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.
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.
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard them talking about the ongoing series of American Idol. The view numbers are decreasing, and they claimed an American Idol fatigue – the number of artists having performed the same covers starts to be too many. It’s not new any longer.
I know what might be the next big thing. It’s recently been pitched in Sweden. And I won’t say more. Just yet. Can’t wait for it to be created and cross the boarders.
What is similar to American Idol, and is still going strong, is the Eurovision Song Contest. The difference is that the artists participating compete with a new original song, representing their country, voted by the countries and the populations. I wouldn’t say that it is as ingrained in our Swedish culture to watch the national Melodifestivalen, leading up the Eurovision Song Contest Final, as it is to watch Donald Duck 3pm Christmas Eve – but very close.
Here in the U.S., a Norwegian friend hosts an annual party the evening of the final with a replay of the event. Norway won 3 years ago. There are clear and strong instructions to stay out of Social Media and news, so that we don’t know who the winner is… With the new feature of starred Facebook friends, and automatic notifications of their updates on my phone, I didn’t succeed to avoid my cousins shout out real time in Sweden… but it was fun to watch.
There is a sweet rivalry going on in-between Sweden and Norway – but they didn’t deserve to fall that far down the list…
And here is the winning song, “Euphoria” with Loreen from Sweden.
Enjoy,
Johanna
Lyrics: Euphoria
Why, why can’t this moment last forevermore?
Tonight, tonight eternity’s an open door…
No, don’t ever stop doing the things you do.
Don’t go, in every breath I take I’m breathing you…
EuphoriaForever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
We are here, we’re all alone in our own Universe,
We are free, where everything’s allowed and love comes first,
Forever and ever together, we sail into infinity,
We’re higher and higher and higher, we’re reaching for divinity.
Euphoria
Forever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria
An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Forever we sail into infinity,
We’re higher, we’re reaching for divinity…
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria….An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
A few years ago my friend Lisa was in a gondola lift in the French Alps, going up to the top. It was packed with people going skiing. Suddenly she hears a couple of Brittish guys express:
“Muuumsfilibabba. MUUUUMSFILIBABBA.”
“What is that?”
“That’s what Swedish people say when the food is really yummy.”
So true, so true. Although, it was a while ago I used that expression. Recently though, I had a yummy situation when I happened to pitch the originator of an idea, without knowing.
I attended an INFUSION/Berkeley Startup Cluster Lunch to hear Forbes reporter and author, Larry Downes, present on The Laws of Disruption. You can get his book: “The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces that Govern Business and Life in the Digital Age” (Basic Books 2009)
After the presentation I was talking to the entrepreneur sitting in front of me. His company was focusing on green energy.”Oh – I have someone I should introduce you to. He is working on a [CONFIDENTIAL] for green solutions. It is a really good idea. I am sure you would want to… Hm – who was it… I was just told…. anyway – it will come back to me”.
The topic changes and he asks where I am from, and if I am involved in the Scandinavian Community. “YSC.org – yes, to some extent” I respond. “Do you know Ian?” “Yes! In fact, he stayed with me last week when he was here for a conference! – oh yes! He was the one who told me.” “Interesting – he is my partner.” “Ah – so it is your idea!?”
The day after I receive an email from him with the question: “what is the (funny) Swedish expression that means “delicious” or “very yummy”? It sounds similar to “ums-feely-bah-pa”…”
So now you have it. Mumsfilibababba!
Enjoy,
Johanna
Two risks about sharing your idea: 1) someone might take it and run with it, or 2) people will spred the news and you might not yet be prepared for the customers coming your way…
And by the way: How many of you are reading the actual physical news paper these days?
Got a skype message sent my way informing about an “all Swedish” session of Tiesto Club Life Episode #257.
I’m realizing that there is a lot of Swedish music I haven’t kept up with… here is a two hour list of Swedish house music podcast, downloadable on iTunes.
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?”
“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.
I have had The Dream in my head now for so many years, been focusing on it, drifting away from it while being drawn into other projects, been poked about it and returned to it, time and time again – not knowing exactly how to move forward, but being clear that it is something I can’t let go of. Every year that has passed there are new learnings and insights that I have made, and technical introductions that would be applicable – all contributing to the big picture. I start to feel, that now is the time. I can’t express how touching it is to hear support and “WANT” from others. Yesterday alone I got one phone call, one skype call and one email with different messages – the same supportive bottom line. Let me share the email from my friend and supporter Karl Mettinger with a poem he wrote. Enjoy.
To Johanna
May 8 2012 8 pm
I FIRMLY BELIEVE
(Uncensored without the New device called EyePhone)
I firmly believe in resurrection, in life eternal, in righteousness in heaven and on earth!
I believe in our mission impossible To help make us all to become one global family And in Shared resources, Shared responsibilities, Shared values and beliefs And shared dreams!
I firmly believe in helping one another To grow to our full potential To blossom and carry fruit, Good fruit that we all can share.
Life is too short not to set out from our comfort zones In Life boats or Viking ships to conquer new land And make safe landings where we rightly belong.
This is the time To celebrate New journeys New beginnings New spring seasons and summers New harvests and seasonal fruits
Where do we go from here? Where our dreams and visions take us To the Holy Land of dreams fulfilled To the dark corners of the world to discover and explore
I firmly believe In our mission to build bridges To help people share one another’s wisdom and visions and dreams And to help bringing together All peoples to One Family!
I firmly believe In the tech revolution In Facebook Twitter , Google and Wikipedia, I believe in mobile phones, Skype Androids and IPad.
Social networking can help us connect But also the simple smile and invitations to conversations As we walk our paths or speed through the highways
We need one another One another’s eyes and ears Hands and feet Our bodies to hold onto To caress and express Our feelings And create the worlds to come….
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