Take a Break!!

Been meaning to write a decent post --not a repost.  But first, I have way too many posts here and many of them do require reposts.   

Second, I am writing continuously on other sites.  And for the last few weeks have felt intense exhaustion.  Mental and emotional. 


Just got an academic paper accepted for publication, after 7 year of first having written it, 6 years of having refined it, five years of having presented it at the conference and nearly two years of consistent work it as a proper journal article.  Most of my work I keep creating new concepts and ideas.  It takes time and therefore takes longer top publish because it does not fit into any specific area of research. Its hard, but every time I do it, I ask myself, why am I doing this. Because after this if one gets no citations....then all of the work is not considered worth it.

I will comment more on this phenomenon and life.  


But I found this tweet and it just made my day.  And thought would share it with you all, to make you smile and share a mid-week post!!  Have a happy sunday!!

Sun in Scandinavia: Welcome, Oh Spring!!

First published on March 31, 2012, when I was fairly new in the country--I just found this one, as I was browsing through the blog....oh, you need to read this...the joy I feel at the light, even though change of seasons is really hard on me, especially in Sweden. 

Every year, right before it happens, I think, 'So what, it is all the same, the same cycles, the same turning of time.'  Yet when the signs appear, I am still amazed by its magic, by universe's inherent intelligence, that takes no pride and is not associated with any ego.  It is, like technology and fire, neutral. It hopes, I assume, to evoke a sense of wonder in us, year after year, time after time. Or may be, the universe just is, not hoping or expecting anything from us. Neither reverence nor fear.  Neither praise nor lament.

On those rare days when the sun is right above us, we realize that there is something special about the sun in Scandinavia. The sun is just as close to us in Spring, as it is far from us in winters.  So, its presence is experienced with just as much intensity as its absence.   The sudden appearance of sun can sometimes be experienced as pain and depression, just as much as the darkness is in winters.  The above picture was taken by iphone.  Blinding sun--early morning.  Karlstad, March, 2012.

All that, still does not stop people from sitting out in the sun in their lunch break.   While it is hard to find anyone outdoors in winter....come early signs of spring, we find people without jackets and sweaters... hoping to manufacture some Vitamin D.  Both to make up for winters and to store some vitamin D for next winter. 

I could not help but notice the brightness of daffodils, the early signs of spring, amidst the still brown and dead shrubs around it.  Daffodils, called Pask Lillies (easter lillies), are the first flowers that show up in spring.  You can buy them everywhere at one third the price of tulips and roses. March, 2012.  

New sprouting daffodils, awaiting their fruition!! Awaiting to reach their fullest potential --merely to provide us that one moment of unadulterated experience of bliss.  March, 2012. 

Spring time is Semla Time (Våren är Semla Tid)!!

And there are never enough posts about Semla.....First published on March 9, 2014--Here it is--as it is  that time of the year...

And its Semla time again.  

Semla: Singular

Semlor: Plural

Spring in the US meant Crocuses and eggs. I can speak of the east-coast.  The bite in the air is much milder, you are likely to forget your gloves at home, and when you step out, your car takes less time to get started.

I used to love seeing Daffodils everywhere.  

Its not that different here.  Crocuses are showing their heads, and daffodils are in the stores.  Its still a few weeks before we see daffodils in the ground.  

I don't have a car, so I do not need to worry about starting a car.  But I do need to worry about how well am I dressed, how warm am I? Have I taken my gloves and hat, even if I do not need it as I step out the door. I know I will need it in ten minutes.

For us though, come Spring, especially 'Fettisdag' Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, we flock towards 'Semla' the delicious bun filled with cream and almonds and sugar (an earlier blogpost was dedicated to it and spring time rituals. (Click here to read).

Although now we start to see Semla shortly after Christmas, about thirty years ago, Semla was sold only on one day.  Fettisdag!!  Fat Tuesday.  The tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

Then it started to be sold between Fettisdag and Påsk (easter).  Today, as is the case around the world, we want instant and prolonged gratification----so we get Semla between Jul and Påsk (pronounced Pausk) (Christmas and Easter).  Yet, Sweden has  maintained certain old ways, and therefore restricts (traditionally and not via government policies) the sale of Semla to three months. 

Even then, there is some excitement.  Semla is associated with Spring. Its associated with lightness and brightness and sweetness that is revealed in nature during Spring---

And it is customary to eat Semla both on Fettisdag, and Påsk.  After Påsk, we wait until next year!!  

This year Fettisdag was March 4.  And Påsk is April 20. 

Niceness

Met this beautiful woman about two weeks ago at my favourite kaffe.  We struck up a lovely conversation and it felt like we were supposed to talk.  Many over lapping experiences.  But one thing that she has and I always admired --3 children and one adopted son from Afghanistan!!  Just a lovely, lovely person and  writer too!!

First published (March 20, 2020)-15 days ago (Today is April 5, 2020).  I want to add something. I had to rush for a meeting, and could not decide which bus to take, the one that came sooner but took longer or the one that came later but took less time, with a shorter route.  The one with shorter route, passed by me as I was thinking, I waved at the driver, I ran, and stopped and ran some more.  The gave up and started to walk away.  Then turned around and saw blinking lights of the bus as it was parked.  I ran and ran for next three minutes to get to the bus.  The driver kept waiting. Due to corona we could not board the bus in the front.  I waited till I got off.  Then I ran to the front door, and knocked.  Joined my hands and bowed!!  Tack så mycket!! Thanks so much.

Little joys of life!!  Grateful to all the kind souls!

_________________

Two days ago, I was coming home from grocery shopping. 

I walk. 

I still haven to bought  a car.  Never got around to it since the US. In Fiji, since coup happened within a year of me being there and then a burglary I kept thinking i was leaving and i never bothered.  Here, my international driving licences expired before I could get a car.  Summers were spent else were and I never got around to it. 

Some of the pain confusion and sadness might have resulted from this lack of movement although I travelled plenty.

Back to the story. I was walking back, it was cold and dark.  And close to my house a bus stopped at the bus stop.  It kept waiting.  It took me a few seconds to realise that the driver was waiting for me.  I waved my hand to let him know that I did not need the bus.  He started again and saw my hand and then stopped again.  He was not sure. I ran up to the door joined my hands, bowed and said, "Tack så jatte mycket, men into behöver jag.  Thanks a lot, but I do not need it."

This simple kindness made me feel human.  Many more incidences ---but just wanted to share this one.  

Simple things that we do and what a difference it makes!

How these simple things for many of us single or not, living their own country or not make us seem SEEN.

I had a wonderful conversation with this lady whose picture I share here.  That conversation too felt like a shower in fresh water something that cleanses you and makes you feel alive....she and I shared ideas, and had some overlapping experiences and understood that world in the same way.  She is Swedish.  Now that is a miracle. To be living completely in a different country and connecting with those  with a different background...Underbar!! wonderful!!

We should aim for that --giving someone attention at least a few times a week...

Go out and do that for someone!!  Come back and share it here, and I can guarantee you that it will make you feel better about yourself....have a lovely day y'all!!