Staying in the moment

Happy travelers, Jessica, Emelie, Kalle, Tilda, Emil & Marica

Beautiful clear water

Sometimes it's easier to stay in the moment than others, to take a vacation from the "head-office" and it's constant stream of thoughts. Being here makes it really easy, it's like the sound of the ocean waves and the wind just cleanses my head and there's nothing but the beauty of the moment. Peace, deep grounded serenity and a gentle smile on my lips. I will take these moments and put them into the treasure chest of joyful moments and will hopefully be able to recall this energy when I'm all caught up in some kind of stress during the dark and cold winter-part of the year.

The owner of the apartment that Jessica & co. are renting said to me, every time I se you you smile and look so happy, why? I smiled and said how could I not when surrounded by beauty and kindness!
Well, it hasn't always been like this, at least not on the inside. What makes me so deeply grateful these days is that there is no discrepancy between what I show to the outside world and how my inner world looks like. Much to many years the face I showed smiled but on the inside i cried of pain and self-destruction as depression and self-hatered had me caught in a dark loop.

Thank god there was this light, this inner flame of hope that kept me alive, kept me believing that change was possible. I remember asking my therapist at the age of 25 how long she thought it would take for me to heal - she was a wise woman and answered that it was very individual - I'm glad that she didn't tell me that it would be a life-long journey.

Today 26 years later I know that there will be ups and downs but I'm not scared anymore. Depression is no longer a companion, I've traded it in for awakening which has a much better feeling to it! Today I have leant to be with what is, that he more I can fully experience the moment the happier I am. What a glorious gift! Some other day I'll share with you the tool that have taken me to where I am today. Be gentle with yourself, that's a very good start!

Dubrovnic

Just a few pictures from my day-trip to Dubrovnic. Now time for some rest! Be gentle with yourself!

And the magic continues

and he magic continues. Spent today on my hired bicycle riding from one bay to an other enjoying the hot and sunny day! Luckily I got a bit tired and ended up taking an afternoon nap otherwise 'I'd look like a lobster now :) I'm just so fortunate to be here, really needed it, every cell is happy and fueling up with vitamin D! So far I'm not bored with my own company, actually having a really good time being silent most of the time! Tomorrow I'll continue exploring the area, planing to ride to the next village on my bike and organizing an apartment for Jessica & co who are coming here on Wednesday! Ypiii, feels so good to se her in just a few days :) Wherever you are, remember be gentle with yourself!

A beautiful ending to a beautiful day! Just so grateful for being here right now, enjoying every breath and every heartbeat of the present moment. God night world!

Podgora, Croatia

Split Airport

I'm in awe, what a beautiful place. Isn't it amazing how fast one can move from one place to an other these days. From the rain back home to the warm sunshine here in Croatia. Arriving late last night was an adventure as I had no idea at all of where I would end up, the bus-ride from the airport took almost two hours. Welcoming and friendly people immediately made me feel right at home and I again felt great gratitude flow through my body - what a blessed life I'm living. Above some quick pix from my first exploration walk this morning. Now I'll go for an afternoon swim :) 

Be gentle with yourself!

Some might call me crazy, others insane but no, I'm just following my heart and this time my heart yearns for the sun. I'm so lucky to have an understanding mate who encourages me to fulfill my dreams. As Sune will be working for an other week and the weather-forecast looks very wet & cold for our region I'm traveling toward the sun tomorrow! What an adventure, I booked a last minute trip to Split, Croatia a country I have never visited before. I'm so deeply grateful for this opportunity to experience a new place on our beautiful earth and for my family who lets me follow my heart!

I might even get to meet up with Jessica and her friends who currently are in Prague and will travel towards Croatia after a stop in Vienna, Austria. My thoughts go to my own mother who has been dead for a very long time. She handed the joy of traveling down to me! She loved to travel and just needed a toothbrush and a tote, and off she went. My female lineage definitely is of modern vagabonds - and I love it!

Rain, rain, rain..... to be with what is, quite a challenge! I know that there is absolutely nothing I can do about the weather and that it is useless to get upset about it. Yes, yes I know this, yet still my whole being longs after the sun. The winter up here in the north has been long, dark and cold, my vitamin D levels scream to be uplifted! It's supposed to be summer now, isn't it?

This is the hardest part about living in the far north, the climate, I'm not made for it - is anyone? Maybe a bit easier on the natives that haven't experienced anything else, but to me, a challenge every year! The longing after the sun is so great, therefor the disappointment when sun keeps hiding above the clouds is unavoidable. Would keeping the rain company with the tear-rain of the soul make me feel better?

What do i want, what do I need to make the internal sun shine so strong that the whether conditions don't affect me? I don't know but I will let you know if I find an answer!

The interesting thing is that I do love rain, the sound and the feel of rain, the fresh smell after a rainfall, feeling cleansed - but  I do wish for it to be mixed up with more sunshine and warm weather!

On the other hand - I do have a choice - do I want to focus on my weather longings or do I want to bathe in gratitude by bringing into my consciousness everything in my life that I have to be grateful for! I chose the latter as it makes my internal sun shine :) Ah, that's the answer I looked for!

Be gentle with yourself!

Every journey beginns with a first step!

 

The big day has arrived. Jessica ready to hit the road. An inter-rail adventure together with 3 of her best friends is starting today leaving by plane for Berlin, Germany. Time flies, I so clearly remember the excitement I felt as a young teenager when about to embark on a journey somewhere, this love for exploring new places is still very alive in me and I am so happy that my daughter loves to take a look at the big wide world too! Thank God she is a lot wiser than I was at that age and therefor I can let go of worries and concerns! If I managed to keep out of trouble she for sure will too! 

Never before though have we been parted for a months time so this will be a completely new experience for both of us. It will be good for both of us knowing that in our hearts we are never far apart :) Happy trails dear Jessica!

Today is the first day of my summer-break from teaching school. Strange feeling to suddenly have all this free time to use for anything..... as always my first reaction is complete inertia, drained of energy and ideas. It is what it is! I am just resting in the place of witnessing my inertia, not judging, not trying to change anything, just staying with what is. This is a fascinating experiment as my nature would be to try to get really busy or start to nag at myself for being so inactive! No, not this time, my new intention is to enjoy inertia and let it be a part of my life as well as the times when I'm active and creative :) 

So enjoy whatever is and be gentle with yourself!

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent!

It so common that we all blame a person or something else in our surroundings when we don't feel good about ourselves or a situation. We believe in the illusion that if they or that changed then everything would be just fine. For much to many years I lived in the state of being a victim .... had only then....

It is sad to look back and see how willingly I gave away all my power and such a joy to now be in a completely different situation. Eleanor Roosevelt that I'm quoting "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" says it all. It is my own perception of what is occurring that colors my world. If I choose to interpret everything in a negative way or in a positive will definitely make a big difference.

We all have this choice - so ask yourself - how do you want to perceive your day today?

Be gentle with yourself!

Sune my travell-companion on the journey of life

Every breath is a new beginning!

Inspired by my daughter and by reading a wonderful book by Dennis Rodriguez, check him out at: www.thesuperhumaneffect.com I have made the decision to embark the road of blogging. 
It would probably be a good idea to know what I want to write about, but I don't, so this will be a blog that starts from a place of not knowing. 


Not knowing is such a mystery that leaves all doors open to explore what arises in the moment. Yeah, I like that! 
You may wonder why I have chosen the title "Living from the Heart" for my blog?  Well, for a very long time I primarily lived from my head. My "head-office" dictated my life and was totally in charge of how I perceived my reality and how I felt in any given moment. What a great joy and tremendous relief it was as I found my way back into my body and learnt to listen to the voice of my heart. 


In this blog I will share pieces of my life and path hoping that it will serve as inspiration and keep the inner flame of light and hope burning however dark the circumstances can get.


Be gentle with yourselves :)

Josef graduating from 9th grade :)