A True Story about Life in Ukraine

I went to Ukraine years ago and I still vividly remember that fascinating experience in a beautiful country.

I met good friends.

When I visited Ukraine, I spent two weeks there at a retreat where like-minded people got together to learn meditation and personal development.

Before that, I rarely met anyone that share my thoughts because most people aren’t really interested in self-help and personal development. Perhaps only 10% of the population are actually growth-driven because most people would pay for entertainment rather than education.

But I value education and personal development. No wonder I couldn’t get along well with many people around me at that time. Most people in my family and my social circle back in the day were not growth-driven individuals – they would spend their time watching TV on the couch or participating in social media for fun. However, I don’t like that lifestyle.

So, I went to a retreat which was facilitated by an elegant lady who taught us meditation, goal-setting, etc. That’s how I found my tribe.

I still keep in touch with my best friends that I met at that retreat nowadays. Some of them catch up with me regularly in person because we live in the same city. Some of them contact me frequently online because we live in different countries. We hold each other accountable as we are each other’s accountability buddies. Whenever I set a new goal, I would share it with my best friends. We are also a mastermind group and run an online event once a month – we talk about how to achieve our goals and support each other effectively. The momentum is tremendous and impressive. Usually, I set three goals for the next six months. Sometimes my goals would change because circumstances keep changing all the time. But most of the time, I would hit my goals as I have the right attitude and the right support from my friends that I met in Ukraine. Indeed, after visiting Ukraine, my life looks unrecognizable. Previously, I had a boring day job, but now I have a totally different career as a creative writer. Also, my hobbies used to be going out for dinner and then going to the movies, yet these days my hobbies are dancing to the music and watching documentaries. My dreams wouldn’t come true if I didn’t visit Ukraine.

The new routine:

I usually wake up at 7am every morning and start my daily routines. Basically, in order to achieve my goals, I must have daily routines that support my progress. That’s what I learned when I visited Ukraine.

After getting up without an alarm clock, I know I have got enough sleep, so I’m ready to dance for 50 minutes on the balcony. I oftentimes listen to Celine Dion’s fast songs while dancing. (Yes, Celine Dion has some fast songs as well.) That’s my daily workout which happens on the balcony. The reason I do it on the balcony is because I need to get enough Vitamin D which can be obtained through sunshine. I need sunshine on my skin so as to be healthy.

Then I eat my breakfast which is often vegetables and fruit that give me enough energy. I like all kinds of vegetables and fruit. I don’t eat sugar or grains. I’m not a fan of carbohydrates and processed food.

I don’t take supplements unless it’s necessary because I prefer natural food in my diet.

After that, I listen to an audio book while doing some housework. The audio book is usually about how to have a better mindset. I need to look after my mindset before I start working at my desk.

At about 9:30am, I turn on my computer and begin to write. I’m a productive and effective writer, so I sometimes write 10,000 words a day. I really love what I do and I’m good at it.

Every hour, I take a 10-minute break. During the break, I either eat a healthy snack or listen to the music while walking around the house. I listen to Celine Dion’s love songs! Very romantic.

My lunchtime is from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

I don’t work after 5:30pm. I cook dinner and eat my dinner mindfully. Then I read a book, write a journal entry and go to bed early.