The aid of a friend...

Sometimes things in life just pile up.
Lately, this has been the case for me...

I´m on the last few days of my "payed leave" from work, and will become unemployed within a week.
Also due to a change of adress, I´ve been living in a slight chaos for a couple of weeks.
Now I´m on the last stretch of it, packing up the last boxes, getting things organised and curtains in the windows. And, the big thing: Cleaning out the old apartment.

This however gave me some real anxiety. I hate cleaning out old homes!
I just want to move on, let it go, not having to look back. But, no, I have to clean this discusting dustcovered place up first! Cleaning is also not one of my least favourite things in life, and I´m not good at it either. Many times I´ve had to redo cleaning of apartments cuz the landlord complained... :/

I have moved plenty of times in my life. 15 times to be precise. And the worst thing is, the chaos, and the cleaning... Wish I had money to pay others to do it for me, but no.. off course I dont.

I was talking to a friend this morning. Trying hard to stay positive and saying "its not much, I should be able to do it.." She saw through my angst, and offered to help me out!
So today, instead of cleaning for the whole day, we cleaned together for a couple of hours and then we went out for lunch (my treat off course)! Best cleaningday ever :)
Tomorrow we will meet there again and finish it off.
It all feels SO much better now!

Why dont I ask for help in the first place? I´m pretty bad at that one, thinking I have to manage myself all the time. I wonder why that is?
Maybe if I ask a little bit more for help, my life will be both easier, funnier, and I´ll have more friends, cuz I let them in!
Something worth thinking about..

To question stereotypes

People! We need to wake up.

We need to see through this, and think about what kind of messages this are sending to the young women out there. Is it any wonder the bimbos are multiplying? 



http://thehairpin.com/2011/01/women-laughing-alone-with-salad/
http://thehairpin.com/2011/11/women-struggling-to-drink-water/

a couple of pages that really makes you think about what kind of messages the commercials out there are sending us, and the kids.

Here are som very clear idea of how this is everywhere, 2 of the biggest tvstar-chefs there are, this is how they are mostly portrayed:

Kinda sick huh?

To do what we can

This is a first for me. Spreading a petition.
But it´s just to important not to. Let´s protect our fellow humanbeings from brutality like this.

"A teenager named Lal Bibi was kidnapped, raped, tortured and chained to a wall for five days by a gang of powerful Afghan police officers. But she stood up to do what women in Afghanistan are told not to -  she is fighting back, and together we can help her and all Afghan women win justice."

The Avaaz.org campain is now in its final days before the july 8th Tokyo meeting.
Please sign this petition. And spread it!
Help make the women of Afganistans voices heard!
Together we can make one goddam loud scream!

Sign here:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_lal_bibi_c/?slideshow

To become a better person

I have been away from the blog for a while. Concentrating on my studies and my selfimprovements. :)
I am becoming a better person. So can you!

Unlock mental blocks!
Finally I have learned some keys to unlock the mental blocks in my head. It´s all in there you know, the reasons we eat to much, drink to much, do stupid things, bite our nails, and dont work out as we know we should.
When you find the answers to the question "why?", it all falls in to place.
The subconscious us our friend. Its a huge part of us, that wants whats best for us at the moment. Sometimes, the things that used to help us, is no longer helpful, and we can make it stop.

Turns out I was eating the wrong things, and to much, because I wanted to protect myself. Becoming fatter made me less desirable for men, and I have had alot of problems with men in the past.
Was this a conscious decision? Hell no. But still it had great impact on my life.
To dig that one out was not easy. But oh so very worth it!
Since this was revealed by my unconscious I have no problems with eating right and getting exercise! It´s kind of like a miracle for me. But, still really simple!

Focus on Results!
Since I´ve been focusing more on my personal growth, alot of things have happened. And I am so very glad, that I can now choose who I want to be. I can work on my issues and deal with them. Making problems disappear and personal goals easier to achieve.
When setting goals for yourself, focus on the RESULT. A goal might be to run a maraton, But the result is much wider. It might be: "Run a marathon, recieving a medal, getting the respect of my friends, being fitter then ever, prove to oneself that its possible". When focusing on all those surrounding aspects of reaching a goal, it makes it clearer. And clearer to see is easier to reach.
Close your eyes and imagine how it will feel like when you get there! Really really enjoy it! Now, you really have something to strive for havent you?

Assume Success!
When doing something, assume its going to work. Don´t start making excuses for failing even before you start!
If you go in to a jobinterview not sure of anything, really nervous and maybe even stressed out. You really don´t give a good impression. However, if you go in there, assuming you will get this job as easy as ABC, That you are Exactly what they want! Then you are so much more calm and collected, and you will also be able to get your thoughts communicated clearly. Showing them who you really are in a better way.

Hold yourself to a higher standard!
This is a key. You are a unique perfect person. You have everything you need inside of you. It´s just a matter of believing, and retrieving it at the times of need.
Start holding yourself to a higher standard. You deserve better!
You are bigger then the little problems you have. You are better than the mental blocks.
When something doesnt work, do something else. Don´t loose sight of whats important to you, keep the goals alive.

We are all made of starstuff. Lets make it shine!!!

To be influenced...

Its important that you let yourself be influenced by the right things.

We are bombarded everyday with messages, pictures, commercials, gossip and all sorts of other media.
This all gets recorded in the back of our minds. Especially when we don´t really pay attention.
If you see a commercial for a particular brand a couple of  times, even without really looking at it, it might just be on the tv while you play wordfeud, it lurks itself into the back of our minds. And the next time we go to the store to buy such a product, we think "hey, this brand I´ve seen, its supposed to be good". And then they have us!
in fact, we become MORE affected by commercials, when it hits us perifically. When we aren´t even thinking about it. Cause when we think about it, most of the time we see through it.

When they have no good technical stuff or real data and evidence to persuade us with, they use these kinds of lifestyle stuff. "look at me I drink this soda and I´m perfect, You want to be me. Therefore, buy my soda". Ridicolous really.

Every commercial for a new brand on tv, increases sales with ca 60%. EVERY COMMERCIAL. Think about it!
So when most people say, that they don´t let themselves become persuaded by commercials, they are in fact lying. It might not be consciously, but they are.

There is however a way around this. Awareness.
Awareness is always the key. If you just think about it when you go shopping, you can see through the first instinct, and say to yourself "hey wait. I don´t really know anything about this product do I?" and then make a more aware choice.

Take the power back. Be aware!

To change the life we live...

Anyone can do it. Change their life.
It may be slow, it may take several attempts and it may include several setbacks along the way.
But as long as one doesnt loose sight of the goal, its possible. It´s doable. It´s necessary.

To Evolve.

I´m in the process. constantly. More so the last year than ever. And I´m slowly turning into someone I can be proud of. Someone I am glad to be. Someone New.

To Evolve.
To Grow and Blossom.
To open up, to Believe in oneself.
Letting the Starstuff Shine.

To be inconsistent

I think of myself as a rational, logic, intelligent being.

However I, very often, do inconsistent stuff. Why is that?
For instance, I care for the environment, but I throw all my trash in the same bag, and then sneak it out of the house... I also drive a car thats not at all environment friendly...
And I want to live more healthy, started going to the gym and try to eat better. But now and again I just stuff my face with chocolates or cheese... And I find all sorts of excuses not to go to the gym.

Inconsistency is probably a large part of being human.
I´m working on becoming more robotic, but I´m not to consistent in that either ;)

The beauty of stars

A young group of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The image is taken by Hubble.

It fells kind of weird to say that stars are young, or old. When they are in fact so very very old as compared to ourselves ;)It´s also weird to think that the image we see, when we look in telescopes such as the Hubble, is not whats going on out there right now. It´s so far away, that some of the stars we can see, has actually already died when we see them.

At the right here is "the Eagle Nebula". Also by Hubble, this great tool of ours.



The universe is just so fantastic and jawdropping. And gorgeous!

To create new brainpatterns...

Anyone can create new brainpatterns in their own brain, making it easier to be more flexible and imaginative.

Plasticity is the term, for the way the brain constantly reinvents itself.

If you do something differently, new patterns appear in the brain. 

So why not, take a few minutes, draw or write something with the wrong hand?

Or just take a different route to work? Puzzles, crosswords and sudokus are also excellent braintrainers.

Anyone can train their brain and evolve themselves. 

This is why, if you start a new exercise regime, it takes some time for it to become a habit. When the new way of thinking has become more common in your life, the new path in your brain is easier to use. Just like if you walk some place once, it leaves very small marks in the ground, not easy to see if you´re not trained tracker. But if you walk there alot, you create a path/road/freeway.

This way you can train yourself to think differently, about anything. If you often think bad thoughts about yourself, that will be the easiest way for the brain to go. So it will keep going there... not so good. Try to do it the opposite way. Start thinking good thoughts. telling yourself you are Excellent! At first its akward and feels a little weird, but pretty soon it becomes easier, and after a while, its just a part of the way you think.
Then you have just changed the way you feel about yourself. 

Thoughts -create feelings. Not the other way around.

The most astounding fact...

I need to link to my favourite film, the film that changed the way I view the world, and myself.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson- Thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D05ej8u-gU

To appreciate the earth...

I can get pretty angry at people who still don´t believe the earth is in trouble, or that it´s our fault. It is in major trouble, and off course It´s our fault. We´re the ones using up all the resources and destroying it. its Terrible!

I can myself be kind of lazy about saving the planet stuff, driving a petrolthirsty car, throwing away to much garbage and such. But I´m not completely blind! I do a little bit, not near enough but at least I do something!


I know I dont write anything new... I was just kinda annoyed about it today. And this is after all, MY outplace. :)

To embrace the Starstuff

Why is my blog about starstuff?

Because starstuff is everything!

We all come from the same elements as were once produced in Big Bang.

Every little piece of dust, every little atom, every little cell is from the same stuff.

The world as we know it, has come about through random starstuff piling together in different manors and by different methods.

It´s all so very simple and oh so very complex at the same time. Just like I am and you are.

Starstuff


I like it!

To make a difference

One of my goals is always, to make a difference.
For me, my son, Mensa, the people and the earth.
I am not always that good on following up on this goal. But it´s at least a good thing to have in  the back of my mind. As a constant reminder.

One of the things that left me frustrated about my last work, was that I was in a position to really make some good changes, for the people working there, and for the customers. But a whole lot of the things me and my collegues ever suggested to the managers above us was rejected. I can´t work like that. I need freedom.
So the choice to leave there, when the opportunity emerged, was not that hard at all.

In my constant pondering over my future and where I should go next, the idea of starting a business of my own always comes back to me. To be able to decide stuff myself, and not to have constant bruising on the top of my head from banging it against the glassroof.
I have some ideas that could work. But its really hard to take that plunge. Especially when I´ve got a little kid as well.

It´s not easy making this mind up. Its all so full of ideas and constantly hunting for new stimula. Its just so easy for me to involve myself in all such of things simultaneously, and then nothing really gets done good enough. I am also a really good beginner of projects, and really lousy on finishing them.

So much to do so little time and money...

I want to do so much. Want to go to so many places and want to learn about so many new things.
Why am I not shitting money?

Through circumstances beyond my control I actually got the gift of time.
I have half a year, with full salary, to do what I want to do.
This is really awesome. But then theres just so much, I want to do! However I should do something useful with the time, something that will give me a better future... Also half a year aint that MUCH time. I really need to focus on getting  a new job so that the future is secure. These two things, building a better future, and securing the future, seems to be on opposite sides at the moment. And I´m caught in between.

 I need to sort all this out... this is where the breathingpart comes in. Right now I feel myself getting way to stressed up over this.

Take a step back, just breath. Feel. Stop overthinking things!
As if I can. I am a mensan... brain working overtime all the time. Wheres the offswitch?

I feel myself just becoming a selfish little bitch, not thinking very much about anything else but this. Not feeling, just thinking. Its like I turn the emotions off. I´m also quite the controlfreak, so when all is so uncertain, I can surely panic a bit.

Dudes, I´m sorry. Nobody should have to deal with me right now. Not even myself.... oh to bad, I have to.

To boldly go where no man has gone before... almost.

James Cameon has just been down the MarianerTrench. This is so unbelievebly cool!
With the aid of  National Geographic and a team of scientists, he himself, alone in a "vertical torpedo" went down 11 kilometres in just 70 minutes.

It´s mindboggeling and jawdropping! One of the few places in our world that has not been investigated, examined and destroyed by mankind... yet...
Can´t wait to see the program about this when its available

2 people went down there in the 60s, but didnt get much data from it at that time. With the technology we have today, its so much easier for the team to get the information they want.

Why a famous person and not a scientist? is my first reaction... But, in the sensationfilled world we live in, it kinda takes a famous person to raise the money for such an endeavor doesnt it?
James is also not "any kind of star", he´s been really involved in deepsea exploring for ages. The making of Titanic required submarines being created and little robots that could go in and check the ship out.
The making of that movie is a really interesting documentary by the way! Just a sidenote.

Read all about it @ National Geographic

To spread knowledge

This monday I heard a wise man say a wise thing:
"It´s only if we spread the knowledge we have, it´s really worth anything".

The last month I´ve really been enjoying the free knowledge available for us online. It´s a whole universe in its own out there!
I want to share my best tips for knowledge, at this moment in time. It constantly changes and grows.

My favourite place for documentaries of all sorts: Topdocumentaries

My favourite free knowledge database: Wikipedia. Please help by updating information, keep it fresh and correct! If you want to support them further, checkout: Wikimedia

And I hope you havent missed, that alot of universitys have free online courses that you can take?
For the last weeks I´ve been attending a course at University of Michigan, called "Model Thinking". I found it through Coursera, but there are more places out there.  Just google it, and sign up!

I really love the freedom the internet gives us.
Lets do all we can to keep it free, open and for everybody. The way starstuff are meant to be.

To indulge yourself...

Indulgence was the theme for last week.

Tomorrow my university course starts, and I must get a little more serious about project jobhunting.

I´ve been exploring the outdoors with my camera, eating alot of good foods, enjoying alot of chocolates, and then I also went on a spa for 24 hours.

We and everything around us are made from the same starstuff. Its all connected.
Just some stuff feels better to lavish yourself with than others...

The street where I live at dusk

The river a sunny day in march

An old traintack outside of Lundsbrunn spa

Why? Cuz´I can. Simple as that!

Monday; inspirationlecture and excellent free lunchfood.

The first icecream of the year, in the harbour

Handmade chocolates and nice tea

Chocolatetasting at the spa

One happy wine and chocolate psycho

To compete in artistry...

Competition in artistic stuff can be real difficult. Who´s to say that one creation is better than another?

We recently had a competition at our official Mensa Sweden facebookpage; Mensa Sverige
Where we asked our members to send in suggestions for the large picture in the new timeline layout.
This is the winner! Neat isnt it? The artist is Mikael Grön.
And it wasnt that hard actually, this one really stood out.

To believe in the future

Sometimes the walls crumble down and its all really hard to see where we´re going.

Its important to take a step back, relax, just breath and allow yourself to feel. Before you move on. So that you have your compass set right.

I am now in a breathing place. Its lovely here, I will stay for a while...

The stuff we´re made of..

Determines how we act and react.
And since we´re all made of starstuff, shouldn´t we all just act in a fantastic way?

Or is it the crap we´re being fed, that makes us not so starlike?

I´m working hard not to mind to much, about other peoples opinion. But sometimes its not that simple...

Oh well, when times arent changing fast enough, it´s a real good thing, to have a vivid imagination. :)