Reminder

Remind me to blog about my Brussels trip =)

Black sheep

Am sitting in the office, 5 minutes after midnight, really happy that I managed the deadline =) No I am not the last minute applier. I just had so much to do, that I prioritized this way. Campaigns in Active are so far not a huge success, the member organisations have other things to deal with, but still, if we have time and energy to come up with some campaigns and apply for them, we can slowly but surely create a campaign culture in this organisation. Of course not to be stuborn and just run a campaign for a campaign. No no – I am thinking the other way around. I am thinking – what have our organisations in common, what are they dealing with, what can be the thing that will just enrich their current activities and bring the spirit of sharing the same ideals and goals?

I was thinking and thinking, believing that some idea would strike me in the end and it did! Inspired by the campaigns of IOGT-NTO that are clearly and in a very interesting and attractive way showing connection between alcohol consumption and violation of Human Rights, I created a campaign called “Black sheep”  - based on the same idea, but of course adjusted to the European standards. I even created an introduction picture:

Black sheep

So let´s see how it will work out. I enjoyed =)

Phrase of the day

People do not want to be compassionate very often. They want to be right instead. (Karen Armstrong at TED talks)

Phrase of the day or About communication

I was watching TED talks for breakfast and found one by a scientist who was looking into understanding others peoples minds. She introduced the presentation with the following sentence that has gotten directly into my heart:

I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I am not sure you realize what you heard is not what I meant. (Alan Greenspan)

It´s good to keep smth like that on mind when we are talking to each other. I am that kind of talker who is able to say things in one sentence (ok in few). I have no need to talk a lot though I have learnt that one sentence (perfectly understandable to me) is not enough for all the people listening to me. So I put some effort into my performance and try to use more words and sentences bringing more details into the daylight. Keeping the quotation on my mind, I think I will have more fun developing what I want to say when trying to deliver a message.

I honestly and sincerly do not care!

My thoughts are at the moment “inspired” by a blog of a swedish politician who was upset by some other politicians (don´t want to go into details) who did not dress and perform according to the code of behaviour in the swedish parliament. Instead of wearing black suit, he had jeans and instead of standing and singing Kings song he was sitting and not singing. And I realized that this behaviour would never make me write a blog and being upset. I would not give it even a thought.

And I ask myself why? Is it cause I do not care?

And the answer is YES. I do not care for state symbols, I do not care for rituals and I think that those who want to follow them, might do that as much as they wish but there is nothing bad about not doing so.  Just try to imagine: An anthem is played/sang and all people are sitting instead of standing. Some people even eating some hotdog or smth. What happens? Nothing. The world spins as it has done before, the rain falls, the flowers bloom and the sun rises up again.

I think instead of all the codes of act for various ceremonies etc, we should be more eager at following simple rules of  treating our plant nice – like trash only to trash bins, switching of electricity when it is not needed, saving water. And instead of showing respect by being dressed in a cerain way, I think we could practice solidarity much more often and care for each other in the cases that actually matter.

You know, the parliamentarians in Slovakia (I can’t speak for Sweden really) are often dressed correct. But how much do they actually do? So for me the results of politics are more relevant than the costumes the politics is done in.

What´s on your mind..

Facebook usually asks this question. And I have a too long answer for a “status line” on Facebook so I am writing here:

I have come back from Fredrikstad an hour ago. Am in Göteborg now, in IOGT International office . I find it pretty cool. I slept here yesterday before going to the AC meeting in Norway and now I´ll sleep here afterwards. The reason is the pretty complicated connection to Örebro but I do not complain. Being here helped me to tune my mind for this day.

When I studied at the University, I used to feel thankful every day I went home after several hours of lectures. I felt I had spent the day meaningful and that I had been moving forward. I have missed this feeling for some time now. I still thought that my days have been meaningful but the feeling was missing. Interesting enough but there was no time for the feeling. Recently I have been bouncing between deadlines and questioning my work. I haven´t stopped believing in what I am doing but I have been wondering whether there is general need for the “service” I offer or whether I just do it for my own good feeling about myself. All the campaigns and seminars and workshops and lectures and concepts and articles…I have enjoyed doing most of it but is anyone profiting out of it?  In any sense – from a good feeling to a new motivation. Having this thoughts on my mind, I haven´t felt the thankfulness for my life in my heart for some time.

I felt it today. At such moments I feel my eyes are more open, I feel stronger and walk straight. I smile.

I needed this day. I needed to meet people who think in the same direction as I do (eventhough I am sure we have many different opinions). I felt I have grown. As a person, as a board member. And I felt inspiration. I was around people who make me dream, who make me have plans, who make me wanna see a new personal goal.

I am tired right now. Physically. Feel a bit dizzy because of lack of sleep but I also feel fresh. Mentally. And I feel I am at the right place right now.

Some moments will live forever

“Most of our life is a serie of images. They pass us by as towns on a highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens and we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever”

This quote is from One Tree Hill (3rd serie)

Protect your joy

And this picture is mine. Developing the quote. Make sure that the moments won´t become just memories. Let those moments form your future.

Fear

My parents were visting me here in Sweden and went home on saturday 2.45 in the morning. I could not leave them leave alone so inspite of the late hour I went with them to the bus station and then back home alone (biking). The town was pretty lively. Many groups and individuals outside. My presence in the night town was commented by a small whistle or some small comments from total strangers and I was afraid. All the people had something in common. All of them were drunk. I did not really like the feeling of insecurity like I felt for those 3 – 5 minutes of biking. For me it was just few minutes of fear and rational understanding that nothing can happen to me – I was sober having my body and mind under control and I had bike to escape if neccessary. In spite of that I did not feel safe untill I came home. What about those who have this at home? Every day?

Being punched from now and then

When I pass by someone who is smoking, I become a bit grumpy for a while. I do not like the person for a moment and I feel attacked. Walking through the town, talking to friend or being in a hurry and all of sudden getting smashed by the smell of cigarette makes me stop breathing and complain. It´s hard for me to accept my own complaining cause I know many people who smoke and except of that habit they are great persons. BUT I would forbid it all. Smoking should be really allowed only in totally isolated cabins 1mx1m where none else gets punched by that poison.

It´s everyone´s choice to smoke, inhale the crap and destroy his/her own lungs but as soon as other´s are involved it´s not a personal choice. Not mentioning that a destroyed individual (by his/her own choice) is not a separate being disconnected from the family and society.

Hard to understand how smoking can still be so accepted and excused. No it´s not OK to smoke.

A horrible dream – but maybe a good input for reality

I had a very very bad dream last night. I tried to kill Dante – my own dog. I somehow understood from somewhere that he should be killed so I was trying. At the same time I was very soft so he survived. My means were for example  – exposing him for a moving bike (!!!) After some time I got tired, dante was a bit hurt but otherwise OK, just laying around, very calm, doing nothing. I was looking at him and I understood that he does not need to be killed and that I do not need to get rid of him. The other way around. I actually wanted to keep him. I wanted to have him. Then I woke up. Went to hug Dante, was thankful for just seeing him. This dream influenced my day. It was all the time somewhere deep in my thoughts. I was thinking why would I dream such a horrible thing. I love that little creature and my heart is breaking each time I have to leave him (when going somewhere for more than a day and he can not come with me). Why really?

Maybe there is something else in my life I really love but I am also trying to get rid of it. I will definitely reconsider my choices.