May be it's meant to be

Yoga in the US for two weeks this summer? On the west coast, somewhere  north of LA. I've been talking about going to the US for so long, especially the west coast, and I've also wanted to go on a retreat with an American instructor to get new inspiration and input. Talk without action. All of a sudden the opportunity was presented to me. May be this is the coincidence that is meant to be? May be it's time for action.

My favourite place on earth

Today's bargain

Sometimes you find it in the cheap shop. The dress that is. The belt cost ten times the dress when I got it on the summer sale. From the posh shop. But together they complement each other and all in all the price for the outfit is pretty normal. That is before adding the shoes and the bag...

Waiting

Some days you just want something nice to happen. I mean some days you need it more than others. A happy surprise, a feeling of being in the fast lane, a dream coming true. Today is one of those days. As I'm still waiting I've decided to take off to the yoga studio. Might as well practice being present while waiting.

Afterwork walk

So needed! Replacing thoughts of work with just thoughts while the spring air is filling my lungs.

Being on time

I love having a few minutes to spare. Being a tiny step ahead of things makes such a big difference. Collecting the thoughts, breathing. And of course enjoying a perfectly made coffee with myself before the breakfast meeting starts.

Far away from my comfort zone

There I was. At a dinner party where seventy-five percent of the guests were Iranian women in their late forties to mid fifties. Or as I found out later, even late fifties, but she was stunning. Whatever she had, it made her blossom with beauty and vitality.

The other twenty-five percent consisted of two Swedish engineers (men) and an Iranian man working for the municipality. And me.

In a suburb where I haven't been since I practiced for my driving licence, in a flat of an unknown woman, at a dinner table where Persian and Swedish were mixed like bubble and squeak.

They were ever so nice, polite and sweet. They had all left their country in the political turmoil at the beginning of the nineties to come to Sweden and start a new life here. All women were nurses working in the elderly care or as school nurses. They all had more or less grown up children. They all seemed extremely happy to be in Sweden, grateful for a society where freedom and democracy are gifts we take for granted. You could argue that this would be one of the most interesting evenings I have experienced in a long time.

However, it didn't help. I felt so uncomfortable. I didn't belong. I missed my friends, my familiar surroundings and conversations. 
 
And then I thought, this is what it must have been like for my English friends when I lived in London and when we went out in big groups of people where the majority would be Swedes. We happily chatted along (mixed Swedish and English), did what we always did, felt at ease with one another and welcomed the few Brits who joined in, without judgement.

When I finally excused myself (after the beautiful woman who was fifty-eight had left), it was a relief to have my car outside the block and to make my way back to familiar territories. Today I have struggled to leave my flat at all, it's like I need to be in my home to let the familiarity surround every pore of my skin. 

Is this how I am now? A conformable Swede with a narrow outlook, looking for my male replica to merge into an even more conformable unit? Yes, may be. And then we can together explore and invite cultures and diversity into our lives. But the ones who are closest to me need to understand where I come from and who I am. Birds of a feather... or something.

(No, I never really understood how the two Swedish engineers had made it in to this circle of friends...)

From minus to plus

Finally spring on the balcony. Weather forcast promises a temperature above zero for the coming days and following tradition I did made my favourite visit of the year to the garden centre. Now the balcony is ready for coffee and rosé.

An urge for a certain friend

Although I live in the city I rarely take advantage of it during the weekend. Yesterday was therefore an unusual Saturday when I made my way downtown. First to attend a class with a new concept (developed by my childhood friend), later to meet up with Charming J. And in between some window (yes window) shopping.

All friends play a different part in your life, I'm sure it's the same for everybody. Some of my friends I don't see very often, but then I get an urge. There is something I'm longing for, something I'm missing. A gap that needs to be filled, a part of me that needs to be topped up. And hopefully this is mutual (otherwise I'm suspecting we wouldn't be friends in the first place...).

So when I last week got this urge it was Charming J that I missed and yesterday we met up for a coffee that lasted much longer than it stayed warm. We had the most lovely conversation filled with honesty, concerns, happiness and life in general. As always she gave me new interesting aspects on things currently occupying my mind: running my own business, family and love. And my own personality - how some sides seem to take over in certain situations. We even touched politics (Charming J is probably my most knowledgeable friend in this area and certainly miles ahead of me). Slowly the energy and positivity grew in an up-going spiral. There is something with her outlook and attitude that fills you with inspiration and hope.

One of my lovely friends. Even if months pass by between our get-togethers, it's always uncomplicated and rewarding when we meet. Best Saturday afternoon in a long time. 

Friday treat

One of many. An afternoon at the hairdresser's. Extra long session as he is practicing a new technique for curls. Love the pampering!

One small step...

One of my first best friends ever writes a blog. She was always into gymnastics and sports, so I wasn't surprised when I found out that she is in the fitness industry today. She is running her own business to develop new concepts and to inspire people to a healthier and more active life.

Some time ago she wrote a blog post on dreams. How important it is to never let go of your dreams. Her trick was to spend some time, I think fifteen minutes or so, each day to take a small step to get closer to her dreams. I think everybody has fifteen minutes. The question is if you know what your dreams are?

May be a career change?  A small step could be to spend fifteen minutes researching job adverts or recruitment consultants.  Or may be book a lunch with someone who has the career you aspire to have. Most people enjoy talking about their jobs. And who knows what happens next.

May be a healthier life style? Try a new recipe for a smoothie, adding some spinach and parsley. Or take a ten minutes walk at lunch time. Could be easier than booking an appointment with a personal trainer and stop eating chocolate full stop... Perhaps the ten minutes walk increases to fifteen or twenty minutes? And eventually to a run?

May be more love? Could looking into someone's eyes and smile be a first step to open up for the possibility that next time the person you are looking at is someone you actually end up talking to a little bit longer? May be that person has a friend who is even more interesting?

I know it may sound basic and may be even ridiculous. I don't know, but I believe in the concept of focusing your mind on what you want more of rather than complaining about everything that is not the way you want them to be. Even if you sometimes need to let off steam, don't let the steam off-load steal time from your fifteen minutes walk towards your dreams.

Snapshots from the Easter weekend