out now!

Joy Is in the Simple Moments,
A Mediterranean Island Gathering
of Poems and Reflections
That Celebrate the Ordinary
is a gentle reminder that when we want less, we naturally create space for a whole universe of freedom, presence, and life. Open the book, sit at the table, and let yourself just be.

order your copy

lighter way

Weekly, uplifting blend of island snapshots, reflections, and warm, witty reminders to live for what matters most. It is a free gift from my heart to yours. Pull up a chair.

read on substack

hi, i'm katy,

an eternal optimist, an established European author, a poet, and an amateur philosopher anchored in Mediterranean simplicity. Originally from the fairy-tale landscapes of South Bohemia, I am a cosmopolitan soul with a deep affinity for a simplified way of life.

read my story

current inspiration

After a long break, hello again! I’ve been living by the words in this photo—simplifying my life and my schedule to make room for finishing my new book (and for life itself). With this quote from the new book, Joy Is in the Simple Moments, I’m happy to be back in this space. I have some exciting ideas for what's next, and I want to make sure the time we spend here is truly worth it for both of us.

My new book is officially live! It will take a few more days to become available for purchase on every Amazon marketplace worldwide, but in the meantime, you can click the link in my bio to see the cover and read a sample. I am truly so happy to see it out in the world after all this time, and I hope it brings you so much joy when you read it. I’ll be introducing it properly over the next few days!

#JoyIsInTheSimpleMoments #KatyYaksha #BookLaunch #MindfulLiving #Happiness

Anytime I open this book, it always knows what to show me. And that is the beauty of real books—even those you wrote yourself :) Although AI can give you all kinds of answers in no time, there is nothing simpler than opening your favorite book randomly, with a question on your mind or heart, and reading the first thing your eyes land on. The answer is there. Always. You just have to want to see it.
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#YouCanDoAnythingYouWant #UpliftingBook #InspirationalGuide #RealLife #KatyYaksha

Just a few snapshots of July on the island—the backdrop of my future memoir, which is currently in the creative process. It is still too hot for any deeper thoughts here or more writing, but I am already looking forward to creating the Sunday letter, besides progressing—slowly but surely—with my books. There, I will also share why we are taking a break from the island soon.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures from our daily life. As you can see, even the cat refuses to do anything but laze in the shade. Simply living, indeed.
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#TheLighterWay #SlowLivingLifestyle #WritersLife #FoolsWhoDream #Ischia

Keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart wide open to perceive all the beauty and joy with every step.

Have a great week full of wonder in the little things that make our days lighter and truly worth it. 🐚
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#Thelighterway #Maximalminimalism #Simplewayofliving #Everydaymagic #Ordinarybeauty

A gentle reminder for this Thursday evening.

When we stop racing to meet everyone else's expectations, a beautiful thing happens. We stop pretending. We stop hiding. We just breathe out and return to who we actually are.

True freedom doesn’t cost any money—it just takes a little bit of your time to slow down, listen closely, and trust what you feel.

With love from the island,
Katy

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#Thelighterway #Simpleliving #Slowliving #Soulfulmoments #Islandlife #Heartledliving #Simplejoysoflife #Everydaymagic

The heart is always our best friend, the best companion for a journey, and the best partner we could ever choose to take advice from. Always trust your heart. Never doubt it. No matter what, the heart always tells us the truth and wants only the best for us.

There is a place for any idea, and for any dream that truly resonates within you.

There is a path leading to it.

There is a way to anything your heart softly urges you to pursue.

And there is immense joy and a sense of calm and peace within you when you follow—even though the sea on which you travel won't always be calm...

But it's not only about the big things and dreams. It is the everyday hints and little pieces of advice that you should always listen to… to take a rest, to move more, to put more effort into your steps, or to take it easier.

The heart is always there, in the background, like a loving parent, suggesting what it knows is best for us based on lived experiences...

So, trust, follow, and live each moment as best and as calm within as only you can.
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#TheLighterWay #SlowLivingLifestyle #SimpleMoments #HeartLedLiving #MindfulMoments #LiveForWhatMattersMost #KatyYaksha

Many people write about moving to the Mediterranean to renovate an old stone house.

But when I arrived on this small island ten years ago with a one-way ticket, I didn't want a construction project. I didn’t want to fix up half-ruined walls.

I realized that on an island, space is precious. There is nowhere to hide from yourself. So instead of a house, the island began to renovate me. 🐚✨

It’s a slow, sometimes messy process of stripping away the "shoulds" until only your authentic rhythm remains. It is here where my daily practice of deep presence and slower living truly deepened and took root.

This book in my hands is the blueprint of that entire transformation. It is a gathering of the maps, notes, and the honest approach to life that allowed me to follow my greatest dreams—and it’s designed to help you follow yours, too.

P.S. If you are looking for a guide to start your own inner renovation, the refreshed digital edition of You Can Do Anything Your Heart Wants is currently available at a special introductory price ($2.99) on Amazon. Link in bio. 📖🤍

#HonestEvidence #TheLighterWay #IslandPhilosophy #YouCanDoAnythingYourHeartWants #SlowLiving #MaximalMinimalism #InnerRenovation #KatyYaksha #AuthorLife

Even we—the dreamers, the creative souls, and the "odd" ones—need to quiet our productive minds sometimes.

Life isn’t only about doing, even when that doing is something you love. I’ve always believed in the art of "being there," of truly being present—I even dedicated a whole chapter to it in my book. 📖🤍

But it is here, on this island, where that approach feels natural. Simple. Without the usual distractions, it’s easier to hear when it’s time to exhale.

But you can find that space anywhere, as long as you give your heart permission to just be.

To those of you who have just joined our village—welcome. I’m so glad you’re here to explore this lighter rhythm with me.

When was the last time you let yourself just "be" for a moment?

#HonestEvidence #TheLighterWay #IslandPhilosophy #SimpleJoy #CreativeRest #KatyYaksha #SlowLiving #BeThere #YouCanDoAnythingYourHeartWants

It’s finally here. 📖✨

On Monday, the first copies of the refreshed edition of You Can Do Anything Your Heart Wants arrived in my hands. I’ve spent the last few days just sitting with them, letting the reality of this journey settle.

This book is the foundation of everything we talk about here in the Lifestyle Laboratory. It’s the "Honest Evidence" that when you stop building Sand Castles of Worry and start appointing the Heart as Captain, the path begins to clear.

I wanted this edition to feel like a warm breeze from the island—soulful, light, and full of the "Lighter Way" of living.

The gate is officially open. You can find your copy at the link in my bio. I can’t wait to hear which parts of this journey resonate with your heart. 🤍

#HonestEvidence #YouCanDoAnythingYourHeartWants #KatyYaksha #NewRelease #AuthorLife #TheLighterWay #MaximalMinimalism #IslandPhilosophy #HeartLedLiving

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out now!

Joy Is in the Simple Moments, A Mediterranean Island Gathering of Poems and Reflections That Celebrate the Ordinary is a gentle reminder that when we want less, we naturally create space for a whole universe of freedom, presence, and life. Open the book, sit at the table, and let yourself just be.

lighter way

Weekly, uplifting blend of island snapshots, reflections, and warm, witty reminders to live for what matters most. It is a free gift from my heart to yours. Pull up a chair.

hi, i'm katy,

an eternal optimist, an established European author, a poet, and an amateur philosopher anchored in Mediterranean simplicity. Originally from the fairy-tale landscapes of South Bohemia, I am a cosmopolitan soul with a deep affinity for a simplified way of life.

current inspiration

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Joy Is in the Simple Moments,
A Mediterranean Island Gathering
of Poems and Reflections
That Celebrate the Ordinary
is a gentle reminder that when we want less, we naturally create space for a whole universe of freedom, presence, and life. Open the book, sit at the table, and let yourself just be.