If you’re interested in tech, gadgets, cars, f1 and so on you might like my “tech-blog” http://lifeinsumpan.com. While this blog is aiming at thoughts, life’s great mysteries and of course Photography, http://lifeinsumpan is more on the shallow parts of life.
I guess that these blogs together might illustrate life in general; we’re all not just one-sided. Everyone has many sides depending on where you choose to look.
This weekend my sister and some friends will hold a birthday party with a masquerade theme called “Glitter”. I can assure you that this theme wasn’t easy to accomplish in terms of getting the right outfit (no pics will be posted for the sake of your eyes).
However.. to a party like this it’s as always important with great party music. Attached you’ll find three party lists from the 70’s, 80’s and 2010’s.
Yesterday I received a text, written by Olaf Röhlander. One of those texts that, when I read it, it felt almost like it was written directly to me. It felt rather liberating to read what another person – who’s in a similar situation – had written, and set so positive and inspiring words for that particular situation.
DO NOT ASK WHY
I attended a dinner which I call ‘The Good call’, where the goal for the evening is to leave that evening as a wiser man.
One of the guests were wondering why I do so much. It’s podcast, newsletter, lectures, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, apps and books and all that it is. She honestly was wondering what’s behind my momentum.
I replied that sometimes it’s not good to ask why. The question is only needed when you’ve lost something you want back. When you’re no longer whistling on your way to a meeting, when you don’t feel like anything is at stake anymore, when you don’t have something new to look forward to, then the question is relevant.
I do not know all the reasons why I do what I do. I just know that it’s fun and it feels right. That’s enough for me right now and I do not want to dig into it more than that. The question “why” can sometimes be overrated.
If you always seem to land on your back, if you ever seem to end up in the wrong place in the wrong context, if you do not have an internal compass, then the question of “why” will be relevant. Then, but not always.
If you have no glow left, if the morning coffee no longer tastes anything, if the sun rays of spring shines through the window and it won’t do do anything with you. Then, ask “why”, but not before.
Humans have a desire to know, we are curious. If you want to explain, understand or change anything, the question is good, but just because someone succeeds in formulate a question, it does not mean that it is automatically entitled an answer, as I see it.
The word “why” open for analysis and brooding. Sometimes the whole is more important than details. If you know that someone loves you, do not ask why the person’s doing it. If you do that, then there is also the risk that you will be as violinist who can not enjoy the concert anymore, because she just analyzing the strings.
Some things are enjoyable precisely because of the lack of analysis, and should also be that way. Do you feel ok, the you feel ok. Do you feel happy, you are happy, do you think you’re in love, then you are in love. If things are that way. Enjoy it more and think less.
Morcheeba is a British trip-hop band. It was founded in London in 1995 and consists of DJ Paul Godfrey, his brother Ross Godfrey (guitar, keyboards) and singer Skye Edwards, whose voice is significant for the band sound
This is quite a long story, but I really think that it’s worth reading.
I hope you enjoy it.
The image is taken with an iPhone 4S with a Macro lens
In the Far East the emperor was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided to do something different. He called young people in the kingdom togetherone day. He said, “”It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.” The children were shocked, but the emperor continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today–one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor.”
One boy, named Ling, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it, carefully. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Ling didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by–still nothing in Ling’s pot.
He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn’t say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But his mother asked him to be honest about what happened.
Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful–in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other children laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, “Hey, nice try.”
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the emperor. “Today one of you will be appointed the next emperor!”
All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. He thought, “The emperor knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!”
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. “My name is Ling,” he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, “Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!”
Ling couldn’t believe it. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?
Then the emperor said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!”
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap tomorrow.
If you like space, and pictures of earth from space you will love the images that Chris Hadfield is sharing. It truly gives new perspectives on our little planet.
F1 is intense, every millimeter counts, the heat, the sound, the tension… and all of a sudden everything can be lost.
I’m not the kind of person who generally speaks about the good old days, in fact I believe that we’re living in the best days in history, just right now.
But when I see videos like this, I can’t help feeling a little jealous about things back then, when everyone wasn’t so afraid of everything, and people lived for the moment, not fighting to live the longest.
That was a little poetic for a short clip of f1, don’t you think? But the fact still stands, isn’t this one of the coolest F1-tracks ever?
Back to reality, after a weekend full of great people up in Swedish Vemdalen. One of those weekends where the life batteries are leveled up to max again. A weekend filled with 16 great people, all with a desire to create an amazing event together, where all aspects of life are handled. Great downhill races, several crazy antics, but also plenty of time to catch up with each other and talk about it things that there is no time to handle at other times.
I think that you can almost be anywhere on earth, and have a good time as long as you have people around you where everybody has an ambition to create a fun weekend.
The weekend ended with an acrobatic somersault in the sauna where I for one brief second thought I just got to meet my maker, and since then calls out less beautiful names as soon as I turn over in bed. But that’s just like a whisper compared to all the positive .
This will be a personal post about a topic that might not be discussed often: being an entrepreneur/manager.
Many times, you find yourself alone with questions that you would most likely prefer to avoid. On the other hand, being a manager offers the opportunity to shape the way you want an organization to function and the values you stand for, which is a fantastic opportunity.
Please note that this is just my opinion, and far from being definitive answers or a guide to being a manager; it is simply my view of the job.
I hope that it can help someone out there.
To you, who might be an entrepreneur/manager for the first time
You will never be able to please everyone. Those who are determined to like you will find arguments/reasons to support the decisions you make and see the merit in them. The opposite is also true, of course. In short, be yourself; nothing else works in the long term.
Try to see the positive aspects and the potential/strengths in everyone. We are all different, so find what’s unique in each person and reinforce it.
Praise in public, criticize in private (an old proverb).
Be human. Being a manager is not primarily about having the power to make decisions. It means that you have the opportunity to lead the group on the same journey you are on by being yourself. Not everyone may appreciate this journey; accept it. There is nothing wrong with them, or with you; you are simply different.
Whoever wants to be first must be last. My mother said this to me, and as a child, I did not understand what she meant. But as I grow older, my interpretation is that if you do not have the ability to serve others, you will have a hard time finding others who are willing to serve you.
Lastly, remember that there was a reason they hired you (for managers), or chose to work with you. They took a chance on you because you are you. Keep that in mind during difficult times.
I suppose all the points above can be summarized with heart, humility, and passion. It would probably have been quicker to just write it like that.
Also, remember that you are only human. You will make mistakes, judge others too harshly, falter when faced with tough decisions, and sometimes feel like you are not good enough… In those moments, read this letter again.
Who would’ve thought that part of an Oscar Award winning movie would be made by using an iPhone? Well now it’s true.
Yesterday the Swedish Movie, Searching for Sugar man was awarded an Oscar at the yearly film festival. As almost every film production this was also a costly one. At the end of the project they ran out of money, but as true artists they found a way by using a traditional iPhone, together with the iPhone app 8 mm Vintage Camera.
This photo is one of my recent favorites. The photo is taken by the Photographer Marcin Ryczek in Krakow. The composition between black and white are, in my opinion, almost perfect.
Earlier today I posted the following text on mine, and my two co-writers new Swedish Blog http://KKAAPP.wordpress.com. After I’ve posted it I started to read about the history behind the text a little bit more, and found this English version.
Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Over the years two of my friends Anders Byström and Anders Granström have kept talking about Joe Bonamassa and how amazing he is. I always enjoyed the music, but during this Christmas he’s rosen from an artist I enjoy to one of my all time favorites. The concert from Royal Albert Hall is one of his best, and my personal favorites from that concert are Happier Times, Ballad of John Henry and Just god paid.
Attached you’ll find a Youtube-link to the complete concert. If you have the bandwidth, make sure you’re watching the HD-version.
Hope you had a nice Christmas, and the best for 2013!
I’m currently spending time in a relatively cold Piteå (-27 degrees right now). The Palt dinner (traditional dish in the northern parts of Sweden) at mother’s is just finished and the effects of the ”paltkoma” (you get VERY tired after eating this dish) begins to make itself felt. Those who think that they are tired when the alarm clock rings at 7:00 after a Swedish typical Christmas party at work, have never eaten more than three of my mother’s ”paltar” and tried to stay awake an hour later …
It feels almost unbelievable that it’s Christmas again, and just like every year, this is a time to summarize the past year, and start thinking of what to look forward to, for the next.
For many people, Christmas is an incredible great time of year. Hang out with family and friends, sit together at the Christmas tree, watch a movie with a loooong preceded best before date, Christmas music played in the background, traditional bad jokes, and the possibility to once again listen to those family stories that are told every year.
For some others, it may be the opposite, ie that Christmas brings anxiety and pressure, perhaps because they’ve lost someone, failed to get kids, poor economy, unable to be with the people they want to celebrate with, or simply have less pleasant memories associated with Christmas.
Personally, this year, like every year, contained amounts of both positive and negative events. If the year is to be characterized as a good or bad year I do not know, but I know that there are both memories and experiences that will mean a lot to me for the rest of my life.
A while ago I posted a story “I wish you enough” by Bob Perks, and perhaps that story is about what actually makes us happy; the mixture of the negative experiences that, in turn, creates contrast and makes us appreciate all the positive things in life? There are many clichés in that area, but I think there is a lot in that story. To stop, think and take contemplate about the year that’s gone is an important part.
An interesting phenomenon that increasingly made itself felt in recent years is Facebook, and how it affected our lives. If I may make one, perhaps exaggerated parallel, I think Facebook in a way is a year-round Christmas spirit with friends, colleagues, acquaintances and fb friends that gives us positive pushes and “likes” the positive things that happens to us in our life, and with simple small presses of a button, we all have a chance to mean something to someone else, and share their joy and life experiences.
I know I’m going a bit far with the analogy above, but somehow I feel that Facebook with all the “friends in real life”, colleagues, acquaintances and fb friends that I share my experience with means a lot to me, and I am grateful for the people I have been fortunate to have around me, both there and in ordinary life.
Merry Christmas to you all, the followers of this blog, my Facebook friends, and whether you have the best Christmas as you hoped for, or for some reason have one of those less enjoyable “middle Christmases” that puts the rest of the year in a better perspective, I hope you get a great end of the year, and that this Christmas is what you want it to be.
The update frequency on this blog is a little low at the moment due to Christmas, but I thought that the followers of this blog might like this update with a clip collection of the 50 most viral videos of 2012.
Today this post will include four songs from different genres. Christmas (of course), Pop, soft and some hard rock.
Have a great Tuesday!
Sarah Dawn Finer – Winter Song
First Aid Kit – Wolf
Wall – Something on your mind
This is as intimate as Music gets. Perfect for a slow evening, a dinner ro chat with some friends OR just enjoying music. Lyla Foy’s vocals, in combination with the slow cover of Karen Dalton’s hit “Something on your mind” is a perfect mix.
Saint Deamon – My heart
For me this feels like a combination of Europe and Hammerfall (?). And by that I think you’ve already found out that its old school hard rock. I really like the melodies, and the vocals are great.
Saarimner.com 