generations who are only getting started in their career may not have a lot of cash spare to invest after paying for their rent and lifestyle. What are your thoughts on that?
I think you’re right. That’s a big myth that you need to have money in order to invest. But there is also a perception among young urbanites that they’re never going to get anywhere, that the baby boomers have already eaten all the goodies and that they’re not going to be able to make big money, so they might as well spend what they’ve got now. And that is really holding them back, yet I think it is a mistake because they actually can gradually get the money together to have a deposit on a house and at the same time, create a little pension for themselves. All they have to do is start investing small, consistently set aside some money to invest and spread their bets across different products. One of the key issues we are facing is people not saving. People, especially the younger generations, would always argue that there’s never enough money left at the end of the month to save. Of course not, nobody has money at the end of the month! That’s why I think you need to pay yourself first and use standing orders. I love standing orders! I just set them up into this, that and the other and then about day three of the month, I’m thinking, golly, I’m poor, but it means that you then have looked after your future self by transferring money from your current account into that particular investment for later on. And then, you cope with what you’ve got left. So, my advice always is to invest your money and spend what is left; don’t spend your money and invest what is left. I couldn’t agree more about the need to consistently set aside some money and invest regularly, yet start small and diversify. Tell us about your ideal investment portfolio. If you’re starting off as an investor, the first thing to do is to have your savings, your safety net, your cash buffer. Ideally that should be an account with at least six months’ worth of money, enough to cover you for six months if you lost your job and couldn’t earn. And then after that, I think one needs to have money put going into a pension and ideally one should have one’s own property, possibly another one if you’ve got the extra cash. I personally am a big fan of index tracking funds, stock market funds. I think it’s good to have some money in the stock market in some form. I also invest in your company, Blend Network, which is a higher rate of return.
Let’s talk about portfolio diversification, which essentially is a fancy term for not putting all your eggs in one basket. I know that you are a big fan of spreading your bets both in terms of investing in different products and in terms of having different investment horizons. Tell us a bit more about that. Yes, absolutely. There are a few myths and mantras that I have when it comes to investing. One is: “never invest in anything you don’t understand.” There are a lot of investments where just a little bit of reading and talking to one or two people will enable you to understand the basics of it. Frankly, if you can work out which is the best value out of 10 tins of baked beans in the supermarket, you should be able to work out which is a good value investment. My other mantra is: “Spread your bets” because there is nothing safe, no investment is fundamentally safe. So, the only way you can defend yourself and defend your money is to put some money into a number of different types of products, like cash savings accounts, shares, pensions, bonds, property, etc... because all of them work in different ways. If one product tanks, then you’ve got a few other products that you can fall back on. Oh, and my other mantra is about managing your money: “spend less than you earn and invest.”
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I love that quote. I actually have it as well: “Invest money and spend what is left. Don’t spend your money and invest what is left.” I want to touch a bit on due diligence process before investing in a new product. In particular, something we have seen at our company Blend Network is that women tend to spend a lot more time doing the due diligence and the research before they invest. But once they invest, they tend to be stickier to the product because they have done a lot of due diligence while men tend to do shorter due diligence, but they tend to do more shortterm trading. What are your views on that? Well, they say Warren Buffet invests like a woman because he looks at how a company is going to do long term and women have a tendency to do the same. I mean, every study I’ve seen into the difference between the genders, when it comes to investing shows that women do slightly better than men. It’s not a massive difference, but I’ve never seen one that said the opposite. It seems to be because as you say, women take more time looking into an investment product but also, they trade less. Every time you trade, certainly with the stock market, it tends to cost you. Women are “buy and hold”. I’m a buy and hold type of a person. In my case, I don’t want to spend too much time fussing about these different types of investments. I want to do it and leave it. Yes, they say “investing should be like watching paint dry”!
About: Roxana Mohammadian-Molina is an advisor to tech companies across the GCC, Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member at London-based FinTech company Blend Network. A former banker at Morgan Stanley in London, she now sits on the Board of Women in Finance 2020 and focuses on investing in, growing, and advising tech companies.
Hilary Nash: From saving the oceans to the frontline of a pandemic. By Dr Marina Nani
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HS Doctor Hilary Nash returned from Galapagos where she completed a philanthropic Sailing mission, just prior to the government imposed lockdown in order to fight Covid-19 firsthand on the frontline. Hilary was one of the 300 remarkable Women who have taken part in eXXpedition, which is a two year all-female sailing mission to fight the plastic in the ocean. The mission aims to raise climate change awareness to close the knowledge-gaps, deliver evidence and effective solutions to ocean plastic pollution. The research on-board investigates the endemic nature of microplastics within our ocean environments. We reach out to Dr Hilary, an extraordinary woman who joined Leg 6 of eXXpedition from Panama to Galapagos and delved into her passion for all things nature conservation. A cheerful fitness enthusiast, born and raised in Dublin Ireland, Hilary is a doctor by
profession. She first studied for a BSc in biochemistry at UCD in Ireland before moving to the UK in 2007 to study medicine at Manchester University. With this as her background, it may be understandable that promoting the role of women in STEM careers has a place very close to her heart. She is also incredibly passionate about conservation and has been extremely saddened by the tragedy of the climate crisis and our polluted ecosystems. Living by the sea in Brighton brings the problem to her door every day and she spends much of her time there supporting small, local and independent businesses. These businesses aim to help combat single use plastic by allowing people to shop sustainable and packaging free. She was honoured to have been able to share an incredibly powerful experience with a group of inspiring women from all over the globe, which will hopefully contribute to humanity’s deeper scientific understanding of the threat that plastic pollution poses to our world.
P h o t o b y A l e x a n d r a S ch i n d e l
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When not saving lives at NHS, or sailing to research the cause and find solutions for oceans pollution, Dr Hilary is helping Brighton residents shop plastic free
Who influenced you growing up? I had many strong female influences, including my mum who always encouraged me to be independent, to have my own career and pursue my own dreams. I had some wonderfully positive high school teachers too, including my science teacher. One of them I really remember was actually a substitute history teacher. We only had her for a couple of weeks but I really liked her. During that time she taught us about feminism and how history has always been unkind to women. She encouraged us to be strong in the face of sexism and carve our own path. I was badly bullied as a child by a group of girls and ironically they proved to be a driving force for me to be strong, successful and prove them wrong. What are your morning rituals, if any? Fitness is hugely important to me, both for my personal wellbeing and also for my work. I need to present a healthy image to my patients. So I love to start my day with a workout. Either a strong twice weekly session with my personal trainer, a fitness class (pre social distancing!) or a home workout. I have an elliptical machine at home and often I’ll get up an hour early, stick something good on Netflix and jump on. It starts my day on a decisive track! How do you mentally handle yourself when you’re facing challenges? I do a lot of visualisation. It’s something I’ve always done, quite naturally. I would imagine what I want to achieve, really vividly – how the desired outcome would look and feel, sometimes even the sounds and smells. I would do this for most things… the boy I wanted to date, the career I wanted, any number of fitness goals, to sailing across the Pacific Ocean. It usually worked (admittedly I didn’t always get the boy I wanted… until I met my husband of course!). I have also learned that it’s helpful not to be too hard on yourself and to be realistic in goal setting. If you don’t achieve it this time around, it’s just an opportunity to take a different tack and have another go!
Photo by Susan Grace Hinman
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You are passionate about nature conservation and restoring wild nature. What drives you to contribute to the climate change awareness and the tragedy of climate change? For some reason I have always seen myself as part of something bigger, a member of the human species, which is in itself a part of the great wonder of life on our planet, which is a tiny fragment of our elegant and unknowable universe. To be such a small part of a greater whole, and still make a positive difference, is something remarkable. We are unique and miraculous, but we also need humility. We need to care for our world, and the creatures we share it with. Despite our best efforts humans do not have any true mastery over Mother Nature. Just look how she has put us back in our place this last few months! Are you involved in any projects at present? It is upsetting knowing that single use plastic production and pollution is probably going to skyrocket as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, with people trying to use disposable everything. But what I have always said is that we need single use plastic in healthcare for infection control. Therefore we need to work hard to reduce our consumption of pointless plastic in other areas of our lives, so that we can continue to keep patients safe. As for current projects, I was working with schools, giving educational talks and workshops about plastic pollution and my experiences with eXXpedition Round The World (an all-female scientific sailing expedition researching plastic pollution on ocean environments) until the lockdown hit and schools closed.
Photo by Candy Medsa
So, honestly at this point I have been focusing my efforts on working in the NHS and supporting patients and colleagues in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. I usually work as a GP in the NHS, but previously I specialised in anaesthetics and intensive care. I recently offered my services to my local intensive care unit, the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. My intensive care skills are a little rusty so I’m being eased back in gradually but once I’ve been dusted off I’ll be happy to be able to help out on the coal face where I’m needed, as well as continuing to offer care to patients in the community with GP clinics in between. This is a unique set of circumstances for my profession and it is offering me a very different perspective on this new and frightening disease. I just want to know that, in the future, I would be able to look back on this time and know that I had stepped up, and done all that I could, with the skills I had to offer.
P h o t o b y S a s h a Fr a n c i s
You support local sustainable business development and among other things you open a shop to provide plastic and package free products for the locals in Brighton. How hard is it to compete with chain shops? What are you up against? What do you need to stay on top of your game? It is at a time like this when we realise just how important community is, and how small businesses are at the heart of that. They bring variety and spirit and the camaraderie and banter that makes life pleasurable on a human level. The small and local shops in my area have really stepped up to support their customers in this difficult time. Taking orders over the phone, delivering to vulnerable people in self isolation, going above and beyond. The challenges for them are to be competitively priced and to promote their businesses on a small budget. That is where high quality personal service, good social media and happy customers to spread the word will make the difference in helping them stay ahead of the curve. What are your current plans for your family life? My current plans are to remain grateful and happy! I have a wonderful husband and two gorgeous and funny cats who are our fur babies. I am content and complete with that. What is social distancing teaching us during the lockdown? What is your experience of self-isolating? Make no mistake, this is a horrible time for many people. Some may be filled with fear and uncertainty, others may feel isolated and alone. As a society we need to pull together to support the most vulnerable among us, and it has been really heart-warming to see that actually happening. It has been a fascinating experience in terms of learning what and who we can live without, paring down our daily life to the bare essentials – time with our families, time to ourselves, time to appreciate a quieter, cleaner world. The birdsong is sweeter, the moon is brighter. I’m fortunate in that I haven’t been unwell, so I haven’t had to self-isolate, but I have been observing the social distancing that has been asked of us all. In a way I am fortunate because I can still go to work, but in another way, it is worrying because I am potentially exposing myself to the virus. But it is a part of what every NHS worker has accepted, in order to be able to do their work and serve their patients.
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Any advice for young women who want to follow your path? If you follow my path, you’ll find it a very wiggly one! I hit many obstacles along the way and worked my way around them. You will find your own path. Be strong and proud of your talents. Be open to new experiences and opportunities. Don’t hide, don’t blend, be spontaneous, be different! What do you consider to be your career highlight? I think being selected to be part of the 300 all women crew of eXXpedition Round The World, out of 10,000 applicants from across the globe, was a definite high. I got to sail from Panama City to the Galapagos earlier this year (thankfully before the lockdown hit). Whilst not directly related to my career, my degree in biochemistry and my career in medicine meant that I had something to offer the project. Not just in terms of academic knowledge, but also the personal skills my career has taught me: kindness, generosity, good humour. To be given the opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than me, to contribute to something so globally important, was a privilege. To meet and work with such a wonderful group of incredible women from all over the world, was an honour. What do you think was your worst moment in your personal life? I think it’s better to take a positive outlook. I choose to see adversity as an opportunity to adapt, improve and succeed. I have had many challenges along the way. For example, I have suffered with mental health issues, as many of us have and I have worked hard on them over the years. I am still a work in progress, but I like to think that I am stronger, more resilient and able to face anything that may come my way. What do you want to be known for? I try to live by the motto ‘Do not walk through time without leaving evidence of your passage’. I try to ensure that I make a positive difference to people and the world around me. It is what I have dedicated my life to doing, whether that means looking after the health of my patients, or the health of our planet. If I can do that then I have been of some use to the world.
Photo by Susan Grace Hinman
Dream BIG Start Small by Dr Marina Nani
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hen I first met Sarah Sabraoui at the Arab Chamber of Commerce in London, it was the beginning of spring. I remember when she spoke, the sunshine greeting her face with a gentle uplifting confidence. I was at the end of my recovery, and that day was my last day as an outdoor patient, still feeling a bit fragile but listening to her story, I couldn’t help but thinking “No winter survives spring…” Sarah Sabraoui is kind and compassionate, an extraordinary woman who is not afraid of dreaming big. Together with her husband Khalil, Sarah made her family a top priority and she simply adores her three lovely boys Yusuf, Mohamad and Karim. Originally from Lebanon, Sarah speaks Arabic, French and English. With a BA in industrial psychology, she launched her teaching career in Dubai and six years later she joined a digital media marketing company in Saudi Arabia, where she advanced her corporate life. After living for more than sixteen years in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, her family relocated to the UK, three years ago. Moving to a different culture was tough: “Though I delivered my eldest In Watford hospital, settling in the UK was one of my biggest challenges.” Listening to Sarah again during one of the seminars hosted by Sterling Marketing Consultancy Ltd this autumn, I found myself reflecting on the vestiges of the economic winter thrown at us unexpectedly by the pandemic which brought the world to a sudden halt. And yet, that gentle uplifting confidence I noticed when we first met, reminded me of the promise of warm summer days ahead...
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Finding the perfect balance Who was Sarah as a little girl? I was born in Lebanon and have grown up in Beirut, the capital city. I have three sisters and two brothers and I can say that I am grateful for my lovely childhood. Like scattered seeds, memories bloom forever back to my loving parents, my sisters and my brothers. My parents taught us that the family is everything, and we always cared for each other, loved each other and supported each other. This is how sisters and brothers should be... We all loved our father, even though he was working away most of the time, in Ivory Coast. My father taught us to be kind with others, to be strong when we face challenges in life and be open-minded, which helped us along the way adapt to new cultures and respect others for who they are. My mother was a strong lady; she took care of six children alone, due to the absence of my dad for long periods during the year. She was great in every sense, as a mother, as a wife, as a friend. We all loved her delicious food. When I got married, she offered me a handwritten recipe book with my favourite meals that she used to cook while I was at home. From an early age, you went on a quest to find the secret to a balanced, happier and healthier life. Why does finding a perfect work-life balance matter so much to you? I was only 21 years old when I got married and we had our first child one year later. At the same time, I have started my career, my family, a new place and I became a mother. My first son was my sunshine . I was looking to build my family and my career equally. Honestly, I didn't have time for as little as a coffee in the morning. I had to learn to prioritise and manage my time well, focus on what really matters for myself, my family and my career. Between all the commitments, finding time for my friends is very rewarding (having coffee with a friend is all the therapy you need sometimes). What solutions do you have for women seeking a better work- life balance? Covid has changed us, the pandemic is a new reality for my generation, for my kids' generation and I found that most people, including myself, are embracing a different mindset. 2020 was tough for everybody, it is so easy to feel overwhelmed with all the redundancies, job cuts, furlough and so much sad news from around the world. I couldn’t find any good news in the outside world, so I started to think about initiating something positive, in a way, creating the good news myself. This is how I decided to launch a new beauty business and at the same time, help other women become successful entrepreneurs.
Your logo is “Dream Big. Start Small”. Is nurturing your business similar with nurturing a child? Dreaming big is important; the challenge is to make that big dream a reality. In my own experience, you have to start small when you dream big. You nurture that dream until it grows and, like your child, will be there for you when you grow old. It is never easy to build a business, especially during present times. The truth is that when things get difficult, I get better at managing those challenges. Our children are watching, we are their life model. I always ask myself “What do I want my children to learn from their parents?” Of course, it is easy to give up and it takes courage to succeed. The main aim for me is to inspire them to never give up, despite any circumstances. Tell us about a day in your life. What are your daily rituals? I usually wake up at 6.30 am and have my own time, praying, planning the day ahead so when my family wakes up, all is well organised. At 9.15 am, I start my office work, from home. I love the idea of working from home. I found that there are lots of benefits for a working mum: you can take a quick break and turn on the laundry machine or prepare a quick meal for dinner before the children return home. I love jogging in good weather, and working from home gives me the time to exercise. Dinner time is my favourite time, as we get together around a healthy meal, share what we did during the day. I rarely watch TV, but I love reading a book before going into a deep sleep. What is your relationship with food? Do you spend time in the kitchen? Who is helping you? Cooking healthy meals is very important in our family. I have grown up in a family where my mum used to cook healthy and delicious meals every day. Although I don't have the luxury of time, I cook every other day, and I make sure that my children enjoy their food. Is no secret that I have a passion for baking. I really enjoy baking a cake on their birthdays, or I make some cookies at home, during weekends or holidays. How did you stay active during the pandemic? During the lockdown, my main concern was to take care of the family, I pressed the pause button for my professional life. My three boys had their zoom classes every day, including my youngest, who is five years old. My husband was working from home as well. I had to make sure everyone was logged in on zoom on the right time every morning.
I had to stay alert for my youngest from 9 am to 3 pm and help him do his daily work. I am satisfied to see him enjoying learning with me and starting his year one with confidence. My middle child had to practice the piano after having his lesson on skype but it is all worth it! He passed his grade six piano exam with a merit! I am happy and proud to see my eldest son who graduated from 6th form, starting his first year of Accounting and Finance at Queen Mary University..I believe that education is key to our children’s future. Knowing they are healthy and happy is the greatest reward for any mother. You worked in the digital industry and gained vast experience in marketing. Now you are building your business in a very different industry: beauty. What are your plans for the future? Digital marketing helped me gain experience in this field and now there are very few industries, if any, which are not digital. The digital world is evolving every day, and there are constant changes on all social media platforms; live streaming is becoming essential to promote a service, a product or a brand. We live in a demanding era, in terms of content, in terms of creativity and imagination. I love everything natural and it is my firm belief that the wellness sector is booming in the UK and is growing fast all over the world. My dream is running different projects at the same time and I work hard to achieve my goals. I am working with fellow mums, we work flexible hours and our efforts are paying off. We started small but we dream big. You relocated to the UK three years ago. How difficult was it to settle in the UK? I was always looking for a perfect balance between family and personal dreams. While living in Gulf countries, a wonderful nanny stayed with us for fourteen years, she helped me a lot at home and I counted on her during my absence as she was great and lovely with my boys. When we moved to the UK, I found that I had more responsibilities at home and my children realised that we need to work together as we have no one to help us here.
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Having two teens and one youngster, we had to adapt to a new country and find new friends. I joined my husband in our family business, I attended different networking events and connected with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. I also attended various workshops. I took business coaching to define my personal business goals. At the same time, I went back into teaching and I have worked hard on my UCAS application and passed successful interviews with a non salaried route . The lockdown period gave me a lot of scope for introspection and considering what is happening around us, I decided to postpone this plan, and pressed the reset button. Time to re-imagine my life on new terms. What are the main lessons you learned during the lockdown? Success is not only based on a good salary, position or possession. You need to achieve personal fulfilment, you need to find a work life balance to be confident and believe in yourself. What are you grateful for? Being a present mum and still being able to work on my big dream gives me a lot of joy: my children are supporting me in my new venture. This is especially important as they learn from a young age how real efforts enable us to achieve big dreams. They can see that every start is difficult but your life experience makes you stronger. I think it is healthy for them to learn that there are ups and downs in life. I am grateful for building their self esteem and confidence, knowing that they are stronger than any life challenge. I count my blessings every day and I believe that better things will come at the right time. What have you learned during the lockdown that you want to share with our readers? I loved the quote “When you fear something, dive straight into it” Psychologists say, go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that helps you to grow . Be grateful every day and enjoy every moment with your loved ones.
A legacy of time By Dr Marina Nani
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or centuries, poets and artists, writers and musicians tried to capture the essence of femininity. But it took a woman to bring a new perspective on focus. A woman known for inventing the only Women Swiss Watch to inspire women, the epitome of beauty, elegance, sophistication and self confidence. Giselle was only eight when she lost her father, a little girl trying to help her mother going through challenging times. One day she found a four leaf clover and gave it to her mother, Odette. “Mother, we are saved. I found a four-leaf clover!” Her mother placed it inside her pendant. Four decades later, when this little girl became a businesswoman, and was facing difficult times, her mother, Odette, unlocked that pendant and showed it to her daughter. Little she knew that with that she unleashed the feminine power in her daughter’s life and a whole wave of inspiration will take the world by surprise. Like her mother, Giselle missed her father greatly, but found comfort in her mother’s strength. She learned from her mother the old saying “ Time is Money” but found that is no longer a true reflection of a women’s perspective in the business world. The business world needs a woman’s perspective:
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Four decades ago, before women’s role in society started to make the headlines, I decided to empower women and inspire my sisters all over the world.
“Time is Life”. Giselle Rufer decided to create a Swiss watch for women that will remind her of her father, and it will honour women and their contribution to society, their commitment to life. In an industry where historically only men are allowed, she stepped up to the challenge and became a prominent entrepreneur creator of the chic Delance watch for women. She received numerous international awards and accolades for Innovation but she is yet to be recognised for her contribution to closing the gender gap. Only 1% of the world population owns the Delance watch at present: famous actresses, politicians, businesswomen, athletes and inventors from around the world. But with every watch, Giselle helps another woman connect with her inner teacher and unleash her self confidence, her full potentiality. Here is our latest interview with Giselle.
Cover Story
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Cover Story What do you remember about the time when you were a little girl, who was Giselle as a child? Tell us about your parental home, your childhood, your dreams back then… My parents were both born in Paris. They married very young and I arrived into the world in 1946. They moved to Porrentruy, a small Jura town in Switzerland when I was 5 years old. I was a tomboy, very energetic and wanting to discover the world. The old city was our garden and we were investigating all the places in search of treasures and adventures. My mother had a shop in the old city, selling beautiful tableware, Limoges porcelain, Baccarat crystal, Christofle cutlery, tableware coming from France. She was the “Parisienne”, so beautiful and talented- she was my queen. The picturesque region of Jura in Switzerland is the cradle of watchmaking industry. The Swiss Jura has been industrialised since the 18th century and has several cities at very high altitudes, such as La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, and Sainte-Croix (renowned for it’s musical boxes). It is hard to resist it’s natural beauty and features such as the Creux du Van, peaks such as the Chasseral, caves such as the Grottes de l’Orbe, and gorges such as Taubenloch and my undying love for this regional heritage goes way back to childhood and makes me very proud of my origins. Since you developed a sense of trust with yourself, and the outside world, you went on an adventure of the mind, re-imagining your life, and that takes courage. What impacted your self confidence? As my mother was busy running the shop, I grew up to be independent and take responsibility for my own actions. On the other side, my father was encouraging me to dream big and believe in myself. I still hear him telling me: “Everything you want to obtain, you will be able to achieve it !” I grew up in self confidence and probably my childhood years impacted all my decisions I took later on in life. My father being very passionate about the watchmaking and selling Swiss watches in France, cherished the idea of creating his own watch brand. It was his dream that became mine after his death. He was only 32, I was 8… It was my father’s idea to name his watch brand “DELANCE”, the name inspired by our family name. I made my father’s dream mine since I was a child back then but 40 years late, I designed the only Swiss watch for women.
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When I reached adulthood I worked in the watch industry but I could not find the watch I was dreaming of. I wanted a watch that has an unique style and mirrors every woman’s authenticity and courage. I wanted a watch that reflects the feminine personality and values, a talisman, a symbol of life, harmony, spirituality ticking with a feminine rhythm. I could not find it so I had to create it. In 1994, I decided to create a watch that is a silent mentor empowering women to reach the sky. I had to do it, it was my mission. Four decades ago, before women’s role in society started to make the headlines, I decided to empower women, inspire my sisters all over the world. Since then I attended thousands of international conferences with the desire to instil self confidence in the feminine talent and help every woman I meet re-instate her self confidence.
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The business world needs a woman’s perspective: Time is Life
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The Delance watch is more than a watch, is a silent mentor... You live at your family home in Switzerland and since the travel was banned your daily routine has changed. What are your morning rituals? Take us through your day... Since the Covid brought the world to a stand still, I cannot travel all over the world anymore, to speak at international conferences and to organise the distribution of the Delance watches. When the lockdown was declared I was just returning from my tour in Asia. I had a shock discovering that I am a person at risk. No, not me… but in fact I am a person at risk as I am over 60. What can somebody who travels for a living do when there are no air plains in the sky, no people to meet? I decided to discover more about myself and travel inside my mind, find out more about living a joyful life while social- distancing. I decided to take a coaching session called “Joliment vieillir” (“Nicely grow old”) with Veronique, for one month and I have to admit that the result is great. When I wake up, I take the time for me first, drink a glass of water, then brush my whole body to stimulate all the connections, and I am ready for a good day. Depending on my agenda, I will find time for meditation and relaxation time during the day. I have the chance to live in the country so I go for a walk as often as I can. When I go to bed, I make sure I sleep enough. I am very young at heart and I feel well in my body but I take the time to listen to it. I have to find ways of rerejuvenating so I could carry on my life mission and inspire my sisters with my strength.
Cover Story
Since you created your Delance the only Swiss women watch from ground zero, you have faced endless challenges. What drives you to unite women in sisterhood ? Through my life experiences, I noticed that all women, from very young age are facing difficulties, all over the world. I am the oldest of four sisters and I had to support my mother who became a widow and my sisters. I we survived after the death of our father, we have the support of our circle of women to thank you for. I learned the power of sisterhood since early childhood. Women who support each other know there is no value in competing against each other or being jealous. I suffered from the jealousy of other people and I remember those times being very difficult. Probably I was too much for them and they couldn’t accept me… I wish I could help them understand sooner that I am a woman on my own mission, and not a competitor. We are facing a new social algorithm that impacts our behaviour, as consumers. At a time when self isolation brought humanity closer together, as the head of Delance Watch, what do you think is the role of women in society? I grew up in the city where you could find all kind of shops, butcheries, bakeries, grocery stores, and all those shops were kept by women. I remember as a little girl, I noticed that the cashier at the checkout, it was always a woman handling the money. In my eyes, those women look like queens, they were the face of the shops. There were men doing the job in the back shop, but when the wife was ill, the shop was closed. Since the dawn of time, the contribution of women in all fields has been immeasurable. Now is the time for women to openly assume the role they deserve in society. Now is the time for men to recognise the contribution of women in all areas, listen to our voices and support us as we supported them for thousands of years in history. Even the world EVEOLUTION, puts the name of a biblical woman, Eve, at the core of this world’s meaning.
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What seems to be even more powerful than Coronavirus, is the fear of the unknown. There are no rules anymore, what are your thoughts during the self isolation slowdown? A woman can conquer the fear of the unknown. We had to overcome it so often. The first time when we become aware that it is our role to give life, then the first child, the child leaving home, the ageing, and everything in between, is a journey into the unknown. Each one of us walks in beauty and love, through every difficult step and survive. Together we will reinvent ourselves and enchant our lives. I am confident we will overcome the pandemic too, we have no choice, we have to get stronger for ourselves and for our children. Like you always said, we really have to reimagine ourselves. . Brands, old and new have the chance to overcome the fear of the unknown, what is your advice for business leaders after the outbreak of Covid-19? Are you re-thinking a new strategy for Delance Watch? Do you think there is opportunity in calamity? The recovering will not be easy. My mother who was a very wise woman, told me: “After the war was nothing left. We had to rebuild everything and we did it”. Now we will have to rebuild our society, our companies, and our businesses. It will perhaps be a long way and we have to be courageous and ready to work more and to have less. With creativity, love and work we will continue. We have to concentrate on what is really important for ourselves, our family and our society. Sure a watch is not a priority and there are millions of women who don’t think of a watch right now. But the Delance watch is more than a watch, is a silent mentor, an inner teacher, reminding you who you truly are. As we created a community for the women who are Delance Ambassadresses, it is the symbol of our solidarity, a proof of our multiple talents and a sign of recognition for women who want to make the world a better place for all.
Cover Story
Changing the World: Unlocking our Full Human Potential by Susie Poole
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e exist in two worlds, the external world, what we see and touch, and our internal world, our thoughts, emotions, and self-care. These two worlds are constantly interacting and shaping each other. The external world can consume our lives – the demands of work and family, rushing through each day, conforming to social norms, trying to keep up with everything, leaving little time for ourselves. We tend to believe the external world drives and dominates our internal world. And here’s where it gets interesting. Scientists now believe, and are proving, that our internal world significantly influences the external world. In other words, when we feel valued, respected, loved, and supported, we feel nurtured. And it is this nurturing that is the key to unlocking our full human potential. Nurturing shapes more than our daily behaviour – it shapes our internal world for life. Before we reach the age of seven, our brains are operating at low frequency, like hypnosis, yet developing rapidly: still absorbing without constantly questioning. What we take in becomes our belief system and how we speak to our children becomes their inner voice. From age seven, the developing belief system drives our subconscious mind – our behaviour, our perception of ourselves and the world, our ability to connect and form meaningful relationships, even the circumstances we are drawn to in life. When we nurture our children, delight in them, laugh and play together, they learn to delight in being themselves and in life. We have three “brains”: the head, the heart and our gut. They each have their own intrinsic nervous systems and neurons, and can take on information, process it, store it, change and adapt. Together they span what we think and what we feel. The head is our source of thinking and rational processing; it makes meaning of things. The heart is our source of processing emotion and home of our values, from which we connect with others; and the gut is where we park safety and self-preservation, courage, and motivation.
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Women & Society
According to renowned executive coach and mentor, Brian Gorman, all too often business leaders are either disconnected from their heart and gut brains, or if they are connected, they still screen messages from the heart and gut through their head, because rational thought must win at all costs. They veer away from depending on gut instinct and rule emotion out of the equation. Conversely when we consider some of the most inspiration entrepreneurs, innovative thinkers and leaders around the world, it is clear that the “other two brains” the heart and gut, have been a major influence on the decisions they’ve made and subsequent actions they’ve taken. A name that is probably popping into your head right now is Sir Richard Branson. On a local level I would also put our own inspiring Carla Kaufmann of Get Diversity as a “three brain thinker”. Effective leadership requires all three brains, especially during times of change. When we connect to all three brains, it can improve clarity, create a connection and evoke conviction. At a corporate level, learning when to utilise each of the three brains and which ‘brain’ Is best suited to deal with any given situation is increasingly being recognised as a powerful tool for effective decision-making or driving change. If all three of these brains – head, heart and gut are equally valued in how we think and make decisions, then emotion and nurturing can also play a key role in driving change and optimising our lives. When we feel connected and ‘nurtured’, for our brains, which evolved to keep us alive in the wilderness, this equals safety. And when we feel safe, this allows our brains to be engaged, we become more productive, innovative, creative and we reach out to others, optimising team work and collaboration. Leaders who connect and nurture relationships spur innovation and productivity. At a personal level, using all three brains, allows us to fully engaged with our work, our lives, and our full selves. Connecting to our heart provides what we all seek in life: our happiness and well-being. The clearest message from the longest study on happiness of 75 years conducted by Harvard University is: ‘Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.‘
More than money, recognition and fame, it is having relationships with mutual love, appreciation, and a feeling of connection – simply having relationships with heart coherence – that matters most. So, if our thoughts, emotions and behaviour create our reality, how do we create what we want from life? How do we make our world a better place for us and future generations? Neurobiology and epigenetics are telling us that we achieve this through nurturing, being in heart coherence and at a more profound level changing our self-limiting belief systems. Science is finding our belief systems are not fixed for life! There are now ways to re-program these to ones that support us to help us achieve our goals and aspirations. Essentially science is revealing that when we live more from the internally driven world than the externally driven world, this shifts us from a fear-based consciousness to a heart-based consciousness. Living by the externally driven world, we live the Darwinian paradigm that life is about “survival of the fittest”. It assumes that the essence of life is about survival and conjures up the image of the lion chasing us. We are in stress mode. Our fight, flight and freeze mode is activated, driven by fear. Fear closes down our “thinking brains”, eventually numbs the body, disconnecting us from ourselves and others; and
ongoing stress can cause all sorts of health problems. In the external world, we are in reaction mode, relying on brute force and physical strength. We are operating at a sub-optimal level. In the internally driven world, we seek “heart coherence”. This is a highly efficient state in which, according to the Heartmaths Institute, all of the body’s systems work together in harmony, increasing the alignment of our mind, body, emotions and spirit. The process is the object – the enjoyment of life. In the internally driven world, we are at our most powerful when we operate from our imagination and have our mind, body and spirit fully engaged to create a better reality. We are operating at peak performance. Shifting from fear-based external consciousness to a heart-based internal consciousness is not about hugging trees, but rather about elevating humanity to a new level of consciousness to fully realise our human potential.
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For centuries, women have been disempowered, often dismissed as “too emotional for a man’s world”, limited to the role of nurturer and carer, while men assumed the roles of providers and rule-makers. Thankfully over the last one hundred years or so, the women’s movement has been a considerable and persistent force in influencing change. Opportunities for women to step beyond these limitations have increased substantially but sadly, gender-based stereotypes of emotional vs. rational still exist. The women’s movement has been instrumental in changing how society views gender roles, but this has been more focused on the external factors of equality and pay. Nurturing is seen as an emotional task and while appreciated within the family context, it has until recently, been grossly undervalued and seen as a weakness or “soft skill” in the business world. Because of this, insufficient value has been placed on women’s role in nurturing and the valuing of others. When we begin to understand the benefits of nurturing, it becomes clear that this emotional work is not only a woman’s strength, but also has the potential to change the way we as humans live on this planet. The role that nurturing plays in shaping our internal world has an impact on our external world. It comes as little surprise that studies show that firms with women on the executive board are more profitable. Only last year, the Swiss parliament mandated that on publicly traded companies, boards of directors should have better female representation, which will be good for those companies and the Swiss economy. By elevating the importance of nurturing, it opens it up to greater accessibility and alignment with both genders. It frees up men to have greater choice in choosing to be a homemaker or part-time worker and to share in the nurturing role with their partner. Just as valuing nurturing liberates women, it liberates men, giving them permission to fully access their hearts and whole selves to reach their full potential. Where governments mandate paid paternity leave as well as the more traditional maternity leave it further endorses the value placed on nurturing as a powerful influence on how we raise future generations. It recognises that nurturing need not be solely the domain of women.
Yet despite women’s traditional role as the nurturer, women are neither taught how to, nor encouraged to explore, utilising caring for others as a significant strength. This secret superpower influences not only the family and the home, but also the workplace, the community, and the very foundations of society. However, nurturing is not just about the gender issue. It is about nurturing ourselves as well as others. Some of the issues we are facing in 2020 – Black Lives Matter, the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing and dealing with the consequence of climate change – all require change. Major change is now our new normal. To manage the challenges of a global pandemic, or to rapidly transition to a postcarbon economy, we need all the benefits that nurturing provides: tapping into our potential for a boost in creativity, innovation, productivity, collaboration with others and effective change management. World leaders who have earned some of
My vision is to help women recognise where our power lies, so we can learn to use our power mindfully, understanding the impact and creating realities we want for ourselves and all of humanity. And when we collaborate, our impact is magnified and multiplied. We can be the drivers of change for the world we want to live in. We are more powerful than we realise.
the highest praise for their responses to the COVID crisis are women, such as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Earlier this year I was delighted to be invited to join the board, in October, of one of Switzerland’s largest women’s business networks, Womenway, as Director of Environment, Social and Corporate Governance. Board-members and executives make up 43% of Womenway’s community. In this role I will be driving a new strategic imperative called “Women Leading the Way” by collaborating with partners, the focus of which is to empower and inspire individual action and collaboration on local and world issues; and to create a nurturing community among Swiss and international women.
About the writer: Susie Poole is a climate change/energy thought leader and an advocate for women empowerment, particularly for leading the transformation to a post carbon and sustainable economy. She is a partner of a global permaculture climate change initiative – 52 Climate Actions, a partnership of 10 International organisations. Together with her role at WOMENWAY, Susie aims to empower women and organisations to create a better today and a tomorrow to look forward to...
Living a Double Life
Fear, Shame, Mental Health Issues and Eating Disorders by Patricia Ordody
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iving with mental health issues and addictive behaviours, made me live a double life, to protect my social status, and hide my fears, shame, mental health issues and eating disorders, until
one day‌
My truth shall set me free – which truth is keeping you imprisoned? I am not a health coach, who came from a healthy place. I am a Health Coach who beat the odds of a 17-year battle with an eating disorder, depression and severe anxiety. I was successful on the outside, yet terrified, alone and broken on the inside. This article is not only to honour my personal journey, because I am no longer afraid or ashamed, but also to give hope to those struggling. Be it a bad habit, personal, professional or health challenge, or an addictive behaviour to whichever degree, there are many of us who have struggled, who share your pain, who have overcome, who understand. Knowing that can already make a difference. I was always a perfectionist and thought negatively about myself, even though to everyone else I was a happy kid with a great life. The negative thoughts spiralled from anxiety into obsessive compulsiveness at age 10 and at age 16, I developed a severe eating disorder that followed me for the next 17 years, sometimes extreme, sometimes I managed, but I never felt like I could overcome it. There were countless moments of despair. The loneliness, guilt, shame, rejection, fear, and self-hatred that I often experienced is not something I wish upon anyone. Be it anorexia, orthorexia (obsession with healthy eating), bulimia or a mixture of disordered eating, whatever overwhelmed me was numbed by abusing food. Restricting it, shovelling it down, purging it, controlling it, ignoring it, lying
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about it, hiding it, throwing it away, buying excessive amounts of it. Something would trigger me and it was as if a switch went off in my brain. I was on a mission to just focus on food in one of the previously mentioned ways. In my worst episodes, I was in such a state of delirium that whatever happened over the next few minutes, or perhaps hour, was literally a blur when I came to my senses. It was uncontrollable and terrifying, yet often my only way out of feeling whatever it was I thought I would not survive feeling. This is a reality I know I am not alone with. Nevertheless, the tolerance and understanding for eating disorders is low in our society. Alcohol, drugs and gambling are understood as dangerous. For those suffering like I did, food is or was that numbing substance. I was judged for wanting to be skinny, despite my slim frame, and for not being logical. Food is normal, it is necessary. How messed up must I be not to be able to manage this basic need on Maslow’s hierarchy? We do not need drugs and alcohol to survive, yet food is constantly in our face. It is part of practically every social setting on a personal and professional level. Being social meant I had to lie, cheat, pretend and hide even more in order for the truth not to rear its ugly head. Being social meant I had to persistently control my addiction in front of others, because my greatest fear was losing face: to have others look at me with the contempt, disgust, hatred, fear and shame that I saw staring back at me in the mirror every day. Especially in Switzerland, where I have lived for the last 14 years, this issue is still shoved under the carpet. Nevertheless, many people struggle with eating disorders, disordered eating and, as in my case, the often related issues of depression, severe anxiety and insomnia to only name a few. Mental health issues, addictive behaviours, or whichever category you want to select, the problems are real and too often kept quiet.
Women & Society I tried every form of support from alternative methods to classical psychology and am still grateful for all the help, input and inspiration I received. I made progress, but not feeling understood made me doubt if I could be helped at all. Furthermore, I lived a dual life the entire time – successful, competent, social and pretty on the outside versus lonely, depressed, terrified and broken on the inside. I felt like a liar and a fraud. I often wished I could speak to someone who has overcome the illness successfully, but never found anyone around me. Why? Sharing your truth and struggle means letting others know about these real issues no one wants to discuss. Whatever is not understood, real and different is feared and shamed. Opening up means being vulnerable and it means taking responsibility. While I did a lot of work on finding out the cause of my illness, this did not give me a peace of mind. The reality is that the emotions and fears driving my illness were not resolved with a simple answer to a question. Who cares about the “why� when you cannot get through the day? I blamed myself for how and who I was, but this was as useless as blaming someone else, since the outcome is the same: victimisation and inaction. It had nothing to do with taking responsibility, but no one told me that, or perhaps I could not hear it since I felt completely alone and not at all understood. I could write a book on the countless ways I tried to cope, improve and recover. Often the process was two steps forward, three back, but there was progress. When I felt like I had come to a good point in my life with a more suitable job, healthier family relationships and friendships, and somewhat stable food habits, things took a turn for the worse.
Over three years my health disintegrated and I was shoved into the “burn-out” bucket, because my symptoms made no sense to anyone and to be honest, no one really wanted to take time to take a closer look.
A blessing in disguise What I experienced thereafter is what pushed to become a Health Coach. Getting physically ill to the point of struggling to move, digest or sleep, forced me to slow down, to study, to research, to ask the difficult questions without the help of a doctor, since I had lost hope and had no more strength to seek out anyone else. Getting help and truly taking responsibility are two different things. I had to stop searching for answers outside, thinking “if this…then that,” and do the hard work of taking my anxiety, emotions, traumas, experiences, relationships, habits, thoughts and beliefs apart with the right questions. The process forced me to understand the signs my body has been sending me for so long and to slowly learn to accommodate what I need. Things did not change from one day to the next, but setting goals and taking committed, concerted action every single hour of every day, will lead to progress. I stopped planning one year ahead and focused on getting through hour by hour, day by day. I tried and tested dozens of tools, questions, healthy coping strategies until I was equipped with those that got me through those difficult days. They still show up, but I accepted that an addiction does not disappear. I remain vulnerable, I remain honest. There is still too much shame attached to addictive behaviours and mental health issues, even when someone has beaten the odds, which quite frankly should be celebrated and shared. Today I celebrate and share my success of making the impossible possible, of making my pain my purpose. I had to learn that in order to heal, I don’t need THE truth, I need to honour MY truth. I was scared to share this story for years and realised that as long as fear and shame dominate, I have no real chance to live fully. Fear and shame are prisoners to our souls. My truths may not be yours, but I urge you to honour your own. Which truth is keeping you imprisoned? Discover it, honour it, work through it and allow that process to set you free.
About the writer: Patricia Ordody is a holistic Health Coach supporting busy, career-driven people in making nutritional and lifestyle changes to improve their mental, physical, social and emotional health for a happier and more successful personal and professional life. She founded her company Health is Wealth because of her personal health journey, through which she became passionate about helping anyone with similar struggles related to work-life balance, addictive behaviors, weight management, hormone health, stress management and more. Visit her website to learn more and contact her today for a free discovery call: www.healthiswealth.ch
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Why Evolution Depends on Diversity
By Carla Kaufmann
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t some point we have to decide who we want to be. What is important to us and where the journey of our life should lead us. Which doesn’t mean that we will get there. All of our plans are of no use if things turn out differently than you thought. COVID 19 is currently showing us another side of our ability to adapt and change. It is not better, it is not worse, it is different. We have to learn to deal with new circumstances and we have to get involved, and this is the only way we could take the next step into the unknown. I remember a scene with my father where he asked me over and over again: are you sure that your statement is correct as it is? Why do you think it is so, why can’t it be different? – Frighteningly fast I didn’t know what to say to him anymore. I was 12 years old at the time. When I was 16 I had a neardeath experience. I saw myself from above. Wrapped up in pain, as people rushed to me to try and bring me back. Although I didn’t actually decide to come back myself – I did. Why? We don’t question ourselves enough. We don’t question the status quo enough. We live merely to survive, whereas we should create, improve, innovate. We take it for granted that things are how they are. Why? The long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our economies are not yet foreseeable. It hit our global economic system like a tidal wave and led to lockdowns all over the world. During these trying times, many entrepreneurs are likely to have seen their entrepreneurial existence from above as well. An entrepreneurial near-death experience, so to say, wholly unexpected and unprecedented. – What now? Do you keep on going? And, if so, why? In Switzerland, the Federal Council declared the lockdown on March 16 and upheld it until May 11, 2020, thereby shutting down a large part of economic and social life during almost two months. Only four weeks later, on June 9, 2020, the Swiss parliament passed the “Aktienrechtsreform” bill and thus implemented gender guidelines for listed
companies. Without people noticing. 67% of Swiss public limited companies with more than 50 employees do not have a single woman on their board of directors (Diversity Report 2020). Why? Evolution is not a status; it is a process. We are in the middle of it and we are part of it. What evolution is in nature, innovation is in business. But we have only one primary source of innovation, and that’s our imagination. The imagination of the people we interact with, the people we discuss our challenges with. Evolution has caught us off guard – what innovations do we respond to it with? And, more importantly, how do we imagine to respond to it in the future? Widen your imagination and surround yourself with inspiring people, men and women. If there has ever been a time to enlarge your perspective, to include different, diverse perspectives it’s now. – while we are still alive.
About the writer: Carla Kaufmann has an masters degree in law from the university of St. Gallen. After working for PWC she bought 2010 the online platform companymarket.ch and is ever since working in a highly specialised e-commerce business. In 2012 she also founded the association geschaeftsfrau.ch where especially women get trained in taking over a business.
My Journey into
The World of Fine Art Jewellery by Lesley Calvo
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ave you ever felt transformed when putting on a statement necklace, a beautiful diamond piece, or a strong amulet? You know it goes beyond the pretty looks, or body adornment, it can make you feel attractive and powerful, takes you into a deeper joy and allows you to shine within. Since before recorded history, humans have been adorning themselves with pieces of jewellery designed to become somebody’s treasure. Every piece of jewellery has a meaning and a never ending story and each time you wear it, it sparks an emotion; it is an expression of spirituality, reflecting wealth, being a tool of trade or a priceless talisman to heal, cherish and protect loved ones. As a little girl, I had a deep fascination with jewellery. I remember sitting with my grandma playing with her jewellery box, seeing the rainbow lights twinkling in the diamonds as I moved them round. I felt its magic. To my young mind these beautiful works of art held so much beauty and unwavering strength, the power to transform the wearer into a queen, a goddess or a warrior. When I first started studying jewellery design I carried years of research into the spirit of adornment which inspired our ancestors into the art adornment, fashion and jewellery. What fascinated me back then and mesmerises me now is the human imagination, the ability to create treasurable beauty of lasting worth.
Going back 100,000 years to the Nassarius shells, from the iron age to today’s generations of excellence, a jeweller is breaking the limits of craftsmanship, becoming an alchemist transforming metal, gemstones, diamonds and leather into messages of love and beauty for eternity. Research helped me delve into different cultures through the ages and I learned how jewellery became a way to validate status and wealth, a symbol for spirituality and strength. If the art of adornment was always used to send out sophisticated messages of love and beauty, the wearer has a magical chance to experience confidence and self awareness. The process of creating a piece of jewellery is nothing short of magic. I have always been in awe admiring generations of excellence in fine art at Boodles or Dior, each one of these masters being a true visionary, unlocking their own creativity and developing the science of jewellery-making and the technology behind the scenes. One of the latest exciting innovations like labcreated diamonds, are expected to become much more common in the next few years but nothing will take away the priceless mastery of ancient jewellery.
If you wonder what it takes to sell Your Fine Art Jewellery in Harrods, or to build a global brand that stands out, you have to unleash your creativity, become creative with your own creativity and deliver authentic value.
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Playing host to the world’s of Cartier and Bvlgari, De Beers and Boodles, Boucheron and Christian Dior and the “the most heavenly creation after women”, being home to the most spectacular fine art in the original Gem Rooms since 1911,Harrods was an awe-inspiring moment in my carrier but little I knew that one day I will become a reference in their archives… Inspired by generations of excellence of fine art who brought their own story along while gracing the shelves at Harrods, I took a deep breath and began creating my first jewellery collection. I knew that each piece of jewellery I will create will uplift the wearer, make them feel confident and fabulous. Needless to say that I was terrified of entering the luxury jewellery market, but I couldn’t help myself. I was asking myself while dreaming with my eyes wide open: “Am I ready to create something unique, something of beauty and value that had never been seen before? I wanted to create magic. I started to think that a piece of jewellery is not just another object, there is more to it. What if people wearing my creations would feel there is a heart beat to it? So, I began the first steps on the journey that led to building a global brand. The interesting thing was, that was not the driver for me. The driver was to create something completely unique and to push the boundaries of what was already there…I wanted to work with the delicacy of lace and the strength of metal, creating something new and authentic, something memorable and priceless. If you wonder what it takes to sell in Harrods, or to build a global brand that stands out, you have to unleash your creativity, become creative with your own creativity and deliver authentic value. You need that and the passion and self-belief to follow your dreams, no matter how crazy they seem. If you have a gut feeling that you are onto something then you need to grab hold of that feeling and not let go until you break new grounds. At the time, I was doing my work experience for Erickson Beamon in Belgravia, the owner Vicki Sarge came to see my graduation collection and asked me to create a collection to put in their store. The first of a set of dominos lining up for me.
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The second domino was that the buyer for Harrods came into the store and my collection caught her eye. I remember so clearly as my clammy palms held the jewellery case while I rang the bell of her Knightsbridge home. My heart thumped against my chest. I walked into her immaculate home, my hands shook as I lay out the beautiful filigree pieces before her. She studied them carefully, punching numbers into her calculator and picking up each piece individually as it twinkled in the light. “I will take it all” she said after an age of quiet deliberation. My stomach somersaulted as I knew what this meant. To have Harrods as my first stockist was the biggest seal of approval I could ever imagine! Over the next few years many more dominoes lined up, I had the honour and privilege to work amongst some of the greatest names in fashion. I became a design consultant to many of the fine jewellery and fashion houses in Paris and my life was a whirlwind of collections. Through all the ups and downs and twists and turns that life threw at me, the one thing I knew was that I had to follow my passion. Sometimes in life we have an idea, a spark inside of us. A tiny seed that needs us to breathe life into it. And that is my advice to anyone who is starting up now, follow your passion! Your soul knows what you are here to do. You and only you have that unique gift that could bring something authentic, valuable to others. If you have a whisper in your heart that you are here for more, then listen to that whisper until it becomes a roar of courage. Put one foot in front of the other. Look ahead. You don’t need to see all the dominoes lined up before you start. Know this, if you already have the desire to be more, all the resources, knowledge and abilities will align with your desire. Remember, I would love to hear from you! I am here to listen to your story, which like any diamond will spark an emotion in our readers heart and become far more than the sum of its precious parts.
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...food
Want To Release The Quarantine Weight? Don’t Skip Breakfast! By Anna Cortezi
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ny weight gain in quarantine (for some just a few pounds, for others a bit more) should not keep you worried as it can be easily lost if you just follow some day to day, simple and reasonable advice. I know it sounds cliché, but DON’T skip breakfast! Systematise your breakfast intake so that you gradually boost your metabolism and therefore your calorie burning ability, and don’t fall head over heels for the next bigger meals.
Ideas for healthy breakfasts: • Breakfast cereals, fortified with fibre (rye, barley, oats, etc.) • Wholegrain bread and 1 boiled egg with vegetables • Yogurt with honey and cereals Or fresh/dried fruit Say goodbye to the daily prolonged couch breaks that until now took hours of your time, accompanied by unhealthy delivery, take away or fresh-cooked meal choices that you made with so much mastery using mainly fat and sugar. To get back to a healthy routine, a good idea is to avoid frequent food delivery orders or even eating out once possible, no matter how much you have missed your favourite restaurants and fast food diners. Usually in these circumstances it is very easy to get away with overeating certain food combinations, going down with sugary or alcoholic drinks and desserts. Avoid high-calorie drinks and beverages that have no particular nutritional value, such as soft drinks and milk or cream based drinks that do not cause the same satiety that a solid meal can give us, but will definitely give us all the extra calories that we do not want, especially at this point. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to get the most out of your daily fluid intake. As for alcohol, we know that it provides a lot of calories and no nutrients at all, often causing dehydration during consumption.
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Do not leave your stomach empty with no food for more than 2½ to 3 hours. Start consuming quality snacks of around 100-150 calories (fruits, nuts, yogurt, wholemeal crackers, etc) that will help balance your blood sugar levels, increase your metabolism and prevent you from feeling intensively hungry. Don’t skip dinner for that promising, faster weight loss you’ve read about – this is a myth and in no way does this theory apply when practised. Aim for a lighter dinner that has half the energy value (calories) of your lunch and always consume it 2-3 hours prior to sleep. I will not dwell on the importance of sleep, because more or less, we all have enjoyed lots of sleeping in self isolation. However, going back to your work routine, don’t forget that good quality sleep will help you balance your hormones and of course, your weight! If you want to lose the quarantine weight fast, it is important to understand that the first 2-3 kilos may be lost in a short time after you start paying attention to your diet, but in order to continue having positive and healthy results, you should try to focus on a balanced diet that will improve your metabolism, body composition and your overall well-being in a realistic and sustainable way.
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12 Good Reasons To Meal Prep By Danna Levy-Hoffman
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ho hasn’t left work late, dreaming of a good meal but feeling energy depleted and very little desire to shop and then cook? A quick takeout meal could be the answer, even if that means turning a blind eye on the expanding waistline and calorie-laden trap that you are deliberately stepping in. Nothing stops you from imagining yourself walking through the door where waiting for you is a delicious home-cooked dinner, every day of the week! Meal prep is a great planning tool to help keep you on a healthy eating track. While there is no one master formula, planning your meals is effortless, depending on your food preferences, love for cooking and mindset, but it will help you create your own style and take deliberate control of your waistline. To truly be healthy and feel amazing in our bodies, we need to give it the nutrients it needs, in a sustainable way that doesn’t make us feel deprived. Unfortunately, we are vulnerable to living out the unhealthy habits and conditioning from our parentsthis includes what we eat, how we shop, snacking habits, food pre techniques and emotional eating tendencies. Each person ticks differently and I’m there to help you discover the path that’s right for you. There are many good reasons for Meal planning and here you could find a few tricks Disclaimer: I’m going to give heaps of advice and good tricks in this article. They will not all work for you! You have to find that happy spot where meal planning takes the edge off, rather than put more pressure on your daily life. Doing everything I advise here is too way too much. You will find what works for you, and you will use it to your benefit. Until then it’s all about trying new ways in a slow and sustainable way!
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Why meal plan? Meal planning saves you time when shopping – you don’t have to look around too much, think about what you’ll be making while checking out all the options out there. The 30 min a week it will take you to plan out the week, will be totally worth while, as you’ll be shopping once for the whole week. No more standing holding the refrigerator door, hoping a recipe will somehow jump at you. Everything will be planned, and if you do it smart, you can also make enough to rely on leftovers! Saving money AND food waist – When you go shopping with a prepared list, you’re more likely going to spend less money, as you will not be inclined to buy things that are not on the list. You can also avoid food waist as you don’t buy something you already have at home or will not be using.
Healthier Eating – You’re more inclined to eat healthier, as you base your menu plan around good healthy recipes, rather than the frozen pizza that’s on sale this week. Reduces Stress – Everything is written down and planned out. There’s no reason to stress. Not about food anyways! This is especially true if you have an online supermarket that delivers to your home and offers high quality, local organic ingredients, which means you can do your shopping in your pyjamas.
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So how do we go about it?
01.
Make sure you have an organised place where you save recipes. If it’s in a hand-written recipe book, a special app, or saving your loved recipes on Pinterest, having them all in one place makes life much easier.
02.
Make sure to come up with enough recipes to have a nice rotation. Having seasonal recipes will help not get tired of making and eating the same meals over and over again.
03.
Dig through old recipes and “healthify” them to add more to your repertoire.
04.
Revolve around ingredients you already have. Check out the pantry and fridge for ingredients that should be used, and work from there.
05.
If your house is bare naked and has zero ingredients (which sometimes does happen), revolve around favourite veggies . That way you base meals around the healthiest part, and add side dishes of grains or protein.
06.
Plan around fruit and vegetables that are in season. There’s no point in planning on guacamole when avocados are overpriced, taste like Styrofoam, and had travelled half the world to get to your plate.
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07.
Know your schedule – Book specific dates and times for shopping and cooking! Mark it in your family calendar, with a permanent marker, and make sure to activate your family members to get extra hands helping.
08.
Figure out what time of day you are have more time and energy to do the planning and shopping.
09. Always make extra! If you’re already going
to spend time in the kitchen, you might as well make enough to last you a couple of days. Alternatively you can make a larger amount of just one part of the meal (either whole grains, protein, or vegetables), and reinvent the leftover as a whole new recipe. Make sure leftovers are also in the plan. There’s no need to have something new every single day.
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10.
Speaking of leftovers, make sure to have one day where you simply pull out all the leftovers for a “fridge clean” meals.
11.
Only focus on 1-2 new recipes a week. The rest should be recipes you know and love. That takes the pressure off and keeps things realistic.
12.
Use your freezer wisely! Broth, sauces, beans/legumes, prepped veggies, or whole prepped meals to simply warm up or cook are all great ways of using your freezer.
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Elements of Good Nutrition
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ith the amount of information that exists about good nutrition, you would think it was a big mystery. The truth of the matter is, there is no mystery involved in getting the proper nutrients that your body needs. Why should you care about getting the proper nutrients? Many people are under the misconception that eating healthy is for the young because they are growing. Tissue and cells are constantly being renewed in both children and adults. The failure for these elements to repair themselves can result in diseases of lifelong misery or worse, death. To lower your risk of developing a disease, you simply need to follow three simple steps of good nutrition.
Proper Hydration
Plain and simple, your body needs water. Being properly hydrated will benefit you from head to toe. Water keeps your cells hydrated and flowing throughout your body. It doesn't take long to witness the benefits of drinking sufficient water. Just a week of being hydrated and your skin will have a new glow. If you need to lose weight, water can help you achieve your goal. In many instances, people misinterpret thirst for hunger. Unless it's been a few hours since you have eaten, have a glass of water the next time you have hunger pains. There are numerous guidelines for how much water to drink. Consuming eight glasses of water each day is the most popular guideline. People have different needs. A better indication of how hydrated you are is your urine. When you are properly hydrated your urine is almost clear. There is the possibility of water intoxication so you don't want your urine to be completely colourless.
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Eating Healthy In addition to being hydrated, you need to eat a variety of foods. Forget fad diets that restrict certain foods. The key to healthy eating is to eat in moderation and variety. Your food choices should include a large percentage from complex carbohydrates, which is sufficient for energy. You should also consume several servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy every day. You should limit your servings of protein and fats to two or three servings each day. By including all of these food groups in your diet, you are less likely to be hungry or have cravings for sweets and other nonnutritional foods.
Vitamin Supplementation As long as you live in a country where food is plentiful and produced safely, you should have no problem obtaining the amount of vitamins and minerals your body needs. However, food allergies, dislikes, and illness may prevent you from eating certain foods. Some people, for example, are lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products. In these instances, supplementation should become a part of a plan for healthy nutrition. You don't need a prescription to purchase vitamins, but it is a good idea to discuss your particular needs with your medical doctor. Consuming excessive amounts of some vitamins can cause toxicity and unpleasant side effects.
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The Alba White Truffle The Star Of The Table At The ‘Unusual Dinners’ Finest Experience
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here’s no doubt that there is only one way to celebrate the Alba White Truffle: at the table. This is why, the star of the table at the Unusual Dinners of this 90th edition is The Alba White Truffle, and we want to help honour it in the best way possible.
Hunting for the Alba White Truffle Culinary connoisseurs get together each year to honour the white truffle, a gastronomic treasure only available for a few months and for a high price. Top chefs value the freshness of this star of the table, as only a few grams shaved over a plate, will make your dinner a luxury experience. Being hunted from late summer thought out autumn, there are no cultivation techniques for the most wanted culinary prize: The Alba White Truffle. A truffle- hunter is a trufflelover, passionately searching for this valuable hypogeum fungus. He will go hunting into the woods with his dog (and the dog’s experienced nose) and it will not be satisfied until he can finally hold this precious treasure in his hand. Alba White Truffle life cycle’s takes place in the earth and to produce the precious sporocarps, truffles need no attention to grow, however, they could only be found in certain areas which are treated with agronomical loving care. Truffle’s pale yellow peridium and its rounded shape, are unexciting at first but its uniquely flat and irregular body comes in variable in size. The inside is a display of different shades of milk, antique, deep pink and pale
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Training a Gold Digger Who would have thought that gold digging is not just a metaphor and all you need to find gold is eight years of patience and a good dog? The most expensive food in the world, Alba White truffles can start at $3,600 a pound (Tuber magnatum) and for those who can’t afford that kind of luxury, there are Black Diamonds, available for a few hundred dollars for a small packet of shavings from French Black Perigord Truffles (Tuber melanosporum). A successful truffle farming experience is a cocktail of mystery, fun of the hunt, patience and good dogs who can dig for gold all day long. The potential financial windfall, attracted large attendance at White truffle festivals for five years in a row and created a new industry: truffle dog training classes. France and Italy have a rich truffle history as white truffles were hunted and served for centuries across Europe to the royal families delight. American farmers are finding their way into the diet of the rich and famous and sell for a healthy profit. While the native truffles that grow in the Pacific Northwest of the United States are priced for less than the European truffles, American farmers have an unfair advantage: the scent of a fresh truffle is priceless for a Michelin Chef as it will land on its kitchen overnight, while the truffle is still fresh. Expected to become a $6 billion global business, truffles are highly prized as a culinary delicacy in the Italian, French, Spanish, Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine.
browns. Truffles live in symbiotic relationships with certain trees, and these mysterious plants demand a delicate environmental balance to be maintain thought-out the year. In the heart of the historic centre of Alba, the largest truffle market in the world returns, the hub of a fair dedicated to safety and quality The focus of the 90th edition of the Fair will be, also for this year, the World Market of the Alba White Truffle, hosted as usual inside the Cortile della Maddalena. In the heart of the city, within the historical central area overlooking Via Vittorio Emanuele II, enthusiasts of the most precious fruit of this land will be able to discover it’s scent and secrets every Saturday and Sunday of the nine weeks of the Fair, with the additional special openings on Monday and Tuesday December 7th & 8th. THE WORLD MARKET OF THE ALBA WHITE TRUFFLE AND THE CULINARY EXCELLENCE OF ALBAQUALITÀ The undisputed symbol of the Fair and its culinary excellence is renewed in form, but its substance is more than confirmed, with the World Market remaining the ideal location to discover the extraordinary heritage truffle of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, as well as a perfect place to appreciate and buy the finest specimens of Tuber magnatum Pico with controlled and guaranteed quality.
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In fact, the International Alba White Truffle Fair applies a rigorous selection protocol for the fresh product for sale. Every year the Municipality of Alba appoints a commission composed of experts who draw up the rules to regulate the sale of the truffle, rules that all the sellers present at the Fair (the “trifulau”, in Piedmont dialect, as well as the “hunters”, but also the merchants) must comply with. And so every day, before the opening of the World Truffle Market, the sellers present their truffles to the judges of the Quality Commission, who perform an accurate sensory analysis by selecting only the products suitable for sale which, at that point, are counted. and weighed. In order to effectively control the characteristics of the product, the Quality Commission delivers a special numbered bag, to be used compulsorily for the sale of each truffle, for each truffle that passes the control. To celebrate the 90th Edition Dinners in the best possible way, a special event will take place on November 13th at the only Three Michelin Star restaurant in the Piedmont area, with an exclusive event that will feature Enrico Crippa at his “Piazza Duomo” in Alba
National Center for Truffle Studies, says: “The big news this year will concern the ways to use the Alba White Truffle: the International Alba White Truffle Fair will be the leader in the application of the procedural guidelines adopted by the Piedmont Region to regulate the use of the White Truffle in all the fairs dedicated to it, within the regional borders. A dedicated commission has in fact defined the specifications for a purchase method ensuring the complete protection of both the buyer and seller, while assuring that handling and smelling the product will be carried out in total safety: the truffles will then be placed in a special glass container, equipped with a lid in silicone specifically for food, to ensure the usability of the product to avoid possible risks “. Among the events confirmed, within the Cortile della Maddalena, you can find the food and wine revie AlbaQualità which, as the name suggests, offers an exhaustive and complete panorama of the Piedmont food and wines offered. Particular attention is paid to the artisanal production of the area, with a choice of products for tasting and to buy, a tasty souvenir of your visit to the International Alba White Truffle Fair. A specific area is also reserved for tasting the wines of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato offered inside the Grande Enoteca by AIS Piemonte, the regional section of the Italian Sommelier Association. Inside the World Market of the White Truffle of Alba, as per every year, you can also find the Alba Truffle Show. This is a space dedicated to cooking shows hosted by great chefs, to workshops, to the Sensory Analysis of the Truffle. There are also opportunities to discover other regions through the excellence of their food and wines, as well as experiential paths to allow visitors coming to Alba from all over the world to make a journey through the flavors that best represent the Italian “bella vita”. When possible we encourage you to have a memorable Italian dining experience, supporting local restaurants in your city this November. If at home, be inspired and celebrate the magic of The Alba White Truffle by enjoying a memorable Italian dining experience .
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Eat right, keep moving.
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erhaps you have read all that you need to know about how to prevent being overweight. That simple set of instructions should be easy to follow, but not for the 60% of Brits who are unable to prevent being overweight. Of course, once we are overweight, we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons, some related to health, others having to do with looks. In addition, it is never too late to lose weight. But the fact is, it is a whole lot easier to prevent putting on pounds than to try losing them later on. And if there is one thing we all know, it is that weight gain is likely to happen if we do not take forward-looking steps to stop it. Health experts say that most people who are into losing weight usually stray. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to enjoy low-fat eating. They tend to return to sedentary ways even though they enjoy exercising. But despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening, experts say. And there are plenty of good reasons to avoid excess weights, reasons that go beyond vanity or social acceptance. In fact, some health experts contend that the significance of excess weight is more than cosmetic. They say that it takes a huge toll on people’s physical health.
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The Way to Losing Weight…Naturally The nuts and bolts of eating right and maintaining a healthy weight is not all that complicated. In fact, it is a good bet that most people know pretty well what is best. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all. Consequently, a reasonable approach for losing weight naturally is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates, high in fibre, moderate in protein, and low in fat. A complex carbohydrate is a baked potato. Fat is the sour cream and butter you should not put on it. Fibre in vegetables. Fat is the oil you should not fry them in. Protein is a lean cut of meat. Fat is the gravy you should not pour over it. Moreover, health experts say that dietary fat promotes weight gain because it is a very dense source of calories. Also, when you consume excess calories from dietary fat, you store those calories as body fat more efficiently than excess calories from other sources. On the other hand, it can also help you lose weight naturally if you will not fall into the so-called “fatfree” trap. Manufacturers keep coming out with lowfat or fat-free versions of their best-selling foods, but Americans keep getting fatter anyway. One of the greatest delusions of the 1990s is that “no fat” means “non-fattening.” The truth is, you are often getting just as many calories from the no-fat version, even if the calories are not coming from fat. The term fat-free can be a trap if you start to believe that you can eat any amount of the foods that are advertised that way. What’s more, it is best to respond to hunger with healthful snacks. Health experts say it would be better to try eating every three to four hours, which may mean a nutritious low-fat snack between lunch and dinner. When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative. Never skip a meal and eat snacks instead because that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight. Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. When you say natural weight loss means that you do not have to use some accessories or helpful aids just to lose weight. Losing weight naturally is a process and not a fad. Hence, it would take a lot of dogged determination, self-control, and discipline just to achieve your ideal weight.
15 Delicious and Easy Healthy Snaks to Make at Home By Danna Levy-Hoffman
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ou might be surprised, but it is possible to lose weight without giving up snacks. Even more than that – some snacks can even help you balance your weight and accelerate the weight loss process. To make it easier for you, I’ve created a list of snacks that would work for everyone. Some of them are low-calorie snacks, some of them are high protein snacks, and all but one will be highly appreciated by vegans. But what unites all of these snacks is that they are both healthy and delicious!
1.Raw Nuts Nuts are a great source of protein, unsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and vitamin E. Moreover, the Mayo Clinic emphasises that eating nuts can lower your cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease overall. Just mix and match raw nuts, enjoy your favourites and make sure to try others too. Just make sure not to overdo it with Brazil nuts. Keep to only 4-6 a day, as they are very high on selenium, which when consumed in high amounts, could lead to selenium toxicity.
2. Fruit and Nuts Yes, we’ve covered nuts in the previous paragraph, but the combination of fruit and nuts will not only be delicious and full of nutrients, but it will also help the body break the fruit sugar slower, allowing you to feel more saturated and have more sustainable energy.
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3. A Piece of Fruit With Nut Butter Same as above, yet enjoyed in a slightly different way. Apples and almond butter with a bit of cinnamon, banana and peanut butter, pear and tahini, anything goes! You’ll love the taste of it and there’s so much room for the experiment!
4. Overnight Chia Pudding Chia seeds don’t contain many vitamins, but they’re a great source of calcium and they are also gluten-free, which makes them a popular protein source for people with whole-grain sensitivities or celiac disease. And the fun thing about chia pudding is that you can play around with any flavors you want. Berries cinnamon lemon zest, peanut butter banana walnut, tahini cinnamon medjool dates, mango coconut pecan, cacao raspberry orange zest… the sky is the limit!
5. Homemade Smoothies There are so many benefits to drinking smoothies. For example, they can help you lose excess body weight without skipping any meals, they can prevent your body from dehydration and let you be in control of your cravings. Simply make sure that in your smoothie, you don’t use more fruit than you’d be having in one go if you ate them whole.Just make sure to have one cup of fruit to 3 cups of greens, adding nut butter and other healthy fats to the equation for a well-balanced delight.
6. Hard-Boiled Eggs Hard-boiled eggs are extremely low in calories and rich in many important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are so necessary for you to feel well. What makes the hardboiled eggs better than the fried eggs is that they are prepared without additional oil or butter, so they’re lower in calories and fat. So, if you’re not sensitive to eggs, you can enjoy a couple of hard boiled eggs without feeling guilty.
7. Avocado and Tomato During the right season, this combo will be super nutritious and crazy delicious! I love making a quick guacamole mixing my crushed avocado with salt, pepper, turmeric and good quality olive oil (and a squeeze of lime if I have one at hand). Then I cube the tomato and mix it in. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
8. High Quality 70% Dark Chocolate Yes, it’s not only tasty (even though it is a bit more bitter than milk chocolate), but it is also rich in fibre, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and a few other minerals. Even exercise capacity increases when consuming dark chocolate! All in all, the 70% dark chocolate will, by default, have more cacao and less sugar. If you’re lucky you can even find chocolates that use healthier replacements to white sugar and will taste delicious! If it’s a raspberry season, I recommend getting some organic raspberries and placing a small piece of the dark chocolate inside the hole. Best combo ever!
9.Homemade Hummus Homemade hummus is just great for a snack or as a meal! Hummus can help you help improve your bone, muscle, skin, and blood health. There are many ways to make hummus at home, either using canned chickpeas, or going the extra mile to soak and cook dry ones. Whichever way you prefer making your hummus, make sure to use high quality tahini, and extra virgin olive oil for best results! 218 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
10. Veggie Sticks Mindlessly eat as many vegetables as you want, your body will only thank you for it. There’s really not much else to say .
11. Olives Olives are an ultimate heart-healthy snack that helps you improve circulation and has anti-inflammatory benefits. I recommend buying olives with the pit as they have more flavor. A great combination of the healthy fat and delicious umami flavor.
12.Roasted Veggies Even though roasting or steaming vegetables can change their nutritional profile, they still keep the majority of their nutrient values: they stay full of fibre, low in calories and rich in minerals. Play around with different spices, or roast with just good quality sea salt and avocado oil. Eggplant, Brussels sprouts, carrots, zucchini, Jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, green beans, kale, anything goes! I challenge you to try roasting a vegetable you usually don’t like, and see if this method of cooking changes your mind.
13. Homemade Energy Balls It’s as easy as taking a bunch of nuts, and some Medjool dates or any dried fruit you like, whizzing it all up in a food processor, adding cacao or lemon/orange zest and a bit of cinnamon, and there you have it, the perfect snack!
14. Roasted Chickpeas The best part about chickpeas is that they are high in protein and fibre, which makes them a filling food that can help lower appetite and reduce calorie consumption at meals. Just as with the roasted vegetables, play around with spices and flavors.
15. Edamame Edamame is a delicious, nutritious bean that’s an outstanding low-calorie snack option. The best part – cooking it is extremely simple. Unlike most other legumes, edamame doesn’t require a long time to cook. Just boiling it for 3-5 minutes is usually enough, but it can also be steamed or panfried. I hope my article helped you complete your shopping list. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a safe nutrition program, I’d be happy to assist you. My Urban Cleanse Program will help you lose weight, feel energised, control your health, and enjoy every single bite! And YOU WON’T BE LEFT HUNGRY, GUARANTEED!
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9 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet
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t’s no secret that antioxidants are incredibly beneficial to good health. It’s believed the antioxidants in food can help prevent cancer, reverse or slow ageing, enhance your immune system, increase your energy and improve heart and other organ health. Given all we know about antioxidants and their beneficial properties, it’s amazing more people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, the primary sources of antioxidants. Experts recommend a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but say getting 7-10 servings is best.
01.
Breakfast
Breakfast doesn’t have to be a hurried toaster tart on the way out the door. Throw some strawberries, 100% juice and yogurt into a blender; pour your delicious mixture into a cup and head out the door. You’ve just added one to three servings of fruits to your daily intake. Or throw some berries onto your cold or hot cereal. Say you truly have no time in the morning and usually grab something on the run. Even the Golden Arches can be of some help here. Order a fruit and yogurt parfait and some apple slices. For about £2, you have a breakfast providing one to two servings of fruit.
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HEALTH
02.
Snack s
Here’s an easy way to get more antioxidants in your diet. How about a handful of raisins for a snack, or some fresh red grapes? Dip some strawberries in yogurt. You’ll feel decadent, but the berries provide the colour you’re looking for. Need crunch? How about some baby carrots dipped in hummus? Consider a handful of pecans for crunch and a nice antioxidant boost.
03.
Lunch & Dinner
It might sound trite but adding a salad to each of your main daily meals can add loads to your overall health and well-being. They do not have to be boring, and they do not have to be just salad greens. If you are going classic, add some red pepper slices to your green salad, some tomatoes to the Greek salad, or tart cranberries to your field greens. Whip up a broccoli salad for lunch or be adventurous and mix up a rice salad with a mélange of fresh vegetables like string beans, tomatoes, peppers, and red onions.
04.
Des sert
Berries, with or without whipped cream or chocolate are a wonderful way to end your day of healthy, antioxidant-rich eating.
05.
Beverages
Replace your soda with tea or coffee, both of which boast antioxidant compounds. Have a glass of wine with dinner, or for a real change of pace, pour a glass of chai tea.
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06.
Think outside the box
We know we can get our antioxidant fix from berries, salads and the like, but researchers say powerful antioxidants can also be found in a variety of unexpected foods, like russet potatoes, artichokes, and small red beans. The beans, in fact, may have more antioxidant power than blueberries, experts say. So, to your rice salad full of vegetables, add some beans for even more antioxidants.
07.
Cook Lightly
You think you’re being good, preparing vegetables each night for your family’s dinner. But if you’re overcooking the vegetables, you’re cooking out a lot of the beneficial properties of the antioxidants. Steam (do not boil) vegetables and stop cooking them when they will have all their bright colour and most of their bite.
08.
Plant a garden
Experts believe that people who plant and harvest vegetables from their own yards are far more likely to eat more vegetables and fruits than people who buy their produce from the store. So plant a garden, watch it grow and eat the fruits (literally) of your labour.
09.
Take your healthy diet on holiday
Too many of us consider going on holiday an opportunity to take a break from everything, including healthy eating. Think of your holiday as a way to be introduced to new foods. Order interesting dishes and meals and experiment with the local food culture. After all, what’s the point of eating the same old thing you would at home? Plus, you never know when you may discover something totally amazing you can bring back with you.
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Beauty & Wellness
The Power of Luxury Self-Care Rituals By Deborah Hladecek
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e-discovering yourself as a mature woman, mother and a truth seeker is never easy unless you understand the power of luxury self care rituals for renewal and vitality. When I first heard the term, ‘Luxury Rituals’, it felt somewhat contradictory. What exactly is a luxury ritual? I had to unpack the individual meanings to make sense of it. My understanding of ritual was grounded in tradition, symbolism, discipline and healing with intention. While I equated luxury with style, opulence, grand expense and posh comfort. How could these intersect in a meaningful way? The deeper I explored this paradigm the more I had to redefine what luxury means today. I realised that time is the new luxury. Not the fancy car, designer handbag or holidays, but time to do whatever sparks joy for us. Feng Shui expert Alex Stark, says that “a ritual is a way of connecting with the earth and calls for a re-balancing of male and female energies to help our species survive”. One of my ritual teachers, Daniel Foor, says that “ritual is a way of re-balancing the integrity of a space or a situation in order to create a potentially better outcome”. Put in this context, it doesn’t feel selfish to take time out for self care rituals. But, self care isn’t something you do once every 6 months and check it off your list. A key component of ritual, although not wholly defining, is repetition. Doing them daily, even in small ways can help bring us back into balance and soothe our souls. The Dalai Lama, for example, is committed to sustaining his lifestyle of self care by knowing when to say “no” to others to preserve his daily self care rituals.
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I Celebrate Myself And Sing Myself WALT WHITMAN
If only we had more time to follow the Dalai Lama’s lead; to be present with our children, to read that anticipated book, to have a quiet cup of tea or to just have 10 minutes alone in the bathroom. For most of us, finding the time or the energy to take care of ourselves is a challenge; even when the benefits of self care are clear. If you could make more time for self care rituals, what would that look like for you? Self care has been shown to strengthen our immune systems by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest + digest), it makes us more productive, boosts our self esteem and causes us to be more compassionate to others. When we fill our own bucket, we are then able to fill another’s.
Daily Sustainable Luxury Self Care Rituals I like simple self care rituals because it makes them more likely to be sustainable. For a simple, daily practice try experiencing a cup of herbal tea, mindfully, with all of your senses. Breathe in the aroma and feel the warmth of the tea cup in your hand. Focus your attention and all of your senses in the moment. Rituals don’t have to be elaborate. The practice can be practical rather than poetic. It can just be 10 minutes, but will give you so much more in return. Or, try walking barefoot on the earth and feel the grass under your feet, grounding you. If you take your cup of tea into the garden, your feet will connect you to the yin earth energies, while the volatile components of your tea will connect you to the yang sky energies. I suggest looking at your motivation and intention of your ritual to be better connected to its power. Rituals are dynamic, so allow for unexpected things to happen. This way we are not attached to a particular outcome.
The healing power of Luxury Self Care Rituals My favourite self care ritual takes a little longer, so I aim to do it weekly, rather than daily. I renew myself with a 20- 30 minute mineral bath soak with essential oils + flowers. Water energy is associated with the sacral or second chakra and is about fluidity, empathy, femininity and connection to our emotions. For thousands of years mineral salts have been used to detoxify the body and assist with cleansing the aura, along with crystals or the ancient practices of smoke cleansing with aromatic plants. The cleansing and healing powers of water make it a regenerative self care ritual. I always feel like a reset button has been pressed after emerging from a bath. There are many simple rituals you can begin to incorporate into your life; from elevating your nighttime skin care routine by adding an intention or affirmation to dry brushing to promote cellular renewal and vitality. You could try the practice of alternate nostril breathing, called Pranayama in Sanskrit or yoga and meditation. You may already have a meaningful ritual and need to prioritise yourself to make it happen. Giving yourself the luxury of time and attention with intention regularly, is an act of self love. If you agree with the poet and author Rupi Kaur, who says “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you”, then it’s time to prioritise your time.
The shift into Sustainable Luxury Self Care Rituals Finally, when I think of luxury in its original meaning, I think a shift towards ethical and sustainable luxury is the future. This means luxury products or services with conscious, sustainable values as their ethos. There are products and services that aim to generate meaningful moments to support you on your quest for re balance or self improvement. These can be useful in your self care rituals, but you shouldn’t feel as though you need anything outside of yourself to fulfil your luxury self care ritual.
5 Best Self- Care Tips To Feel Rich, Luxurious And Confident By Martina Fink
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aking sure that your daily rituals make you feel rich and luxurious – in my words I would say „glowing“ – I have put together my top five selfcare tips for you to be productive and feel confident and radiant, so you will never again feel like an unmotivated couch potato! Now that a lot of us have spent quite some time at home, maybe you got a bit in a rut, put on yoga pants every day, had your hair in a messy bun, and skipped the makeup, unless you had to show up for a call (and sometimes even then!)
To feel rich and confident upgrade your skin care to clean, green and ethical products Your skin is a reflection of your soul and of how well you’re taking care of yourself. It is the biggest organ and is what separates our inner body and organs from outside impacts. It is how we regulate our body temperature, and is therefore important that we take care of it. My skin care routine is one of the first things I do every morning. I cleanse, tone, and moisturise my face every day, mornings and evenings. The products I use are clean, transparent, and come in luxuriously designed glass bottles, and this ritual just makes me feel so radiant from the inside out.
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Start your self- care rituals with a glam breakfast In my Glow world, I like to make every aspect of my life glowing. This also includes making a breakfast that is not only healthy and delicious, but also looks pretty, is colourful, and like you added a lot of vitamin L (love) to it! So this can be a green smoothie with spinach, banana, silken tofu, plant-based protein powder, oat milk, and hemp seed topping, an oatmeal bowl with frozen cherries, banana slices, and cacao nibs topping, or a smoothie bowl decorated with fresh kiwi, banana, cashew nuts, and flax seeds. Nourish your body with as many organic and fresh plants and fruits as you can and stay away from anything toxic, packaged, and processed.
Confident clothing make you feel rich and glamorous throughout the day when you work from home While yoga pants and hoodies are comfy and just the right thing to wear at times, they often don’t give us a very confident, rich, and luxurious feeling about ourselves. I’ve found that wearing jeans and a cute t-shirt, or my favourite robe can make such a difference in how I feel! I then also put my hair in a braid or a high pony tail, use some organic hair spray to fix it, wear my favourite earrings, and do my makeup – just because. These little things have the power to boost your confidence on days you need it a little more! As without so within – change how you look on the outside, and it is going to impact how you feel on the inside!
Make your home a reflection of the rich and luxurious life you desire If you desire to up level your life, manifest more abundance, better relationships, a higher income, more success, peace, and happiness in your life, you need to align yourself with that vibration before you get it. Like attracts like, so when you’re on the vibration of the rich and luxurious life you dream of, you will attract the rich and luxurious things you desire. Home is a place where we spend quite some time at and it’s where we start and end our days. Making your home a reflection of the life you desire is the first step to getting there. Now what exactly that means depends on exactly what you desire.
Want to feel more grounded and peaceful? Get yourself some beautiful plants. Want to feel feminine, nurtured, and beautiful? Get yourself fresh flowers every week. Want your home office to reflect the success that best version of you will have? Add little elements like a plant, wall prints, and a journal that resonate. Want to create space to receive all the abundance you desire? Declutter your home and release, throw out, get rid of anything that keeps your shelves full, your tables messy, and your wardrobes overflowing.
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What is the best tip to end the day with confidence and feeling rich and luxurious? We can’t feel rich and luxurious if our bodies are exhausted and you wake up in the morning feeling like you got run over by a truck. Getting good quality beauty sleep every night is just as important as moving your body daily and drinking enough water. While lots of people turn their phones off the minute they turn off the lights, this can pretty much guarantee that you’re not going to get into restful and deep sleep. Get some no-phone time before bed and turn it off at least an hour before you go to bed. Your bedroom should be an oasis for relaxation. Don’t work from bed, don’t turn it into an office, and keep your electronics out of the bedroom. You’re saying you use your phone to set your alarm? Just get an alarm clock. Upgrade your bed sheets and pillows to organic cotton, and use a calming pillow mist. Rub some lavender oil onto your wrists and inhale deeply. When you close your eyes, go over your day and think about all the things that went well and that you’re proud of. Express gratitude for the people in your life, your health, and the life you get to live on this earth.
About the writer: Martina Fink os the founder of the transformational program Perfectionist Rehab and the host of The Glow Life Podcast, Martina helps perfectionist and high achieving executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like you overcome overwhelm, trust your intuition, and feel great in your body, so you can work and stress less, love yourself, and feel alive again.
How To Boost Your Resilience To Become A Happier and More Fulfilled Woman By Claire Corbett
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n the new world we find ourselves facing changes beyond our personal control that have impacted our small businesses in a big way. Many of us have frozen in terror as a large part of our revenue stream has suddenly disappeared. If you like me, panicked and felt paralysed with fear and hopelessness in the first days, as the reality of the impact of the COVID 19 virus sunk in, keep reading.
Moving from that gripping place of fear to a place of hope and action Have you ever felt in awe of how some women seem to be able to ‘ride the storm’ better than others? Why some come out on top, regardless of how bad things get? Don’t be fooled that this is by chance or indeed, that it is easy. It takes a magical blend of hard work, selfawareness, attitude to stress, peppered with a good dose of optimism. Let’s take a look at the common habits of these resilient women so that we can learn and use their ways as a guide on how we can boost our resilience to become happier, more successful and fulfilled women in business and life.
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Stand your ground Growing up with 4 brothers, I learned early on how to stand my ground, be resilient and tap into my natural source of power. It didn’t happen overnight, this took years of trying, falling and getting up again. I remember learning the hard way, how to choose my battles and deal with disappointment when things didn’t go my way. However, it was not all plain sailing. In my late 20’s, my personal and business life went pearshaped overnight. The company I was working for folded, my 7 year relationship ended and I was not longer happy with my life. I was surprised and disillusioned that my childhood learning didn’t rescue me. I realised that there was more work to do.
The days and weeks that followed, I fought my new reality like an over-tired child that can’t sleep. Then, I slumped into a paralysis of sorts, where I did nothing and stared into space for hours, then something changed, something finally shifted in me. I dug deep, real deep and found a very faint light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly, I got up, got dressed, got on my beloved yoga mat and asked the million dollar question “what now?” The light grew brighter. During what was sometimes a painful process, I started to look inward, which I hadn’t done much before this. I began asking questions like, “what makes me happy”, “where is my passion” and “what can I do to build my life back up”. At this point, I realised that the way forward involved accepting and, dare I say embracing, my new reality and still come out with something good, meaningful. Looking back now, this was a couple of the most enriching years of my life. I learned how to re-frame what I perceived as failure, whilst developing invaluable skills such as selfawareness, relying on my intuition more and prioritise where I put my energy and focus.
“ Adapt to change As I got back on my feet, I moved continents, prioritised my family, changed careers, became my own boss and most importantly learned to thrive and adapt in turbulent times. Over the years, I became really curious about how we can develop these life and business skills of being resilient, optimistic and brave, especially in work where women have to work in challenging, often male dominated environments. Through my research and case studies, I uncovered some very interesting facts that shattered some of pre-conceived conceptions. You are not born with resilience, you learn resilience. I discovered, we need to learn the adult version of resilience, in order to successfully navigate the challenging terrain of modern life. How do you continue to boost your resilience in turbulent times, like a global pandemic, slump in our business, missed promotion or personal crisis, like loss of a loved one or divorce? Read on for some of my guidance below.
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Be kind to yourself The first step is to acknowledge what is going on. Denial is tempting and often a coping mechanism but believe me, it doesn’t increase your resilience and reality will surface one way or another. If we ignore our reality, suffering comes… eventually. So, as painful as it is, acceptance is the first major step to getting back on top. Be kind and give yourself time to accept what’s happened or what’s happening right now.
Get clarity on your Purpose The next stage involves figuring out your priorities and values, which, like your life, ebb and flow. Use them as your roadmap to get clear about your purpose and become more resilient. Stay in touch with your core values.
Focus on what you have Refocus is the next phase. Shifting focus to what is good or going well in your business and life is a great way to re frame your current situation. Be thankful for the clients you do have, the kind colleagues in your company or your adorable child or pet that makes you heart melt. This refocus will make you stronger and motivate you to go on.
Allow yourself to dream My favourite phase of this process is reenergising. This is about ‘blue sky thinking’. Remove all barriers and negative self-talk. Allowing ourselves to dream and think outside the box opens the door to the possibilities.
Here’s where the magic happens. Be brave and take action. Now this is your time to use your new resilience skills, weather the storm and take positive action. The tough times gives us a chance to sharpen our resilience skills, refocus and adjust our sails!
About the writer: Claire Corbett is based in Zurich. Originally from Ireland, has lived in the US, France, the UK and now Switzerland. With a vast start-ups experience in the Silicon Valley and corporate banking, Claire is the founder of Golf Morocco and Right Point, and is helping other entrepreneurs to adapt their business in this time of change.
Parents & Quarantine: What Is It About Teenagers That I Just Don’t Get? By Annette Ebbinghaus
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OVID 19 has affected each of us in different ways, while in self isolation. For families with teenagers you may be experiencing an increase in push back about the “rules”, high emotions that seem to come out of the blue or watching them make breakfast for lunch, and finding the WiFi extremely wobbly at times. If you are working and managing school schedules quarantine could really be testing your fortitude. What is actually going on in my teenager’s brain? Their body seems fully developed and their brain has to catch up. It is one of the reasons adolescents live more in the moment, act impulsively and take risks. The adolescent brain has an amazing capacity to learn. This is due to the teen brain having more neurons and excitable synapses (grey matter) than it ever will again. It is like having an overgrown hedge of grey matter. The brain begins to prune the hedge when puberty begins and continues until your teen is 25 to 30 years of age. This pruning happens during sleep and is why teenagers need 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Signals in the brain pass through what is called the myelin sheath (white matter), a protective fatty layer protecting the neurones in the brain. In adolescents this layer is about 80% developed where signals take longer to move around the pre-frontal cortex where judgement, decision making, inhibitory control, assessing danger, empathy, understanding consequences, and goal setting all take place. Photo by Anthony Tran
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@anthony.fotography
Think of white matter as the brain’s WiFi system. If the WiFi signal is weak and you’re online streaming your signal gets stuck causing you start to lose interest in the show or the plot. This is why quick decision making can be challenging in teens and why situations can go from being awesome to out of control in a matter of seconds. When you ask your teen “What were you thinking?” the answer is, they were not. The limbic brain, referred to as the seat of emotions and the cross roads of the brain is fully developed in the adolescent. This is where the amygdala are located. The amygdala are the oldest part of the brain and their main concern is survival. When we are under “perceived threat” the amygdala activates our body’s stress response. The overly excitable adolescent brain combined with increased hormone secretion and the lack of rational brain development is like driving a car with a fully functioning gas pedal and a half-installed set of brakes. This leads to adolescents craving intense experiences be it; social media, extreme sports, romantic relationships, experimenting with drugs. Combine this with the fact that adolescent brains have more dopamine and cannabinoid receptors than adults, it is easier for teens to become addicted to substances or form unhelpful longer-term habits. The way the adolescent brain works is amazing and it does not set up excuses for them. Our understanding of their brain helps us to help them on their road to adulthood. How does this impact us during quarantine you ask? Your adolescent is used to having a certain amount of freedom and time away from the family when they are at school. They might feel like they are under a microscope in our current situation. Teens are social and their relationships with peers and other adults helps their development. Remember, their brain is all about individual survival and pleasure seeking. Below is a list of tips for getting the most out of quarantine with your teen. If you have an adolescent that is showing signs of depression, seems overly concerned with COVID or is cutting themselves off from friends or you suspect substance abuse, seek professional help.
TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF! Give everyone time to not be productive. It gives the brain some time to reset and that is when we can access our creativity and ponder life itself.
STRUCTURE Humans need some form of routine. It is what relaxes the amygdala in the limbic brain and the teenagers is already super charged. Work with your teen to support them setting up routines for themselves.
FUN & CONNECTION Schedule time for fun and social connection everyday. Adolescents are tribal and they need to check in with their tribe regularly which will keep the dopamine receptors happy and fed. Ask them what they think is reasonable.
FAMILY TIME Give everyone the opportunity to suggest some family activities with no judgements. Set the ground rules ahead of schedule about phone use during family time.
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SLEEP Now is your chance to help them get those 9 hours of sleep. Allow your teens to sleep as long as possible before online classes begin. CHORES Use this opportunity to teach them how to cook, include them in housework and yard work and do not expect them to be as thorough as you are. These are teaching moments, not pressure moments. RELAXATION & REFLECTION To truly switch off and let the amygdala really rest, I suggest practising a form of meditation. It can be Sophrology, Mindfulness or other meditation practices. This time off helps us be more creative, solve problems quicker, strengthens our immune system and can smooth out the release of hormones and emotions. EXERCISE The dopamine and endorphins that are produced from exercise are the only drugs your body really needs. You can make this a fun little competition or it can be a ritual family walk after dinner, a bike ride, hula hooping, use the stairwell in your apartment building and see how long it takes it to you climb the equivalent of a nearby mountain peak, skip, set up an obstacle course, With exercise it is just like Nike says “Just do It�!
About: Annette Ebbinghaus is an ASCA certified Master Sophrologist as well as a Hypnosis and NLP Practitioner, Mindfulness and Cardiac Coherence Coach working with adolescents and adults since 2008. Her professional life progression went from MSc Civil Engineer building bridges, MBA working in industry and academia to a complete shift to mind and body health when she became a mother while living in Singapore. Her signature work is teaching adolescents techniques to support their mental and emotional health.
9 Ways to Balance Your Sleep Cycle and Stay Focused While in Self- Isolation ByAnandi
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t may seem like a dream working from home, but it can also become very stressful when there’s no structure. When working from home, it’s important to create rhythm and rituals that support balance, wellbeing and sleep. It’s tempting to be disorganised, stay in your pyjamas and simply get nothing done.
Avoid home jet lag Keep bedtime and get up time the same as if you were going out to work. This will keep your sleep cycles balanced and you’re more likely to wake up feeling refreshed. Chopping and changing your ritual will create a type of ‘home jet lag’! Going to bed one day at midnight, the next day at 10pm, then 1am, will play havoc with your sleep cycles. You’ll likely to get pulled out of a deep sleep by your alarm clock which will make you feel groggy for the first few hours of the day. This is called ‘sleep inertia’. However, if your body is used to sleeping between 10pm and 6am, it will adjust your sleep cycles so you wake up practically without an alarm from a light sleep. When you wake up naturally from light sleep, you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the day.
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Start your day with meditation or yoga This might sound scary if you’ve never done either. However, yoga doesn’t have to mean standing on your head or sitting for hours in lotus pose. It can be just simply sitting and watching your breath. This will immediately calm your nervous system and refresh your mind. Try at least 15 minutes in the morning before you look at your phone or your computer.
Finish your day with a wined down In order to sleep well, your mind needs to slow down. You won’t sleep well if your mind is still busy. Working on your computer or surfing the internet will inhibit the release of your sleep hormone melatonin. Dim the lights, turn off everything off instead. Do something relaxing like reading or listening to a meditation.
Create a beautiful work space Make sure your work space is tidy and remove clutter. If possible have your desk near a window so that you can open the window on a nice day. Make sure it’s freshly dusted, light some incense in the morning to create a nice energy or even a scented candle. This will encourage focus and creativity.
Plan your day with your top three priorities At the end of every day, plan your priorities for the next day. This will keep you focused and you’ll have a feeling of achievement when you tick them off as done. If you wander through your day, with no priorities, you’ll feel like you’re not achieving anything.
Eat fresh healthy food and cut the stodge In order to stay positive, feel energised and sleep well, you need to pay attention to your diet. Sugar will rob you of your energy, give you brain fog and create inflammation in the body. Focus on fresh vegetables and organic food if possible. Drink plenty of water and watch the wine!
Practise gratitude Have a gratitude journal. Gratitude keeps the mind positive and improves mood. You’ll be nicer to be around!
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Have work time and off time Set up your day and week where you have work time and off time. Working at home often means you get nothing done, or your work spills over into the evenings and the weekends. With no travel, you should be able to get more done in less time!
Work on yourself This is a great time to work on yourself. Check out inspirational speakers or inspiring books to improve your mindset and inspire your contemplations! I recommend Jo Dispenza, Deepak Chopra and Anthony Robbins.
About the writer: Anandi is the creator of ‘Sleepology® which is designed to resolve sleep issues using a specific methodology using principles done in a particular order. Anandi is an Ayurvedic consultant, NLP practitioner, Senior yoga teacher and teacher trainer and has been in the wellness field for 30 years. She’s also the author of ‘Breathe Better Sleep Better’. Anandi has appeared in the press all the major glossies including Cosmopolitan, Women’s fitness, Psychologies, Daily Mail, In the Moment Magazine, Spirit and Destiny and the London Evening Standard.
A Girls Confessions ABOUT
Simple Living, Self Love Adversity
&
by Sarah Kopinsky
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hear more people focus on simple living, self love, resources, resilience, confusion and the power of connection during this high level of adversity. The chaos, suffering and great pain, for me, unleashed many unexamined and sometimes dark parts of my own personality and made me think and write a lot about our collective (dis)functioning. When I handle what I find and do not like about myself, or the results I now face as the result of my own thinking, beliefs and actions with grace and calm, I learn much things that help me connect and honour others differences a lot more. I tend to spend more time rethinking how I used and plan to spend my existing resources. Here are some things that I learned from speaking and working with the people I most admire who helped synthesise some (hard) lessons from this experience:
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Setting the bar right and letting go Many people can experience a strong routine change and shift of their relational and life paradigms. There are so many aspects which now, almost by force, have most of us take effective and very directed action. I rethink the roots of some persistent issues, the ways in which I behaved and responded and how present I really am in all parts of my life. What I take, do not take, and should take to heart, is seen a bit differently. The strong physical social and health changes have led me to re-examine my competitive nature to constantly perform on high levels and reinvent the ways in which I show up to my loved ones and for myself. I learn that I can let go of what I really must and can finally let more things be.
It gave me a chance to set the bar right, where it used to set very high or lower than I could honestly handle and it helped me find out that I “fail� less than I thought I would and became, somewhat, more productive and useful. I know that many high achievers are looking for opportunities to help their businesses and their relationships survive this very strange reality and without much certainty, and I admit that changing your energy, thought and emotions, is really hard when feeling this level of unfamiliarity, is really hard. I hear more people focus on simple living, self love, resources, resilience, confusion and the power of connection during this high level of adversity. The chaos, suffering and great pain, for me, unleashed many unexamined and sometimes dark parts of my own personality and made me think and write a lot about our collective (dis)functioning. When I handle what I find and do not like about myself, or the results I now face as the result of my own thinking, beliefs and actions with grace and calm, I learn much things that help me connect and honour others differences a lot more.
Letting things work for me, rather than control who I become Being in constant control does not always feel like it allows for much room to change perspectives and change how I spend most of my time. I spend so much time on the go, travelling, reaching, so much time thinking about solving problems, and most my time working, so I can reach goals faster. When I now notice that to be sucked out of my routines and experience a total loss of some aspects I used to control, I tend to focus more on the things I was not noticing anymore. I see how many women are demonstrating enormous resilience, patience, clarity of mind and hard work to help themselves grow through this time, and that many of us also -somehow- find it in them, to help others where possible.
Changing the way we handle our own space and others’ through the power of acceptance I learned that I may also choose to evolve and grow and face things head on, instead of (literally) going someplace else, because now I cannot escape my personal environment. This experience can require us to train the way we handle our own pain and react to the pain of others. If in the past I viewed others, their work or my entire relationships as the problem instead of the situation and focus on conflict, now I prefer to finally have those real talks, dare myself and others, and try and solve any conflict in ways that are beneficial for my own personal development. Allowing myself and others their own space, freedom and autonomy and better understanding the importance of my own and each others need for individuality and boundaries has become a though lesson I needed to do better at.
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This is where my self-care, self-love and development may have become lacking and I find myself considering how and where my boundaries and levels of assertiveness are and how I feel about this and the results that it manifested. To guard my own sense of well being and desire I also need to feel that I have enough space and air between myself and others and learn to ask for it and give it, and point it out in areas that I feel I miss it. I became more aware that I tended to be silent and kind and lacked a transfer of my own business skills into my personal life when it came to uncomfortable situations and behaviours and rejections from others. Where I would speak up to the highest person in the company hierarchies and advise them, I would in my personal life avoid conflict and focus on harmony, and let things in a lot more without questioning their criticism about who I am and questioning how to address their possible projections.
Understanding I have underestimated the value of simple things in life This is obviously a world old clichÊ, and reason for agony in many generations who tried to enhance our levels of wisdom by installing more wisdom in us, but the truth still is that I tend to see some things as small when they are most important. Now that I am forced into simpler living I rely- again- on the power of connection in adversity. I, and we all, greatly depend on our social bonds and its messages and the shared information since prehistoric times. These are the tools designed for our evolution and survival. And we have not done bad by using it, until now‌knowledge is wired in our brains, body, and instinct. We used to protect each other from danger and treats by attaching great meaning to these messages. This is the reason that I, and many others are so very sensitive to rejection, but also to affection, and most of us have come to ignore much of it since the time of the industrial evolution. The global crisis we are now in could be found to restore a sense of (inter)dependency and make us aware of our high social needs. I, undeniably realised that we need each other, and that our collective wants could be found to be very simple and maybe even primitive, but of great meaning. Being seen, heard, helped, felt and present with and for each others lives functions as an antidote for much pain, fear, anger, frustration, and confusion for me.
Connecting with nature and making meaningful connections with self and others in time of crisis I find a deep desire now, more than ever to connect with nature and I appreciate it a lot more. I find myself wanting to connect with my own and each others natures more. We have been so very destructive towards nature, its animals and life and are now learning that it is not only wrong, but that it absolutely backfires. I often forget that we too, are part of nature and that we put out into it at some point can reach us.I now feel that nature wants us to start treating it differently because that the way we collectively consume, behave and live is harming us all. We are interconnected but have also become accustomed to over-consumption and success and forgot to look over to the things which appeared to be of less importance. I find myself talking about shared problems, realisations and emotions with others because we are in the exact same crisis. Although keeping the distance is critical, many people around me also seem to find so many ways to really connect with each other in much more meaningful ways and try to help each other out.
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Activating Resilience and appreciating the strength of talent in our global community I have experienced tremendous outreach in groups and on social media where I was asked to help in some projects or by doing something for others, and I was so touched by the stories of how resilient and strong and caring people were, in spite of being in such an uncertain experience themselves. Many people connected with me and shared ideas and solutions and helped me understand that the financial and health pressure is hurting many and causing great problems. We are massively reaching out to each other and connecting with people we would normally never speak with. Maybe this is because there is more time to notice the needs and the precious talents of others that (virtually) surround us. I became more interested in what others are doing and in their stories and identities, in what drives them and I find myself becoming more real and genuinely interested. Maybe there is a greater desire in many of us to embrace and look after each others well being, success, creativity, and true desires and needs, because we understand that we are in the same boat. This situation can inspire thoughts about what we would like to keep, change, and leave in our lives. Thoughts about how our active interconnectedness is helping us make things happen faster than we might have experienced before, or how it can be used to change and stop collective dysfunction, outer pollution and destruction.
Understanding that many of my resolutions were just about me flirting with possibility, not real desires because I did not make them into concrete and properly scheduled plans. 256 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
My focus on personal developmental areas and evolving takes much power, discipline, dedication, and patience. I still work, but do have more time now, and it goes by regardless, but I am now able to clearly see that even when time is made available, some resolutions were never real plans or priorities. This is because I never really wanted them, and they – very likely- never originated from and for myself in the first place. For me this meant asking for guidance on areas of struggle or where stagnation is still experienced, and where I don’t seem to change or get the same experiences and results over and over again because I am doing something wrong or not changing something I should. I analysed it and concluded that these resolutions were only temporary flirts with fantasy and a curiosity for possibilities, from the very start. I desired and lusted an image I had about my ideal self and my true essence for a moment, but even if I would reach it, it is still not congruent with who I really am and want to become. This is a time where many with me will likely separate from our own falsehoods and attach greater meaning to becoming closer to our own truths. For me this time now results into taking greater action and making structured scheduled plans which help me make those genuine lifelong connections which
help me on my own true path. I choose to invest and dedicate much more resources, time, and power in making big steps in my life, physical health, the work I choose to do, friendships, romance and in my family and goals. I feel that this experience finally freed me from a lot of thoughts about myself and others which were really mostly illusions and it helped me realise and remove the things that weren’t really good for me. If anything, I now see that they would have ended in some level of disaster or ended up making me very unhappy. My friend tells me: “Want only that which is good for you”. And I realised that the things we might think we desire, aren’t in our lives because we know they aren’t good for us. I freed myself from those long held beliefs and ideas that were mostly created and believed for me and installed in me by others. It seems to me that I am not alone in experiencing the results of this time as not just being physically separated to protect others and myself, but also as a time where I separate myself from many other things which never served me to get closer to what does and truly belongs with me.
We can’t help but notice the unified rise of global respect for those whose work puts them on the front line and away from their families There has been massive sacrifice on behalf of the true global hero’s whose service is going on for a very long time now. Many have not properly rested, seen their families, and worked incredibly hard without end to help us stay as safe and healthy as possible and to help those in need. We owe them a tremendous deal and we owe them to stay unified and respectful to one another. This situation has had a disastrous toll on families, business, live and health in the lives of many who we love and love us the most. Although there is much light still left in the darkness, these are undeniably hard times. If we can help, by connecting and reaching out, we should. If not now, when?
About the writer: Sarah has extensive business and executive advising knowledge. She works on social innovation projects which focus on making tremendous social impact and lead healthcare change. Sarah has previously worked with leading higher education and healthcare organisations to make important tools and scientific information accessible to clinicians and the public to help in peoples (self)actualisation and better meet its real needs. Sarah has an MSc in general psychology. She believes that people are innately high in plasticity because they are designed to evolve and develop the many parts of their lives and personalities which bother them, so that they can become more and more themselves. We are best off when dedicating most of our time and power on creating desired changes. Her favourite ancient Greek word is: Holos. It means everything is both whole and complete and simultaneously part of something bigger. It reminds her that there is purpose in everyone’s life and that we are not just shaped and created by life but are also its creators.
How To Keep A Journal, Free Your Mind And Take Control Of Your Mental Health by Zeenat Noorani
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s we are returning to life, I keep writing in my journal which helped free my mind and take control of my mental health during lockdown. If you would had told me 4 months ago that we would be living in this surreal situation, fighting COVID-19 pandemic globally, I might not have believed you. A horror movie brought to reality! In such a short space of time, the virus has utterly transformed the employment landscape and people’s lives worldwide. But history taught us again that during crisis, there have been winners and losers. With billions of people in self-isolation, mental health is rapidly sweeping the globe. We are social creatures and we have evolved as a species that is hardwired to interact with others, more so in times of stress.
Resilience, technology and the mental health lessons learned during lockdown There are some days when I feel on top of the world and empowered but there are other days when I feel helpless, wanting to crawl under my duvet. And that’s okay to not feel okay and have a bad day. While revisiting the lockdown period, my greatest win is learning to stop feeling ashamed that I wasn’t feeling positive and that things aren’t going great. There is a lot of strength having the courage to be vulnerable, to be authentic and true to yourself.This one lesson has changed my life and the way I do business. I experienced resilience at a whole new level and while it always has been a huge part of my life, I feel so much better knowing that I passed the test.
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My business has taken a real hit, from losing all my clients to zero new client signups. For me it was swim or sink- I chose to swim and explore the different seas, and I have Technology to be thankful for not sinking! However, lockdown left me spending much more time than usual on technology. Not Great! I began to notice changes in my mental and physical health, mood, sleep, focus and productivity. This is not a healthy nor productive way of living. It’s draining! Newsflash, if you start to feel overwhelmed by the constant presence of technology, it’s a sign to step back. Begin with small changes in what you are doing.
Stop feeling ashamed of your feelings and start keeping a Journal to free your mind and take control of your mental health Looking after my mental health and wellbeing comes with maintaining healthy sleep patterns and eating habits, both generating more energy and focus overall. Sleep is vital. I am so bad with my sleeping patterns but by seeking support has been a life changer. Developing a regular relaxing bedtime routine should be a non-negotiable part of your life. A good idea is to stop watching any screens at least an hour before bedtime and avoid mental over-stimulation from blue light from your screens/TV. Also, it is a good time to enjoy the things you like, such as reading a book (not on a tech device), have a warm soothing drink (non-alcoholic), a bath, listen to music or meditate or write in your journal.
As I am sharing my notes with you, I am looking at my journal, and if I would recommend anything for your mental health, is keeping a Journal. Keeping a journal is a simple but effective tool which can be so uplifting while reflecting on your circumstances and reevaluating your options moving forward. When committing yourself to writing down what is happening in your world, you unlock your feelings and allow your mind to flow. It is amazing how only 15 minutes in your daily routine could give you the clarity you need on the 70,000 thoughts going on in your head daily, and de- clutter your mind. Keeping a journal is great for both your personal life and business. Keeping a journal helps you acknowledging your thoughts and feelings, even the most difficult ones like anxiety, grief, anger or boredom. Find a quiet place sitting with those thoughts and feeling acknowledging when and where y come up in the body. Perhaps you could even share what’s going on with someone you trust to help with the process and move you through them. Taking a new perspective on negative thoughts and feelings could bring a more positive outlook and multitude of positive effects on our mental and physical well-being, helping you to focus and re-energise. Writing in your journal is not about recording your thoughts and feelings, or chronicle every last thing that happens to you during the day. Feel free to unleash your creativity, doodles and day dreams about being married to Prince Charming are allowed! Creativity helps you unwind, unleash it!
About the writer: Zeenat Noorani Resilience Wellbeing Coach, NLP, Hypnotist, Kinetic Shift, Mindfulness, EFT Practitioner, Speaker, Mentor &Author Helping you to “Empower Your Mind To Have The Life You Desire”
How to
Tap IntoYour Emotional Freedom
by Gemma Nice
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apping or Emotional Freedom Technique is a holistic healing technique that has been scientifically proven to effectively resolve a range of issues, including stress, anxiety, limiting beliefs and much more. Tapping therapy is based on the combined principles of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. Tapping with the fingertips on specific meridian points of the body, while focusing on negative emotions or physical sensations, helps to calm the nervous system, rewire the brain to respond in healthier ways, and restore the body’s balance of energy. When you stimulate these energy meridian points, you trigger the amygdala(command centre of our fear) and signal it to calm down, reducing your over whelming thoughts immediately. Put simply, energy circulates through your body along a specific network of channels. You can tap into this energy at any point along with the system. Tapping is simple and painless. Anyone can learn it. And you can apply it to yourself, whenever you want, wherever you are. Use it with specific emotional intent towards your own unique life challenges and experiences. Tapping is similar to Acupressure or Acupuncture points. Most importantly, it gives you the power to heal yourself, putting control over your destiny back into your own hands. Or you can use a hair band on the wrist and ping it slightly, this will relieve the tension and stress felt.
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Model featured is not the author. Photo credit: Monika Wisniewska
1. First identify what it is that you are anxious, fearful or stressed about. This will be your focal point when tapping. Only focus on one issue as this will enhance the therapy. 2. Find the initial intensity you are happy to work at. On a scale of 0-10 with 10 being the most difficult to process. This was you will know how you are feeling and how the tapping therapy is working to its full potential. 3. You need to know what you are trying to address. You will need to repeat before you start tapping “Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” This will depend on what the issue is which you are trying to overcome. 4. Where are the Tapping points on the body? There are 12 commonly known tapping points on the body which correspond with an internal organ. However, usually only 9 are used, they are: - Karate chop (KC) Small intestine meridian - Top of head (TH) Governing vessel - Eyebrow (EB) Bladder meridian - Side of the eye (SE) Gallbladder meridian - Under the eye (UE) Stomach meridian - Under the nose (UN) Governing vessel - Chin (Ch) Central vessel - Beginning of the collarbone (CB) Kidney meridian - Under the arm (UA) Spleen meridian Begin by tapping the karate chop point while simultaneously reciting your phrase “Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” Then, tap each following point seven times, moving down the body in this ascending order: - Eyebrow Side of the eye - Under the eye - Under the nose - Chin - Beginning of the collarbone - Under the arm After tapping the underarm point, finish the sequence at the top of the head point. Repeat this three times, repeating your phrase at each tapping point.
5. Test how you feel. At the end of your sequence, test how you feel on your intensity level 0-10. You are working towards being at 0. Keep going till you reach this point. That’s it! If you want to find out more about this, you can check out this study conducted by Dr Peta Stapleton: https://eftinternational.org/discovereft-tapping/eft-science-research
TheSTARS
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Gems From The Stars and Astrological Insights by Ysanne Lewis
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am so happy to be writing to you and sharing my insights and forecasting on the wonderful connection between YOU and the wisdom of the stars and planets above. We are all interconnected - a vibrant web of energy - and timing is a very important part of being in health so as to avoid stress and the mismatching of ourselves with people, places and opportunities. As we women have an instinctive link with the moon’s cycles and the flow of the tides within and outside of us, it is important to recognise the lunar as well as other planetary movements during the month. The word moon is linked with mother, matter and month! How well are you furnishing your inner home? Softer skills are to the fore as we stay at home more and it is lovely to see more empathy, listening, crafts and caring emerging! The journey we are on at a core level is expressed by the qualities and lessons of our star signs. The Sun travels through the 12 in its yearly journey – from the perspective of the Earth – and they are divided into seasons and elements. It Starts with Aries at the spring equinox. We are all experiencing how and where we spend time in a very different way at present, so here are some nuggets of advice with a look at your personal star signs for the month ahead.
About the writer: Ysanne Lewis is a UK based Timing Adviser, Astrologer, Speaker and Author. Her work spans 41 years and she celebrated her ruby work anniversary earlier in 2019. She has clientele here and in the USA, Asia, Europe and South Africa. Working with individuals, families and businesses, she seamlessly weaves the meanings of cycles, timings and patterns in educational, inspirational and humour-filled ways into the beautiful tapestry which is Life. She acts as a bridge and navigator between the maps of the heavens and our inner landscapes and their timekeepers.
WINTER STARS December, January and February – the winter months, or summer in southern hemisphere – speak to us of celebration, reflection and new beginnings. They straddle the old and new year, allowing us to inwardly cleanse and renew. Perhaps, like no other year in modern history, we have had to pull on our inner resources and adapt. With these abilities we can face the new year of 2021 with added courage and new skills. What unlived roles or parts of you have come on stage and found a niche? December sees the New Moon on 14th and the Full Moon on 30th. Mars, the planet of action is in direct motion now having turned direct on November 13th, after many weeks in retrograde motion. More clarity and straightforward approaches will become obvious. The big news is a major conjunction of the giant teacher planets, Jupiter and Saturn. They leave the hierarchical and ‘tough love’ sign of Capricorn and move into the air sign Aquarius. Jupiter and Saturn line up every 20 years, but they haven’t come together in freedom loving, humanitarian Aquarius since the early 1400’s! Conjunctions represent a meeting and new beginnings. We can expect after December 21st and the winter solstice, a wave of change and futuristic thinking. The old order starts to get replaced by new values and change. At a personal level we have opportunities to teach and mentor ourselves in better ways and recognise our role in society in new ways. Are you becoming more a rebel, reformer or team player? How can you make that role wise and caring as well as individualistic? As we move into January 2021, there is a question we can ask ourselves… what do we truly need to leave behind and what do we really want to move forward with? Mars, after many months in Aries, its ‘home sign’, enters earthy Taurus and we see a more practical and planning energy available to us. There has been so much uncertainty, so this will be welcome. The New Moon is on 13th and the Full Moon on 28th. The 14thth – 16th are dynamic as Uranus sparks off the conjunction so use it wisely, even if others don’t, for enterprise and changing oneself within. In February, Mercury goes retrograde until the 21st, suggesting we hold off impulsive decisions and, instead, re trace our steps and re visit ideas and plans. Inventive ideas and new contacts and freedoms appear. The New Moon is on 11th and Full Moon on 27th.
Fire Signs
December 2020 Aries Mars, your ruling planet in your sign till the second week of January, says take full advantage of the power available now. Fellow fire sign Sagittarius is up and running and this helps you find direction and forward thinking. There has been a big need for patience these past two months, not easy for an Aries, so now you can let off steam and be in the lead. The 10th and 11th are your days for doing just that! Your need to play and being creative – even original – beckons you and you will feel lighter than you have for a while, especially up to the 21st. Take stock then to see how far you have come this year and how inner discipline has matured you. Your romantic side emerges and attracts people around 16th. Just be clear whether you want an entanglement at this time! Maybe just flirt and charm. This is your time for being yourself, not always so easy in a partnership.
Leo Do you want to take up a new hobby now? Well aspected planets in that arena of your horoscope suggest the need for fresh air and creative expression. The part of you which is a performer (whether you are shy or not) is ready to come on stage in some way. Travel may beckon too. It is important you use December well and productively. There is really no excuse to hide your light… or be lazy. How you use time now is the key. Act spontaneously and you won’t be disappointed. Children are around you more this month and, if you are thinking of having a baby, now could be the right time. If not, you can birth a project which will fulfil you. Re designing or decorating your home is a positive idea this month. Colour in your life is essential now.
Sagittarius Your time of year for free thinking and travel of mind and /or body! What do you plan for these few weeks? The solstice time on 21st augers well for good timing with connections and speaking your mind. This is a fertile month for you and, with your ruling planet Jupiter to the fore now, much luck and opportunity come your way. You may have felt dampened this year by restrictions, but inwardly now at least there will be a sense of optimism and enthusiasm. The 19th is a day to celebrate this. Take advantage of Mars still in a fellow fire sign, Aries, this month and be adventurous. You decide how! After the 16th, with lovely Venus in your sign until well into January, your powers of attraction bubble up. Expect an admirer. This person loves travel and learning.
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Earth Signs Taurus Venus, goddess of love and creativity- your ruling planet- is lighting up your relationship zone now and you can take full advantage of this by allowing your self-esteem and inner beauty to shine brightly. Effortlessly you will draw timely opportunities and meetings. It is important to tap your depths and not just flit on the surface of experience. December time is transformation time for you so, just as goddesses could shape shift, so can you now – into ways and even appearances that enhance the real you! The once in a lifetime of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, on December 21st highlights your career zone. What changes, prunings and advancement do you want? You have had to be a strategist for many months now. Be patient still until January when Mars - entering your sign- can move on from that role and encourage you to be more energised and in control.
Virgo Your home and domestic life may be changing in some way. Whether small or big changes, they are timely and you would be wise to allow this. Family members are changing residence too. Finances need re assessing and this is a good month for clearing and being flexible with changes. The new moon on the 14th is significant for these matters, especially after 21st. After midmonth things settle more and the newfound space and clarity, whether inside or outside, will feel welcome. Time to play more then and be creative with chores and ideas. Being extra loving over the holiday season will be timely as Venus enters your communication zone.
Capricorn Until the 21st when the Sun enters your sign, get more rest and await the tides changing. Your inner world and psychic side are strongly influencing you and this is the time to surrender more and let go of the past and traditional ideas. A feeling of closeness to someone strengthens. Your compassion also heightens. This is not weakness but strength and others will benefit as well as your relationship to yourself. Later in the month you feel like making bridges between past and future and widening your social framework. This is a pivotal month for you to get a perspective on many areas of your life. Choose your companions wisely as you need ‘good’ energy people around you this month.
AirSigns
December 2020 Gemini The upcoming December 21st conjunction of the teacher planets Jupiter and Saturn sits nicely with you Geminians. In Aquarius, that aligns well with you, a fellow air sign! You are ready for change and fresh air in your life and relationships. You don’t have to do this all at once though. Get the ideas spinning, brain storm more and even write them down. Until the 21st when the sun enters Capricorn, really speak your truth and needs with a partner or friend. Openness suits you now, as does keeping things simple. It would be too easy for you to complicate things and overload. Use the new moon on the 14th in your sign for starting a new project or activity. People will want to be around you more than usual. Choose them carefully as you will get bored easily this month. Discernment is the key word.
Libra Your zone of communication, learning and short journeys – oh, and siblings and neighbourhood - is accented this month. News you have been waiting for arrives. So it could be a busy time. Learning or teaching, even just joining in with networking, is favoured well, and it would be good to use those lovely brain cells of yours to keep you in good health and optimism. Mars, the provoker and energiser of action, is still in your opposite sign of Aries till January, so be discerning about how you cause reactions in others. Most of the time these are positive reactions but obviously tread carefully with some people. Partners can press your buttons so keep the humour going. Not everything is personal! After the 16th, and the new moon two days before, you can easily move forward successfully with interests, meetings - virtual or in person. The ‘highlighted’ date, 21st, puts a spring in your step.
Aquarius This is your special month for a booster influx of Aquarian energy! Are you ready for this? Of course you are. Jupiter, expansion and Saturn, the builder – the giant planets – are combining forces in your sign and will stay a while. This magic occurs on the 21st and opens inner and outer doors for you. What are you going to start manifesting in 2021? The Sun in Sagittarius- an adventurous, far seeing sign – is occupying your zone of friendship and social goals till then as well, so this is a great month for advancement and opportunity. Venus is occupying your career and goals zone till mid month, so influential people come your way. Receiving is the key. Until the second week of January your mind is very stimulated so try to pace yourself and allow time to absorb. Don’t spoil things by rushing or getting burnt out. Romance may come about via friendships or work.
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Water Signs Cancer Make the most of Venus travelling through a fellow water sign, Scorpio this month as, with fire and earth signs dominating, you can feel a little lost. The end of the first week sees a lovely alignment between her and Neptune, allowing you to simply flow with events and create your own pace rather than trying to match other people’s pace! Take time to dream and be creatively inspired then. Your work arena is very active now so do delegate more and ask for help. The word allowing is useful this month. With Mars in your zone of goals as well as wanting you to take more leadership, know that the most successful outcomes rise from simplicity as well as the spadework. The full moon on the 30th in your sign sees you giving birth to the seeds or fruits of a new project.
Scorpio With Venus in your sign till midmonth take advantage of your glow of sex appeal and warmth. Your sensual side in all ways is very attractive now. Massages and beauty treatments would be good for you. Not just with people, but in the financial area, you can draw abundance. We all have different ideas of abundance but you will know what it is and what it feels like when it comes. You will be looking at your values more and what you want to create now to represent them. Work is highlighted in this framework and it might be the time to start inspecting whether your job or whatever role in life you are playing reflects your values and sense of purpose. With rebellious planet Uranus in your opposite sign of Taurus there is a pull between change and the familiar. Scorpio is not comfortable with endings but Uranus likes change; keep centred and take your time.
Pisces As this year draws to a close it is always good to reflect on it. This applies very much to you with the Sun transiting the zenith of your horoscope and highlighting your goals and public image. Communicator planet Mercury is there as well and I would suggest that leading up to the solstice time on the 21st and the Jupiter /Saturn ‘meeting,’ that you take stock, review, then set a vision, if not a goal, for 2021. Doing this in a relaxed way will bring the answers easily to you. You operate best when attuned to your intuitive mind and right hemisphere brain, and, around the 6th and 7th when your ruling planet Neptune aligns with creative Venus, you will get strong insights about your professional and your love life. Whether you meditate or just relax into the intuitive power at your disposal, it is important to do this. Your travel and higher seeking zone is open to ideas and plans this month. If you have friends abroad do contact them.
Fire Signs
January 2021 Aries A month for looking at your goals, workwise or otherwise. Early in January travel beckons, or at least a plan for it. Ease your way in to the 6th and 7th when your ruler changes sign. Make sure your actions are solid and have firm foundation. Balancing the old and new, zany and conventional, this could be a strong month for making your mark and showing your true self. When the Sun enters Aquarius on 20th, make the most of new encounters and breaking free of unnecessary restraints. A parent or parent figure needs to attention more. People will look to you for leadership and decision making. Being authentic and standing in your power and honesty serves you well now. You want to be part of the new time spirit emerging and your pragmatic wisdom will be needed.
Leo December’s conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in your opposite and complementary sign, Aquarius, is waking you up now to your need for expansion. It is vital you have a project or goal in this early part of the year of 2021. This is your opposite time of the year – after the 20th- and you need to keep a perspective. Watch your energy flow and don’t stress your nervous and circulatory and heart system. Pacing yourself suits you now. All will get done! Issues of fairness arise and you can be a good spokesperson for change or for causes now. A partnership takes more time to understand now. If single, a new kind of partner appeals to you. Different from your usual type and it will help you grow and develop latent talents.
Sagittarius Finances excite you now, in the sense you enjoy making them or a scheme work for you. Money is energy and a partner/associate may encourage you to back or initiate a project. Mars is entering your work arena after 6th highlighting increased energy for hard work and passion. Take the right steps and with foresight and vision you can be successful. The sense of adventure I mentioned under December stars will find a worthy outlet here! Saturn in direct opposition to your Sun at this new year time, encourages you to be responsible and keep plans in order. After 20th things feel lighter and more relaxed and you can concentrate your mind on other things too. Learning new techie things and even new information accompanies the last 11 days of January.
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Earth Signs Taurus So, it is time now as you enter the second week of this month, to assert yourself in new ways and be in command of your direction. The Sun in Capricorn – a fellow earth signuntil the 20th, sees you wanting to explore new horizons and grow! With Venus there too an attraction to people and foreign countries may occur. Mars enters your sign and stays there till early March, really empowering your decisions and self image. Productivity is the key word and alongside that you create a philosophy of life that really suits you. Mercury, provides inventive ideas regarding projects and goals. Keep some to yourself as they will be excellent ones and you can capitalise on them in due course. Use the new moon time on 13th for good timing and an adventure!
Virgo The social side of you is still up and running from later December! It increases as Venus enters your romance and play zone after the 9th. In fact, if you choose so, January is a wondrous month for initiating imaginative projects and being open to encounters out of your usual mould. Mars, in your travel zone now till early March, may well see a trip in the offing. Plan now; it may be a place further away than you normally consider. After the 20th duties and work take precedence but you will glide through this easily as your confidence will have increased these past weeks. The mentor in you can help a younger person well. Offering your skills to do this or to educate is a pathway opening for you, whether professionally or in the voluntary sector.
Capricorn New goals emerge this month and you can use the new and full moon times to energise these. Venus is in your sign from the 9th, and a love interest surfaces. Maybe it is someone you already know. Look for the 11th and 12th regarding this attraction. Use the power of the sun in Capricorn until the 19th to awaken your intents and more masculine side. Masculine energy can be well balanced with your feminine power now. Use it wisely. Work can also see a push forward. A boss or influencer wants to help you. Accept this help. It is yours to receive. Let the inner critic go off stage! You are ‘enough’ and you need to show this more.
AirSigns
January 2021 Gemini A more paced time for you with the Sun and Venus in Capricorn until the 20th. That is not a bad thing as all the bright ideas you have been having can now find a home and foundation. And as you go into February you can edit some and make good decisions. Conserve some energy as you need to be ready for a bright Spring time. Look after your chest/ lungs and keep warm. New year is excellent for feeling more free in your heart and plans and the 27th and the full moon on 28th will see an adventurous and playful side on the stage of your life. New technology will appeal. Check it thoroughly though before purchasing. Is there a book in you? Quite probably!
Libra You will find the new year an optimum time to establish new comfort zones and with more space for you. After the 6th when assertive Mars moves into the earthy sign of Taurus, which, like Libra, is ruled by lovely Venus, you can establish better boundaries. This is overdue, isn’t it? The recent move of Jupiter and Saturn into airy and freedom seeking Aquarius, suits you well, as it is time for new beginnings and a new approach to an existent or possible new relationship. Your domestic life needs some fresh air so changes in routines and appliances are likely. After the 7th expect flirtations and your ability to use words expressively to show up. Children bring joy to you, and your inner child gets an airing. Walk this month with a light step and you will really enjoy it.
Aquarius Your arrival on your stage of life this year comes after 20th when the Sun enters your sign. With three other planets there too do make the most of contacts, more freedom and new ideas. Until the 20th take time to listen to the whisperings and promptings from within and prepare for this next big part of your innovative life. Mars enters the arena of your home on the 6th, so get up to speed with any repairs or changes you are desiring. Else, when Mercury goes retrograde in February, there will be additional expense due to delaying these. Balance your energies between forging ahead and staying put. Tai chi and similar exercises will help you! Your ruler Uranus after many months of retrograde goes direct in motion on the 14th. Use around that date for choosing to exteriorise ideas and change.
270 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Water Signs Cancer This is a productive month for you. However, with the Sun in opposition to your Cancer star sign, watch you don’t over strain yourself. Partners are helpful, whether personal or business ones and can provide good feedback when most needed for you. Especially after the 6th when Mars moves out of your career and responsibility zone and into the team playing one, you can get a better balance and know when to share projects more and brain storm easily. The new moon on 13th highlights new partnership or a change of role possibly in an existing one. This will be timely. If you are single there might be a growing need to be close to someone romantically. Allow that desire or prompting to grow!
Scorpio As January speeds up you will be feeling a greater sense of freedom and wanting change. Home or property changes may be on the agenda or have recently happened. A bigger plan is forming in your mind and by early Spring there will be noticeable changes within your lifestyle. But for now let your inner world begin to sort this. Active Mars enters your relationship zone on the 6th. Depending on your circumstances, you could either draw a dynamic partner or choose to break up some habits and grievances in an existing relationship. Nothing stays the same, and for growth to occur, airings of issues and seeing a person with new eyes are essential. Venus in your zone of communications and agreements from the 9th, encourages you to reach out to people, mend fences and use words gracefully.
Pisces Your friendships, teams and group activity are up and running; this is the month to energise them and bring people together. They need your input and grace and you may even be feeling like setting up a group on line or in person. Your intuition is still very strong at this time and you can help others a lot. Around the 8th there is a nice link between your ruling planet Neptune and the Sun and you can use that time for aligning with your heart and others hearts. A good way to start and end the day! Mars is energising how you speak and discuss things. Being a force for change in a gentle but definite way will bring you to the attention of certain people who can introduce you to others who help you further! If you are not working, may I suggest some kind of voluntary work as your skills now are needed? A friendship may develop into a love relationship at this time.
Fire Signs
February 2021 Aries Friendships and team work take precedence this month. People from the past re appear and new contacts have an air of familiarity about them! The full Moon on 27th sees this likelihood strengthening. February can be a romantic month so give time and space for nurturing yourself and being open to receiving. A friend creates an introduction for you. Return the favour as well when the time is right. An increased understanding of give and take, masculine and feminine approaches, is present. Your finances need a bit more balancing. Be aware of impulsive buys- with Mercury retrograde from 2nd to 21st, you may find you may want or need to return them! After the 18th a softer way of approaching problems develops.
Leo Taking things in a paced way still till later month is still advised. You can accomplish much if you do things in rhythm and flow. Relationships are your priority this month and you will sense how to negotiate and solve any misunderstandings- which can easily arise with Mercury retrograde this month. Ego and co-operative drives need aligning. Pause before re acting. They can coexist in harmony! Shine your light and make space for others to do the same; Win–win! A special social event lights you up towards the end of the month. Make February a creative month for your innovative mind. Don’t overtax your analytical mind; instead honour your intuition and instinct more. It will pay off and engender respect all round.
Sagittarius With communicator planet Mercury in retrograde motion from 2nd to 21st do back things up, do a general MOT and re-edit things. In fact, the prefix ‘re’ is good to use now before words and actions. This applies to us all but especially for you Sagittarians as it is occupying your arena of communication and arrangements and travels/commutes. Check details and small print. After 18th with the Sun in your home arena, maybe a bit of time out to relax and unwind. Less is more then. Short journeys will escalate but, again, be sure arrangements are double checked. Writing may appeal this month. You can draw on your recall memory well now and help others with ideas and information.
272 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Earth Signs Taurus With trickster Mercury retrograding in your zone of career this month, be extra clear with details and changes. Steady and reflective progress suits you now. On a lighter note, old opportunities may re- emerge. After 21st you can see more clearly your goals and results. Do you need to change your job? Or add a new skill to the present one? If you do not work the same influence can apply to any activities outside the personal life and how you handle authorities and organisations. Either way, people will be noticing you, suggesting improvements and new avenues of expression! After the 18th a new group activity and friendship develop. Spreading your wings is the message for late winter. It is not a time to be a stick in the mud or too stubborn.
Virgo Your ruling planet Mercury is in retrograde motion now till 21st. So‌ how about re shuffling day to day activities a bit and avoid over sweating small details and worries? Health niggles can be exaggerated now by worry and imagination, so deal with them, then move on. Don’t rush ahead too quickly. Let your metaphorical feet catch up! Your mind can work against you this month so get more grounded in nature and working with your hands. By 19th you will hand over the reins more to others and feel more at peace and laid back. Breathing deeply will aid you and you will find your own innate healing skills surfacing whether with people or animals.
Capricorn Your finance zone is being highlighted by Mercury going retrograde until the 21st. The air element is strong this month so make sure you are fully present and up to date, not just with money but values and ongoing projects. Watch the 6th for impulsive behaviour from yourself or another. On an easier note Mars is on your side in fellow earth sign Taurus, and you can energise people and make long reaching plans. After 21st treat yourself to culture and pleasures. The last week of February is just right for that, especially from the 26th onwards. Words come easily to you and others flatter you. Writing is well aspected then for you.
AirSigns
February 2021 Gemini Mercury in retrograde motion till 21st may work in your favour as it aligns with the Gemini energy and brings old information back to you to look at and use. Someone from your past re appears and gives you an interesting choice to look at. Planets in airy Aquarius this month speed you along towards goals and pastures new. A place abroad draws you and you are tempted to go there. A note of caution. Don’t be too clever because things are going well. Take times out to pause and let things settle. Be extra careful to back up data and mot things. You don’t want to lose precious things. Any new purchases can be open to being taken or sent back so be sure you really want them, especially technical or appliances.
Libra Involvement with young people and creative projects can delight you now. You are being drawn to being more centre stage and will be looking at ways to do this. An old or new interest in the arts and culture absorbs you so keep attending live or on line exhibitions and performances. What were your hobbies as a youngster? Can you activate them again and fulfil an old dream? Mercury retrograde till the 21st, keeps you on your toes with arrangements, travel plans and decisions. Use this time till then to listen to the whispers from your higher self and be very present and focused. A romance is there for you this month so be open to it, whether short or long lived. Romance takes many forms so put magic into everyday things. The new moon on 11th is a good time for making a wish and ‘intending.’
Aquarius Venus is in your sign this month, happily accompanying the Sun in its travels. Attractions to others occur and you will have a special energy about you - like a magnet. More visitors abound (if lock down restrictions allow) and certainly you will feel like surrounding yourself with a variety of types of people. People from other backgrounds are useful and enjoyable this month. Boredom will not sit easy with you this month. Returns from the past are likely until the 21.st. A creative work project comes your way after the 18,th and, the 11th and 12th, when Venus and Jupiter line up, auspicious for meetings and for finance. The 25th is a good date for firming up or manifesting something. In many ways February brings out your curiosity and capacity for trying new things and ways!
274 | RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21
Water Signs Cancer This is a month for going more deeply into matters. What re birth or transformation is required from you? What do you feel passionately about and want to bring to public attention? Ideas and causes from the past will rear their heads whilst Mercury is retrograde till 21st. Ancestry and family matters need some healing and attention and after the 18th you will feel the pull to either travel or to link with some foundation, charity or – for you important cause. Around the full moon in Virgo on the 27th this will come together and get going. A sense of team effort strengthens and grows. Your spiritual side guides you more after 19th and you realise you are never alone! A bequest of some kind may well be coming your way this month. You will know how to use it!
Scorpio Whatever your home is like, you will be feeling the draw to make creative changes. Choosing who you want in it in the form of visitors and the like will be important. A family member- maybe older- needs your help, and your emotional power is very empowering. The new moon on the 11th amplifies this. Taking time for you is important this month. Mercury retrograde till 21st, causes you to reflect more and process things. Your mind can get over active otherwise and little mishaps can occur. Remember to breathe deeply and get outdoors more. That is where you will feel more space within yourself and get a perspective. The Sun entering a fellow water sign, Pisces, on the 18th, helps you to honour that time for solitude. Creative pursuits become important then.
Pisces With Mercury retrograding this month until the 21st, your listening skills and creative talents are to the fore. Music and performers need all the help they can get at present, so bring your skills, attendance and support to them this month. If musical yourself bring that alive in your own home. Someone from the past pops up and you will feel quite a soul connection with them. The full moon in your opposite sign, Virgo, on the 27th helps you get a perspective on a matter where you feel confused. A partner or associate needs your help or advice then. After the 18th when the Sun enters your sign, give more time to you and your needs. You can move forward better then, balancing your wishes with those of others. This is a month of choosing to get more rest. Cat naps help a lot!
Editor in Chief Dr Marina Nani Head of Finance M. T. Nani Creative Director Darie Nani Deputy Editor Alice Demetriad Executive Assistant to the Editor in Chief Ivayla Dimitrova Digital Director Chris Demetriad Contributing Lifestyle Editors Arti Halai, Danna Levy- Hoffman, Douglas Ballard, Lesley Calvรณ Ysanne Lewis
Guest Contributors Fashion Asiya Durran, Alexis Body Style Tatjana Kotoric Health & Wellness Anna Cortesi, Anandi, Deborah Hladecek, Gemma Nice, Klara Debeljak, Patricia Ordody, Martina Fink, Zeenat Noorani, Annette Ebbinghaus, Sarah Kopinsky Women & Society Carla Kaufmann, Claire Corbett, Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, Suzie Poole Lifestyle Helena Zachariassen
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