Art

Travel theme: Camaraderie

/ Leya / 13 kommentarer

Ailsa wants us to show camaraderie – and I agree that this is what we need to see and hear in the tough world of today.

When my daughter, Emma, turned 25 this autumn we all went to our closest outdoor exposition, held at Wanås Castle.

Walking behind them through the park and listening to their conversation (I had permission…) I felt the usual gratefulness of having these two fine youngsters around me.

 

From the start, she would set the pace and he would follow…

But today they are equals – only two years between them. They support each other through thick and thin, through darkness and light, and have never fought over anything. Sometimes they seem to be enveloped in their own world in subjects I know nothing about. But I do  hope – and believe – they will continue on this road of camaraderie.

Two friends for life – my beloved son and daughter.

Thursday Thoughts

/ Leya / 10 kommentarer

I could have written about yesterday’s heightened terror alarm in my country; I could have written about the new article on restistant bacteria; I could have written about the war – in so many countries and places in the world. But I will not do that. We are full up.

I support people every day. I need positive energy. We all do. I want to listen to the children and the young. I read articles on people miraculously saved, people who are coming back to life, children who have this life energy despite the world.

Yesterday on TV (I seldom watch TV, but have done so now to follow the terror attacks abroad and the news from our government), there was this young boy, aged 9, whose hands and face had been badly burnt when he was 5. Now he had met his idol, a young singer who also had been severely burnt some years ago, in a train accident – Axel Schylström, 23.

The boy, whose name I do not remember as I came in late in the program, was interviewed on his thoughts about what had happened to him, and how he had tackled his fate. And, what did he think about meeting his idol and why was Axel his idol?

The boy was only 5 when this happened…and at first it was very difficult for him – face and hands badly burnt. Now, he says, he loves playing TV- and computer games with his friends and in fact life is rather good. He has been operated on several times, and luckily his eyes are working and he can use his hands. He is smiling. ”Sometimes people look at me, but I have got used to it”, he says. ”I think that if they wonder what has happened to me – they should ask!”

So, he met his idol, Axel, a singer on the rise, and told the reporter afterwards that you can do anything despite what has happened to you. Axel is a living example of that.

Calm and too early grown-up, this 9-year-old looks into the camera and says: ”You don’t change because of this, you know, inside you are the same guy.”

Bild: Daniel Ohlsson/TV4 , Axel Schylström

 

#174 Lyckats – Succeeded (343/365)

/ Leya / 4 kommentarer

Har du drömt om att gå in i armén? Kan du se någon här som lyckats?

Ever dreamt of joining the army? Can you find anybody here who succeeded?

Thursday Thoughts

/ Leya / 45 kommentarer

So, it was raining and …not at all what we had hoped for. This fourth visit to China. As the days went by I adjusted my mind to the drizzle and the cold. What would I do to rewire my thinking and focus?

I started to focus on people and details. To lose myself in details would most certainly reduce the weather conditions to the margin of my thinking.

And China is a country of exquisite details. Walking into the Forbidden City, I had made my decision – this was not going to be an ordinary visit. My previous ones had been made in great awe and many photos had been taken of the splendour here.

I started to focus on the little things, and not the whole city and its buildings.

I focused on the magnificent marble bridges…

The vastness of the open spaces…

The 9 or 11 small protectors on the roofs…where the Emperor resided.

I saw my chances to for once – not rush, I had been here before – but to enjoy the people too. My chances…not to go with the crowd. ..but to turn around and look at everything they were rushing by.

Endless labyrinths – but my thoughts had made their way out of them.

I went to see the Imperial Garden and its wreathing branches. But the garden was so crowded that I could not walk there. Could not stand under the trees without being pushed and knocked around.

My thoughts…went flying up in the canopy…

…and down again. Restless. I imagined my forest at home. I tried desperately to find some peace, but had to admit that in this garden of extreme beauty, it was impossible.

I think I learned something new this day. Even in trivial issues, it is always possible to rewire, to think new, to accept and find new ways. Being a teacher is the synonym of flexibility and thinking new, but when it comes to traveling, I am not used to this much bad luck with the weather conditions – for so long a time. Maybe easily overcome for an ordinary trip, but for a long journey in a faraway country – more difficult.

I was very grateful I had been here before, seeing this ancient country in all its splendour. So, I recalled the Ditan park back then, in golden Ginko leaves, and the silent morning gymnastics.

It is a very special country, China.