Better Life Archives - Page 11 of 14 - Miranda van den Heuvel

Miranda’s favorite books – November 2020

Miranda2022-06-02T15:55:22+02:00November 13th, 2020|

We're spending more time at home and now that the days are shorter I tend to read more. So I wanted to share a few of my favorite books (old and recent) with you to provide you with some ideas for gifts or for yourself. Happy reading. The Book of Two Ways Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. So each time I impatiently wait for a new one to come out. I just started reading it and the plot sounds so interesting. Jodi always researches her topics well, is a master at crafting her chara [...]

The last time

Miranda2022-05-31T14:02:48+02:00November 6th, 2020|

I clearly remember the last time I smoked. It was a year before I got pregnant with our first son. I had tried quitting before, unsuccessfully, but this time the stakes were so much higher that I knew I was going to succeed. Most of the time though we don't know when a last time is a last time. Some time ago I took my mom on a day of shopping in Trier. We used to do this regularly. Now she is aging and I'm busy with kids and my activities. Will there be a next time? My dad is always surprising [...]

How to stay sane during a pandemic

Miranda2022-05-31T14:04:10+02:00October 30th, 2020|

I think we can all agree that our lives have changed quite a bit since the beginning of the year. I have even talked about it in one of my last posts. So until the planets are re-aligning, the world has stopped spinning and we can all enjoy 100% of our freedom again, I wanted to share with you a few tips on how to stay sane during a pandemic, or any crazy or even normal times really. WORK As many of us are still or again working from home, it has become important to set up a place where yo [...]

5 simple steps to find delight

Miranda2022-05-31T14:07:56+02:00October 23rd, 2020|

You know what a rut is right? It's like a routine but the not so good version of it. A routine can help you make things easier, because you do it automatically. A rut is a groove, a habitual, worn passage of your wheel. It tends to give you a feeling of being stuck. The thing with ruts is that you don't see them coming. They sneak up on you. They happen gradually. One day you're happy with your routine. The next you feel you can't escape. But you need to escape to preserve your own sanity. We a [...]

Miranda’s favorite things – Christmas 2020

Miranda2022-06-02T16:51:03+02:00October 16th, 2020|

Every year, certain topics return to my newsletter and blog. When I looked at my calendar I was totally shocked to see that October/November is the time I share my ideas for Christmas gifts. Can you believe Christmas is around the corner???!!! So in order to help you with ideas for the perfect gift for our loved ones, I have compiled a little list below. Birthdate Candles At birthdate candles you will find a unique and special candle for each of the birthdays in the year. Each candle not o [...]

SW SW SW SW

Miranda2022-05-31T14:10:23+02:00October 9th, 2020|

SW SW SW SW is an acronym my first life coach taught me. It has to do with not taking things too seriously and the stories we tell ourselves. But let me start at the beginning. The other day, someone was saying to me that some people find my newsletter/blog laughable. My immediate reaction was: I am being attacked, I need to find out who it is and attack back or at least defend myself. I basically took what that person said personally. Then I stopped and breathed. Because that reaction usually [...]

Do you like bad weather?

Miranda2022-05-31T15:29:10+02:00October 2nd, 2020|

Do you like rain, fog, gray drizzle? Do you like humid and cold weather conditions? I used to dislike that kind of weather very much. It curls up my hair. I have to carry an umbrella, which tends to always be in the car when I'm in the office or vice versa. People are aggressive on the street hurrying, trying to get past me into the dry and warm safety of the next shop. Malls are over filled with people escaping boredom at home. I am cold and wet when outside and too hot and sticky when inside. [...]

Who put 2020 on their vision board? I did!

Miranda2022-05-31T15:44:44+02:00September 25th, 2020|

After writing my post talking about 2020, and launching, like every year, my Visionboard workshop, the Universe gently sent me some comments and emails from people and pointed me to some other blog posts that all said something like: 2020 was NOT on my vision board! If 2020 were a vision board (and then images of doomsday armageddon) I really need to redo my vision board! This is NOT what I planned Here's the thing though... 2020 was on my vision board. WHAT???? you did this?! haha No but serio [...]

Let’s talk about 2020

Miranda2022-05-31T15:50:03+02:00September 18th, 2020|

You know how the Universe seems to always provide you with exactly what you need? It might not always be what you WANT, but it sure is what you need. And of course only hindsight can show you that it was exactly right. If only we had the hindsight before, right? I think we can all agree that this year is odd. Off even. Like someone added a frog to your favorite smoothie. Yuck. Discussions with my friends have shown though, that we are not all in the same boat. We all deal with this pandemic and [...]

Your Life: a soundtrack

Miranda2022-05-31T15:47:23+02:00July 31st, 2020|

Music is the soundtrack of your life. – Dick Clark The other day, I was sitting on my couch having a glass of wine with a friend. We were talking about music and she mentioned Nirvana. All of a sudden I had this weird time warp experience. I was transported back to the early 90ies, to a room in the McNair barracks in Berlin. I was dating a very kind but wrong for me G.I. and spent many weekends in Berlin listening to ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’, drinking too much Jack Daniels and eating Ruffles w [...]