Excuse me Miss, are you a shop lifter??

Imagine you are in a busy department store. Your friend says she’ll be back in a sec. You are stood next to a clothes rail, fumbling about feeling the pretty dresses, doing your best to seem busy and not draw attention to yourself. As you slowly move from one hanger to another, you bump elbows with a not soo impressed shopper. You feel their eyes looking at you with intense suspicion.

Oh damn, there is no sign of your friend, you’ve forgotten your caine at home. how do you explain your blindness without sounding like a complete tit?

This is how some of my shopping experiences used to be before little laura came along. Being left alone, unable to move around safely, not having a clue what to do, especially in busy environments  was a nervous feeling. I often refused to take my caine with me for fear of being judged, appearing vulnerable and I just disliked using the damn thing as it made me look different. It took me many years to finally accept that learning how to use the caine was an essential first step towards regaining my independence and ultimately realising that being different is an asset.

We live in an era where we feel pressure to look a certain way, worry about what people may think of us, compare ourselves to others, the list could go on and on. Your eyes see what you feel to be true, but the answer actually is within you.  let me explain…

Think of a box of chocolates. One is filled with identical pieces, and the other is a brilliant selection of flavours, shapes, textures, colours. Which would you rather have?

Just like a delightful box of chocolate, Choose to be your sweet unique self, embrace your strengths and individuality with pride and passion. Always remind yourself of the following,“The things that make me different are the things that make me me” wise words from my fav Pooh character, Piglet

And as for my shopping experiences these days…Having Laura by my side means that I don’t need to worry about explaining myself. Knocking an elbow, brushing past someone not a big deal. People are often understanding and curious to learn more about the role of a guide dog. With the unmistakable image of the furry little miricles in uniform recognised by many, we stand out in a crowd and walk with confidence everywhere we go. peoples attitude and willingness to help is far different to the stick experience these days!

Kindness is the new "Kool"

The Bus this morning was full of passengers. Most of the seats were taken.

A lovely lady saw we were looking for a front seat. She kindly gave up her place so we could sit down. My heart lit up with such gratitude. Her thoughtfulness set a beautiful tone for the rest of our day.

Its the simple everyday kind gestures that can uplift a strangers day. Courtesy does not cost a thing but has the power to light up someone elses heart and your own too! Be kind to be cool! Much love

Forever Young Lady

At the bus stop In Syston we get talking to a lovely Little lady. Laura curious as always edges in for a fuss as something about this lady has caught her attention .

The first thing this sweet lady says is,”I’ve just had the best horse riding session ever!” she’s been riding for years but had to put her passion on hold after having babies and caring for her poorly husband.

Now in her prine she’s finally dedicating time every week to do what she loves. Learning to ride horses with skill, nailing challenging jumps and developing her confidence.

The passion and enthusiasm in her voice just radiated with a happy glow. And the beautiful part…This little lady was 78 years young! Much love

Story of the Fragrant Rose

For the last few days I had been shopping around for a beautiful pink rose hair accessory for a special occasion. using my inner vision, I had an image of what I wanted in all its beautiful detail.

On this particular day I experienced a quality magic moment! A beautiful series of events followed that could only be explained in one word…So let me share what happened.

Laura and I arrive at the gym for our sweat sess. A lovely fragrance of rose catches my attention. Turns out it’s a yankee candle. Nothing odd right? On the bus ride home, we’re sat talking to a sweet lady. As we get up to leave I felt inspired to ask her name. “rose” she replied. Oh could this be coincidence? Later I am browsing through insta. I notice someone left a comment with the surname Rose. Now I’m thinking whoa!

A strong realisation hit. Where your focus goes, energy flows. Positive or negative. You have the power to choose. So choose wisely!

And the one word I feel best sums this series of coincidences up…serendipity. Something we can all experience more of with awareness, gratitude and being in the moment, much love

Lost Senseless!

This place doesn’t feel right, there’s nobody about, what do you do, your heart starts to race, you feel a serge of panic take over you. You are lost senseless!

These are the thoughts that I used to experience on the odd occasion when laura and I found ourselves a wee bit lost. The mind goes into super overdrive! So how do you find your way when you can’t see a damn thing?

Napoleon Hill, author of the timeless success book Think and Grow Rich said,”Every adversity, every failure, every heart ache carries with it the seed of an equivalent advantage.” These words have helped me massively to see, think and live my life in an empowering way for years. To see my visual impairment from a different perspective. As a blessing, as an advantage not disadvantage, to seek and appreciate the completeness of just being me.

We all face adversity at some point, its just a part of life’s journey. The thing that determines what direction you go in is down to your attitude and how you choose to see the world.

Navigating ourselves out of a lost situation is not as scary now. by tuning into the sounds around me, being present and staying calm helps to refocuss. With a little team effort together we are all good! Thank god for heightened senses!

So the next time you feel discouraged here’s what to do. seek the goodness in the moment, and you will find your way! much love

The FGF is a tough mudder! Here's why...

What is healthier?

A pint of Stella or green smoothie

A crispy cream doughnut or a bowl of strawberries

A plate of cheesy nachos or steamed salmon with vegies

No brainer right? so, why is it that we all understand what the healthier option is in our heads but when it comes to actually making that choice in reality its soo…damn…hard!!

Just take a mo to think about how eating your favourite foods make you feel. Is it Comforting, stress relieving, addictive, delicious, pleasurable or happy perhaps?

One of the biggest hurdles many of us face when deciding to live a healthy lifestyle is trying to let go of certain foods that do not support our goals. Here’s the thing, unhealthy habits regardless of their nature, all develop over time. I have found that one of the reasons breaking this habitual pattern feels like a tough mudder is this…The FGF aka Feel Good Factor!

We all experience this feeling, particularly when we know healthier choices are better for us but somehow that damn doughnut is just too tempting. And guess what, part of what makes high calorie foods super irresistible is a clever balance of sugar, fat and salt. A marriage made in processed feel good heaven

So you maybe wondering…How do I turn this old way of thinking around so that nutritious options can become my new feel good foods of choice??

Come join us for our How to make your healthy habits stick event on 29th September to learn exactly how! Only a few places are left so if you are interested be sure to book your spot soon at the below link.

https://www.jainamistry.co.uk/events/

And watch this space for another pawesome insight in a few days. I’ll be introducing you to someone remarkable who has empowered me to raise the bar with my own health, mind and body to achieve rockin results!