Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

Whoes Shoes? May 29, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend. I was thinking to myself, as I walked toward the Golden Gate Bridge Sunday, what does it mean to me?

The one special memory that I do have is a lovely dinner with someone dear to me. I thought at the time, that it would be an anniversary day to celebrate.  It still is, in a different way. I choose to see this day as an Invitation to the flavors of life. Flavorful food, rich emotions, openness, growth, communication and  celebration of new starts and longevity.

Coming across the exhibition “Whoes Shoes?” by Crissy Fields, made my energy shift and stop for reflection.

The exhibition by The Bridge Rail Foundation displayed shoes, used to belong to and representing the 1,558 lives lost in suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge during the past 75 years.

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Some people come into our lives and quickly go, 

leaving footprints on our hearts, 

and we are never, ever the same.

If you were to step into one of these pairs of shoes, as if you got a second chance, what would you do to fully live your life? 

The memorial day is a day of remembrance of the men and women who have died in while serving in the U.S. military. How can you do that? I would suggest honoring them by doing what they can not do.

Invite peace. Invite life.

Johanna

 

Be Balance May 28, 2012

May 27, 2012 in San Francisco – the city is full with celebrations for the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.

In the presidio area, there are music stages, food trucks and happening all over the place. Walking along the water by Crissy Field, there is one particular area where the busyness suddenly stops. Rock Balancer Bill Dan from Sausalito and his apprentice(?), was performing their Rock Balancing Art.

Bill Dan showed me a picture from when he started 1994. He is the only one with the title of Rock Balancer. Travels the world. Exhibiting and doing work for corporations and events.

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What is the key to creating this? I asked. “Oh this? Connection.”

Want to build something special? Make a connection. And make it last. 

It’s almost unreal. What would your answer have been to the question on Intel’s Facebook Page: Fake or Real?

It brings me to another question: Do you believe what you see, or do you see what you believe? What if the magical is actually real… in more situations than this. And you can make it happen.

Enjoy the day.

Johanna

 

Do That Voodoo May 24, 2012

At the San Francisco Symphony, we have a Swedish gem and musical talent: Chorus Director Ragnar Bohlin. At the Oakland East Bay Symphony, The Man is Music Director Michael Morgan - another gem and creative musical talent putting together eclectic programs that are fantastic. What I love about the Oakland Symphony is not only the music, but the community they have built of the musicians, regular guests, board members and donors. Great people who are creating something beautiful to share.

I have had the pleasure to attend a few of the recent concerts at the historical art deco style Paramount Theatre, the home of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The Season Grand Finale May 18, was outstanding. Such a great variety of high quality performances.

Pianist Taylor Eigsti and drummer Eric Harland performed their new piece, “Courage:” World Premiere for Jazz Piano, Drums & Orchestra A new work in tribute to the victims and survivors of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Daniel Bernard Roumain, who blends his Haitian Roots with classical and techno textures, has played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to American Idol—where he performed with Lady Gaga— entertaining OEBS fans with his Voodoo Violin Concerto. [OUTSTANDING!]

Paula West, locally based, international Jazz Singer. 

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At the Carnegie Hall in New York City this past weekend, the visiting gems were Helene Vik (Herringbone team member) and San Diego based singer Ylva Elias, performing Britten’s Spring Symphony, with La Jolla Symphony Chorus. (I just had to throw it in there – I think it is so cool! Proud friend and fan.)

My favorite though is the Voodoo Violin Concerto by Daniel Bernard Roumain below. What I remember from the Paramount Theatre and the Oakland East Bay Symphony was even better.

If you would be asked to do your Voodoo – what would you do? What is your unique skill and tallent, that would hypnotize your audience? What is the gem in you? Claim it, live it – share it. 

Enjoy,

Johanna

 

You are so Beautiful May 15, 2012

Filed under: coaching — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 11:48 am
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Authentic, pure, from the heart. You are so beautiful to me. Be you. Who ever you are.

Johanna

 

Same Same – and Just a Little Different May 13, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:51 pm
Tags: , ,

My a cappella group Keeva had a guest appearance at the Swedish mass today, at the Norwegian Seaman Church.

The spiritually inspired global rhythms and tunes were very well received, “we hardly could sit still in the seats”, “it put a smile on my face and in my heart”, “so nice to hear such a different style of music” and “please come back”.

We had a wonderful time performing there. Even thought it was different compared to what usually is performed – it didn’t seem that foreign for some. The favorite overheard comment when we sang the zulu song Akekho Ofana No Jesu was: “Is that Småländska?” (a Swedish dialect).

Same same – and just a little different. I think music is something that connects with our hearts and speaks the same universal language.

Music can also help a message carry through. Singing a message can give it a different weight. I heard that loud a clear last week-end when participating in a “Mastery of Self Expression” workshop lead by actor [and much more] Larry Gilman from Los Angeles. “Why don’t you speak as you sing?”

On the topic of performance, art and heart – I came across another blog post today: bite-sized wisdom – Anderson (by Thoughts on theatre).

“If you practice an art, be proud of it and make it proud of you. It may break your heart, but it will fill your heart before it breaks it; it will make you a person in your own right.”
- Maxwell Anderson
The heart is a muscle. It rips and tears, but always heals, often making the muscle stronger than before. Take a risk this weekend and chase down something that just might fill your heart to its brim.

My suggested risk from the master is to SPEAK LOUDER. To LIVE MY LIFE OUTLOUD. And that is said to someone who has a social media communications business with the tag line: “Get heard for positive change”. Getting heard online vs. offline: same same – and just a little different…

So from now on I dare you to ask “what?” when I speak. And if you think that I talk abnormally loud – or if I am singing the message – or expressing more than usual… I am just practicing and playing around with the art of self expression. Off line. What is your risk, that might fill your heart to its brim?

Embracing the differences. HELLO WORLD! :)
Johanna
This is Akekho from our last performance:

Take a moment to visit the blog Thoughts on Theatre – I bet you will find something that you like.
 thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
 

Yebo Gogo! Freedom! April 28, 2012

Yebo Gogo! Sounds like a new site. A new movement maybe. Sporty. Getting things done? How about a new app!?

Have you thought of creating your own app sometime? What kind? For which platform? How about a mobile webb app?

If you do, there are a number of things to consider.There is an article in Mashable Tech that summarizes it well. These are the key questions covered:

8 Things to Know Before Building a Mobile App

1. What Does It Cost to Make an App?
2. What Should You Charge for Your App?
3. When Will You Get Paid?
4. How Do You Write Your iTunes Description?
5. What’s the Best Way to Beta Test
6. What Happens When You Get Featured on iTunes?
7. How Do You Get Press?
8. How Do You Avoid the Spam?

“If you’re new to the app game, prepare for some sticker shock. Making an app will cost you, at the very minimum, around $10,000. This is for a super-simple program — none of that fancy enterprise or social networking jibber-jabber. Even still, any app worth its weight in code will likely cost you closer to $20,000.
Unless you have some basic design skills, you’ll need to enlist the help of both a programmer and a designer. And these guys ain’t cheap — particularly programmers who, thanks to a pronounced shortage of qualified coders, can pretty much name their prices. (A suggestion for those low on funds: Find some creative way to come up with the cash. I funded my app through Airbnb income.)

Now – ain’t that funny. Airbnb – I am apparently not alone on that one. That is exactly how I also met a super nice South African woman, a social media professional peer, with whome I yesterday had a drink and the opportunity to celebrate South Africa’s Freedom Day. 18 years since the first post-apartheid elections was held April 27, 1994. They were the first national elections in South Africa in which the franchise did not depend upon race.

14 years since I was in South Africa with “Project South Africa’98″, a student initiative by 13 students from the student association AIESEC at the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden. We did a study on “Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in Corporate South Africa” and organized for 7 South African students to come for an internship in Sweden. A fantastic experience.

With that I just want to say: “We are all one” – that is also what a skull symbolizes to me. Therefore this and my first Instagram photo of a Swedish candy, to die for… :)

© Yebo Gogo! – Freedom! Raise your glasses! And no, it’s not an app – yet. But I just got an idea… Yebo Gogo – it means Yes Grandma!

See, how it’s all connected!? Or is it that you see what you are looking for? If that is the case – then look for the good stuff!

Enjoy,

Johanna

I can warmly recommend Airbnb – a great way to travel and meet local, great people.

 

Tell A Story Day – With a Red Thread April 27, 2012

I was curious about the origin of the apparently in US and UK celebrated “Tell-A-Story Day”. Today April 27th every year in the US and 6 months later in the UK. So I find out that the “World Storytelling Day” has a bit more of a known history. It started around 1991 or 1992 in Sweden and has spread around the world.

I’ve been told that I find a Swedish connection to anything. It just so happens.

That said: grab the opportunity! Which story will you tell today? Which story could you share that would make someone laugh, learn, or lead? What is the “read thread” in your life story? Share it from your heart.

Go do it! I am going to share a story about IKEA…

Enjoy,
Johanna

The read thread in story is a direct translation from the Swedish expression “den röda tråden”, meaning: the connecting dots, the “main thread”, a theme reappearing in several connected texts or phenomena.

I like the other symbolisms that are out there too, such per Wikipedia:

The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. According to this myth, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of those that are destined to meet each other in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way. Often, in Japanese culture, it is thought to be tied around the little finger. According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of “the red thread” is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎo (月下老, often abbreviated to “Yuèlǎo” [月老]), the old lunar matchmaker god who is also in charge of marriages.

 

Well, that flight was interesting! April 12, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 5:36 pm
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Love flights. Just had an open conversation with the woman, entrepreneur and coach, next to me on the plane to Utah. We spoke about my Herringbone software/platform – supporting and capturing journeys of change worldwide. Even pulled up the two year old investor pitch.

This was the reaction:

“People need this. The world need this. This is heart and soul. And future.
[...]
You can give me that!? I want that. Get some funding this weekend. I want to be cutting edge with my coaching. I’m a California girl now – oh yes – that’s what you got to be!”

Anne Martin, who went from lawyer, to 18 year entrepreneur, to reinvention coach and recently moved to San Francisco.

Well, that was an interesting flight! What an injection of inspiration and confirmation.

Want to invest in me!?
Johanna

 

It Makes Me Feel Love April 11, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Health — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 5:25 pm
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…what is it that you love that would bring your voice and life back should you be in this position?

For me – music, yoga, dance. If you ever see me with my head down – that would lift me up. And even if I know it, it is easy to forget. Even without Alzheimer.

It’s not a coincident that I together with Emma,  my partner in crime in a Co-Active Leadership Program, created a workshop called “Dance to the voice of your core”.

May we never forget. Put on the music and get movin’! Do you feel that spring is in the air?! ;)

Enjoy,

Johanna

AND DO SEE this movie. To the end. – The full article is in today’s Mashable.

Love is in the air. Do do do, do do do….

 

The Baby or The Bone April 9, 2012

Filed under: coaching,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 6:04 pm
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Yes, No or Always?

Life is full of choices. Some choices are easier to make than others. For some people it is easier to make a choice than others.

At the end of the yoga class with Rusty Wells this past weekend we, the students, were given the choice:

1) Happy Baby’s Pose

or

2) Fish Pose

It made me think back of the time when I chose my business name. Herringbone. Symbolism is of importance to me – that name is loaded with symbols and “the reason why”. I wanted to make sure that it also made sense for the yoga community. What I had in mind to create with Herringbone did also apply to them. In the middle of a yoga class back then, we were guided to some movements – I misunderstood, and thought that another name for Happy Baby’s Pose was Fish Pose. What a perfect coincidence! I thought. Even better is that, Fish Pose has an impact on the fifth chakra in yoga which is located in the throat and focuses on communication. Herringbone is about communicating, and making voices heard for positive change.

And to quote Rusty: “If you choose Fish – don’t eat one – be one.” The good thing with being a foreigner in another country is that you can make sense of things, the way it relates to you or your language. This one fully does. Be a Fish – communicate well. It’s obvious – no?

If you have difficulties to make choices, one approach to get out of that is to simply make powerful choices. Make them fast and clear – feel how they feel – stay with it, or make a new one. This is – by the way – coming from the practicing master ;) .

Or Happy Easter Pose?

If you want more choices than the Fish Pose or the Happy Baby – check out this image – it’s all yours, it is Easter after all.

If you want them all – go for it! Why cut ourselves short if we don’t have to?

Johanna

The story about The Bone – I might have to save for later…

 

 
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