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We find a delight in the beauty and happiness of children, that makes the h
2008-01-08 14:48:00
Today I just want to share a wonderful list of100 ways to be delightedposted by Christine Kane which I found very inspiring. I love and totally agree with number 24: The way little kids hold their hands in the air as they walk. Number 54: Making Art, is another one. Since our extension is finished we are caught up in the never-ending finishing touches such as wallpapering, painting, adding and fixing window sills, curtains, lamps etc. But the list is getting smaller and ticking off the things that are done (most by hardworking other half) brings great satisfaction (to him :-).We have bought new cupboards and shelves for our new office/"paiting and crafting atelier" where we intend to seriously take up on our painting again very soon. The storing of the painting supplies alone gave me a big rush. Find ing the bulk of inspiring images torn out of magazines made me want to mix colours and get my hands dirty once more.However, and related to my post from yesterday, I have not found anywh...
More About: Beauty , Children , Happiness , Delight

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one - Leo J. Burke
2008-01-04 10:06:00
Oh how I would like to write a thoughtprovoking, meaningful post on a political or psychological topic!But on 19 December 2007 our second son joined our family and I have since been suffering from chronic sleep deprivation which does not allow for deep thoughts and elaboration of any topic other than sleep.Believe me, if I were a dictator and had to torture someone, I would deprive him of sleep. It is worse than suffering hunger or thirst. Lack of sleep increases death, it has an influence on your metabolism, your brain activity, your blood pressure. And for me it obviously has an impact on the people around me. I am irritable and a little mishap such as a broken cup can be the end of the world.Things weren't that bad when I had number one. I would sleep when he was sleeping. But number one now wants attention when number two is asleep. And number two still does not know the difference between day and night.Luckily I have a very thoughtful, helpful and patient man who takes number ...
More About: Baby , People , Sleep

Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side - François
2007-12-10 14:55:00
The works for the extension of our house are almost finished. Thank I don't know who for that. What a hassle construction works can be. I must say however that the big works of the beginning (digging, construction etc) went quite smoothly compared to the finishing touches of the end.The problem is when you have different trades that need to work hand in hand. Say for example you have a large bay window installed that needs electric blinds. To start with, the window company outsources the blinds to the blinds company. The blinds company needs the the electrician to provide the connection cable from the indoor switch. The electrician installs this cable. The blinds company comes to install the boxes containing the blinds and considers that the electricity cable is not at the right location (i.e. in the -net yet installed- blinds box) and informs me that the electrician will connect the blinds. In the meantime, the insulation, frontage and paint coats are added to the outside of the h...
More About: Long , Side , Fault

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourse
2007-12-03 14:07:00
My daily life is far from poor. Any woman pregnant with number two can confirm that.My son is sleeping and I was looking for something at The Clearing Space to take my mind off daily stress and hormones. This post triggered below story.Today I was sitting on the couch having a bowl of cereal when my son absolutely insisted on sitting on my lap. Of course he was at the same time pulling the bowl out of my hand. Imagine cereal, (cold!) milk and fruit all over me, my son and the couch. What do you do first? Clean yourself? your son? the couch? As I got up, all the cereal that was glued to me by the milk fell to the floor and couch making the mess territory even bigger. That's when I couldn't handle it anymore. Being pregnant, my tolerance level is lowered by silly things called hormones. And I do get irritated and discouraged a lot easier. I would have gladly handed the whole picture over to my other half (which is what I sometimes do lately when I can't seem to manage anymore), bu...
More About: Life , Daily , Poor , Blame

There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is
2007-11-29 14:31:00
Or - how to write a children's book...Our son is starting to get into books :-)He is 18 months old and yesterday he sat next to me on the couch actually listening to the entire story of the little mole who doesn't want to go to bed.The reason might be that little mole has a teddy or blancky that looks just like our son's Rufus (a little lion with blue and white striped pants) and that I have adapted the storytelling accordingly.This triggered of course an extensive research on the internet for more books of that sort: books with a little story that tell a little lesson, with nice pictures that babies his age can relate to. He is not done yet with the books that have just pictures (he loves his big truck book - although I find it too American looking - and books with Nijntje), but he seems to start the phase where he wants to be read to.I have often thought about writing and drawing children's books. The big question is of course: where do I start? I have lots of stories, there a...
More About: Books , World , Love , Large

The book thief by Markus Zusak
2007-11-28 10:00:00
I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.I stumbled upon a review at Books4breakfast and luckily the local bookshop had it. I finished it within a few days and would like to give it a great thumbs up.The narrator is Death himsel telling the story of a young German girl, Liesel, growing up in a small town near Munich during WW II. But don't let that throw you off. At times, the narrator even becomes a likeable character.Liesel cannot read but steals her first book when her little brother dies on the road to her new foster family. Together with her accordion-playing foster father she slowly learns to read and her interest in books, and stealing them, grows. When the family hides a Jewish man, son of the one who saved her foster father's life, Liesel builds a heart-warming relationship with him and becomes his eyes to the outside world he no longer sees from the basement.Words are of utmost importance during the entire book. Hitler fights and controls with words. ...

One of the greatest disservices you can do a man is to lend him money that
2007-11-26 13:16:00
Well, here's an occasion, where someone you lend money to CAN pay you back.Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org (this is the Kiva blog), you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.The founders were recently featured on the Oprah show, NBC's Today Show and in Bill Clinton's book Giving. Apparently the effect of this promotion was so overwhelming that all open loans were covered within a few days. So they really don't need me to make them known...But then again, when I first heard about this idea I thought it just wonderful. It is in line with Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he created who won the Nobel Peace Prize l...
More About: Money , Lend , The G , Greatest

You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions
2007-11-14 12:37:00
I have abandoned a few assumptions this week. I assumed I could be pregnant (i.e. deal with all the hormones and prepare for this new life coming), take care of our 17 months old boy, my other half and study for a degree at the same time.I had to admit I was wrong. The strain of having to juggle so many things at the same time when all I wanted to do was take care of myself, read, buy baby clothes, hug my boy and man, was making me iffy and moody. I became angry at myself and the world. I started to doubt myself and my choices. I started to become seriously stressed and letting it out on the ones around me. And all these emotions were not good for the baby either.Why could I not handle this?I started analysing the situation. The reason why I chose these classes was so that I could obtain this degree. A degree which would not have advanced me in my current job. It would only allow me to possibly follow some other courses in order to possibly make a career change into education. And e...
More About: Stick , Assumptions , Ready , Conviction , Abandon

Desiderata - Max Ehrmann
2007-11-09 14:37:00
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story.Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs;for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;and everywhere life is full of heroism.Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.Take kindly t...
More About: Max Ehrmann , Desiderata

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be che
2007-11-09 13:29:00
Some years ago I read 'A year by the sea' by Joan Anderson.The book really inspired me and some lessons learned are:Silence can be a good friend.Believing in yourself isn't everything, but you can't begin to live unless you do.Joy comes from the capacity to appreciate all things elemental.Be at home in your body.The four necessary steps to finding yourself are the four R's: Retreat, Repair, Regenerate and Renew.Put your relationship with yourself first. I always find it interesting to read about what I call 'Wonderful Women'. If you go to My Library you will find lots more of the same kind.If you have any books in the same spirit that you'd recommend, I'd be glad to hear about them.
More About: Books , Some , Allo

We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it th
2007-11-07 13:13:00
Today I am wondering why it is that we have a preference in what we like to learn and thus most of the time find easy to learn.Why do I find reading about and learning the English language or geography easier than say mathematics (the current three subjects I am more or less struggling with at the moment)?I'm sure a scientist will find a very scientific answer to that. But since I don't have a preference for math, I don't particularly like sciences in general either and so his opinion does not interest me :-)I am convinced that one can learn or learn to do just about anything. I am convinced that I can learn math (yes I can!), even understand it and be able to explain it to someone. However, I will not have acquired this knowledge with pleasure and ease. And I firmly believe that pleasure and ease play a big role in how well we learn and are thus able to keep that knowledge alive. The cornerstone of education is guiding children in the right direction to learn certain things but ...
More About: Question , Answer , Learn

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them all -
2007-10-30 14:59:00
Do you love reading? Do you think that the books you read say a lot about the person you are?Do you rush to the end of the book to find out how it finishes?Or do you slow down towards the end of a good book because you don't want it to finish?Do you love choosing a new book to read?Or does it stress you out to have to pick one for a trip because you might not like it and have nothing else to read?Do you think there is a moment when you are ready for a certain book?Do you wish you'd read certain books because they are classics and have thus become 'must-reads'?Do you feel bad because you haven't read certain books and feel that as a booklover you should have?Are you able to name your 3 favorite books? The 'love currently' and/or 'all-time-favorites'? Go on then... Post them in comments for me.Thanks.MM
More About: Books , Chance , Read , Chan

Life is a zoo in a jungle - Peter de Vries
2007-10-29 11:34:00
Recently I read about a charity which I thought was a very worthy cause. It helps single parents with a lifesthreatening disease. Single parents already have a tough time getting by when things are rosy. A lifethreatening or terminal disease can however very quickly swing a person out of its wellorganised hinges and it seems that the support is not sufficient at all. All the money goes into the treatment and no money is left to turn the few 'normal' moments with the kids into blissful memories.When I first read about it, the initiative touched me greatly. I am not a single parent, but I can imagine what you go through as a couple if something like cancer for example happens to you. As a single parent you have to fight this alone and worry about your kids three times as much.I wanted to support the cause - but as it happens so often, you go to bed and things are forgotten the next morning. Yesterday I read the same weekly magazine and come across some sad news about the charity: th...
More About: Life , Jungle , Peter

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it -
2007-10-17 10:31:00
I have recently taken up my studies again. I quit school at the age of 17. I wanted to see the world, travel, earn my own money and independance and not spend years at school when I didn't really know what I wanted to become. My parents did not push me to go to university. Getting a decent job was already a big achievement for them. I got a decent job and I have worked my way up the corporate ladder ever since.As I mentioned, being independant at a young age was an advantage to me at that time. I was living on my own in Paris when most of my friends were still living with their parents. I had money (albeit litte) and was free to do all the silly things and mistakes one has to do to grow up. I learned by doing, on the job, in real life. I had to deal with finding someone on the weekend to replace my apartment door wrecked by burglars. I had to handle a berserk neighbour knocking on my door every so often threatening to harm me. I had to get rid of a stalker. I had to learn how to fi...
More About: Time , Find , Make

Poverty is the mother of crime - Marcus Aurelius
2007-10-08 09:08:00
US man faces potential 30-year prison sentence for stealing a doughnut.Picture this: a guy tries to steal a doughnut - probably because he is poor and hungry and just wants to eat. On his way out the shopkeeper tries to hold him back and maybe he pushes her a bit trying to get past her.Turns out that the push is now being treated as minor assault, which transforms a misdemeanor shoplifting charge into a strong-armed robbery with a potential prison term of five to 15 years. Given the hungry guy's past criminal record, prosecutors could boost that sentence to 30 years to life. 30 years of imprisonment for stealing a doughnut? Because of the principle that 'a crime is a crime', 'everyt crime should be treated equally' and 'it's not the doughnut, it's the assault'?So the guy has a past: he has been arrested more than a dozen times for crimes ranging from shoplifting to drug possession to torching a car for insurance fraud. He has done time in prison for these crimes. Not 30 yea...
More About: Crime , Poverty , Mother , Rime , Vert

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn - Elizabeth Lawren
2007-10-02 11:42:00
It is October but it feels like spring. It's about 20 deg. C outside, the birds are singing, the bugs are buzzing, the sun pushes the morning fog away and renders everything hazy. The yellow and brown leaves tell me however that it's autumn.As Albert Camus puts it:Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is aflower. Autumn days...Smell of fallen leaves, of mushrooms and moss.Indian summer daysbefore the cold and the fog take overand the winter becomes dark and wet.Going for a walk,stir up leaves with my feet.Isn't nature just spectacular?In autumn there is not enough light and water for photosynthesis. The green chlorophyll disappears and makes room for all the other colours that were hidden underneath. Whether a leaf turns red or brown depends on the type of tree. A maple will turn red because of the glucose in the leaves. An oak will turn brown because of wastes left in the leaves. Not very romantic when you analyse it but how poetic it is to the eye!Go to Google images, type ...
More About: Watch , Time , Elizabeth , Turn , Leaves

Anorexia is just another word for nothing left to lose - Joy Behar
2007-09-27 14:42:00
Today I saw a shocking newsflash (in French) which brings the sadness and desperation of anorexia to the frontline.A controversial ad compaign was launched during the Milan Fashion Week. The ads are aimed at raising awareness about eating disorders and show Isabelle Caro a 27 year old woman weighing only 31 kilos.The ads were shot for clothing breand NO.l.ita by photographer Oliviero Toscani (known for his controversial photos taken for Benetton) who wanted "to use that naked body to show everyone the reality of this illness, caused in most cases by the stereotypes imposed by the world of fashion."I think this campaign is very brave and find it difficult to look at. The woman reminds me of pictures of starving kids in Africa. If it can raise awareness about the seriousness of this illness, fine. Will it cure it? I doubt it. I do believe though that today's fashion, media and showbusiness have all contributed to the fact that today's girls want to be skinny. Although it is true tha...
More About: Word , Anorexia , Left

Every man is a consumer and ought to be a producer - Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007-09-24 09:29:00
Today just some lyrics by the great Neil Young.THE RESTLESS CONSUMERThe people have heard the newsThe people have spokenYou may not like what they saidBut they weren't jokin'Way out on the desert sandsLies a desperate loverThey call her the "Queen of Oil"So much to discoverDon't need no ad machineTelling me what I needDon't need no Madison Avenue WarDon't need no more boxes I can seeCovered in flags but I can't see them on TVDon't need no more liesDon't need no more liesDon't need no more liesDon't need no more lies......The restless consumer fliesAround the world each dayWith such an appetite for taste and grace......People from around the worldNeed someone to listenWe're starving and dying from our diseaseWe need your medicineHow do you pay for warAnd leave us dyin' ?When you could do so much moreYou're not even tryin'......Don't need no TV adTellin' me how sick I amDon't want to know how many people are like meDon't need no dizzinessDon't need no nauseaDon't n...
More About: Politics , Music , Consumer , Better Life , Emerson

Few people can see genius in someone who has offended them - Robertson Davi
2007-09-20 10:54:00
Today I stumbled upon a goldmine of acerbic and eloquent articles written by Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker. As I am devoid of inspiration today to write an article, I will give you his on offending people and what he calls The Axis of Feeble. Enjoy, it's hilarious.
More About: People , Writing , Better Life , Genius , Davi

10 questions with MindFul MiMi
2007-09-19 15:00:00
BlogsWeLuv have quite an interesting concept of promoting blogs 'that deserve a little love'. They ask you 10 thoughtful questions.To see mine, visit their site.
More About: Questions , Mimi

Auto-promotion: I have a new blog :-)
2007-09-19 12:40:00
Need to cook tonight?Need inspiration?Tell me what you're looking for and I will send you a recipe.Go to SEND ME A RECIPE.
More About: Promotion , Blog , Auto , Romo

The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term
2007-09-18 10:02:00
...is the indispensable pre-requisite for success - Brian TracyIf you put a marshmallow in front of your 4-year old and said that he could eat it immediately or wait until you returned and he'd get another one, what would he do?My son is not 4 years old yet - but maybe I will do the test with him to find out what his behaviour tells me about his possible future.Walter Mischel did this test with several hundreds of 4-year olds. They videotaped the kid's reactions. Some of them gobbled up the marshmallow immediately; some looked at it, smelled it, touched it but didn't eat it. Others started walking around, humming songs to distract themselves. One even licked the space on the table surrounding the marshmallow.Fourteen years later, these kids are grown and the findings are quite dramatic.Kids who did not eat the marshmallow immediately but waited for the tester to return (and were thus gratified with a second marshmallow) seemed to show many more skills that make for success. They ...
More About: Education , Discipline , Better Life , Psychology

Choices are luxuries - or are they?
2007-09-17 13:57:00
Strolling through the aisles of the supermarket, I like to have a large choice of jams or teas. New and exotic flavors tingle my curiosity in experiencing something new on my bread in the morning. I choose with pleasure.However, it is with much less pleasure, let alone curiosity, that I choose my laundry detergent from the large offer on the shelves. I usually go by price and ecology label.The same goes for restaurants: I enjoy choosing from a smartly chosen list of courses but I hate going through a 20 page menu in a Chinese restaurant where you order a number instead of the name of the plate.And when my company changed from a default (e.g. safe) pension investment plan to one where I could actually choose where to invest my money (and what level of risk to take), my initial choice was to stay with the default for lack of knowledge of the other options and fear of making a mistake or taking a risk and 'wasting' the money.So when is it good to have a choice? And how many alternati...
More About: Better Life , Psychology , Choices

On raising bilingual children
2007-09-17 13:55:00
When I was pregnant with our first baby an important question popped up. How do we raise our kid language-wise. I am a native Dutch speaker, my other half is a native French speaker. Together we speak French and we live in a country that has another, third language: Luxembourgish.After some research and reading of books, I came to the conclusion that information contained on the web and in books is helpful but that each situation is different and particular. Hence, there is no one-solution-fit-all.I was born and raised in Luxembourg but up until the age of 4 only spoke Dutch at home. Getting to Kindergarten I did not understand a word of what the kids were saying. Back then (early seventies) the community was much less international than it is now, so I was the minority. I do not remember feeling left out for long though. I do not remember having any difficulty language-wise. The particularity about Luxembourg is that Luxembourgish is only an official language since the 80ies and th...
More About: Education , Kids , Children , Languages , Psychology

Political compass. Where do you stand?
2007-09-14 13:13:00
If you were to put yourself on a political map or scale, where would you be?To see where you stand in this graph, take the test. My results showed me to be as left and liberatarian as the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. I like that :-)
More About: Politics , Political , Stand , Compass , Politic

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vi
2007-09-13 16:39:00
As Albert Schweitzer wisely said:To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.I am grateful for:having found the man I love, my soulmate, my friend and biggest supporterhaving a healthy son who is smart and funny and for number two on the waybeing healthyliving in a country without warbeing able to look out my window and see the sky, the trees and being able to take a walk in the countryside whenever I want tomy family and friendsmy freedom of choice, of speech, of movementall experiences that teach me something, make me strongerhaving feelings: happy ones, sad ones, scary ones - they make me aliveWhat makes you grateful?Interesting links:Steve Pavlina on Gratitude D...
More About: Peace , Sense , Love , Today

Does Bush sleep while we cry?
2007-09-12 14:22:00
Just a brilliant song by smart women who have a political message.
More About: Politics , Bush , Sleep

GUEST POST: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - Franklin D. Roo
2007-09-12 12:59:00
Indie from The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy has allowed me to guest post his thoughts on a quote from F.D. Roosevelt. Thanks for your contribution Indie.If you have a favorite quote and something to say about it, please feel free to submit it for placement as a guest post.Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated in his 1933 inaugural address "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." These words were uttered during the height of the Great Depression, a period of intense upheaval and fear. The statement is inspirational because it rejects the easy exploitation of a situation in which people will, out of fear, rally behind anyone offering easy solutions and answers to difficult problems. Whereas Roosevelt called for an intelligent, considered response in reaction to a situation in which we were immobilized by fear, the rise of Hitler and Mussolini represents the opposite type of reaction.Sane ideas such as these do not repeat themselves in history as often as their antithesis. The per...
More About: Post , Fear , Guest , Thing , The O

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to
2007-09-12 11:05:00
Today I want to share some wonderful music with you.Marco Niemeijer is a very talented singer/songwriter from the Netherlands who after a solo album ('Back and Forth') formed a band called 50lux with whom he produced another album called 'Everytime you move away'.They play an interesting mix of pop, alternative country and rock which can be called Americana. If you dig the likes of Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young and Lou Reed you will definitely find your share among the songs.Unfortunately 50lux does not exist anymore. But Marco has gathered musicians from all over again to form the band 'Please Mrs Henry' and record a new album with the same name.It is again the kind of album you listen to on a long drive home through the countryside. It brings up images of a long straight road through wide American plains with the sun setting in an explosion of colours. At times melancholic and a bit gloomy, I admit, but the music does not get you down as it is speckled with amusing...
More About: Music , Impossible , Ossi , Anno

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you f
2007-09-06 11:42:00
Today I guess is the day I need to talk about wonderful women. After the tractor journey to the South Pole, here is the story of another initiative. A colleague of mine told me about his daughter Mirjam's (founder of the Tara Initiative) travel to Nepal to start work with local orphanages. Tara's initiative is special because it does not simply build an orphanage, but goes furher toward the root of the problem.Now you can't change the country, but you can change the people and by building a training center to teach orphanage personnel in areas such as hygiene, financial management and pedagogy, the Tara Initiative makes sure that typical problems of local orphanages can be dealt with by the local personnel.Research in Katmandu's orphanages showed that:On average there are 27 children in an orphanage and 3-4 adults work there who are on average 27 years oldIn 80% of the orphanages there is no running water - in 96% there is no shower. No orphanage has sufficient toilets and beds....
More About: Charity , Fish , Better Life , Feed , Give