It was Friday night when it happened. Samuel had taken on the cooking, and I sat by the kitchen island watching him. A text message informed him that the week-long bidding process for the flat had finally come to an end – the flat was his. We were thrilled for him, perhaps even a bit…
Category: Happiness
How We Will Survive
They day before we were leaving Quincy, it was the Mr’s birthday and we decided to celebrate the only way we know how: by hitting the town and seeing what Quincy had to offer. By pure accident, we stumbled upon The Drunk Brush – a wonderful little Italian bar run by Ricco from Naples (the…
A different kind of birthday
It’s no secret that I L❤️VE birthdays – especially my own. I always celebrate them, not necessarily in grand style, but always with the people I love the most – my boys 😍. This year, though, things are a little different. Junior isn’t home (I miss him a bit today…), Mr is off on a…
Not every morning
But sometimes, quite often, I step out into our garden and pick a few flowers. I arrange them like my inner child florist (dream occupation at six) would have done. It’s a quiet moment. It’s time for contemplation.I think about my family, my dad, and my friends. The moment helps me start the day in…
Pure joy and the opposite
For once, Fabian’s game stated before bedtime! I praise the people behind the technology of internet, wi-fi and Ai, which made it possible for us to watch Fabbe Fab score, not one but two (!), goals. I love the pure joy a team shows after scoring. People united of their love for the sport instead…
I don’t know how to have fun
I feel like a five year old, saying “I have nothing to do!” I really don’t know what to do with the time I have . Without Fabian’s football I have no hobbies what so ever. And I’m afraid to sign up for something (like I’d know what it should be…) as it then would…
The time has come
Yesterday it was time. And never has Kahlil Gibran’s On Children, been more suitable. I don’t think I ever have hugged him as hard as I did at the airport yesterday. I don’t even remember telling him that I love him. On the other hand I have done so 7000 times before. But I told…
Review – England by train
Before we start, I’m aware the heading is somewhat exaggerated, we weren’t even close to half of England, but bare with me. Our journey started, as mentioned in previous post, in Manchester. Something we realized was somewhat unnecessary when the itinerary was final. But as said, Manchester is grand and a trip there is not…
Still here
More travel updates will come.
Can someone please explain
Why is it so hard to let go? To just let them sort out things by them selves, whatever it might lead to. Apparently I’m normal, at least to chatGPT. Letting go is extremely hard. But I gotta! I now really need just to sit back and relax. Not think. Not feel. Not see the…
And just like that
it’s over. Or really, for him, it’s a start of something new, something different, exiting and sometimes troublesome. But, its not the end. It’s the beginning. To watch your children graduate is special. Yesterday it was our youngest’s turn. Graduation is wired, as you remember your own. Regarding the weather- the gods were on our…
Prom
Time again. Last time was three years ago. Same venue different kid, different lady. Not much to talk about. I was worried about the weather. It turned out to be a great evening.
Dog = happiness
We must be more happy. We dog people. Juni sleeps in our bed (of course). And how lovely the sunggels are. I feel in my entire body how good it is for me. It’s soothing. Her warmth, her soft fur, her breaths. Studies do show that dog owners are happier and are less often depressed….
Some more
Today I have maternity day. It’s all about Juni and Tesla. They are doing great. Tesla can be a little tough at times, but they will have so much fun these gals.
It’s June
Well, it’s March, but we have June (Juni as her Swedish name is, meaning June). We picked her up today ❤️. All since we said goodbye to Buddy in August last year, we’ve been thinking about it. Getting a second dog. I will not lie, the last time with Buddy required us to walk them…
A+
Drove Fabian to a pick-up point for today’s game. While sitting next to him in the car, like hundreds of times before, listening to his favourite music of the minute, singing and seat-dancing, it just hit me. What a great mother I’ve been! Awesome! And how fun I have had (when I asked, he also…
A Moment of Gratitude
While sitting by myself in the candle light by our dining table, playing tranquil Swedish Christmas songs, the dog sleeps peacefully on the sofa and the boys in their beds (the Mr is off to work). I reflect over how I feel in this very moment. Except for missing my dad (who loved Christmas) I…
An End of an Era
Motherhood, what a journey it is. Our trip to NYC made it so clear to me, that my boys are adults and “we” are now something new, something different, something I haven’t fully understood. I have always striven to get independent children. That’s why I have made sure that they can handle the basics of…
The Value of Creativity
In our current economic system, efficiency is everything. Things should happen fast and with an OK result. But the result is always subordinate the time and cost it takes to create the result. Why isn’t the creative process valued? I’m thinking what the process does with the creator. The feelings, thoughts the possible added outcomes…
OMG I’m 50!
I had this really long post planned. But, I scrapped it. I just summarize that I’m happy. I miss my dad, but I’m happy. I have my family and my friends. I have my health (well, if it wasn’t for that knee/calf thing) roof over my head, money for food and splashes of humble luxuries….
Being clear
Clarity is important to me. In anything and everything. In fact it’s so important I find joy in creating it. I believe many will claim that it’s related to control, that I need control. Personally I’m not convinced. For me, it’s more about respect and integrity. Example, if you want me to do something for…
Blessed
I was listening to a “gossip” podcast on my morning walk with the dog this morning (note: I also listen to other podcast, like “intellectual ones” currently many about the US election). Anyhow, both the topic discussed and the way the host talked about things got me thinking. How utterly blessed I am. And I’m…
Stop it, just stop it now
No I’m not talking about the scolding happening at the other side of the pond. I’m talking about life. Tuesday our little one (who turned 18 little over a month ago and thereby is an adult in the eyes of society) got his driver’s license. In Sweden you don’t get to have a driver’s license…
The Best
Friends from kindergarten, middle, junior high and high school came together this weekend to celebrate our common friend turning 50! Me and friends turning 50 is great, even if I have a hard time comprehending this fact, we are so young. Over the years I’ve told about my best friend in the blog and I’…
Singing heart
When good things comes to those I love and subjectivity think deserves it, I feel my heart sing and butterflies tumbling around in my tummy. I grasp a moment to be thankful.
Physical & mental movement
We hear it almost daily, that our kids (and many adults) don’t get enough exercise on a daily basis leading to all sort of negative things. Many times before, I have proudly told you (yes, bragged), what an outstanding person I am, who not only exercise regularly but I do it so very early in…
Down under
As a kid, Sam loved Steve Irwin and Australia Zoo (he loved/s animals all together to be honest). So for a long, long time there has been this dream of going there. To Australia. For his graduation two years back he asked his celebrators for travel checks and now in April they were used. And…
A mum’s love – part 463
Being a parent is the toughest job/assignment ever. Now with adult/semi-adult children it is not the sleepless nights I’m thinking about (that’s perimenopause) and it’s not the agonizing conversations explaining the most fundamental logic things to the “not the sharpest tool in the shed” teenager. No, for me the absolute toughest part of being a…
I love it
A while back I “promoted” Dad Haromony as an expample of the essence of Swedishness, Now I would like to take the opportunity to again promote something wonderful. Again it’s about music. Swedish public service (SVT) wanted to make a tribute to ABBA, who 50 years ago won the Eurovision (a lot of good things…
Love ❤️
Last night the Mr and I talked about our mutual gratitude for each other. About how happy we are together, our appreciation of one another and how we want to continue to stay together. The conversation lasted about three minutes and took place over the phone. After 30 years together, it was both comforting to…
Voices from below
Even-though my father’s passing lies close to my heart and the grief stops by to visit at least once every day, I’m happy. Happy for the falsetto shout-outs from the living room downstairs where one son and his father enjoys (or not, judging by their voices) a football game together. Happy for them. Happy to…
To be needed
Without knowing anything (or very little) about psychology I believe “to be needed” is very fundamental for us humans. That’s why a context for us humans is so important. To be in a context, any context, is more important than the right (if that is what’s offered). To get a text from your offspring wondering…
Light blue light
Today I took our little girl down to the beach after dropping F off at the train station. What a beautiful morning it was! The sky was light blue and pearly. It was just another day to be happy to be alive. How good of me to enjoy it! Now it’s more an everyday grey,…
A good start
The old year ended and the good year has started well. We managed to stay healthy (feels like we are almost the only ones, Covid19, flu and colds march through humanity around us). We have altered sleeping in the sofa with work and I managed with in the first week of the year to go…
Hello 2024
So what will happen 2024? Naturally we don’t know, but I will start to think of my goals and intentions for the upcoming year. I have a number of professional projects that I want to launch and others I want to start. Books, prints, exhibitions, and trainings to mention some. Let’s see what will be…
Bye bye 2023 – act III
The final reflection for 2023 I do through the question: What did I learn about myself in terms of values, priorities, and passions? My values have been grounded since 15-20 years back (probably longer, even if I wasn’t aware of them). I have talked about them previously, and I keep them even if I (wise…
Bye Bye 2023 – act II
The next question I ask myself in my annual reflection is: How have I grown personally and professionally in the past year? Well, the coaching I had together with Linnea and her Happy Business earlier this year has made me grow in ways, and at a speed, that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I’m just…
Bye bye 2023 – act I
It’s getting closer, the end. The end of 2023. What better way to round it up than to do some reflections. My most significant achievements and accomplishments this year? Yes, I’m one of them. One who has written goals and to-do lists (of feel like it lists as I call it nowadays) both for professional…
Friends
I’m actually lost for words trying to describe what these lovely ladies mean to me. But I know they understand so I leave it at that. Thanks for a lovely weekend 😍
Is it so
Me blogging has always been around me (surprise), me wanting to share things, inform about things and sometimes lifting topics for debate (or food for thought). But it’s always been around me. My life my kids, my feelings and my thoughts. In other words a catastrophy from a marketing and communication perspective. But from a…
Wanting more
For the Mr’s 50th birthday we were off to Edinburgh for a long weekend (Thursday-Monday). The four of us. A Scottish friend of mine advised us to stay in the city as we were only being there for 3,5 days. She was (naturally) right. So we have to come back for more of both the…
Breath in breath out
I don’t see my self as a hateful person, who act or wish malevolent upon others. But sometimes I get tired of people. I still not wish them mayhem. I wish they would just be quiet or at least reduce the self-pity, and self-assertion (which is a painful reminder of bad self-esteem) and while their…
How much money does one need?
I think the first time I reacted to it (not the first time I heard it) was when Avicii mentioned it (or something similar) in the documentary (True Stories?) about him. He expressed his view about money, meaning that money wasn’t important to him. And now Zlatan said something similar in his Piers “Shame pillow”…
How tragic
One of the few “influencers” I follow and who’s content I actually take in (partly, not the beauty tips as I’m not interested) is Louise Lundberg. Her newsletter shares good content on “what’s happening out there”, content that makes me feel more “in the loop”. This week she tipped us followers of this short documentary…
The outcome
I promised you to tell you the outcome of my coaching process as well. Naturally it is very personal and nothing that can or should be applied to anyone else. As described previously I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting from the coaching when I contacted my coach, but as our first meeting got…
It’s over
Officially it ended Friday, this is just a regular week-end. I have not been able to just sit down and relax all four weeks, but at the same time when the Mr is off I want to do things together with him, even if it’s only sitting next to each-other. Tomorrow the Mr starts working…
What we’ve done so far
During my husband’s vacation we have been to two concerts. Very happy we had the Swedish 80’s pop boy band Gyllene Tider prior to Coldplay’s. It would have been hard for any other concert to measure up to Coldplay. The Music of the Spheres Tour is AMAZING. But it was nice to have the boys…
Vacation time
We are at the time of year when Swedes go on their holiday or vacation as Americans’ say. According to the newspaper Dagens Industri the most popular weeks for holiday leave are the weeks 29, 30 and 31, which this year corresponds to the period 17 July – 6 August. This probably because July and…
Louise Dock 