When I returned home to Croatia in January, something inside me felt different. It wasn’t dramatic, no fireworks, no bolt of lightning. But there was a quiet clarity, the kind that only comes when life invites you to pause.
Coming back after the holidays, I felt a shift. And with my 70th birthday on the horizon, I made a decision: I would step into this next decade with intention. Not resolution—intention.
I gave up wine. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to wake up clear. I stopped eating foods that taste good but don’t do me any good. I swapped comfort for vitality. And strangely, it didn’t feel like sacrifice. It felt like freedom.
Then, by what some might call coincidence (and I call alignment), I found myself listening to Tony Robbins. One podcast led to another, and before I knew it, I was participating in Unleash the Power Within. I didn’t expect it to change me, I thought I’d just gather a few new ideas. But it helped me shift something deep: the emotional patterns behind my eating, my energy, even the way I speak to myself.
I started my days with warm lemon water and chia seeds. I walked in the open air. I nourished my body with simple, whole foods; spelt, quinoa, ginger, greens. I cleared space, not just in my kitchen, but in my mind.
Living well, I’ve come to realize, isn’t about a number on a scale or a perfect routine. It’s about listening. Tuning in. Being honest with what energizes me and what depletes me, and having the courage to choose differently.
Croatia gives me that space. It’s not just where I live, it’s where I remember who I am. And with each quiet morning and nourishing bite, I feel more alive than ever, not because I’m chasing youth, but because I’m honoring this moment.
This is the beginning of a new chapter, and I plan to live it well.