Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts – Life Patterns

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

Tylösand, maybe the most famous beach area in the southern part of Sweden. Two hours away from me – as usual, click the pictures to enlarge.

We spent two glorious days there this week, in the low, winter sun. Walking two early hours on the beach, I realized how many possible patterns there are in a lifetime.

To See a World in a Grain of Sand…

Maybe you, for a long time, follow a straight road, a pattern cut out for you…

Tylösand spa 200-Redigera

… there may be waves on your path – but they can be waves of beauty and learning

Many times Life gets more complicated, but you can still feel the pattern…it has not left you unattended…

Troubles will come your way, but you will sort them out in the end – you have to…

New paths and patterns will open up, and the skies above will again be crispy blue

Tylösand spa 196-Redigera

Sometimes you can trace your footprints back to harmony – but then again, you might even discover bright new paths and find new, wonderful Life Patterns.

Safe Travels!

Thursday Thoughts – The Importance of Balance

/ Leya / 16 kommentarer

Magnificent Gran Canaria. Thinking of climate changes and how the tiniest changes in temperature will give massive domino effects. And already do. On everything living. There are examples all around you, if you just take the time to see them. Then imagine…

Just look at, for example, the importance of water – Some simple pictures from an ordinary vacation speak of what small changes in water supply can do to an arid island.

Just take away some water here…

…and this will be the result

Just add some water here…

…and this will be the result

Yes, they are simple examples – but things to consider if you find it difficult to see what is happening to our world. Nature is a Wonder of balance, and we must stop abusing her and disturbing the delicacy in which she is made. Which path do you want to follow – the ”fighting for a better world” or the simple ”adapting to whatever happens” one? Do we really have a choice? I think we have.

CPH jul och Gran Canaria 2017 1301-2

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – From Totti

/ Leya / 34 kommentarer

So, I think it is time for me to take you on a guided tour …a typical day in the forest – for Me! Here we go…

…and if it is not, we will go for a walk anyway!
Scouting first!
This is one of my favourite sports…
…Don’t you agree – it is great fun!
A roll in the heather afterwards – always the little ”extra”! Can you see me?

Mmm, so what do you think? I doubt it that you are having just as much fun when you are out hiking! But I hope you enjoyed my little tour! OK, the shower next…

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

 

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.

Thursday Thoughts – A breathofgreenair

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

I have taken a year off, and tomorrow is, once again,  my birthday. So, Time is a tiny bit more on my side this year…even if in fact time is more on the ”running out” side…

Life is difficult, strange and wonderful. You never know what is waiting around the corner – no matter what your plans are. My intention is to use Thursdays for writing down some reflections made the current week…on anything that comes my way. I hope you would like to join me!

A whole year off – or forever? I don’t know anything but the need for slowing down. Maybe searching for the woman I once was… I used to paint and write poetry before the wheel started spinning too fast. Could I find my way back to… anything of what I once was? Maybe i don’t know what I will find. I will know more in August next year.

I read two posts on Seonaid’s blog this morning – breathofgreenair. Her posts always lift my spirits. She has that effect on me (and many others) – It’s the harmony, her way with words…and magical photography.

We met up in August last year, and in August again this year. From the start, I came to see the Tattoo, but deep in my heart I knew that for me, it was mostly to see Seonaid and her family again. To my great joy, she could have us for one day and one night.

Edinburgh is a great city, and I dearly love everything about it. Even in festival times, even if I’m not a real festival person…I used to avoid big happenings like parties and events. Somehow, as years go by, you are more or less forced to get used to them.

An hour or two is great fun, especially as Edinburgh city has got – Harry Potter!

I had two wishes, where the first one was a day out – to some of the beautiful places Seonaid weaves her stories around. Just to feel the atmosphere, letting her words come back to me. My second wish was to meet her lovely dogs again. My Bearded Collie, Amanda, left me in the year 2000, but I will never forget her. She was in colour just like Maisie and Willow. And her coat flying in the wind…

The fresh air against my skin and the joy of the dogs running free with the winds and waves…make me come alive and remembering.

I think we all enjoyed this, and I’m forever grateful to Seonaid and her girls.

It wasn’t that easy to get all three of them in the same picture – but here they are! Maisie, Willow and Molly.

Seonaid told me that on all beaches in Scotland, dogs are allowed to run free anytime of the year! Oh, the joy! In Sweden dogs are only allowed during winter time and for the rest of the year only on special ”dog beaches”.

Just before leaving Scotland, Edinburgh and this lovely family, we made a quick visit to the green oak forest as well. Of course the dogs found their way to cool water. This time floating in a river of sunny spots.

I cannot thank you enough for having us and giving us some of your precious time, Seonaid! I found a piece of my old self again, and I left a piece of my heart with you, your family and Scotland.