Category: Food for Thought

Sir David Gilmour’s wonderful biography of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa “The Last Leopard” is like a bridge between old and new, it makes the man behind the novel visible and sheds understanding on a world long gone. “The Leopard” the world bestselling novel of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, a duke and prince of very old… Continue reading Change and Adaption – Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa

This article revolves around a medical topic. I would like to make clear that I am not a medical doctor, but only an interested user of the techniques described in the books I have read about the vagus nerve. I had no idea that particular nerve existed before a friend, who indeed is a medical… Continue reading The Vagus Nerve: How to Support the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Some time ago I watched the 1980s movies “Working Girl” and “9 to 5” on Amazon Prime. The first movie I had had on my list for 25 years, as it came highly recommended by a friend. The second one came up when reading about Dolly Parton who wrote the title song and starred in… Continue reading Woman at Work

Have you ever heard of Rosemarie Kanzler? Most probably not. Born in 1915, she had many careers, none really bringing her to the top of international fame, but making her rich on the way and allowing her to live an enviable life. She came further in life than any of us, without hers becoming a… Continue reading Cut your losses at the right time – Resilience before the word existed – a tribute to Rosemarie Kanzler

In Northern Europe we have more than 4 seasons. First, there is carnival in February (mostly) when people celebrate the end of the dark winter season, amongst other things. Carnival is celebrated in countries like Brazil and Bolivia, so the export of the concept to warmer regions of the world has been successful. Second, there… Continue reading Between the years

There are few books I have given more often as a present to friends, male and female, than “Older, but better, but Older” by Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas. This book everybody should read, and I bet everybody would laugh out loud sometimes. That you are getting closer to the age of 40 or… Continue reading Embracing change and chance – “Older, but Better, but Older”

These two book gems are the pendant to a 1930s screwball comedy with Carole Lombard or Katherine Hepburn, with sparkling wit and full of tongue-in-cheek advice. The books are written by Marjorie Hillis, a “Vogue” editor in New York, then nearing 50 years of age. There is nothing dusty about these books, and nothing outdated.… Continue reading Brilliant advice from the 1930s – Marjorie Hillis’ books

This is an essay about meditation, neither exactly the Transcendental Meditation (TM) as copyrighted and marketed by the organisation founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, nor the exact teachings of Deepak Chopra. Certainly, both have their value and they are similar enough. Meditation is a great tool to become calmer and happier in mind and body.… Continue reading Wellness for the soul – Meditation

Why do we travel to foreign countries during our holidays? Mainly we do not travel for the act of travelling itself, with delayed planes, full trains, traffic jams, complaining children, discussions with hotel staff, bad food at motorway service areas and airports, the stress of packing and so on. There are exceptions in business travel,… Continue reading Why do we travel?

The book is an eye opener when it comes to colours. I always loved colours and had an innate way of combining them, so I know what I like and what looks good on me. Probably a lot of people have this sense to a lesser or higher extend. One might also have heard that… Continue reading Colours mean more than meets the eye “If it’s purple, someone’s gonna die” by Patti Bellantoni