Happiness is a Choice

This morning I wake up, do my everyday workout, and enjoy a nutritious breakfast and go out to seize my day. It is a fantastic day; the shining sun offers every opportunity for me to create the best day of my life. A good friend of mine always says: Today is the only day that we can actually act and do something to either change our lives completely or in case we already have our dream life then to simply embrace and enjoy it to the most.

 So I jump onto my bicycle, letting the warm breeze caress my unruly hair. As I bike along with a song on my lips, I suddenly hear a friend holler while waving at me. We hadn't seen each other for a long time, so I stop immediately and we start sharing our life stories.

My friend is a handsome man; tall, blond, with a pair of mesmerizing blue eyes and he runs a successful company of his own. He is married to a gorgeous woman and they have two wonderful babies. I presume most people out there would indeed feel blessed to be in his shoes.

As we chat along I start feeling weird; hearing him moaning about his life, our Greek crises, about the bills and his over charged credit cards and of his lack of free time. Then he starts moaning even about the weather that it’s too hot; what else do you expect during June in Greece! He keeps talking while sweating (only after a while do I realize that I am wearing one of my hot short pants; perhaps the heat is induced).

I feel really sad about him, because even though he has everything he probably seeks in life, he focuses on what he doesn’t have and in all the negativity that exists anyway.  Ok, we all know Greece is in crises; financial and cultural too. But should we stop dreaming and do nothing either to reverse or to improve the whole situation? Should we stay blindfolded within our self-created so called paradise (which isn’t making us happy either) watching our life pass by as a meaningless sham full of pretence?

No; certainly not!

We must stop moaning and start doing. Dreams are good. But without action, without hard work, persistence and insistence we will never achieve our dreams. Even if you don't feel ready yet for the change or even better be the change, at least stop moaning and complaining. See the positive side of life. The glass of life is always half full. Because even if indeed it is half empty your negative perspective and views won’t fill up the other half. Instead a more optimistic attitude would help in adopting a happier life and achieving your everyday goals, no matter how big or small they are, will become easier. A positive view of life will surely lead you to a happier life. I know it works. I have applied it personally and realize the results.

Here I will give you some tips with examples of how positivity can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life, no matter what the issues are:

·        Embrace life for what it gives you. We live in a wonderful world. Nature supplies us free the most vital things that we need to live like the air we breathe, water we drink and the sun and so many nutritious food found in the wild free. Spend time outdoors and you will soon realize that all the stress you may feel will disappear immediately. While being in nature words like stress, worries and problems sound smoother and lighter and mostly they even don't exist.

·         Embrace God (whatever that means for each one of us, for me nature is god) for what you have: Instead of doing what my blond friend did with his life, feel grateful for what you have. If you have a woman or a man who loves you and takes care of you, don't focus on his/her negative side of character, but encourage him/her get the best out of him/ her. Be thankful for what he/she has and does for you. If you have a job but still not your dream job, either be thankful for having a job (unemployed people would die for being in your shoes) or start working in creating the appropriate conditions or procure the skills needed for starting your dream job.

·         Start smiling. It is contagious. The power of a smile is so powerful that it can solve and even take you out of sticky situations.

·         Start socializing with positive and optimistic people. Friends are good. But if they give you stress, why should you put up with them and their misery? Your time is limited and priceless. Spend it only with those who make you feel happy, who are creative and get the best out of you. For sure we must stand by our friends when they are down and stressed but not with those who choose continuously to remain gloating in their misery and refuse to emerge out of their sorry shells.

·        Seek for alternative ways to get informed about worldwide news. The majority of TV Channels mainly focus in disasters, poverty, wars and negative news. They try to scare people. Control them. Stop torturing yourself. There are many e- radio stations and e-magazines which focus in the positive news. So many praiseworthiness things are happening worldwide but no one speak or write about them in the main TV and radio channels. Here are some web sites I dig out after a research and I propose to all of you.

            https://www.upworthy.com

            https://www.buzzfeed.com

            https://positivenews.org.uk

   https://www.dailygood.org 

·        Discover happiness in small and simple things. How often big and extraordinary things happen in your life that gives you the ‘big’ happiness? Rarely; this is why we should start finding happiness and beauty in small things which occur every day. In that way there will always be a reason for which we will celebrate and embrace life. Small things happen every day. They may be small and ordinary but if viewed as a gift they offer great pleasure and happiness. 

Being the master of our own lives it is up to us to make it what we want and mostly it is about making the right choices. I have already made my choice. I have chosen Happiness.

I am happy because I choose to be. It needs no other reason to substantiate or authenticate.

Happy Living – Style Simply

Girls, let’s honestly confess that every time we get ready for a big night out or for a special evening with a handsome guy, we spend too much time in front of our wardrobe, with onset of panic that there’s nothing appropriate for the occasion to wear. To make it worst we spend the whole evening thinking which outfit would suit best for the occasion and then we squander at least couple of hours more in making all the possible combinations with the skirts, shirts, dresses and accessories that our overloaded closet is stuffed with. And the result! A stressful evening, wastage of precious time, upset mood, confusion, panic, which often leads us to a boutique store where our already over charged credit card gets charged even more.

As I believe that simplicity is the key to happiness in every field of my life I applied it into style too.

 Here are some basic tips which can make our life simpler yet be stylish and fabulous at the same time.

Before you rush out with your overcharged credit card to the next boutique store, please take a deep breath, don’t panic and stand in front of your closet, and separate all clothes which you haven't worn for the last two years. Give these clothes away immediately to those who really need them. You don’t, or you would have used them. This has twin benefits: creates space for you and you help the needy. Emptying your closet and life of things that you don’t really need is therapeutic. This action alone will make you feel light and blissful.

To look smart and classy and stylish yet simple all you need are these 5 pieces of clothing: a nice white shirt, a little black dress (LBD), a nice pair of jeans, a pencil skirt, and a plain blouse. All these should be of good quality. In case you don’t have one or some of these then get them and you are on your way. With these 5 pieces you can look classy, elegant and fresh from morning to night.

The next step is to get rid of all the extra clothes, which are similar in color, looks, design, texture and material. Give these away to charity.  

Now, let’s go shopping! Aha, I can see that catty smile on your face now. Let's go for a dress. In order to look stylish under any circumstances, buy one dress of really good quality, in classic style which would last for many years and would never go out of fashion. If you are not sure about the style, trust designer labels like Giorgio Armani or Salvatore Ferragamo. They know us better much better and they want us to look sexy and elegant at the same time. If you think designer labels are too expensive, buy them during sales. Many big outlets and super stores have sales up to 80% off. Even if this price is few times more than a cheap dress of lower quality, it is still a better bargain since it lasts much longer and of much superior quality.

When a man looks at a woman dressed in a sexy, elegant dress, he doesn’t really care if it’s new or has been worn before. Men don’t even think such things.  All that matters to him is the woman inside the dress. So my friends invest in one classic dress of great quality without cutting costs. Instead of several cheap dresses of low quality buy one expensive dress of top quality. In the long run the latter delivers more value for money.

Now let’s look within us and find the simplicity rule of style and elegance that lies inside.

Last evening I was invited to an elegant party of rich and classy people and for a while I pondered what would suit the occasion best! To begin with my closet doesn’t have that many dresses anyway. I had less to choose from so it should be simple. Fewer the options in life we have, simpler our lives will be. And soon enough it hit me that I could actually put on anything that I felt comfortable in, which makes me look good and showed my character and body to their best advantage. It wasn’t so much about the dress or the accessories, it was more about me and how I felt from within.

If I felt sexy, that’s how I would look, no matter even if I cover every inch of my skin. If I felt confident, any classy dress would make me look confident. What’s most important is to first be who we really are and who we want to be for the occasion and then dress accordingly. Rather than wear a dress and try to fit your persona into it. A confident and classy woman can carry away anything with elegance, charm and savoir faire. So more than my outfit I groom my inner beauty and my love for living. It is cheaper, healthier and life transforming. 

I am who I am and I love myself exactly the way it is. I have accepted myself and I feel limitless. Things for me are so easy now since not many choices are left to enmesh me. Love yourself, love your imperfections and soon your enchanting beauty will entice people.  

 

 And never forget that beauty grows deep within us. Let it emerge and bloom like a flower. No matter what you wear, if you don't feel beautiful, you will never look elegant. Put on your biggest, sincere smile and let your grace captivate men.

So always remember: simplicity leads to perfection.

A friend of mine, who is one of the happiest people on earth, once told me: People should keep just three outfits; two in their closet and the third one in the store. The first one to wear and the second one to use when the first one needs washing. The third one in the store is to replace the first one when it gets too old. This way you don’t clutter your closet or mind and you never go out of style. Don’t turn your closet into a store. In that way you never put yourself under stress, wondering what should you wear since there are no other choices; the third one will be lying in the store waiting for you to buy it when time will come. Not before that. So in that way life becomes really simple and easy.           

Ok, I am not telling you to throw away all your clothes today! Just try from now on to be simpler and think twice before you go out shopping.

 My life has changed dramatically since I started following the above simple tips and believe me I feel happy and content every day, since now I find beauty in every single thing, no matter how simple or small it is.

Letter About Love

John Steinbeck

Over the last week “LOVE” has captivated my mind. I can’t stop thinking about it and this is why I wrote the previous post. Usually, after finishing a text about a specific topic my mind jumps into another. But with love that didn't happen.

Few months back I read the following letter, written by a father to his son about love. I want to share these wonderful and wise words with all of you out there. I share this, hoping all parents would talk to their children about love and life in this manner.

In the year 1958, Nobel laureate John Steinbeck wrote this letter in response to his son Thom’s letter, confessing his love for a girl.

The letter is complete by itself and needs no embellishment from me or anybody else. It’s tender and optimistic; the way a father responds to his son. It’s the way we all should adopt, a way without prejudice or envy; free and sincere. After all it is all about love, being in love and becoming love.

New York

November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply — of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

Happy Living – Love Simply

I often ponder: what purpose does life serve and what’s the meaning of life.  What is “this” that we all seek? Why every act, every choice we make is the way it is!

One of the most well-known wars of all times occurred due to love, or let’s say for the desire to possess love: the war of Troy. Philosophers and poets have said since time immemorial that the only thing worth living and dying for is ‘love’ while scientists often claim that love is nothing but a series of inexplicable chemical reaction. Whatever it is, without love life wouldn't procreate for humans I suppose.

Does everything happen for love? Is love the root motivation for all our actions and thoughts? And what is love and how can we conceive it or create it or achieve it; how can we make our self-worthy of love. And by love I always refer to true love. Because true love has nothing to do with “love” that the social norms wants us to believe in. Only if we would realize how fulfilling and peaceful it is to be in love and love truly; our lives would be much happier and meaningful.

Love is simply love and needs nothing tangible to exist or happen. It’s all about our choices. We can’t coerce love. All we can do is make ourselves worthy of love and let someone acknowledge that. And if our love is not reciprocated or not in equal measure or to the degree we want it to, it doesn't mean that our love isn't fulfilled. Love is both a mean and its end. Just like a road that is its own destination. 

A friend of mine once told me “love is the only action that need not have a reaction”. It is self-fulfilling, complete within itself.

And those of you, who have loved truly, know that love gives you absolute freedom. There is no love without freedom and no freedom without love. So live and love free; live for love and live simply. For me that’s the only way of living and loving, to be free and without fear.

True love is simple anyway. Loving without desire to possess and being ourselves who we truly are, allowing our loved ones to be who they are and setting ourselves and them free. No complicated things and behaviors are needed to love or be loved. If you desire to be loved, just be yourself, allow your true self to emerge and emancipate, just like a flower doesn't pretend to be what it isn't. It simply is and remains. Sooner or later the person meant to be the “one” for you will find you. Respect yourself. Set yourself free and love will captivate you.

Love is not related just with humans, but with animals, trees, flowers, the sun and the moon…everything on earth and it comes in all forms. But for this post I would focus on romantic love in humans.

Simplicity is the key to fulfillment. By adding some simple acts of caring and sharing in your everyday life you can revitalize your relationship and express your feelings for your beloved ones. Simple act that need no preparation, time or money or even efforts but show that we care are what is truly needed. Let’s look at some examples:

Love Rock

We often don’t hug or hold or touch enough. Simple acts of holding hands and wandering together by the sea or in nature or in your own alley, or while watching a movie at home could perk things up. Touching the neck or running fingers through the hair anywhere in the house shows that you care. Giving an impromptu rub or massage especially when it is not expected will do wonders.

Give a good morning and good night kiss to your lover every single day without fail. More kisses through the day are better. Even if you are physically apart, you can say it through messaging or by telepathy. It is free, needs no effort and also burns calories! Show to your beloved one that you are there and you truly care.

Cook a romantic dinner together or simply cook together. Even if you are the one without culinary skills, you can always do the dishes or chop the vegetables or simply be there in the kitchen. No great chef skills or expensive ingredients are required to prepare a simple dish for your beloved. Even chopping some fresh fruits and feeding each other is enough for that special feeling.

Surprise each other occasionally. Keep your relationship alive by making simple changes to your daily routine. An unexpected phone call telling her /him how beautiful/handsome she/he looked in the morning and just fixing an appointment to meet outside, in a  place you both don’t go often and spend some time together, talking about you and your thoughts, is enough to rejuvenate and fan your love.

Offer a special gift. I don’t mean an expensive gift. Anyone can buy gifts from a shop, but get something that is unique. It can be a song sung by you, or a special rock you picked up from the outdoors, or a beautiful seashell or a sketch you made. You don’t need to be Picasso to draw something for your lover.

Sleep naked every night with your lover and you will realize how rejuvenating it can be for your love life, not to mention the health benefits caused by the growth hormone released while sleeping naked. Couples who sleep naked have better relationship due to the oxytocin hormone which is released by skin contact and is known as the bonding hormone. Believe me it feels so warm, even during winter.

These are some of the daily tips which can help make our life happier and simpler. Most of all be creative and be simple. But always remember that love grows deep within us. No one can plant it there. It is already inside you, its energy already exists like a seed deep inside the earth waiting for the right conditions to emerge. All love needs that it is allowed to emerge. Set yourself free and love will grow. Love people because you want to give; to offer; not to receive. If we don’t want anything in return there is no way to get disappointed. True love can turn our lives in a non-stop celebration. And we all deserve a life like that. What else are we living for!

We all seek love, but freedom is the secret. And to be free let’s start simplifying our lives.

Adopting simplicity has helped me to enhance the overall quality of my life. Love grew within me and I found love, I got loved.

 So keep it simple and real love will happen.

Happy Living – Eat Simply                                     

I have often pondered what the secret of a happy life is; is it merely a matter of choice, as we are often told, or is it to have abundant resources at one’s disposal or could it be the way we choose to live irrespective of how much or how little we have in materialistic wealth. As I grew and observed and met many wise and happy people I realized that just like anything else in nature, the most obvious answer is also the simplest, in fact it is the very word ‘simple’. Simplicity is one of the main keys to happiness and a full life.

What is Simplicity? Is it to give up everything that is complex or is it to give up the complex way of living? Can we adopt simple living no matter who we are or what we do or aspire to be!

Is more, more or less is more? I believe the best way to simplicity is to achieve much more with much less. If you are puzzled as how this can be achieved then please read along. I would discuss this approach to life over three key aspects in three different posts; for this post we would focus on simplifying our diet and food habits. We are what we eat as say the wise men of Greece.

Applying the Simplicity rule in our everyday life, in any kind of field, we can achieve a life less stressful since the choices would become easier and less complex. Our life is stressful since we have so many choices and our mind is not able to settle on one for long happily. I will begin with the diet and food habits that I applied Simplicity rule to that helped me to enhance the overall quality of my life as compared to what I already had; and I already had a fantastic life to begin with.

Diet and Food Habits

The “simplicity” rule I always apply to my diet: eat as far as possible what Mother Earth has provided in its natural state; with minimum human interference. What it basically means is to opt for ‘alive’ food and avoid processed products. Alive foods are the ones that occur naturally in nature. They grow on trees or in the ground and they provide us with the nutrients to function optimally.

On the other hand ‘dead’ food is artificially colored, packaged and processed, pasteurized. Generally when food is heated over 116 degrees all the enzymes and many essential nutrients are destroyed.

For example, have you ever seen an orange tree with colorful bottles full of orange juice hanging from its branches? I don't think so. So every time you want to have an orange juice, always squeeze fresh oranges and drink it directly. Keeping this idea in mind makes it easier for you to remember and realize which products are good for your health. The less process a product undergoes more nutritious it is. Before reaching out to buy a product from a store rack, always ask yourself: if I Can find it in nature, in natural state? If not, avoid it and you will never lose. Initially you might find this rule too stringent that eliminates too much of your everyday eating choices. You will also realize that super markets provide little of ‘alive’ food. You will realize how many garbage food industries provide us, without caring about the damage they cause us. So do make an effort to take care of yourself; after all who will, if we don’t!

Following the simplicity rule will not only make your choices easier (since it reduces the number of choices) but also will contribute to your overall state of health and your longevity. Natural products, like fresh fruits and vegetables, have all the nutritious and appropriate elements needed for body’s best function. Of course, when I talk about food I only refer to organic foods.  I will elaborate more about organic food in a separate post.

Processed food due to the very processing that they undergo to increase shelf life and introduce unnecessary artificially induced ‘healthy ingredients’ that most of its nutritious vitamins, minerals and enzymes are destroyed. This makes it more difficult to digest, offering minimum benefits of which they had promised us. Please never believe the advertisements featuring all healthy family stereotypes. 

If it sounds too difficult for you apply 100% that rule in your diet, try to do it step by step. That will make it easier. Replace everyday one useless, dead food with a non-processed one. Don't do it by once. Making small changes every day, you will be able to change your diet all together one day.

Also, try to consume food as raw as you can. In the beginning try to keep just one meal cooked and all the other snacks and meals during daytime, try to substitute with raw fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. As I said before can we find cooked food in nature? No. But there are lots of fruits, vegetables and nuts supplied by Mother Earth. Our digestive system is tuned for ‘alive’ and healthy food. 

Fresh salad with spinach, red lettuce, buckwheat & quinoa germ, avocados
lemon juice, walnut &olive oil 

Imagine you have a wonderful brand new red Ferrari and instead of the best petrol you supply it with adulterated petrol. Will it ever go at its maximum speed? I don't think so. Exactly the same happens with our body. The more nutritious “energy” you supply it the more efficient it functions. Your health will thrive, you will start feel more energetic, rejuvenated, your skin will glow making you look more fresh and bright and of course the body will work at its best. 

Offer a gift to yourself and apply the “simplicity” rule in your diet. We all deserve a happy and full life. And simplicity is the one of the main keys to happiness. Start from today. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.And always remember my friends…keep it simple.

Healthy , easy and nutritious snack

Tahini – Food for the Gods

Breakfast outdoors tastes better

Would you believe in the miraculous powers of a tiny seed from a humble bush, if I revealed that a small Greek kingdom transformed into a mega empire by grinding this seed into paste and consuming to raise the most well known army of its era that conquered the entire known world. It is only befitting that this tiny seed nourished Homer’s epic for a decade.

Those of you versed in Greek history might have guessed by now the name of this super-food seed; which is none other than Sesame seed (SESAMUM indicum). And the paste is Tahini.

                                     

Borrowing from the ancient Greek wisdom I decided to include 1 to 2 spoons of tahini mixed with pure honey in my breakfast. By eating it daily in the morning I hoped it would enhance my blog writing skills (which only time can tell), but for now the result is an amazingly delicious healthy food in my diet; especially when I put it on a slice of freshly baked home-made bread with whole nuts and zea flour.

Traditional bronze bowls are still used for the production

This summer a very dear friend from abroad spent few days at my home. The first day after his arrival I offered him a typical Greek breakfast full of delicious & healthy locally grown products.

I must mention that Greece is a paradise for fruits, vegetables, nuts, honey, olive oil, and real yogurt due to constant shinny days and ground consistency. And believe me they taste nothing like what you might have already tasted elsewhere. They can wake up your deepest memories of childhood, when you were just a carefree child, who was exhausted from nonstop playing, running to your mom’s kitchen for your snack.

So I woke up early that morning and baked bread (whole nut and Zea flour) with lots of sunflower seeds and linseeds. I sliced apples and figs freshly picked up from my mother’s garden, got pure goat yogurt (the one with the crust on top), a combination of cereals (linseed, buckwheat, oats & zea),raw nuts, home-made jam with fruits from my parent’s garden (thanks mom!) honey and of course tahini.

While we were having our breakfast under the warm sun (Greece is well known for sun’s bright light effect) I noticed that my friend’s eyes, on seeing tahini, opened wide full of query! It was only then I realized that many people worldwide, not only haven’t tasted tahini, but they also haven’t heard about it. Maybe that’s why we don’t have big empires and Epics like the one Homer wrote once!

So I imagined I was Eleni of Troy and I started explaining to my friend what exactly tahini is, how it is made, how nutritious it is and how can we use it in our daily diet.

I explained to him that tahini, is actually the paste produced by milling baked wholegrain sesame seeds.

Sometimes you can find tahini in which it is added cocoa powder, which gives a very special taste and it suits a lot.

Adding tahini in your daily diet is so healthy that you can notice very soon the health benefits and the improvement in the appearance of your skin and hair. Of course you have to be very careful with the amount you consume, since one soup spoon of tahini has almost 90kcal.

For vegetarians like me, tahini is a perfect source of vegetable proteins, with high biological value, when you combine it with food rich in lysine, like nuts or pulses , (like chickpeas, for hummus or with beans) since it provides you with proteins with biological value equivalent to meat proteins. Tahini is also rich in vitamins E, B1, B2, niacin, amino acids and carbohydrates. It prevents hair loss, headaches and increases milk production for lactating women. It also acts as antihypertensive, anti thrombotic, anticancer and antioxidant and helps against osteoporosis.

Due to all these it is regarded as a super food. Ancient Greeks used to add tahini in their daily meals. It is also used in Arabian and Turkish cuisine.

We find mention of the seeds in ancient Chinese medicine while Assyrian Gods were believed to drink wine made from sesame seed before a battle, and mortals considered it precious as silver.

While I was talking to my friend about tahini, I noticed that the whole bowl of tahini and almost all of the bread had disappeared and in a way he did look fuller and shinier. I was so happy he was enjoying its divine taste while listening to my stories that I continued giving him advises how to use it as a dressing in his salads (just by mixing tahini with lemon juice) or as a dip for his finger food with raw vegetables, like carrots and cucumber (just by mixing tahini, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl).So simple, so easy yet if you consider how rich tahini is in calcium, zinc, potassium, copper, iron and Ω6 fats… you get amazed! Just by eating one spoon of tahini daily you stand to improve your health tremendously. And who knows, this may lead you to your Eleni of Troy!

That morning, after eating the whole bowl of tahini (along with all the other food we had) it is needless to mention that we went for hiking into the Rodopi Mountains. We wandered over 8 hours through the beautiful forests. Too many calories had to be burned!

Greek Hospitality

My beloved Greece is so rich in nature’s diversity, where the sun embraces you with its warmth and the sea caresses your senses that it is impossible for the people and objects not to develop into their finest qualities. Greece is synonymous to generosity. Hospitality runs in our blood, it is an integral part of our culture and we would do anything to prove this to a visitor.

When you visit a Greek house you are welcome with two resounding kisses on either cheek and a tight hug and this is quickly followed (even before you have sank into the sofa) with a platter of mouthwatering appetizers by the landlady. An impromptu mini-fiesta is set up in less than a minute where a bit of every appetizer existing at home would be offered along with coffee or Ouzo or Tsipuro (traditional white spirits). It is impossible to deny partaking the offering as the landlord would gently coax and cajole your taste buds till the plates and glasses are empty. If you are calorie conscious then please leave your mind outside a Greek home. These foods are all homemade, super delicious and impossible to resist.

Not only a Greek home but Mother Nature too offers free appetizers in Greece. Crops and fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables can be found almost in every corner of a Greek village. And the best part is that you can pick them up for free!

Once, I went hiking to Lefkimi’s forest with a friend, to pick up wild mushrooms and berries. Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park is one of the few European regions cohabitated by so many species of birds of prey; three of the four European species of vulture and the Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps Fulvus) and the extremely rare Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), which is one of the last two colonies left in Europe.

Picking berries is my specialty, but I don’t have a clue about mushrooms so one day if my blog suddenly stops, then you should know that I went wild mushroom hunting. Seriously, wild mushrooms can be very dangerous even fatal. So, always be careful and never eat them unless you are 100% sure they are edible.

Smurf's house?  Why not!

Back to our story; we started early that morning, entered the forest and followed the trail. The green leaves sparkled with morning dew pearls while sun tried to invade the jungle with its ray. As we went deeper and deeper we discovered numerous berries and I couldn't stop picking them and gorging as if there was no tomorrow. Wild berries are full of antioxidants and I love the sour taste. Soon I realized that bears too were crazy about berries as we found plenty of bear pug marks and poo with berry remnants.  

I was thrilled by the sheer volume of berries we found free. In Greek markets, berries are expensive. That day I could have made good money just by selling all the berries I had collected. I am amazed there are so many bounties of nature that we can have for free but people simply don’t bother to go outdoors. We should leave our couches and venture along with our beloved ones and have a walk outdoors, while taking advantage of all the fruits and crops we would find on our way. Not only we would have great time, while in nature but also we could save some money, by collecting our own goodies. No harm in getting back to our ‘gatherer’ days every now and then!

Picking  berries

Though I was wary of picking any mushrooms their sheer volume and variety kept us riveted as we ventured deeper and deeper into the forest. The colors and sizes turned the forest into a fairy land; red, purple, dark brown, blue, pink, yellow, ochre and in sizes ranging from smaller than my thumb to few nearly the size of my head.

Couple of hours later with our bellies bulging with berries we went downhill from the forest and decided to explore the tiny village where we had parked our car. Through the narrow deserted streets we chanced upon a quaint coffee shop beneath a picturesque birch tree. Stepping inside we found three old cronies, ancient as the monuments playing card. Every pair of eyes turned towards us. I am sure no outsiders ever visited this village and we stood out like sore thumbs. 

Eyeing a cozy corner we settled down and ordered two cups of Greek coffee while enjoying all the undue attention we drew from the locals. The café owner was straight out of the comic books; his bulging belly could any day outdo Obelix and his handlebar moustache bespoke his proud Balkan blood. The eyes were round and shiny like an owl that rotated simultaneously in opposite directions and we were never sure which direction he looked. He wore his trousers way below his navel, perhaps stuck with glue to his hips while the sleeveless shirt stuck to his body like armor, the middle buttons almost breaking nevertheless. Along with our coffee he brought a plate full of homemade coconut biscuits on the house. Even though we were visiting his café for the first time and probably would never return he felt obliged to treat us as house guest and not merely paying customers. For him the café is not a business but an extension of his home and family and he wanted us to feel at home. Though my friend was impressed with this generosity, I explained that this was typical Greek attitude that was still retained and practiced in faraway places like this tiny obscure village. I wish Greek’s wouldn't lose it as time passes by.

After coffee and some small talks with the habitue we left to continue our walk through the village. The village was unusually quiet and peaceful. Few passerbies watched us curiously but discreetly, trying to decipher who we were and what could be our purpose.

In peaking almonds hard work is done by the man!

As we ambled along we soon realized that the road was lined with full bloomed almond and walnut trees on either side. My friend and I glanced at each other with that conspiratorial look and we lunged at the nearest tree. In less than a minute I found myself onto an almond’s bole, stretching myself up to my toes (I am a tall girl) till I could reach even the remotest nuts at the top of the tree. My back pack was soon full of almond and walnut shells. Fruits and nuts taste best when we sit beneath the same tree from which we plucked and eat. That’s exactly what we did. Nothing better than smashing almonds under the shadow of the tree, protected from the hot sunbeams. And not only did we end up with a bag full of nuts, we were also offered fruits and vegetables from village gardens. I remember in particular one old woman dressed in black with black head kerchief (Greek elderly women used to get dressed in black after their 70s) offering us grapes and fruits from her kitchen garden insisting we take as much as we could. She was a simple village woman with a generous heart who wanted to treat two strangers like her family. We ended up with lots of grapes and quinces, apart from the almonds.


 I love this kind of behavior and wish people were more generous and were willing to share rather than hoard more than they need. Only by sharing and caring for each other can our society grow and enrich as a whole. These villagers made us feel more than welcome to their village and I realized that even with simple things, you can create a welcome atmosphere and make people feel accepted.

Moreover, people who give and share material things, are usually people who give love and express emotions without holding back anything. So people surrounded by them are usually very lucky since they receive lots of love and lots of great food and fortunately I am one of such lucky ones!

Take care my friends and always remember, good things are meant to be shared!