For this little hand....

....I feel more love than I've ever felt for anything!! It's the most powerful, purest kind of love. For this hand, I would do ANYTHING....anything and everything! I will happily spend my life trying to make it feel safe, happy, warm, comfortable and loved....unconditionally! I would protect this hand with my life....sacrifice anything and everything without hesitation.... 

....now can you imagine how much love I feel for the rest of her?  ♥

xo

Incredibly unbelievably happily, head-over-heels, above the clouds in love -

A February weekend in Sweden

It had been way too long (I believe June last year?).....honestly, I don't go home nearly as often as I should or as I want to. Hopefully, this will change once my new job is less new to me and I will have more time in the future.


After having spent the first evening and morning with my friend Aryan, I travelled on by train to Köping, where my family and my oldest friend (Madde) lives. I stayed with my brother and his Josefina and their daughter (my precious little niece, Cindy). The feeling of seeing your family again after such a long time is almost unexplainable......so many things have changed and yet, you can always pick up exactly where you left off. Nothing feels unfamiliar or strange. It is as if just the presence bridges the gap....the gap being the time you've spent apart. 


It was an amazing weekend! Mainly spent cuddling and playing with my niece, but also attending my father's and Paula's wedding, hanging out with my mom and my stepdad and I also spent half a day shopping with Madde in a nearby city called, Västerås.


I have fallen head over heels in love with my niece and saying goodbye was not easy =(( The good news is that they will probably come to visit us in late spring/early summer...


I am back home since late Tuesday evening. Feeling refreshed by having been surrounded by an abundance of love....but unfortunately, on top of all the precious memories gathered, I also brought with me some kind of vicious "flu" that had me stuck in bed throughout most of Thursday afternoon and Friday. Still feeling a bit sick, but it was surely worth it ;))

Some photos:

Here she is, my little angel niece, Cindy <3

Cindy and me

Cindy as a little fairy princess ;)

My dad and Paula

The wedding cake! So cute!

Mom

Mom and I went for a walk around Strömsholm

Spring was in their, but had not yet melted away all the ice....

Madde after our shopping spree ;)

At the airport on my way home, I finally got the change to eat my favorite food: a Swedish shrimp sandwich
Honestly, I could by a ticket to go home just for this! Tastes like heaven =p

This weekend will be spent recovering from my "flu", editing all the photos from Sweden, planning our upcoming holidays and hopefully, if I feel better today, getting some fresh air!


Oooohhhh and by the way, if you want to see a real nailbiter, watch "A lonely place to die"!!! Not a feel good movie, but a great action flick that had us almost out of breath yesterday evening ;)


Enjoy your weekends!!
xox

Taking a closer look at love......

...or subject should more accurately be "How to keep believing in love".

For my frequent readers, you'll know I had a give-away a few weeks back where one of the tasks to win was to suggest upcoming blog-topics.

Just to be clear.... I'm no expert!! Simply a blogger with a task....or a mission if you will.......

EMMA E - this one is for you ;))

How to keep believing in love

Well......honestly, when you are happily in love, this is the easiest thing in the world and just the opposite when you are not.

So, how can you keep believing in love when all you do is get hurt, get turned down, feel alone, get flirted with by people you couldn't even consider having a 2 minute conversation with or worse (?) not flirted with at all??

Gosh..... If I had the answer to this, I'd be rich in selling books and probably even have my own TV-show by now!! No one can really answer this question as it would depend on everyone being shaped in the same mold....which is far from our reality!

BUT, I do have some thoughts on things to keep in mind while trying to believe in love ;)

♥ There is absolutely NO reason for you to settle for something less than awesome!! If you are afraid of being alone, ask yourself why and work on that first..... I mean, if you don't like your own company, why do you expect someone else to? A mindset like that wears off on people...

♥ Remember that YOU are certainly unique and awesome!

♥ Everyone has flaws. No one is perfect!! That's as true for you as for everyone else.........

♥ Trust your intuition.

♥ Compromising is sometimes necessary, but beware of compromising too much on things that really matter to you!! After all, you want someone who loves you, no?

♥ All good relationships require hard work...... Flawless is for things - NOT for people.

♥ Believing that you alone can make someone else happy or believing that someone else alone can make you happy is neither realistic nor fare (I'm trying to learn this one myself ;)) ...finding someone who loves to see you happy is probably more the key here than finding someone who can make you happy.

♥ Stop obsessing about it!! People can sense these things more than you can imagine....whether THEY know it or not. ......so stop obsessing, but don't stop trying. I realise being alone and being low is not easy....but do you honestly think being happy all the time is?? Hard work pays off in the end.....

♥ Tell yourself that when it comes to love, being naive is way better than being cynical!!

Imagine meeting someone for a date and all you hear is "I don't believe in that shit...." or "Everyone knows love is for fools....." or "Of course there is no such thing as love at first sight!!".

Not fun to hear.....not fun to believe.....simply not fun.

♥ Meeting someone while your out dancing/partying is tricky....but I do have a small theory!!

I call it "The smiling theory" (yes, it has been slightly tested, but it should be mentioned, there was alcohol involved.....both for the testers and the preacher of this theory ;)).

Best shown in pictures:

POSERS (I'm talking Zoolander, Blue steel ;)) will be sure or at least have huge potential to find someone willing to take them home for the night.

SMILERS are much more likely to find someone who falls in love with their smile and will want to make sure that smile stays on.

KEEP SMILING!!!! If not successful, at least you'll train your facial muscles ;)) (Happiness is the best facelift!).

♥ Shouldn't the question rather be "Why would you NOT believe in love??" After all......Everybody wants to love and be loved in some way.

♥ ......and those who say they don't, believe they have a good reason for it. My opinion is that they are most likely wrong - but you or I can't change their minds. They have to want to change and some people are unfortunately comfortable being miserable..... Sad but nevertheless true. Love is scary!!!! Especially the thought of unreturned love.

♥ Mindset is key! Keep believing. You have to!! “A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes” Mahatma Gandhi

♥ ....last but not least!! Miracles happen over and over, the sun rises every morning, people have invented AMAZING things, roughly 359 000 children are born every day. Why would you not be able to believe in such a natural part of life as LOVE?

♥ I think this Deepak Chopra quote is veeeeeery good too: "The known is the prison of past conditioning. We must step into the unknown to be free"

...isn't it also so that many times, we are still dwelling on things that happened in the past which disables us from moving on?? Are you attracted to the impossible because you don't want to be vulnerable in the possible?? Maybe you don't want to let someone in because you're scared of being hurt? Be bold!! Take risks! Dive into the cold water!! After all, if you never try, you'll never know........ Try and fail - but don't fail to try!!

What doesn't kill you DOES make you who you are and you are stronger because of it. Regretting things you never did is much worse because you didn't even get the experience out of those, just the headache ;))

♥ Be yourself in your quest for love!!! Everyone else is already taken!

Conclusion....

There is no such thing as a special universal recipe for love or for how to make someone love you OR to fall in love with someone for that matter.... What you can do is simply relax and go with the flow!! BUT, make sure you are fit for purpose. What I mean is make sure you are happy with who you are and if you're not - find out why and deal with it.

Enjoy your own company....same principle, if you don't, ask yourself why. I for sure believe that change is possible if you WANT to change.

I think this is the 3rd or 4th time I write this - but I will write it over and over again:

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER!!! You can do whatever you want to do (within legal limits ;))) and be whatever you want to be!!! Believe this and good things will come your way........eventually.......

xox

Linda - Believer in and lover of LOVE ♥♥♥ .....lost in Switzerland...

I am BACK...

...from my week in Sweden!

Not just physically back, but in all kinds of ways! I feel completely energized and happier than in a looooooong time! Why? Simple...... Because of LOVE!

I have been completely surrounded by it in many diffrent ways now for a week and when you are no longer used to that, it's not only pleasantly overwhelming - but it's like a shot of pure energy!!

I arrived at Arlanda airport last Monday evening, feeling emotionally and physically drained and came home late yesterday evening, feeling as good as new! Allthough, let's be clear, I have been stressing around a LOT to manage to see everyone I wanted to see and to do what I had to and wanted to do ;)

Something that you all have heard, probably more than 100 times, is that you should always try to surround yourself with people who give you positive energy and stay away from those who do the just opposite and steal it from you.

Well, I honestly never truly felt that someone was actually stealing my energy before, but now that I know what it is like to ONLY surround yourself only with those who give you the good kind of energy - it is all so clear to me what they really mean by that! Wow-waaaa-weeeeeeeee!

I will surely try to keep this strategy going ;))

Always when I go home with limited time like this, there is someone I can't see because of too little time or practical issues...this is my only "regret".

Dad - I really missed you!!!

I am so greatful to have the best friends and family in the world!! I feel truly blessed ♥ ♥

Please now that I love and miss you all every day.....

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones and surround yourselves with positive energy!!

xox

Linda - Lost in Switzerland again, but this time feeling a little less lost ;))

PS. I will soon close the "Wish-upon-a-cupcake Competition" - don't forget to enter ;))

Empathy Love Life Happiness Wisdom

I have recently had so many feelings of sadness.....not really for myself, but for people I care about.

In my mind, empathy is one of the most important attributes a person can possess!

Why? Well....because empathy is the ability to feel for others. Sure it can bring you down at times when people around you are sad, hence the sadness I'm feeling right now....but the fantastic thing is that when they are happy, truly HAPPY - so are you!! Genuinely, without envy....just ridiculously happy for someone else! THAT is important and it's a truly beautiful thing... This ability to feel for others enables happiness even when it doesn't come from your own fortunes and I don't know about you - but I don't feel like my own fortune grow on trees ;)

Naturally this sadness that surrounds me has also made me wonder, why is it so difficult to find happiness sometimes? Why is it so hard to see beyond misery? Why can't we see the lack of sunshine as the sun just hiding behind those clouds, taking a nap, just resting for a while and instead only see a dark, threatening cloud preventing the sun to shine? Why can't we learn to appreciate what we have instead of feeling sorry for ourselves for what we don't have? Why can't we manage to see the beauty in eachother and instead dwell on the draw-backs?

Sadly, some people are unhappy because they are afraid of who or what they would become if they weren't.... It's like so many other things that makes us feel safe or comforted even though we are clever enough to know they are not necessarily good for us! Like sugar (Amen! I confess!) or drugs (no way!), or that job or that person in your life that makes you feel like shit that you can't seem to let go of believing that you don't really deserve better? Well you DO deserve better and when you start to believe that - you can also do good for others and inspire them to see their own unique worth.

(Picture sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/addran/page2/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phitar/ http://www.oslcmonte.org/images/reaching%20out.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/62253642_dcc82dd481.jpg http://www.leksak.nu/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/children-jump.jpg http://api.ning.com/files/YyiXBfR*BwCBSAshT6o2oajxMFU*TU1v*85Fs1fmoxk_/laughter.jpg)

Lately I've had the good fortune to come across so many words of wisdom from some truly great minds out there! You know the difference of a sentence and words of guidance (much needed) when you read them and they really "hit home"...you know, right on the spot!!

...it makes you feel happy, victorious, triumphant but it can also make you feel nervous, sad or full of regret. Either way, those are the words that will help you move on and move up (or move out? ;)) For me - this is so inspiring and so human!!

Let's face it....we are not alone...many people feel just like YOU feel and I am so happy some of these people share their life learnings and wisdom. It doesn't have to be known philosophers or poets, it doesn't even have to be deliberate or even good-willed! It can be your collegue, or your teacher or maybe even a stranger on the bus that you are overhearing while he/she has a conversation. Anyway - you will know and when you get that feeling, when it hits that spot - use it! That's an opportunity right there!

Here are some quotes and words of wisdom that recently "hit that spot" for me....hoping they might also make someone else take the learning from them:

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Confucious

"Nothing prevents happiness like the memory of happiness" Fariha Akhlaq

"Life is not a mystery to be solved, but a reality to be experienced" In my daily Facebook fortune cookie

"Be kind to unkind people - they need it more than anybody else" Confucious

"Out of every sorrow, another day will dawn" Eskobar

Deepak Chopra quotes:

"The known is the prison of past conditioning. We must step into the unknown to be free"

"If you don't have a shadow you are standing in darkness"

"You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goal is to discover infinite worth in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks"

I am not ashamed to say that in most situations, I'd rather be seen as naive than cynical....
I believe if we always see the risk of failure instead of chance of success in every opportunity or if we focus on the obstacles instead of looking for ways around them - we miss out on appreciating life! L I F E !

Why can we never learn that life is precious and that it should never be taken for granted?

Love and regret - these two feelings remind you that you are alive like no other... Which one of these two would you like to be reminded by?

xox

Linda - Lost in her own mind again....in Switzerland

You know that feeling!!?

..yeah, you know? That feeling of being connected to yourself, your mind, your heart and your soul? Vivid! Inspired! ♥

Why? Well maybe it was the iron slash vitamin B12 infusion I got at the doctors office this morning, or maybe it is the fact that I've had a very good day at work? Possibly (surely) it has a lot to do with spending some really happy days away from "reality" by being on holiday with my LOVE.... Or maybe (or should I say very likely ;)) it's also knowing that in two weeks time I will be going home HOME HOME HOME (!!!) ♥ for a week to spend some much needed time with people I love so dearly and miss so intensly ....daily ...constantly!? My friends and my family!!! ♥♥♥

Wow! What an incredibly powerful feeling it is when you have been away from the ones who are closest to your heart for 3-12 months and then knowing that you will FINALLY see eachother again! It is completely and utterly overwhelming emotions that simply takes over and spins you around! I can barely fall asleep...it makes me cry those really happy tears!! I have butterflies in my belly!

Anticipation... So much anticipation!!!

There is really no way for me to rank who I miss the most or why... I miss all my friends and everyone in my family, all in diffrent and unique ways ♥♥♥

....but this time going home will be a liiiiiiittle extra special... I will see my ex "niece and nephew in law" (Enzo & Nelly ♥♥♥) and their mother, my friend Patricia ♥ who I also miss so dearly!! There are truly no words that can describe how much I've missed them! I have known these kids their whole life up until one year ago.......and I haven't seen them since

(only in pictures). I can assure you that not many days have passed without that hurting a little...without that instant feeling of sadness in ones heart when you're missing someone so much that it litterally hurts......if you've ever felt it you will know what I'm talking about....and now I will get to spend 3 days with them! I can't wait!!! I am so excited that my ♥heart♥ is JUMPING!

Those are the feelings.....inspiration, anticipation, love, happiness and sadness - all wrapped up together in a biiiiiiiig bubble that is my heart....about to burst!! That's how I feel right now..........

I am going home!!

"You may be one person to the world but you may be the whole world to one person" Anonymous

The ones I love are truly my world!!!
I hope you all know that and if you don't - then I am telling you now and will hopefully soon get a chance to tell you face to face; You are all unique, I love you ♥ and you mean the whole world to me!
...regardless if you are close to me and I see you almost every day or if you are miles and miles away...

To all of you; Take care of your hearts and your sweethearts!! ♥♥♥ You are the whole world to someone just as someone is the whole world to you.

xox

Linda - Lost in Switzerland for another 2 weeks - then home to SWEEEEEEEDEN

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♥ I now pronounce you husband and wife ♥

"You may kiss the bride!"

♥These two sentences are so loaded with love and joy♥ Yesterday, I got to hear them again....it had been a little more than a year! The beauty of these words get to me everytime...

I ♥ weddings!

Especially when you are so certain that the two love-birds joining their hands in marriage are so obviously destined to be together, just like yesterday ♥

♥ The past few days, the weather here has been dreadful...rainy, windy (even stormy!) and cold! ...but just like magic, all the threatening, dark clouds went back to sleep and left us with a beautiful, clear-blue-skied-crisp-sunny-late-summer-day.....and instead of the fall - love was in the air!

♥ Congratulations M & S ♥
Just like John Lennon stated, short and sweet; "All you need is love" and you certainly have that ;))

...and thank you so much for letting us be there with you on your special day, building a memory to last us a lifetime!

"It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life for me. And I'm feeling good...."

Nina Simon

♥♥♥ xox ♥♥♥

Linda - Lost in LOOOOOOVE in Switzerland

Counting my blessings...

I don't want to seem ungrateful for the things I have been blessed with in life, so I'm going to list some specific ones to remind myself of how lucky I am (without any specific order):

* I have a fantastic family (yes, a bit dysfunctional - but aren't all in one way or another?) who loves me and whom I love in return!
* I have wonderful friends!! Great friends...the best you could ever wish for!!
* I've loved and been loved! ...I still love =)
* I have a fun, well-paid job at a good company
* My apartment is fantastic!
* I've had the good fortune to travel to some amazing places
* My bad life-experiences have made me so much stronger!

....I think this is enough for now, just to keep me on the right path.

Thanks for listening!
xox