I asked a friend who has crossed 70 & is heading towards 80 what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following:

1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

2 I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3 I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4 I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.

6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7 I give compliments freely & generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient, but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.”

8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat & neither am I in any race.

11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.

13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.

14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!

I decided to share this for all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can't we practice this at any stage and age? 

Of Great Interest

@OfGreatInterest 

To be beautiful, all you have to be is you,

 

You do not have to be tall to be beautiful.
You do not have to be thin or long-limbed.
You do not have to have long, straight, shiny hair.
You do not have to be an hourglass or a string bean or a pear.
You do not have to be blemish-free, without freckles, scars, or tattoos.
You do not have to fit or demolish certain physical paradigms.

You do not have to be buxom to be beautiful.
You do not have to possess va-va-voom curves or full lips.
You do not have to resemble a movie star, or a lingerie model, or a porn star.
You do not have to sexualize your exterior to be beautiful.
You do not have to neuter your exterior to be beautiful.

You do not have to wear makeup to be beautiful.
You do not have to wear skirts and heels.
You do not have to cover your grays or disguise your cellulite.
You do not have to shun or accept practices of dressing or personal presentation.

Those who quantify beauty as genetic makeup, symmetry, mathematical ratios are, to me, as wrong as those who accept beauty as a set of societally-imposed ideals and standards. To rank beauty, classify it, assign it biological markers and geometric requirements is to say to some people, “No, you cannot have this. It is not for you.” And although many will disagree with me, I believe that beauty is a feeling, a freedom, a pulse from within that says, “I am worthy, lovely, strong.” And I believe every single human being has a right to feel it.

Beauty is not definite, it is relative.
Beauty is not exclusive, it is infinite.
Beauty is not for others, it is for you.

And to be beautiful, all you have to be is you, you, you. 

Sally McGraw 

3 INGREDIENT CHEESECAKE

             

1 litre plain double cream yoghurt

1 tin condensed milk

200g tennis biscuits, crushed

Press the biscuits into an even layer at the bottom of a deep microwave-safe dish.

Mix the condensed milk with the yoghurt and carefully pour the mixture over the biscuit base. Smooth the top, then microwave on high for 5 to 6 minutes, or until set.

Refrigerate until cool, then slice to serve.

Lekker soetgoed

@lekkersoetgoed  

Jalapeno Popper Chorizo Cheesecake

              

Ingredients

• 1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2+ jalapenos, diced

directions

1. Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat, before setting aside.
2. Add the onion to the pan and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes before adding the garlic and cooking until fragrant, about a minute, and removing from the heat.
3. Press the mixture of the cracker crumbs and butter into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.
4. Mix the cream cheese, eggs and sour cream before mixing in the cheddar, chorizo, onion, garlic and jalapenos and pouring into the pan.
5. Pour the batter into the spring form pan, wrap the bottom of the pan in foil, place in a larger pan with a small amount of hot water and bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until set, about 60 minutes. Enjoy warm or cold!

https://www.closetcooking.com

Bicoitos Italianos

INGREDIENTES 
300g de açúcar
300g de farinha de trigo
1 pitada de sal
1 colher (chá) de erva-doce em grão torrada
1 colher (chá) de mel
1 colher (chá) de fermento em pó
1 colher (chá) de extracto de baunilha
2 ovos
150g de amêndoas peladas

100g uva passa

1 gema batida para pincelar
açúcar para polvilhar

PREPARAÇÃO 
Numa tigela misturar os ingredientes secos, excepto a amêndoa.
Juntar a baunilha e os ovos e amassar. Juntar as amêndoas e amassar.
Tender 3 rolos cilíndricos com 12cm de largura e achatar as margens dos rolos de forma a obter-se uma secção em meia-lua, com 2-3cm de altura no centro.
Levar ao forno sobre papel vegetal ou tapete de silicone, afastados, pincelados com gema e polvilhados com açúcar, a 200ºC durante 15-20min..
Retirar deixar arrefecer 5min. e cortar, com uma faca grande de chefe, em palitos da grossura de um dedo.

Levar os palitos ao forno, no mesmo papel, durante 5min. a 200ºC para secarem e ficarem crocantes.

Kindness

    K I N D N E S S    

One of the greatest gifts you can 
 bestow upon another. If someone is in
need, lend them a helping hand. Do
not wait for a thank you. True
kindness lies within the act of
giving without expectation of
something in return.

(Author unknown)

THINK IT, WANT IT, GET IT.

IMAGINATION IS EVERYTHING.

IT IS THE PREVIEW OF LIFE'S COMING ATTRACTIONS.

CONFIDENCE IS NOT THINKING YOU ARE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE,

IT IS REALIIZING THAT YOU HAVE NO REASON TO COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE ELSE.

THE MORE YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU WANT, THE LESS YOU LET THINGS OR ANYONE UPSET YOU.

MAGICAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPENING UP .

 JUST KEEP BELIEVING.

WE DON'T GROW WHEN THINGS ARE EASY.

WE GROW WHEN WE FACE CHALLENGES.

DO NOT BE PUSHED AROUND BY THE FEARS IN YOUR MIND. BE LED BY THE DREAMS IN YOUR HEART.

TRUST THE WAIT. EMBRACE THE UNCERTAINTY. ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF BECOMING.

WHEN NOTHING IS CERTAIN, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN, YOU SHOULD, AND IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO START, YOU WILL