The meaning of experience

Some time ago I had a conversation with a friend who also work as a leader in another organization. We usually have interesting conversations but this time it was even more so.
We got to talking about how we were as children, how adults responded to that back then and what we became. We also talked of how experiences as a child forms you and affects you.

She had been loud and very visible as a child and I was very shy and low profiled. She got to hear that she "was too much" and I, of course, got to hear that I needed to talk more and louder and not be so quiet. We realized that we both got the message: we needed to change in order to be successful in life.

Needless to say, kids don't just change and adapt to what the adults around them tell them to become, it doesn't happen like that. So both of us stepped out into the world knowing that the way we were wasn't "it" and wouldn't be good.
Neither one of us had a perfect shiny childhood either (which may be why we had our different "not good" behaviors?) so we both took the baggage and entered the big, wide world.

Funnily enough we both longed for fatherly appreciation, due to lack of it at home, and I'm sure we searched for it in different places and many wrong places. I know I did.

I took an anything but amusing walk through the valley of the shadow of death and luckily made it out alive.
My friend did too.

During our talk we realized that that very experience changed us and made us realize we could live through anything and come out alive. That is being strong and allowing to be brave. You compare things that happento you later in life, to that "shadow of death-experience" and you know "this is nothing". We both lean on that. I wonder if we both have an edge somewhere in our personalities, due to it?

Both of us has also found out that the way we are, is OK!
We're successful in what we do, both of us. We work as leaders, we have totally different leader styles but we're good at our jobs.
I guess those adults were proven wrong?

We should be careful what messages we send to children around us.

My friend and I talked about how we'd be without those experiences. We can't even guess, it's impossible to know. The thought is challenging and intriguing.
It's close at hand thinking that if only I had had a carefree upbringing and youth, I would be even further ahead in different areas of my life but who knows? Maybe I'd be too scared or too weak instead?

Barack Obama said of his time as a brand new president that we all have to play the cards we're dealt in life. How true!
The exciting part is that we all have a story to tell, every single one of us. I love getting to hear the story of a stranger or a new friend, it's better than any novel.

The Magnolia bud will hopefully burst into a flower soon...

And some IG:s for you:

.... no! New computer, so this will have to transform into a teaser!! Next post will hold that selection of IG-pics ;-)

Today is Sweden's National Day and I had a great one with The Boy and The Dog. Hubs studied...

Weekend coming right up. Have a fab one y'all!
Nothing but love for you.

Thursday countdown!

Summer, summer, summertime - summertime!
It's here, whether you consider rainy, kinda cold days summer or not. Summertime's here.
We're adapting by building a wooden deck, having guests over, weeding, being out and active and never ever having time for any kind of indoor activities... Such as this blog, for instance!

Way to go hubs - you're getting there...!

 We're trying our very own strawberries for the first time - yummy!

 What say you?!!

 Loving the sunsets.

A story from my childhood
When I was eight, my family moved to the south of our country and we lived not far from where I live now. My paternal grandparents had a summerhouse in these parts and my grandfather's brother also had a summerhouse and a third brother had his home here as well.
Come summer, come good times - back then! Relatives from all over the country would gather in these two summerhouses - especially my grandfather's brother's house - and we would go to the beach, BBQ, have huge family dinners and play and laugh a whole lot.
Us kids had a blast with a very high hanging swing and the adults would talk non-stop, trying to update each other and they would hug and smile so much, greeting each other another year.

This week we were invited to my grandfather's brother's house for dinner, by a relative who stayed there for a week.
Sweet Memory Lane and a magical evening.

 Like in all times: bikes ready to take to the beach!

 My sweet "cousin" Ivo.

 Hubs likes my relatives!!

 What en evening, eh?!

 Looking around the rather derelict house.... I remember every part.

 Brothers having a good time!

 Dinner's ready soon...

Fish and fresh vegetables! 

 I love the surroundings. My grandfather loved them too and called these parts "The Hills".

I was thinking, during dinner, and during wandering just a little, taking pics, that 30 years ago my grandfather, my grandmother, my grandfather's brother and family, my parents and all us kids were here - maybe this very date!
The adults probably sat right here talking about life, love, time and invention (both brothers invented stuff their whole careers) just as we did, sitting here today. Their offspring. They're all gone now.
I thought of them and almost felt their presence.

Thursday.
TWO more workdays and then: vacavacavacavaca!!!!!!!!!

Have the grandest weekend you possibly can <3

Step aside and let the stars shine!

Stars
The great music contest had its grande finale (for our country  - the european finale is in May) and we decided to make an extravaganza out of it!
We never go to glam parties - and don't even socialize with anyone down here yet - so I needed the fun and glamour, hubs needed to feel less grim and The Boy is always up for some fun AND loves the music contest.

We rolled out the red (black) carpet and did pose in front of the red door!
Be ready - prepared even - for some bright shining stars:

He showed up - a huge star in country music!

One paparazzi opted to capture this sing star in frog perspective...

Strike a pose!

Err, hrmmm.... what's this? A blooper?!

The world famous director and his muse.

It's an old trick: photographing the pararazzis...!

Waving to all the fans :-)

The country legend strikes a pose.

And shows off his famous line dancing!

Here's the brat pack: too cool, to swag, too hot for this song.

The glamorous Hollywood family!!

Ohhh, that director IS flamin' hot...

Let the festivities begin!!

And they began!

The music contest offered much thrill and we all voted and were excited who would win and get to represent our country in the big final, in May. The Boy was not pleased by the winner but not really displeased either, so the evening got a clean bill of health all in all.

The day after I asked The Boy what he thought of the glam-extravaganza (thinking maybe I was the only one who really liked it and maybe The Boy thought it silly), his answer made me instantly realize it was all so worth it. He said:

-I was so happy I almost cried!

All about making memories, for sure. We'll make a tradition of this! The Boy may even pass the tradition on, who knows? He will remember it anyway and tell his kids about it later. That is important stuff.

More goings on from the last days:

The dog is a master of begging and is not at all ashamed to do it, even if he IS a refined dog.

An extatic (and joking!) boy, eating his Saturday candy, Sunday morning.

It seems good....

Uh-oh, he got a piece of it!

A beg well done!

Of course I worked that blessed Sunday that passed. I work this upcoming Sunday too. And the sun decided to show what she's got!

The birds sang her praise, the neighbors stepped out into their gardens and I could hear voices coming from all directions. People put their trampolines together, The Boy went bicycling and hubs and I..... had coffee outside before I left for work.

And boy, what a grand moment in the sun, it was! 

Can't get enough of it. Can never get enough of coffee in the sun, with the hubster.

The Boy offered us a fab moment of glory.

Love that boy.

Yes, didn't I tell ya - The Boy can whistle!!!

Whistling boy, touching dada's weird beard.

I guess it's no wonder that I rejoice, huh?!

Every time I step in to my own office at work, I peek towards the windows, close the door gently and take a leap of joy and of faith! 

I jump up high, I try to keep a little spring-scream low and I do some kind of weird dance of happiness!

I feel fab, these days!

I wish the same upon you.

Happy Wednesday. Do look for at least Five Fabs today, if you will please?!!  It might even become a Favorite Day.