This week I spent some exciting time writing a story on the 50th anniversary of US president John F Kennedy's inaugural address (and his life). It´s the one with the famous line "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.". While studying the speech I found it full of beautiful and inspiring passages. How about "With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own"?
JFK had some very dark sides, but the ability to inspire people - to make somebody feel that he/or she can rise and become a better self - is actually divine. In a time of cold war, the difficult struggle for civil rights and a bad recession (not to different from today) he made America and large parts of the world believe again. Large parts of that speech is very relevant today. Plus he had a style icon family - some of the pictures of Jackie Kennedy makes me wanna awake her stylist from the dead...
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fabulous Good Running
I first heard about this idea from our dear friend and world citizen Min Li. It´s simple, smart and rather fabulous. It´s called The Good Gym and it goes like this: Everybody want´s to exercise - it makes us balanced, healthy, beautiful and full of harmony. When you´re at it why not do something good for a co-human? While jogging you could pick up a newspaper for someone less mobile in the neighborhood, run an errand for someone who needs the help or simply provide some kindness and contact for a person who lives alone.
Runners with The Good Gym in Great Britain commit to at least one run per week and according to all the stories on the gym's home page it really keeps them motivated.
The Good Gym has won some prizes and recently BBC did a story on them. Now one of my favorite publications Good Magazine wrote about the phenomenon.
I just think there should be a branch in every city...
Runners with The Good Gym in Great Britain commit to at least one run per week and according to all the stories on the gym's home page it really keeps them motivated.
The Good Gym has won some prizes and recently BBC did a story on them. Now one of my favorite publications Good Magazine wrote about the phenomenon.
I just think there should be a branch in every city...
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Happy Magic New 2011
As always we get by with inspiration, warm embraces and a little help from our friends. Be safe, don´t forget to fuel your creativity and try things you´ve never done before.
Here´s New York Times tips for how to make your resolutions stick - a guide to sustainable life/marriage/money/food/tech.
Great music also helps, I still dance to this amazing song by french duo Les Rita Mitsouko.
One of my most inspirational moments in December was watching my dear friend Johannes Stjärne Nilsson and Ola Simonssons absurd, humoristic, unique and thoughtful feature film debut Sound of Noice. It´s aroused people at festivals all over the world, go see it.
Happy New 2011!
Here´s New York Times tips for how to make your resolutions stick - a guide to sustainable life/marriage/money/food/tech.
Great music also helps, I still dance to this amazing song by french duo Les Rita Mitsouko.
One of my most inspirational moments in December was watching my dear friend Johannes Stjärne Nilsson and Ola Simonssons absurd, humoristic, unique and thoughtful feature film debut Sound of Noice. It´s aroused people at festivals all over the world, go see it.
Happy New 2011!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
On life, politics and chicken pox
These past few months have been wonderful and hectic. I did a super interesting and intense journey in the US before the midterm elections - where I wrote about many things from the proposal to legalize marijuana in California to poverty, unemployment and president Obama. Back in Sweden I´ve juggled everyday life with our beloved girls (home work, fencing, gymnastics, choir performances, chicken pox and beautiful Lucias) with full time work, my equally beloved husband and trying to care for my dear friends as well as my body and soul (best done through yoga, sour dough bread and disco dancing). I turned 40 on a beautiful beach far, far away, under the stars and surrounded by family.
I have a feeling I smile more often, and that I´m slightly less stressed. Awake alone the night after Christmas Day I think about all the eyes I´ve looked into these past few months - about the hope and sparks I´ve seen in them. I also think about the strength of willpower, about giving and receiving blessings and about saying grace. And I remind myself to sometimes in the middle of the night whisper a word of tenderness to the sleeping body next to mine.
PS A few days ago I made a Christmas interview with Swedens prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. He told me that he spoils himself by listening to hockey on the radio. The knowledge that a good game will be on that night can keep him working for hours and hours. Joy can be found in small things :)
I have a feeling I smile more often, and that I´m slightly less stressed. Awake alone the night after Christmas Day I think about all the eyes I´ve looked into these past few months - about the hope and sparks I´ve seen in them. I also think about the strength of willpower, about giving and receiving blessings and about saying grace. And I remind myself to sometimes in the middle of the night whisper a word of tenderness to the sleeping body next to mine.
PS A few days ago I made a Christmas interview with Swedens prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. He told me that he spoils himself by listening to hockey on the radio. The knowledge that a good game will be on that night can keep him working for hours and hours. Joy can be found in small things :)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Hail to the Bishop
"Rasism saying that you are not worth as much as I am, that you shall not have the same rights as I have , are not worth a life in freedom, and this for one single reason - that we happen to be born in different parts of the world - is not worthy a democracy like ours".
The quote (freely translated) comes from Swedish bishop Eva Brunnes preaching today in Storkyrkan in Stockholm. The service marked the start of the new Swedish parlament after the elections _ elections in which Sverigedemokraterna, a party with a racist agenda, sadly enough took some seats.
Brunne showed moral courage, something we don't see to often these days (and Sverigedemokraterna walked out of the church).
The quote (freely translated) comes from Swedish bishop Eva Brunnes preaching today in Storkyrkan in Stockholm. The service marked the start of the new Swedish parlament after the elections _ elections in which Sverigedemokraterna, a party with a racist agenda, sadly enough took some seats.
Brunne showed moral courage, something we don't see to often these days (and Sverigedemokraterna walked out of the church).
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Love Life of Borg and Digital Diplomacy
On the very same day I made two interesting interviews - one with Anders Borg, Secretary of Finance in Sweden, and the other with Alec Ross, who advices Hillary Clinton on technology and innovation. Both are rather strong personalities.
One can have different opinions on Anders Borg and the policies of his liberal-conservative party Moderaterna, but one must give him the credit for keeping Sweden afloat during the global financial crisis. We talked about a variety of things, from the ongoing election campaign to his passion for walks in the forest, and then I asked him what he was most proud of. "Well, my wife and I have had a very long relationship, I was 16 when I moved in with her. We still have a vivid and loving relationship and I think we offer our children a great and safe environment".
It took me by surprise that he choose to talk about his love life, but it also made me happy. I believe politicians needs to be well grounded (and of course armed with a vision).
Visions is only the first name when you have a conversation with Alec Ross who is known for his "digital diplomacy". I quickly fell into his idea of spreading digital telecom to the developing world and thereby making people communicate, innovate, get access to banks and other services and - according to the World Bank - increasing their country's GDP. According to Ross its all about creating projects and learning by doing. You go.
One can have different opinions on Anders Borg and the policies of his liberal-conservative party Moderaterna, but one must give him the credit for keeping Sweden afloat during the global financial crisis. We talked about a variety of things, from the ongoing election campaign to his passion for walks in the forest, and then I asked him what he was most proud of. "Well, my wife and I have had a very long relationship, I was 16 when I moved in with her. We still have a vivid and loving relationship and I think we offer our children a great and safe environment".
It took me by surprise that he choose to talk about his love life, but it also made me happy. I believe politicians needs to be well grounded (and of course armed with a vision).
Visions is only the first name when you have a conversation with Alec Ross who is known for his "digital diplomacy". I quickly fell into his idea of spreading digital telecom to the developing world and thereby making people communicate, innovate, get access to banks and other services and - according to the World Bank - increasing their country's GDP. According to Ross its all about creating projects and learning by doing. You go.
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Repair Kit for the World
I love smart games. Especially this one that was given to us the other night by dear, cool Miriam and Björn. It´s a repair kit with several assignments in order to make the world a better place. It also contains a World Repair Passport and stamps, to keep track of the good work. Of course Björn bought it in "our" old city San Francisco. And of course all of the net proceeds go the Serena & Lily Foundation who funds youth initiatives around the world. Lovely.
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