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

Beneath the Stars

There’s a special, quiet feeling to the night that really appeals to me. When everyone else is asleep, after a day of seemingly thousand activities and demands, it’s good to just sit for a while, and be quiet. Or even better, when every now and then I get a chance to take a walk outside, in the dark, all by myself. It’s good for the mind. I seem to think more clearly.

And darkness is good for something else as well; it brings out the stars.

Watching the stars always give me this special feeling. I know of course, they are light years away – but as I stand there, focusing my eyes on a particular star above, the world around me seems to fade away for a moment. As if those ordinary things that surround us every day, is no longer of any importance. And it becomes clear to me how small we are, but also how we are all connected through being part of the same universe.

If you’re far away from someone you care about, tell them to go outside on a starry night, and look up into the sky. Then do the same yourself. It’s a great thought isn’t it; even though you’re apart, you can both see the same stars.

December Thoughts

December already. How time flies! Sorry I haven’t been updating my blog for a while, there has been quite a few things needing my attention, and thus less time for blogging.

As we enter the last part of the year, I’m sitting here reflecting a bit on the months gone by. To me, it has been a time of many new thoughts and changes, and I realize this is much due to my decision to become part of the blogosphere. It’s fascinating how the mind can be broadened by reading the thoughts of others and sharing your own. How we can be inspired and come to understand ourselves more fully through the written word. When you think about it; what a wonderful invention the world wide web is!

Also, it has been a year of discovering the joy of photography, or rather; rediscovering it by taking it one step further. There is still a lot for me to learn though, which is good – as I love to learn, and I look forward to spending more time with my camera. Music wise.. I didn’t really get as far as I had planned for, mostly due to lack of time. I did get a few projects started though, and I trust 2009 will hold more opportunities for me.

Finally, and not to forget; I’d like to add a thought of gratitude. Sure, life has its ups and downs but.. isn’t it great to in fact be alive? Perhaps a simple thought, but still – I feel truly thankful for the life and the opportunities I have been given. Then, it is my challenge of course, to be able to seize the day and make the most of it.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Linda

The Colors of Change

We know for a fact, change is an inevitable part of life. Still, our immediate response to change often seems to be resistance.

When we realize that something in our lives is about to change, it is often seen as a threat. We wish to stay with the routine and what’s familiar and safe. We wish for things to stay the way they always did. I suppose it’s only natural. After all, in order to move on we must leave our own comfort zone, and head off to what’s unknown and uncertain. Clearly it’s uncomfortable. It may be scary or even hurtful.

Even so, I believe we owe it to ourselves to ask this one question; Why do I wish to stick with what’s familiar and safe? Is it because it’s really something good, because this is everything I wanted my life to be like?

Or is it because I am afraid to embrace the unknown, because I am unwilling to admit to myself that there is something unsatisfactory or incomplete about the life I am currently living?

As we grow older, we watch and interact with the world around us; we learn, we explore, we realize things we previously would fail to understand. We reach the end of an era, and the beginning of something new.

Life itself is our teacher, continuously educating us as we keep walking its path. And change is necessary for us to reach our dreams and let us become who we need to be deep inside. And so it comes down to this:

Being willing to surrender what we are, in order to embrace what we may become.

Nature welcomes the Colors of Change. Do you and I have the courage to do the same?

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 )

Definition of Success

It is said that in order to achieve success you must first define what success means.

Considering the fact that we are all individuals with our own unique thoughts, emotions and talents, I think we have to do more than that. We must define what success means to each one of us, what it means to you as an individual. Otherwise you are simply succeeding by someone else’s standards.

Living by someone else’s definition of success in life can be destructive. Because how can we possibly live up to our full potential as long as we keep adjusting our lives to the standards of others?

It may seem obvious and I am sure you agree with me. But just stop for a second and think about it – I mean; really think about it: Are you defining success in your life or are you allowing someone else to define it for you?

Don’t get me wrong, It’s not about being all self-centered. Of course we need to interact with other people, listen to their opinions and sometimes adjust our own. That is a strength. But in the end, you are the only person who can take responsibility for your own life. And you will be at your best when you are being true to yourself, also when it comes to making a difference in the lives of others.

In my life I am not successful if I am not achieving my own definition of success, no matter how impressed “the world” may be about what I do. If it’s not what I need to do, if it’s not what’s right for me, then I am living by someone else’s definition, and not being true to myself. And if so, have I really succeeded? The answer is a definite no, I haven’t.

I have this image in my mind; many years from now, when (hopefully) I celebrate my 90th birthday, I will have a collection of photos in my room. Photos from the life I have been living. And those photos should not be showing what others wanted me to be, they should be reflecting the kind of life, the choices that were the right ones for me.

Success is living the life that is right for you, being true to yourself as an individual. Only then can you become that special person you were meant to be.

Ask not what the world needs. Ask what make you come alive… then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Howard Thurman

Another Summer

Though there are still a few weeks left, it’s an inevitable fact that another summer is coming to an end. It has been a good summer. We have been traveling more than usual, and spending a lot of time outdoors. I even got to travel a little all by myself, which was also good, allowing me the time and opportunity to take lots of pictures!

I always get a special feeling this time of year; some strange feeling about the passing of time. It’s a mixture of sadness and thankfulness. I’m thankful for each wonderful summer day, for every experience along the path of life, – still; I should have made so much more of this time.

It occurs to me that it’s such a contradiction; Time is a gift. Time is given to us for free. Time is new every morning. Still we never seem to have enough time! How can this be? How can so much time go by so quickly? The comforting thought is; there will be another summer. Another summer to rejoice at the beauty of life and nature around us; a quiet lake at sundown, lazy ocean waves towards a beach, or a walk in the soft rains of summer. When I think of this, the feeling of thankfulness is clearly the most present one.

Opportunities and Miracles

Holding on to yesterday’s thought just a bit longer; a blogger friend wrote an excellent post some time back, reflecting on the opportunities given to us in life, and how we sometimes tend to complain about what we do not have instead of making an effort to change it.

You can read the full post here Opportunity is the Blessing

followed by my response Be the Miracle

Have a blessed day!

Linda

What’s in the Mail Today?

I remember before my kids were born, I used to have all kinds of expectations of motherhood. One of the things I was really looking forward to, was teaching my kids about life. What I didn’t expect though, was how much they would be teaching me.

This morning when I was heading for our mailbox, mr S wanted to come with me. This seemed to be very important to him, and I asked him why.

His answer to me came immediately: “Maybe there’s something for me?”

“But honey” I said, trying to avoid him being disappointed “You know; normally it’s mostly bills and newspapers. It’s not your birthday yet, and I didn’t order anything for you”

“But mom” he said, looking at me as if I was a child that needed to have things thoroughly explained -

“Sometimes we get things even though we haven’t asked for them. Perhaps God sent me something?”

I stopped for a second. In a way, he did have a point.

Sometimes we do get things even though we don’t ask for them. And yes, perhaps God sent us something. Maybe not through the mail as mr S clearly expected (or then again, why not?)

Anyhow, it’s an exciting thought; God actually does send us things. Every single day we are given new opportunities, a chance to change an unwanted situation, or make the most of our dreams; changing our lives – or even the world – for the better. That is our challenge; being able to see the exceptional in the ordinary. Seizing those moments in our everyday lives, instead of just watching the days go by.

Seeing the world through the eyes of a five year old.

My youngest has a somewhat similar approach to life. He has his own special morning ritual; the minute he opens his eyes, he gets out of bed, running over to the nearest window to have a glance at the world.

And then, the question: “What’s outside?”

Is it rain? Is it sunshine? Snow? Green grass? Is it dark outside? Summer? Autumn? Or…?

From a little boy’s view, the world is new every morning. There is a multitude of options out there, and you never know what might happen. To him, every day is a wonderful adventure.

These were my thoughts as I was standing there with a very impatient five year old by my side.

And I said to him: “You know, you’re right; let’s go check the mailbox together”

After all, we never know what life might have in store for us. There just might be some great adventures out there, if we just remember to seize the opportunities given to us and.. well… keeping our minds and hearts a bit adventurous.

Thanks guys, for reminding me

Painting on Silence

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A painter paints his pictures on canvas. Musicians paint their pictures on silence.

~Leopold Stokowski

A while ago I heard someone say that because music has no physical form or substance, it can never be considered as valuable as the work of a painter or sculpturing artist. From my point of view, this is as far from the truth as possible.

To me music is one of the greatest blessings in life. Nothing is capable of touching our hearts like music; bringing joy and inspiration to the soul, lifting us up or even bringing us down at times, but still – isn’t music the very accompaniment to life? What can possibly be greater than that?

I personally believe music has the ability to make the world a better place. It is also said; what cannot be put into words, can be expressed through music. I can only summarize like this: I’m so thankful for the wonderful language of music, bringing a whole new dimension into life.