Happy Thoughts

In the play/novel Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, Peter is teaching the three Darling siblings, Wendy, John and Michael to fly, but as the narrator in the novel says: "Of course Peter had been trifling with them, for no one can fly unless the fairy dust has been blown on him." So, in the novel are the children actually flying by magic, and this is the way they're tricked:

"You just think lovely wonderful thoughts," Peter explained,
"and they lift you up in the air."

Real life is not like this, it's the other way round, and I try to live by it. Magic is not real, but "Happy thoughts" can make reality magical, and I think the last day's events are proof of that. Let me start with my friend's talk, which she's about to hold next month.

My friend is asked to talk about "Joy and positive thinking, and how that can contribute to bring out the best in people, and help us tackle every day's challenges." Or something like that. Yea, yea, we've heard it before, what's the news? Well, not much maybe, but that's why it's so brilliant. It's simplicity. And to be honest - even if most people know that it helps to be positive, not many really know how to achieve it, do they? It's like any other activity; just because I recognize a soccer ball it doesn't mean I can play the game.

The whole talk (and our fabulous day discussing it) is obviously too long to repeat here and now, but there's an essence which I'd like to point out. We might not be in charge of what life has to offer, but we can take control of our reactions to it. And another thing - how many times have you heard that it's important to live in the present? But do you know how to do that? That's where commitment to the moment comes in, and an openness and willing to experience the smallest detail.

Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not here yet, so what's left is today, and that's life! I can hear the more rational people, or at least what they are according to themselves, ring their warning bells: "You have to take responsibility, you have to plan for the future! You can't just live life as if there's no tomorrow!" Believe me, that's not what it's about. It's so demanding to be that attentive to the moment, that I don't think it's possible for a sane person to stay that way for a very long time. You soon start to worry about next day's meeting or what to wear for the party, but having time like that, when time stops, gives you such pleasure, that it'll last and spread to others.

And thinking positive - what is that exactly? For one is not saying yes to everything, as some might think. It's more in terms of omitting that nasty and negative word not. It seems like our brains have some difficulties in recognizing that word for what it is, and more pay attention to the object. The energy you put in not wanting ridiculous work hours, quarrels with your spouse or a pimple on your nose at the worst time, seems to go straight to exactly that, and you end up with the things you didn't want.

Positive thinking is visualizing your dreams and goals. Try picture yourself in a situation you would like to be. If your relationship isn't working, how would it look like if it was OK?

Anyway, this has slowly brought me back to the beginning of the day. Before that very engaging coffee date with my friend, which actually lasted through the whole day, with lunch, dinner, three glasses of wine and more coffee, I had made a little wish. Just a simple wish, nothing too demanding I think, but you could say it worked! (See last post under here. Got both a hug and a power tool...) Maybe it was just me, but that moment was very now, and that's all that matters at the end of the day, isn't it?

From Last Night's Post

I guess there's no real danger admitting what I want (read need?) right now, and that's a HUG! And a big one too...

I also want/need something far more prosaic, and that's a drilling machine! I'm about to put up a new shelf in the bathroom, and the walls are made of concrete. Now I kind of regret that I was "nice" and didn't take the power tools with me when I moved out.

Bound

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Swedish Meatballs

The IKEA trip was fine, but I didn't eat any meatballs. I must admit that I never do that actually. Eat meatballs at IKEA I mean. Being Swedish with a somewhat discriminating palate makes it "impossible" to enjoy the IKEA kind, or any other frozen or vacuum packed from the shops. Well, I guess that you could find some that might pass as alright; you know the type, a little pricier and "gourmet" style? But the ready made that you usually find in Sweden are too small and too hard.

I want them just like my grandmother used to make them, but that's not option as they're not available any longer, so to speak. And here in Norway it's a lot trickier to get the right ingredients, if I want to make them myself. But it can be done, and I'd love to cook up a Swedish meal and serve it the way it should be served. With beer and everything, which I also so conveniently have a few boxes of in the fridge. Directly imported from the enemy land...

Going Home

My car is running again, thanks to a new battery. And though I need to take the car to the shops and do some maintenance I still drive it. Very carefully. So after today's lecture at the university I'll take my oldest daughter to IKEA; I thought I'd buy another section of Träby to fill up with books and other stuff. Like my sewing machine, as of now is sitting on the floor under the stairs, trapping dust.

It's funny with IKEA really, and maybe it's only 'cause I'm Swedish, but I believe it's very familiar. I've had IKEA furniture of some kind around me for whole my life - I think I jumped down from my first IKEA kiddie's wardrobe when I was five. (Used to make steps out of the drawers, climb to the top, and jump down again. And again. And again...)

And then there's the "cheap" lunch, which is sort of compulsory. With coffee, of course.

But the most important thing about it all, is that I'll spend a few precious hours with my daughter who is moving away in a couple of weeks. "Home" to Sweden. The land of meatballs and flat packed book cases...