Love On The Rocks

April 20, 2009 - 2 Responses

While sitting at the tip of Akershus Festning today in beautiful company, gazing at the blue skies and glittering ocean, I realized something.

We are all diamonds in the rough. Life is our polishing process. As we journey on we will feel the friction upon our surface, friction that has the potential of unveiling a new layer of ourselves that will radiate lovingly upon everyone we encounter. The friction you are experiencing in your life right now, in whichever area, is placed upon you with the greatest perfection, with the intention of polishing you into your most beautiful self. You can always push the polishing machine away, postpone the process, sleep underneath your rough surface for just a little bit longer. But what if you decide to do the opposite? What if you embrace the friction you are feeling as something that is beautiful, welcome and even helpful, if you greet it with open arms, curiosity and a humble attitude, if you dare to see how it is there to create a unique masterpiece that will generate more greatness than you could possibly comprehend?

In which areas are you feeling that friction right now? How can you embrace it and love the process more, starting today?

Diamonds are forever!
M
xxx

Learning About Learning

April 15, 2009 - Leave a Response
The Easter Break train has left the station. I spent the majority of my time in the city, but I am really grateful for the one-day retreat spent at the family mountain cabin. Reading, reflecting and being creative is absolutely magical in the soft silence of the majestic mountains.
Photograph: © Daddy, April 2009

It hit me as I walked down the streets of Oslo yesterday afternoon. There was a familiar, warm scent lingering in the air all around me, whispering tales of growth and freshness. Yes, that’s right: summer is sneaking up on us – get ready to be swept off your feet!

The summery vibe is to me the extra boost that inspires me to take even more constructive action! My most important break-through lately is a promise I have made to myself. I am always happy to listen to people who are trying to teach me something, but in reality, how much of their wisdom do I really take in? I have discovered that I often hold on tight to my convictions when listening. In doing this, my beliefs rob me of millions of chances to learn something new, get some insight and drift down rivers of new and dazzling impulses. Isn’t that completely ridiculous? That’s what I’ve landed on, too. Therefore, I promise to do my absolute best to lay my convictions aside whenever the sweet little bell of wisdom is ringing in my surroundings.

“I have heard people say that they cling to their painful thoughts because they are afraid that without them they wouldn’t be activists for peace. “If I feel peaceful,” they say, “why would I bother taking action at all?” My answer is “Because that is what love does.” To think that we need sadness or outrage to motivate us to do what is right is insane. As if the clearer and happier you get, the less kind you become. As if when someone finds freedom, she just sits around all day with drool running down her chin. My experience is the opposite. Love is action.”
- Byron Katie

All the best to you on this beautiful Thursday evening!
Maia
xxx

Who Needs Nitrous Oxide?

April 1, 2009 - 2 Responses
It is a breathtakingly beautiful Wednesday out there, and little Oslo is drenched in revitalizing sunlight. I am about to go out onto the lukewarm pavement and get sun kissed at in fabulous company! Hopefully your smile will be as big as mine after enjoying these little humorous curiosities. To minimize the risk of law suits; I apologize deeply for using Norwegian, and promise to give you a sequel in English – furthermore, if you are Norwegian and drinking your milk while reading this, expect it to come out of your nostrils shortly.

Tired and overworked Doctors using speech recognition programs to update medical records at 4 AM in the morning, might be a tad unfortunate at times:

  • ”Det er sannsynlig at pasienten ikke kan bære ølkasser med fingeren så han sykemeldes i 2 uker.”
  • ”Pasienten er potetskreller og bruker sin finger til dette.”
  • ”Pasientens største problem er impotens, så han søkes til Jeløy Kurbad for opptrening.”
  • ”Pasienten har en protese i overkjeven og en hjemme.”
  • ”Pasienten gikk tur i skogen da han traff en elg som også var ute på tur i skogen.”
  • ”Pasienten er en 65-år gammel kvinne som ramlet på gaten. Tilfellet ble komplisert av at en lastebil deretter kjørte over henne.”
  • ”Pasienten hører meget dårlig. Faktum er at han ikke har noen hørsel i det hele tatt på venstre øye.”
  • ”Pasienten søker hjelp etter å ha slått til venstre stortå som nesten har løsnet. Personalet får dog ikke dra den av da det gjør vondt.”
  • ”Har hodepine i hodet.”
  • ”Pasienten har mandolinstor prostata”
  • ”Dette var de pasienter som ble liggende på mitt skrivebord.”
  • ”Pasienten var gravid i 19. måned.”
  • ”Pasienten synes at høyre stortå henger ned noe sammenlignet med de andre fingrene.”
  • ”Avføringen har samme farge som dørene i 3. etasje.”
  • ”Hun beskriver hodepinen som spennende.”
  • ”Urin dyrket på distriktslegen viser vekst av coli.”
  • ”Venstre kne svulmet opp og søkte lege.”
  • ”Jeg titter på pasienten i microskop, men blir ikke klokere av det.”
  • ”…har begynt å få små te-skjeer i avføringen opp til 15-20 ggr. daglig.”
  • ”Lastebilsjåfør med god kondisjon som ellers reiser en mil uten å bli andpusten.”
  • ”Lymfekjertelen sendes samme dag som pasienten med taxi til Oslo.”
  • ” Skal trene i basseng om hun våger seg ned i bassenget. Tas opp på nytt om en uke.”
  • ”….behøver to levende personers støtte…”
  • ”Har tre barn, tre jenter og en gutt.”
  • ”Hatt vondt i natt i øret som har forsvunnet.”
  • ”Føler seg bedre om han holder hodet bak nakken.”
  • ”Far og mor døde da hun var 12 år. De har ingen kontakt med henne.”
  • ”Kommer nå inn grunnet smerter i gipsen.”
  • ”Pasienten får allergisk reaksjon av kontrastmiddel, jordbær, reker og flere av barna.”
  • ”Frakturene ligger med hverandre”

Følgene tilsvar innløp til Fiskeridirektoratet etter at vedkommende hadde fått pålegg om å installere en datadings i båten sin, gjengitt i sin helhet:

Nu e æ førrbainna, altså. Fy faen, førr nokka førrbainnade skjit. Kem i hælvett e det som har fuinne opp det herre satans makkverket. Det går da fan-steiki-helvete ikkje ant å hoilde på å kuke med det here i vekkesvik, ….Main har da førr faen ainner ting å gjøre, einn å sette der å fettle og baille med den satans musejævelen. Kainn du innst inni grønnskodde tykjeræva førrtelle ka som er vitsen med nokka jernskrammel som står der og gneill og hyle med en masse hælvetes lyda og blinke og blafre uta fan, og passord og ledninge og knotta som tyt ut som han tykjen overalt. Æ måtte berre ha fådd tak i en av dokker,dokker helvetes kuklæsta av nån support-gakkgakka, så skuill æ vel fansøkki ha rævkjørt dokker dit dokker høre heime, satans utvrengte fette av nån hestkuka. Kom fan ikkje hit å lur mainnskit av folk, å førtælle ka æ skal trøkke, din satans gjeddpeis. Va det opp te mæ skulle dokker ha vært på ishave og ronka kobbekuk, førbainna søringsatana, så kunne dokker ha sotte å konfigurert dokker sjøl så utavhælvettes langt opp i de utpulte ræven dokkers at dokker måtte sjite utav øran neste gang dokker måtte på dass, og når dokker va færdi me det, så sku æ personlig ha kommen å formatert trynan dokkers, å installert skanken oppi baillhånka dokkers sånn at dokker kom tel å presse rød serienummer. Skulle det ennu spenne liv i dokker etter dette, så sku æ ha plugga og pløyd dokker så utavhælvettes langt inn i det største rævhållet æ har funne. Og da sku det ha lokta mainnskjit av dokker heilt te dokker daua. Førr faen steike innst inne i det heiteste utsvidde hælvette for satan, la mæ få tak omså bare en av dokker. Æ har da vell førr helvete slette hauet av hysjævla før. Æ kommer te å måkke heile den forbainna skiten i eska og sende ho i retur- æ vil fan ikkje ha han. Så kan dokker te helvete sette der å ronke aleine i den helsikes telefon dokkers.

“At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
- Jean Houston

Wishing you a fantastic and refreshing Wednesday,
Maia
xxx

Cruise Control

March 28, 2009 - 5 Responses
“Develop an inner candle flame that, on the path of life, even if the worst goes before you, will never flicker.
- Doctor Wayne Dyer

Every day, a slightly altered version of me wakes up. The people I have met, the conversations I have had, the experiences I have stumbled upon; they all leave a mark on me, whether I would like them to or not. In this inevitable process, I have an active choice all along. I can chose to let the experiences take control of me, and I can choose the exciting alternative; to take control of the experiences.

Whether I actively go out and seek an experience or an experience falls in to my lap, the most important thing for me is to follow my intuition. In order to be able to say a loud and heartfelt YES! to the things that I really, really want, I must lovingly withdraw myself where I feel that I cannot give my all. It might sound selfish, but it spares the surroundings of half-hearted acts, which are in nobody’s interest and are most likely amount to very little. More importantly, it provides the surroundings with strong, heartfelt actions that can create immense positive changes!

When in the middle of any given situation, these are the key principles that I follow:

  • To be honest and open. Honesty is a beautiful thing! It gives people around you a chance to make realistic choices when they relate to you. It also gives you the chance of getting exactly what you want, and ruling out at an early stage what you are less excited about. Would it not be fabulous if everyone around you knew your true essence? Being open is another quality that when acquired will provide you with possibilities you never knew existed! If you were to rule out prejudice, and exchange it with curiosity and positive expectations, imagine all the things you could add to the list of your likes in the future! Hobbies, exotic foods, interesting people and mindblowing experiences are just waiting for you to approach them with open arms!
  • To give everything that feels right to give.
  • To be in touch with, curious about and attentive to, my own feelings and the feelings of the people around me. Being in touch with your feelings is, at first glance, a great paradox when it comes to living life in the sunny lane. Well, not if you see yourself from a distance! Feelings are here to teach you valuable lessons about how you perceive yourself and the world. With that insight comes a great possibility to improve, for instance your self esteem, your thought patterns and how you view your surroundings. You don’t have to act angry just because you feel angry, when you can see the anger, comfort it and be curious about why it arises in you at a given time. This is a very important part of the next principle;
  • To learn all that I possibly can
  • To create a fun, loving and cheerful atmosphere, which is possible in absolutely every situation! All it boils down to is tapping in to a fun and cheerful spirit, and then explore the laughing grounds you share with the people around you.

I wish you a beautiful, warm and exciting Saturday night!
Snowy love,
Maia
xxx

Hello World!

March 26, 2009 - 5 Responses
“We are the boat, we are the sea, I sail in you, you sail in me.”
- Lorre Wyatt

The walls in my apartment will be spared from now on. Finally my little voice that is bubbling over with fascination and wonder has the potential of reaching you! I have so much that I want to share – and I can’t wait to stumble over all the insightful and inspiring blogs out there!

My life so far has tossed me millions of presents; some big, some small, some wrapped in silk, others wrapped in shit – all containing priceless learning that I would never have missed out on if I had a choice! When I was seventeen, I stumbled upon an audiobook by a man named Wayne Dyer. Within weeks, my outlook on the world changed drastically – it was like living went from being something I just did on autopilot, to a mindblowing adventure that made my heart beat faster… I cannot shake my unquenchable thirst for learning of all kinds! Every day I give my all for one sole purpose; to push myself to the most fabulous that I can be, and hopefully thereby make life more beautiful for the people around me.

Before I leave you in peace for tonight, I want to say something about the presents that La Chance so humorously throws at us along this path, and I want to say something about the ones that are wrapped in shit. No matter how happy and privileged I have been in my life, I have always been hit by them. It is part of the irony. The point is that they were never meant to hurt you in the first place, but to push you forward. As you ascend on your path, you can identify the at first glance unwanted presents as something beautiful and wanted, and take the time you need to laugh and wash off the wrapping. I can guarantee you that you will find handful upon handful of diamonds if you do; every time! Life is fun, and there is no need to stop laughing just because a pile of shit hits you in the face. That’s a way of living, which is what Modus Vivendi means.

“If you knew who walked beside you at all times on this path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.
- Doctor Helen Schucman, from the book A Course In Miracles

I wish you love and laughter on this beautiful, starry Thursday evening!
Maia
xxx