The lake is finally frozen enough to go out! Seeing my kids on one of their diving boards made us remember the fun moments we’ve had in summertime since moving to Sweden

I just want to quote my son who got his first bicycle on his birthday. He just sat on it and started to cycle around for a few minutes. I asked him why he did no cycle more, as he never tried it before. He said: it is not important to cycle, what is important is to know you can do it.

I wonder what our ancestors were experiencing when they were using the wheel for the first time. Did they experience an "awe" moment of knowing they can use a wheel or did they just use it? Scientific breakthrough are often expressed as awe experiences, at least according the documentaries I have seen on TV.

I have not taken this picture, but I have had many awe moments at Plum village which he created. It is a buddhist monastery in France, which opens up in summer time for families. It is not the teaching itself that mostly touched me, it is the practice of Deep Listening. You sit in circle and simply share from your heart without discussion. In this caring environment, I just amazed by new comers just being very open and vulnerable sharing very private issues. Simply sharing without judging, I felt was really transformative.

In a society with lots of desinformation and polarisation, I found it very touching to be in an environment where you can really share without being judged and not needing to explain yourself.

In the Plum village community there are lots of sharing groups, in reality and online. I have been in one group for health practitioners since the pandemic. People from all over the world. Just sharing. No teaching. I get amazed by how touching it is to be in contact with people in an authentic way and being honest is really a gift. Today, I got so happy so see that they got a new online retreat, just like the one I joined during the pandemic.

The gratitude of not being sick 🙏

Being outdoors in the -17 cold feeling the wind against my face 🙏

Going out with my dog at night admiring the beautiful stars on this clear cold night! The outdoors is truly a place of moment to moment aws.

So blessed

Tove Lundlycke

This evening while I was walking outdoor at my usual happy place surrounded by trees and birds, suddenly I had this rush to dance and I danced after a long break from dancing. I felt my body so light as feather and I felt super passionate to be alive, I loved my body which is connecting to my inner world and to the external world which filled with so much magic and passion. I just wished that moment that I should keep dancing.

I start to appreciate more this ritual of sharing my moment to you all and as well reading yours. Makes me happy, connected and fulfilled.. this is such a good feeling before bed.

It's oh so quiet. Shhh. Shhh.

For me, moments of silence can be so awe inspiring as I start to realise I am connecting with my awareness of my self and my surroundings, rather than being carried away with thoughts.

The fact that he’s so anxious make the little signs of love so much more meaningful. It made me think of the animal therapy seminar this week, where it was said that dogs hang around even if you’re not authentic in your behaviour (acting front stage), which horses don’t. In this case, Art is more like a horse, running for cover if there’s a loud noise or quick movement.

Many don’t “get” Art, asking why he doesn’t like them (ie because he doesn’t come and cuddle immediately). But after spending a few days with him, they love him all the more, because the affection is not a given.

His trust is not given, it’s earned.

Last night, I was reflecting over how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to move back to my native Sweden after 40 Years in the UK (and Canada) and now in the past year to go back to studies and make a brilliant, meaningful career switch to boot. It all felt meant to be. 6 days before Brexit, 3 days before the border closed for Covid. It was so close to never happening. I’m grateful for this every single day, especially when I’m filled with awe at the beauty of Swedish seasons.

Then it struck: the moment of awe thinking about my brains and memory functions - how nicely all my awe moments of this week are stored along with my other awe moments in my life.

On Monday I studied about human genome and how wonderful it is - our genetic code is unique and so neatly packed in the DNA.

On Tuesday I was skiing in the snowy forest and I felt awe about a perfect combination of fresh air, silence, green and white colours forming so beautiful landscape.

On Wednesday it was snowing a lot in Finland. I was walking outside and admired all the shades of white that untouched snow reflected.

On Thursday evening I was attending a meeting that gave me a lot to think about my spirituality and what things are really worth focusing on - I felt awe...about things that are currently without names in my life.

On Friday I was evaluating the swallowing function of a patient who is suffering blepharospasms meaning he had severe difficulties keeping his eyes open. I thought afterwards how seldom we appreciate the ability to open our eys in the morning and keep them open if we want to. I felt awe about our amazingly functioning eyelids that we forget to appreciate.

Nature will always awe me.

The colours are wonderful as well.

Enjoy your sunday!

Best regards,

Ingela

This is a reminder to look for the awe moments around us.

Padlet is open during the whole course. Visit is whenever you feel!

I'm grateful for my family and that means appreciating the deep and meaningful relationships created within this unit, and understanding that family is an invaluable part of my life's journey.

And then we got a furry baby. I couldn’t help but to ask myself in the beginning: what could I have done with all this time? How many mails could have been answered or dishes done…But I learn to relax a bit along the way (or better all these mornings ways:) and started to see things differently; maybe through my dog’s eyes. Now I look at these walks as a nice escape into being present and immersed; it’s almost like an exercise in mindfulness. 😊