corner view {famous}

Some time ago I read an article about how today’s big society and big world makes it more difficult to be famous or to feel that we exceed in one talent or one activity. It is more difficult to feel that we are good at something compared to before.

Before, when we lived in small villages or towns everyone could be “the best” at one thing, excel in one activity or be famous for one thing. There were less of us. We knew of less people. We compared ourselves with fewer and so it was easier to feel good about ourselves or be famous even if just for one thing.

Today, not only has cities and communities become bigger. We also have TV and internet which makes the smallest village or town big. You can compare yourself with people from all around the world. People you have never met. To excel in something, be among the best or be famous is far more difficult.

I do this myself. Compare me with others. Compare my blog with others. Compare. It is not good. Sometimes it makes you feel small. Sometimes it can make you feel alone.

The only thing I find that helps from getting further down a negative comparing spiral is to go back to the initial thought or the initial feeling of why I do what I do. I do what I do because I get a satisfaction from the mere activity. I master a personal challenge. I experience flow.

Yesterday I came across Susanna’s lovely blog. She has an interesting video post on digital detox (I found her through Hei Astrid). Doing a Digital clean up is a great idea. As well as having a respite from Digital medias.

I think a digital detox or clean up is a great idea for several reasons. One of the reasons Susanna mention for doing a digital clean up is because she comes across blogs that wind her up, or that triggers her. Sometimes she reads blogs that fascinates her, but that makes her feel anxious, jealous, competitive, not good enough or less than… all crappy feelings. I can only say that this resonates with me, I have felt the same.

Today however, after thinking about her words, I have been wondering. Is it necessary to eliminate people from our digital life or real life to feel good? Eliminate the person we compare ourselves to, because if not it becomes too much? Is it them or is it us? What if we instead work with ourselves, and our feeling. Ask ourselves why does this thing, this word, this person or blog trigger this funny feeling in me?

I am sure that neither her nor I are the only ones feeling like this. Everyone has funny days when other people’s success gets to us. So if everyone feels the same once in while, is it not better to be together than alone about it? Be together, and learn to live with these funny feelings while we also take strength from eachother, from eachothers creativity, thoughts and energy? Turn it into an upward spiral.

… A few weeks ago I saw the French movie “Ensemble, c'est tout”, with Audrey Tatou and Guillaume Canet (side note: I have just replaced the Clooney poster hanging on the inside of my wardrobe with this to die for cutie!).

The Norwegian name of the movie is “Together we are less alone” (Sammen er vi mindre alene).

Let’s be together about experiencing funny feelings. About not being famous ( for the record: it's OK to be famous if you are). About doing things for the inherit feeling of doing it. Let us work on being content with the everyday encouragement we get from our friends and family. Let us feel good together and crappy together.

All these feeling are part of life. They are part of us. Together we are less alone.

corner view {pondering}

Watching this glass jar reminds me of different summers in the past. Each little thing with its own summer moment that made me pick it up and bring it home. One day when I’m old my jar will be full. I hope it doesn’t fill up too fast. But when the day comes that the jar is full I hope it will be filled to its rim with small and big summer beach moments that makes me smile. That makes me feel content.

For more corner views visit Jane or Theresa

sunny sunday walk

Today we took a Sunday walk along Carl Johan the main avenue in Oslo. I love cold sunny days, and the golden colour on the leaves high lighted by the sun.

baby jacket

I have been a committed knitter during my absence from blogging. This baby jacket is for my cousin’s baby. She is the most adorable little girl you can imagine. The jacket will keep her warm and pretty on cold winter days.

As a knitter that only begun knitting seriously (… that sounds silly, have you ever heard of an unserious knitter?) about two years ago I am quite proud of having made this jacket. I would never have thought I would get this far with my knitting. Every new project I take on teaches me something new.

This jacket taught me that I should never be afraid to try patterns that look difficult. If it is too difficult you can always stop knitting and use the yarn for something else. And if it is not overwhelming and you conquer the challenge then you end up with a sweet jacket and one bar more on the knitters self-esteem chart.

For details on the pattern visit Ravelry

Second hand days

Fall brings with it second hand markets. I love them. In Drøbak they have an outdoor market with lots of almost not resistable things. Look at these beauties. Happy Wednesday everyone!

September in Yonder

What I thought would be a summer break from blogging has turned into several silent months. I want to go back to normal blogging but it seems I’m out of words and things I think interesting to share. And then I read your blogs and realize there are tons of things I want to share with you. So I will start writing my 1-2 posts a week again. Today I share a photo summary of September.

spending time in the garden with friends and neighbours.

our friends F & A's wedding in Barcelona.

cleanup crew.

partying after the ceremony. This has been one big party summer (... meaning two parties, our own wedding included). I feel young again.

This bar in the Born area of Barcelona is owned and run by an Australian. They made excellent mojitos!

a sunday walk in the sun.

smelling the jasmine.

outdoor family dinner.

at the market bying ingredients for making panellets.

I wasn't the only one druling over these candies