The Hero’s Heart

“Not the glittering weapon fights the fight, but rather the hero’s heart”

All you bad guys out there: don’t even think about it.. Any funny business – and you will have to answer to this big little hero

A Touch of Eternity

The days are getting shorter again. The evenings are getting darker. Late at night, just before bedtime, I spend a few minutes outside on the porch. The view of the city lights can be seen in the distance. But right above my head there are only stars. Thousands of stars. Millions.

And a thought comes to mind; that the darkness on a clear night like this has its own special beauty, because it brings out the stars once again.

I remember reading a quote somewhere:

The stars are the street lights of eternity.

Perhaps that’s why looking up into the starlit sky brings this very special feeling of hope.. of faith.. something magical. A sense of being lost in the vast universe, yet at the same time knowing I am exactly where I wish to be. Where I am meant to be.

Someday soon I’ll teach myself how to capture those stars on camera.

Be happy.

Linda

Enjoying the Simple Things

As a child, I was fortunate to spend part of the summer at my grandparents. Their house was situated in the countryside, surrounded by open fields and woodland. They even had a dog for me to play with, and I always enjoyed my visits there.

The best part however, was their garden. A real, old fashioned garden; you know the kind that is filled with herbs and colorful flowers, apple trees and a variety of tasty berries, in addition to numerous secret hideouts. And a swing. In other words; a true wonderland for a little girl.

My granddad has passed away, but my grandma, now well into her 80s, is still very much alive. She is in many ways a remarkable lady; always well informed and with a clear mind.

Through the years I have learned a lot from her. She taught me that there is wisdom to be found in reading the words of others, always providing me with books (some with inspiring photographs too:) From her I learned that there is beauty and peace to be found in the love and respect for nature and its inhabitants.

I learned that some of our greatest treasures in life, lies within our own imagination and ability to create. And she showed me how happiness is really about the small things in life. That what truly matters, what bring to us the greatest joy and satisfaction, are quite simply – the simple things.

A very good example of the above; raspberry jam. Home made, of course, from her own garden. Mmm…

Beautiful bluebells. I remember how I always used to pick some for her, just to be rewarded with that special smile. They were clearly her favorites. Now that I have kids of my own, I find it easy to understand her joy. I love them also.

Another one of planet earths tiny miracles; small but perfect.

Below are a few more details found in my grandmas garden. Also a quote that I like; about finding joy in the simple things, and being truly alive.

If the sight of the blue skies

fills you with joy,

If a blade of grass springing up in the fields

has power to move you,

If the simple things of nature

have a message that you understand,

Rejoice, for your soul is alive.

~ Eleonora Duse

There is a Silence

This photo was taken last year in May. It’s something of a personal favorite. Not necessarily because of its quality, but because of the feeling it brings. I remember that evening stroll well; just me and my camera. It was one of those quiet evenings when it seems like nature itself is holding its breath. Even the wind was still. The only sound I can remember was that of a few birds taking off from the nearby lake.  It was almost magical; an evening for walking slowly and quietly.

“Within each of us, there is a silence, a silence as vast as the universe. And when we experience that silence, we remember who we are” Gunilla Norris

Great thoughts are wonderful. They can really lift us and make us reach for what seems to be impossible, pushing us to accomplish wonderful things. And I admit; I love that approach towards life. However, every now and then it’s good to think quiet thoughts, to balance the mind. I believe this is crucial to us, as most of us do live in a fast-speed and somewhat noisy world. That’s part of the reason why I have a genuine love for nature. To me, few other places bring such peace and renewal to the soul, or in other words; an opportunity to recharge my batteries.

Seeking nature is something I have been doing ever since early childhood. There were summers I hardly slept indoors at all:) Perhaps that’s why this quote really makes sense to me; I need that silence every now and then, the silence of nature which leads to that inner silence. To put my mind in order. To remember who I was. To remember who I still am.

I think it’s a good thought.

Take care. L

Welcoming the Light

The contrast between light and darkness fascinates me. Without a doubt, our lives must consist of both, simply based on the fact that if there were no darkness, then we wouldn’t know the value of light. It’s a good thought to keep in mind when occasionally we have to work ourselves through some rough times.

But even though rough times do occur in everyones life, there is another  important thought that should also be kept in mind: That we always have a choice how to respond to those twists and turns of life. We can always make a choice to focus on the light.

Another winter has come to an end. Everything that has been frozen is melting and the miracle of spring unfolds in front of us. It occurs to me that somehow, it has been a very short winter. Of course, the number of days have been the same as any winter (and the amount of snow as well). Still, that’s what it feels like. And I think I know the reason why. Last summer, I made myself a promise: to keep my eyes on what’s truly beautiful in life, and focus on what really makes living worthwhile. I realized that when we start searching for sources of  joy and inspiration, gradually our lives begin to change. There is always a light shining somewhere. But to truly see it we have to focus on that light, and open up to the beauty life has in store for us.

Life is wonderful, in every way. But it’s true what they say; we do get what we ask for. If we stop filling our lives with what really matters, ignoring our dreams and visions, then eventually the darkness will take over and we end up merely existing instead of living. I know. I’ve been there.

So today’s thought is; Let us all allow ourselves – and each other – to be who we truly are, to live with honesty and humility for life, and welcome the light into our hearts.

Because when we do, something wonderful happens; We discover our own power to bring more light and warmth into the world, making us part of a very positive circle.

“Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.” ~ Ruth E. Renkel

The Greatest Life

Run towards your fears. Embrace them. On the other side of your greatest fears lives your Greatest Life. ~ Robin Sharma

Beyond doubt; this is easier said than done. We all have our own fears, deep inside. Often, the only person knowing what those fears are, is the one having them. Still, I think the above quote is a real powerful one.

Do I possess the strength and power to actually run towards my fears and embrace them? I honestly don’t know. But I believe I owe it to myself to try, even though it – well… scares me. Because the latter part of this quote “your greatest life” – that sounds wonderful, don’t you think?

Isn’t that what it’s all about -  in every way making the most of the life God has given us. Becoming everything we can be.

More than 7 Things

I’ve been trying to keep it a secret but fact is we have a large room on the ground floor of our house, and it’s currently filled with – you guessed it – stuff. All kinds of stuff. Things we don’t use anymore, things we never really used, things we didn’t know where else to put. We only refer to it as “the big room” – and no, I will not post a picture from it!

We’re planning on rebuilding that room into a garage, and so it has to be completely emptied within the next few weeks. And that, I assure you, is no small job.

It makes me remember the saying;

“If you own more than seven things, the things will own you”

I can relate to that.. Although keeping only seven things may be a bit too ambitious, and I would have a hard time convincing my kids to get rid of (almost) all their toys!

Yesterday while going through a cardboard box, I came across something that I thought I had thrown away years ago. It was my first cellphone! Amazing!!! I had myself a good laugh. Here it is, along with my current one:

Old meets New; 1995 – 2008

They say the best way to understand the passing of time is by looking at other peoples kids. I’d say looking at cellphones would also do the trick!

The Magic of Imagination

First – Think

Second – Believe

Third – Dream

And Finally – Dare

~ Walt Disney

Oftentimes I have wondered what the world would have been like, if there was no Disney. Surely it would have been different. Even though most of Disney’s productions are based upon fantasy and has little to do with the world we are actually a part of, the Disney way of thinking tells us something important; that our dreams can come true, if we dare to believe in the magic.

What is magic then? Does it even exist? What kind of experience would fit the description of “magic”?

I believe magic is what really touches our hearts. When we experience something surreal, something extraordinary that lifts us and make us expand and heighten our perception, we instantly feel we have been touched by magic. Though it can also be found in smaller contexts; when something causes us to stop for a minute, forget about our everyday struggles, and just take a deep breath as we immerse into the beautiful – wonderous – amazing. It could be a gaze into a baby’s eyes, a few words from a loved one, a smile, a special song, a breathtaking scene of nature, a photo, a poem… just about anything.

I’d like to modify the Disney quote just a little; adding the word imagine:

First – imagine. Imagine what life could be like. Second – believe it could actually come true. Third – allow yourself to dream your magic thought. And finally – take the leap – dare.

What you can imagine – what you believe, you can achieve. That’s where it all begins. That is the magic of imagination.

Quotes and Videos

Approaching my first 6 months of blogging, I have decided to change the “colors” of my blog a bit, also adding a few more pages.

Over the months I have posted quite a few quotes (and more will follow) and I thought it would be a good idea to gather them on a page.

You can get there by clicking on the tab above or here Quotes

Also I have posted some videos; some of my favorite music and a few funny/cute/nostalgic ones.

Click the tab above or follow this link that will take you to the Video page.

Spiritually Miraculous

“The scientifically impossible I do right away

The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer..”

Being confident is good. Seeing life through the colors of optimism also. However, I think we can all agree that the above quote may be just a little too optimistic..!!!

Although it is obviously meant to be taken humorously; I still think it’s a great quote. Because it says something about the importance of believing in yourself. We may not be able to accomplish anything we set out to do in life, at least not by our own force alone. But what is undoubtedly true is this; if we don’t believe we can make a difference, we probably never will.

When I was younger I used to have a somewhat similar (though not quite as bold) approach to life. I remember saying to my friends

There’s no such thing as “impossible” – what appears to be impossible only takes a little patience

Now being a bit older and (hopefully) wiser, I am tempted to add; sometimes a lot of patience. Even so, with a few exceptions; I still believe it. Very few things in life are actually impossible. And if we truly believe we can make a difference, and we are willing to put some effort into it, most things can be done.

However, if what we aim to accomplish is the spiritually miraculous, it’s probably a good idea to realize that we may need a little help along the way )