Confronting confession

Mindfulness, growth, and intentionality to discover a life of true luxury and fulfillment

It’s quite confronting what I’ve been facing. After years of looking forward to it and finally arriving at the place I want to be, I’ve been feeling for the past few months that something is missing.

We’ve been here for six months now, and let’s be honest, it’s a joy every day. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is look outside. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize that it’s real and it’s the here and now. The view with mountains and sea is fantastic, and the sun is slowly starting to awaken on the horizon. I check the weather app to see what the forecast is for the day, and secretly I swipe to check the Netherlands. I can't help it. We start the day calmly with a cup of coffee with frothy milk and a little cinnamon on top. The croissants come out of the Airfryer crispy after 4 minutes.

What a wonderful start to the day, let’s have another cappuccino!

I regularly tell Mildred that we should take a cortado with a tostada on the terrace at the boulevard more often, with the thought of living life to the fullest. It’s as if we enjoy our coffee more there than at home in our housecoats in complete peace. This morning, I was reading a part of the book that was in last week's newsletter (4000 Weeks), and coincidentally, the topic was about making choices in the limited time we have. We should consider ourselves lucky that we can make choices (because we are alive) and that we should enjoy the choice we’ve made without lamenting that we didn’t have time to do all the other things we’d like to do in the same time. I’ve highlighted the conscious sentences; it really makes me think.

So you may be wondering: "This all sounds great—what could possibly be missing?"

I once read a book that is still one of my favorites: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. One of the most important lessons I took from it is that you need to pay attention to four key areas:

• Physical

• Mental

• Spiritual

• Social

This perspective has guided me for quite some time, and I clearly see the benefits, especially since I’ve been living in Spain. The physical aspect is going well, and I’m very satisfied with it. We’ve prioritized our health more—by making adjustments to what and when we eat, and by moving more. But perhaps the biggest difference is that we’ve become more mindful about food.

When you’re stuck in the daily grind, it’s so easy to view food as something practical—something you eat at your desk or quickly consume because you’re in a hurry. Now we take the time to truly pause and appreciate the food in front of us. We think about the energy and effort that went into getting it to our plate, and we consciously enjoy the flavors. This change in mindset has added much more depth and gratitude to a simple daily act. There’s almost a meditative quality to this way of eating—being present, slowing down, and fully experiencing the moment. In Buddhism, the importance of mindfulness is often emphasized, and even with something as mundane as eating, this practice can transform it into something meaningful.

The social aspect is also thriving—sometimes maybe a little too much! We’ve built valuable connections here that have enriched our lives in unexpected ways.

The spiritual aspect has also received attention, though I know there’s room for growth. For now, I’m building a foundation with breathing meditation and reading, which I also categorize as spiritual. So I would say that this aspect is receiving enough attention for now.

And now to what’s missing—the mental aspect. That’s where the challenge lies for me. After 42 years of working, you’d think I’d welcome a break with open arms, but I feel too young to stop stimulating my brain. Little by little, I’m finding ways to give this area more focus. This website is an example of that. My daughter and I enthusiastically started this project last year, and we’ve already taken steps to professionalize it. Together, we’ve set a goal to grow this platform in 2025 and continue sharing valuable insights with you, our readers.

Completing the "exercise" component of the 75-day challenge

We’ve also started the 75-day challenge, which is another step in the right direction. People aren’t made to sit behind a desk for hours, endlessly scroll through their phones, or mindlessly watch TV only to repeat the same routine the next day. We can do so much more. Over a period of 75 days, the results can go beyond just the physical. Yes, you can gain muscle, lose fat, stay better hydrated, or sleep better—but the real transformation lies in developing mental resilience.

Someone once described this challenge as “a triathlon for your brain,” and that stuck with me. It’s about proving to yourself that you’re stronger than you think, living with intention, and embracing the discomforts of growth.

And that’s exactly what’s needed to live a luxurious life.

Sunny regards, 

Carlo 

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Key Points:

• Living in the moment & enjoying the journey: Embrace the present and appreciate every moment. Mindfulness enables you to experience more joy and gratitude in everyday life.

• Self-improvement through conscious choices: By making intentional choices, you can challenge and improve yourself both physically and mentally. But accept that you can’t do everything, so choose what makes you feel good and happy in the moment.

• The importance of balance in life aspects: It’s essential to find balance between the physical, mental, spiritual, and social aspects of life. This promotes long-term well-being and personal growth.