Sunday 31 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 22, Life

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson



We live in a society of advice columns, experts and make-over shows. Without even knowing it, you can begin to believe someone knows better than you how to live your life. Someone might know a particular something better – like how to bake a three-layer molten coconut chocolate cake or how to build a website – but nobody else on the planet knows how to live your life better than you. (Although one or two people may think they do.) For today, trying asking yourself often, especially before you make a choice, “What do I know about this?”


Oh there have been so many people who wanted to tell me how to live my life. Maybe there are still one or two. People just who think what I should do. They just do not know how it is to live with a partner with autism and it's soooo easy for them to say!
Do I know how to live my life? I may know how to but I may not always act on it and I know that. I divert from my path often only to look back and see that I'm not on the path I was going for. I will stop and think and search for my path again to go further on it. Why did I let myself go on the wrong path in the first place? Often it is because I let myself get distracted from things that happen here in my home most times with my autistic partner. I can yell to myself that I shouldn't let it bother me, or let it distract me or put me off my path but it happens. Every time I feel good about where I'm going, something will happen with him that puts me a few steps back. I can say to myself 'today I will choose for myself' but I just can't. I'm not a selfish person. He was never raised to do things by himself, well of course the basics but harder decisions which he needs to discuss first he just can't. It will always end up in me diverting from my path and becoming an anxious person again.

A few years ago one of the phychologists who was supposed to help him said I was supposed to be guiding him for the rest of his life. When I said I wasn't planning on it, that he was very capable of doing that on his own if taught right, the man looked at me as if I was a down right hag. Of course we women know that every man has to be guided somewhat ;-) but autistic men have to be guided to an extant that it can cost you your relationship! I never thought it might, but it does. I already had one divorce I don't intend to have another. But to say it is hard is an understatement. You have to fight hard to stay sane first and foremost.



So plan a life? Make a choice? I know there is one but that's not one I am willing to make again. Even though I am feeling I am losing myself again sometimes and I am straying form my path and can see the vultures sitting on the trees waiting for me to fall down and give up. I won't give up, not again! I will fight for myself. If I fall I will get up and crawl if I have to!

© KH

Music on Sunday, Will Smith samples



Lately I'm listening to Sublime FM on Dutch radio and song come by on the radio that I recognise from Will Smith songs. Better said; he has samples of them in his songs. I like Will Smith a lot; he's funny, can act and sing and dance so I thought why not do my Sunday music blog about him and his music plus the original songs where the samples come from. The man uses not 1 but 3 (!!!) samples in one song some of the times! Plus those songs are sampled or covered by others as well. But let's just focus on his a few of his songs for now.

Here it goes:

Men in Black;



1.


Gettin' Jiggy with it; (6)



1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


Switch;



1.


© KH

Saturday 30 May 2015

Quotes and Pics 180





© KH

30 Days Challenge, 21 ; Speak less

What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know I. 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson



Today's Challenge;

I once received a fortune cookie that read: “Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done.” What’s one project that you’ve been sitting on and thinking about but haven’t made progress on? What’s stopping you? What would happen if you actually went for it and did it?

For a while now I am sort of working on writing a novel. I have always been writing for as long as I can remember, but only short stories and poems never anything long. Lately I've been kind of derived from that by writing fanfiction. Yes, really. Not that it is bad or anything. I rather enjoy doing that and that is what really matters I think in writing. Enjoying what you're doing. But the novel is still waiting. I think I have maybe one chapter, maybe more, of it.

What would happen if I actually went for it and did it? Well I don't know, I'm not one that thinks it would actually be published or anything. I do think however I'm better in short stories. But maybe, just maybe I should let others who actually know that, be the judge of that and just finish one already.

© KH

You can also read what Daan has to say about it

Friday 29 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 20, Facing

Greatness appeals to the future. If I can be firm enough to-day to do right, and scorn eyes, I must have done so much right before as to defend me now. Be it how it will, do right now. Always scorn appearances, and you always may. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:

1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.

2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.

3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alterative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.

I am an extremely lazy person. The thing is I don't even mind being lazy, I'm to lazy to mind my own laziness. But yes it can hold me back in some ways I'm sure. I could be so much more than I am now. I could study, do a job where I don't have to clean people's houses all day. There's nothing wrong with that, certainly not, but because of my laziness I could be more than I am today.

Even my youngest son has this problem. He's finishing his cooking education this year and doesn't want to continue in it, so he needs a new one. But he really doesn't know which one. He is too lazy to look online at websites for information but he is also too lazy to visit schools info-days. He is so uncertain about what he wants. Choosing something you want on a whim isn't good either so I suggested he'll work for a year and meanhwile figure out what he wants, it worked out fine for my oldest son. But no lazying around!
I think the fear of the unknown is something of an issue as well.

© KH

Thursday 28 May 2015

30 Days Challenge, 19 Dreams

Abide in the simple and noble regions of thy life, obey thy heart.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Write down your top three dreams. 
Now write down what’s holding you back from them.


Even though I find these challenges very repetitive I think they made them so on purpose, for us to learn, or to find out more about ourselves so instead of skipping them like Daan does I will suck it up and do them.. (reluctantly I might add) 

1. Becoming a writer.
2. Living in Scotland.
3. Living more healthy and less stressful.

With all of these dreams the same things apply; nothing is holding me back. First of all I do consider myself already a writer only not a published one, second to be able to go live in Scotland I do have to have considerable means which I do not have right now, or have to work more jobs than I can handle-is it worth that? To get ones dream at ALL cost? I don't think so, I am very happy where I'm living right now too thank you very much. If I will get the chance one day I will grab it with both hands, if not, it's  not meant to be.
Third, I can do that only I am lazy, too lazy sometimes to make a decent meal. An easy pasta is easier (I HATE cooking) than to really look into healthy cooking plus I have a difficult eating son to consider as well. But what I do know is that if I watch what I'm eating I do feel better! So who am I kidding? Same with stressing;
I have a strange spot in my belly that hurts or hurts... more a sore spot.. The doc said it's stress. I do hope he's right cause it's something to worry about since dad died of colon cancer. He said it and he's the doc right? It's true that if I'm stressing it's more sore... So he's probably right. See? The prompts are making you think about things. So look up how to get more healthy, cook healhty and stop complaining. *sings* Let it go, let it go...


© KH

Wednesday 27 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 18, Invent the Future

A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson




Today's challenge; 

My favorite quote of all time is Alan Kay: ‘In order to predict the future, you have to invent it.’ I am all about inventing the future. Decide what you want the future to be and make it happen. Because you can. Write about your future now.

Even though I'm a ferm believer of 'Trust the Universe' and 'live in the here and now' I'll go along with this challenge...

Let's send a message to the same Universe shall we.

I'm sitting in my conservatory writing on my next book. My fourth book actually. The first three made it possible for me to buy this wonderful property at a loch in Scotland of which I have dreamt of my whole life. It has everything I've ever wanted; Periodic features, an Inglenook fireplace, a lovely kitchen with a range cooker, and enough acres to keep some piglets and chickens and even some goats. I have even learned how to make goat cheese which I'm selling at farmers markets now and again. I live in a lovely communal village where the people are nice and friendly.
I have plenty of time to write here, to watch the changing of the seasons from my conservatory windows and sometimes even see the deer walk into my veggie garden. The feeling of not having to actually work for a living, well I do of course, my publisher is breathing down my neck for the next chapters but still, this is fun, this is living the life I've always wanted.
The crazy thing is that I never sent my first book to become somewhat famous. I never even thought for one second it could turn out to this but it did and I'm so happy it did! Living my dream sitting in the very conservatory of my dreams overlooking the loch and the mountains which I've seen so many times before but only in my mind has all come true!
Everytime one of the pigs is shoving it's nose into my hand I could cry of sheer bliss and happiness.
Is this the real life? Is it a fantasy? For me it's is a dream come true!

*Sends to Universe* 

© KH

Look here for Daan

Tuesday 26 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 17, Strange & New

Apparently Daan has done two challenges today; so I'm following her; 
When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name;—— the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson



Can you remember a moment in your life when you had life in yourself and it was wholly strange and new? Can you remember the moment when you stopped walking a path of someone else, and started cutting your own?
Write about that moment. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, let the miracle play out in your mind’s eye and write about that moment in your future.


I can remember several moments in my life when I realised this. It was later on in my life when I got the courage to tell my then husband I wanted a divorce. I had become so depended on him. When he moved out I had to do everything myself. First my parents did everything for me until I had met him and went to live with him at age 19. Then he did it all and I never knew how things worked, I never had to make phonecalls to offices or something like that when someting was wrong. First my parents did that, then he did. Suddenly I had to make so many calls. 
Now that I'm having my second hub he does a lot again but still it's different. I don't give up my control like I used to. I still have a say in my own life. No one is making descions without me knowing. 
I do feel that I've started to walk my own path after my divorce and damn it feels good! 

© KH

30 Days Challenge 16, One Thing

Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself.  
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.

I don't have just one goal, do have have goals at all? I'm a rather lazy person. Any goals I've had are gone with the wind I guess. I think it's fine.. everything is fine the way it is. I don't like changes, never have really. But life is all about changes and the one thing that has to change is me. Not only my inner me, but my outer me as well. The one thing I really should focus on is my huge overweight body. I want need to excercise more, loose the weight and eat more healthy, not only to loose weight, but also to stay on this beautiful earth for my boys. My dad died age 60. He was healthy, thin too, but he got colon cancer and died 5 months later. I know I am lazy and I hate myself for it. I know I had to start yesterday and still... 

The second thing I really do want to do more is meditate. I keep 'forgetting' to. I'm so busy on social media, writing, editing and so on that meditating is forgotten or put aside. That's not good. 

I know it all too well and still I'm too weak to start changing myself. I wish I had a magic wand I could wave, not to make me instant thin but to give me the courage to start to do what I have to... 

© KH

Daan's blog here

Monday 25 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 14, Alternate Paths

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson




The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.

My old blog doesn't exist anymore so I can't read back what I have said about this one, but I do know that over the years I have changed my way of thinking about certain things. I have mellowed a bit more, if that's the proper way of saying it how I feel about life in general. I have learned to go more with the flow. Or I am still learning really because not all situations require the same approach. But to say I have ambition? No not really. I think that 'going with the flow' and 'everything happening for a reason' works for me. Of course if you want something really bad you should work for it but I also think you get what you need at the right time in the right order and place. Things come to those who wait. I am a strong believer of sending your wish to the Universe and just trusting the Universe. You are here for a reason and you don't always know what that reason is but you will find out along the path of life. In the meanwhile go on living, be happy and breathe!

© KH

Sunday 24 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 14, Surprise yourself

I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, if we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself.
How will you surprise yourself this week?


I don't know if I surprise myself or if it's more that I'm just doing it, or continue to go on because, hey, who else is? In my opinion women are stronger than they themselves give them credit for or are being credited for. Not only by men or other women but by society as well. We are being payed less for the same jobs, being scrutinised every moment of every day. We are being criticised sometimes even by other women which is worse I think, women should stick together don't they? But that's another subject entirely. ;)

In my life I've been very insecure and I think I did things that surprised other people. In my mind I never surprised myself, I just did things, sometimes without thinking. But if there is one thing that did surprise me it is that I had the courage to divorce the father of my children. Nothing is more devastating than a horrible marriage or being ignored for years. To be able to choose for yourself in those circomstances was a huge step for myself. One that I will never ever regret! 

I don't look forward. I take one day at a time, or try to anyway, so I can't say I will surprise myself in the next week, month or year. I just don't live like that, and I don't want to. 

© KH

Music on Sunday, Eurovision 2015



Yesterday we all watched Eurovision and tweeted en masse about it! At least I did with a bunch of online friends. It was lovely! My favourites were Italy and Sweden and I'm happy Sweden won. He had a gorgeous stage performance.

What I don't like is the voting and the political voting mostly. It's not about your neighbours it's about the song I think! I do hope someday that will change! Same with people wanting to boycot Russia for it's politics while it's a song contest. The girl singing can't help that!

Anyway; here are some of my personal favourites;







and yes even Australia participated this year because of the 60 year celebration







© KH


Saturday 23 May 2015

30 Days challenge, 13, Insecurities and dreams

These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson



Is fear holding you back from living your fullest life and being truly self expressed? Put yourself in the shoes of the you who’s already lived your dream and write out the answers to the following:
Is the insecurity you’re defending worth the dream you’ll never realize? or the love you’ll never venture? or the joy you’ll never feel?
Will the blunder matter in 10 years? Or 10 weeks? Or 10 days? Or 10 minutes?
Can you be happy being anything less than who you really are?
Now Do. The Thing. You Fear.

Yes I am an insecure person but I am also a ferm believer of 'if it's meant to happen it will happen' and 'Trust the Universe' kind of stuff.
I would love to be a writer, but wait, I AM a writer already! I write every single day from age 12 on. I write poems, short stories, working on a novel, fanfiction so yes I consider myself a writer.
No, it's not published work as published in a book but it's online on the internet! Plus I enjoy writing on a daily basis. If I don't write I am not myself. I love writing, editing pictures and all that. Does it matter that I'm  not famous for it? I don't think it does. I don't think it makes a lot of money anyway, here in the Netherlands. Only in the UK or USA it does. Here it's a whole other story all together. Put your head above the cornfield and you might lose it.. No I think I'd best enjoy my writing just for me and a handful of people who are reading it.

And that nice little cottage with period features in Scotland with some acres next to it for life stock? Well let's get real shall we? That will never happen! It would be ever so lovely if it would, but I just am not rich enough to buy a house over there! To pack everything up, sell my house (which I love by the way, with it's small but lovely garden filled with birds) and move there is a huge step and something I will always dream about but will never do. I might regret that someday sure. But I also have to be realistic as well. Not much fun in being realistic but dreaming about it is...

© KH

Quotes and Pics 179, poem quotes






© KH

Friday 22 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 12, Never Imitate

Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson





Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?

I don't think I imitate others. Maybe I have in the past I don't know. I do think however that I am myself at all times. What you see is what you get and always be yourself is my philosophy. 
I don't listen to the same music as others do, I don't write in the 
same manner as others do, I even don't like to go visit the same 
countries as others do.
 

I was thinking it the other day; in my family I am pretty unique as well.
Growing up, I was brought up in a Catholic family, we went to church
every Sunday, my parents were pretty conservative and strict and 
I am so not! 
I turned out so very different than they were/are. I don't go to church
anymore, I feel like I'm more Buddhist than Catholic, I think so different
than my mum about a lot of things in life in general, well like a lot
of people actually. 

I think I go my own way through life and there's nothing wrong with it. 
I've learned a lot through some mistakes I have made but never ever
can I say I haven't been myself. Maybe sometimes I tried to be someone
who my mother wanted me to be, but failed big time the very minute I
tried it! I really can't be anyone other than myself. 

Every person is unique, to be some other version of your own self is to
deny who you truly are! 

© KH 


You can read Daan here

Thursday 21 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 11, message

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Today's Challenge;
What is burning deep inside of you? 
If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?
- Always be yourself not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be.
- When one door closes, another opens, don't stare to long at the closed door. 
- Everything happens for a reason. You meet the people you are supposed to meet. Whether they make you happy or sad, you meet them to learn, or maybe they meet you to learn. Either way, you will be wiser meeting them. 
- Trust yourself and your inner-self more. Listen to your inner voice, it tells you things for a reason. 
- Laugh more. 
- Enoy the little things in life. 
- Let Go! It will be okay. 
- Trust the Universe!

© KH

Wednesday 20 May 2015

30 Days challenge 10, Afraid to do

The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson


Today's Challenge;

Emerson says: “Always do what you are afraid to do.” What is ‘too scary’ to write about? Try doing it now.

I'm afraid to lose control I guess. I'm afraid to let go to trust the Universe, to trust that what must happen will happen. I want to make it happen for others I mean. I want to control things. I can't I know that, but I get stressed out about things I want to control but can't. There I said it.

My Youngest son wanted to be a cook. He is in his last year and had to study further of course he's just 18. A few months back he said he didn't want to anymore. He wanted something else. What he did not know yet so he got all kinds of tests at school. Last week we got the results and they really weren't conclusive. He still didn't know what he wanted. So now I'm all over him telling him to choose. Or to get a job in the meanwhile and wait a year to figure things out. But DO something besides sit there and do nothing! Does that help matters? No they don't... Do I help things acting like that? No I don't. I know that I have to let it go. Things have a way of working it out for themselves if I let go. I do know that but I don't always act on it. It is still so hard. I'm afraid to let go of the control I think I have. But to be honest; I don't have the control do I?

© KH

Tuesday 19 May 2015

30 Days challenge, 9; 5 years

There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. 
– Ralph Waldo Emerson




What would you say to the person you were five years ago? 
What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?

To me 5 years ago:

Dear me,

You're still healing. It took longer than they all say it would or even then you thought it would. You're still grieving a bit, yes it's like grieving. Saying goodbye from a life/a dream. You feel like you failed but you really didn't. You did rather well actually under those circumstances! You carried your own! You kept your head above water. Sure you did some things you'd rather did not do but nothing too bad or damaging. Only neglecting yourself a bit. The kids always came first. You did good! Time to think about yourself a bit more! Be kinder to yourself!

Love, me.



To me 5 years from now:

Dear me,

I know you don't like change much. Even the smallest change can put you off. So I hope nothing much will change for you, or maybe in small steps, but only for the good of course. You really should do something about that. Life is all about change you know. If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies. Try to get used to change more and 'addapt' to it. Go with the flow even more than you're trying already. And above all: Let it go! Live day by day. Enjoy life!

Love, me.

© KH

Monday 18 May 2015

30 Days Challenge, 8; Be Bold

Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson


Today's Challenge; 

“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.

A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” – Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.
Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?

Well here we go again. Is this whole challenge going to be repetitive? Because all my answers will be the same, as a lot of the people who did the challenge answers will be; being a published author. Which I don't find to be realistic. Not that I don't think that I'm not good, cause I think I am, I like reading my stories and sometimes think; damn! Did I write this? It's good! ;) But is it good enough? Am I good enough? I don't know. I know there's only one way to find that out but do I want that? Do I want rejection? Failure? It's life sure, but it is also something I love doing, so why change that?

What has changed over the years however is that I have become more content, no happy, of how my life is right now. Plus I've become more a bit of a hermit I'm afraid, or more happy in my own home.
(I already was but of course but I've changed things, furniture, older ones, and it's more an old library feel now and I just LOVE it!)
No need of others around me, content (I don't like that word but for a lack of another) other than my own family that is and my animals.
Traveling has become a thing I only dream about, just getting by is all we do. But so do a lot of other people. Do I care, is it an obstacle to overcome? I go to all kind of places, I talk to people from all over the world every day on Twitter, or Tumblr. The internet is something one can't live without these days. I certainly can't! Plus I'm still writing stories where I'm living all kind of adventures through my characters. Or I read them.

My one true goal in life is to live a happy life. Not to do what people want me to do, or to be what others want me to be. To be myself to do what I want to do and I think that I am achieving that very nicely every single day! :-)

© KH

You can also see what Daan has to say about it

Sunday 17 May 2015

30 Days Challenge, 7; Come Alive

Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live.  

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Today's Challenge;

If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.
Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?
 
If I had only one week left to live, I wouldn't change a single thing. I am happy with my life the way it is. The only thing I would probably want to do is to see my beloved Scotland one more time, to breath it in, to say goodbye if I could, afterwards I would go back to my loved ones again. 
 
The thing I need to stop doing is; stop stressing and trust the Universe more. I know that if I let things go that they will turn out okay. I do have to remind myself to that everytime instead of trusting it. I also have to listen more to my innerself and what it's saying. 
 
I don't live my life as a 'there's always something better' so the bonus question is not for me. I am happy with what I have. I don't need bigger, better, more... I'm not that kind of person. I've learned that along the way over the years or it was in me all along (probably the latter) 
 
© KH
 
You can also look what Daan has to say about it

Music on Sunday, B.B. King



On May 14th The King of Blues past away. The great B.B. King was alive a legend and he died at the age of 89. I know I have made a blog about him sometime ago but you can't hear this beautiful music enough.

RIP B.B. King The Thrill may be gone but the legend lives on.



this is probably my favourite











© KH

Saturday 16 May 2015

30 Days Challenge 6; Travel

If we live truly, we shall see truly. 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


 Today's Challenge:

Not everyone feels the need to travel around the world, but everyone can think of a place they want to visit again before they die. What is the place for you and what do you do to achieve this?

This is probably the easiest challenge they can give me.
Maybe I do want to travel more but I do not have the means to do so, I am content with that. I accept that. I do have that Bucket list like so many other people but not at all cost. My own personal happiness is more important. To be happy in my own skin in my own surroundings is more important than to save up all the money I can spare to go on holiday every year like so many other people I know do! (and not only once a year either) I don't even envy them, if that's their way of being happy, let them. I am happy right where I am.(sounds kinda boring right? Maybe I've become just that)


But if there is one place I want to visit again before I die? That must be the Highlands in Scotland. I want to feel home in my second home again. Even though I love my own home so much, I am also so much in love with Scotland and I can't think of a live without it.
Thankfully I went there a few weeks ago with my sister to breath in the Scottish air again and feel the welcoming kind people and it was about time too! But to travel around the Highlands again would do me a world of good I guess, even though I cry everytime I have to leave again. I even said to my loved ones to scatter my ashes there after I'm gone... says a lot right? 



© KH

You can also read Daan's challenge

Quotes and Pics 178, quotes from books






© KH

Friday 15 May 2015

30 Days Challenge, day 5; Post it

That what any man can do well, he learnt from no other than the almighty {cosmos}. where is the master that thought Shakespeare? who had taught Franklin, or Newton, or Bacon? You will never write like Shakespeare by studying Shakespeare. do what you are supposed to do, and do not ask or hope for too much... ~R.W. Emerson



Determine what is your biggest challenge at this moment, form it into a question, write this on a piece of paper and hang it where you can see it. 
after 48 hours you start writing down the answers that come on your path, and evaluate them.
Post your question on your blog {optional}
 
 



© KH

Also look at Daan's Challenge


Thursday 14 May 2015

30 Days Challenge; Strong belief

“It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson



The Challenge of today:

The world is driven by passionate spirits, powerful ideas, and fearless actions. What is a strong belief that you possess what is not shared by friends and family? What inspires your faith, and what have you done to actively respond to it?

That's a tough one. A strong belief that I have is that Everything happens for a reason. You meet the right people at the right time, even the ones you can't get along with, if only to learn from them. It may not always be easy this belief. When loved ones get sick, or worse; die, that belief is being tested. But isn't that what it is for? Testing you? It is hard to be honest to let go of the idea of not controlling everything. Like now for instance; my youngest son is quiting his cooking education and doesn't know what he want's to do next. My first instinct always is to worry, to be on top of it, to hover over him. But I also know that if I let go, if I keep thinking that it is happing for a reason, it will be okay eventually. It is his life, his journey and I can be there for him if he want me to but he has to make his way through life on his own and figure out what he wants on his own. So let go and remember that everything happens for a reason. But that's not to say it is easy to do all the time. I'm trying though. 

© KH 

You can also read at Daan's challenge

Wednesday 13 May 2015

30 Days Challenge; be present

Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. Act singly, and what you have already done singly will justify you now. Greatness appeals to the future. If I can be firm enough to-day to do right, and scorn eyes, I must have done so much right before as to defend me now. Be it how it will, do right now. Always scorn appearances, and you always may. The force of character is cumulative.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson



Challenge of today; 

If 'the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of hundreds of points', it is more honest to be present today than to linger in yesterday. How would you describe today, only using one sentence?

Every day is a new day and a fresh start to learn, grow, develop your strengths, heal yourself from past regrets or hurts, and move forward older and wiser or to take a chance to reinvent yourself, to fine-tune who you are and build on lessons you learned -keep an open mind and start each day anew! 
 
© KH

You can also read Daan's take on this

Tuesday 12 May 2015

30 Days Challenge; 15 minutes to live

We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. —Ralph Waldo Emerson


You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.

First: Would I react that way if I found that out? Would I not waste those 15 minutes being scared to death about what I just found out and why? 15 minutes isn't a lot, so something must have happened right? A plane crash or something. I remember when sis and I sat in the plane back from Edinburgh some weeks ago, two guys were going to the back together. They were looking scruffy, hooded, and I had a weird feeling about it and I didn't know why. I was thinking: Why would you go to the toilet together? There's only one so why? If they want to do something, I'm going to jump right on it! Sis was thinking the exact same thing she told me later. 
So if I found out I had 15 minutes to live, it had to be that something was about to happen. 

But okay, if I could set a timer and write something, I would write to the people I love. I would tell them to always choose for happiness, to choose what feels good not what others think you should do. To say that I had no regrets of the choices I made in life (that's silly anyway, you can't change a damn thing, so why regret it) and maybe let them read my favourite poem so they'd understand how I'd feel about death. I believe strongly in Reincarnation so I'll be coming back anyway. I have to! I believe that people who have more to learn are coming back in a next life and I really learned a lot but need to learn a lot more!
Sure I'd like to travel more, or a small part sometimes still thinks I probably never should've married some person in my live. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have had those two wonderful boys either! As I'm a firm believer of 'Everything happens for a reason' I don't think things in life happen for nothing, not even death. Of course it's fucked up my dad died too early but in some twisted way, he was probably needed somewhere else.
Life might not always be easy, but it sure makes sense if you think about it. Or don't think about it too much. Just feel more, enjoy more, especially about the little things in life. 

© KH

you can also read Daan's Challenge

When I'm dead my dearest

When I am dead, my dearest,
Sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my head,
Nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
With showers and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,
I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the nightingale
Sing on, as if in pain:
And dreaming through the twilight
That doth not rise nor set,
Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.


Monday 11 May 2015

30 Day Challenge; I write therefore I am

“Books are the best of things, well used. What is the right use? What is the one end, which all means go to effect? They are for nothing but to inspire.” 
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


Wich book has inspired you the most and why? Why did you think one day; That's what I want to do; to write. Do you have a book of which you think: I wish I could do that too, inspire people, that man or woman has brought me so much joy reading. I would so much want to be able to do that as well; publish a book. How do you think you can accomplish that?


Daan and I did this challenge in 2011. We thought it was time to do it again and see if we would write the same things now, years later. Unfortunately the challenge site has been removed but thank god for our blogs, we can read there what the challenge was!

Right, what book has inspired me? Where to start; what book hasn't?
I read or have read so many books that I hardly can choose one over another! I love (still love) historian novels, adore books with maps in them so I can look at where a story takes place or at a family tree. Or books with some degree of suspence in them. But to say one book has inspired me more than another would be unfair to other books. (as if they have feelings, but I do treat them that way)



I have so many books at home, plus I keep buying more. I honestly can say I can't live without them.
I started writing in my teens and I had a period where I stopped writing but now I can't live without that either. I have to write whether it's on my blog or writing fanfiction (yes even that) I just have to write, it is a feeling I have, maybe to empty my head or just to let those stories out that are in it I don't know, all I know is that I have too. Do I think I'll ever get published? Probably not, I am my own worst critic. It would be nice but I don't mind really as long as I can write. Yes even fanfiction.

© KH

Sunday 10 May 2015

Music on Sunday, Mother's Day music


It's Mother's Day today and that means I get to do what I want to do! Basically anyway! ;) So today some of my favourite music.
Enjoy!

Never can choose one from The Police or Sting, Love all!









Dido makes me happy every single time I'm listening to her!
this one still gives me goosebumbs everytime I hear it:









© KH