Travel Blissful

Recent Reads: A Suitcase of Inspiring Books, Chicago Autumn Colours, and New Zealand Haunts

Erica Johansson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:17:06 +0000

Every Friday from now on I will highlight various blogs and blog posts I have recently read.

First up is Jen Laceda who shares a suitcase of her favorite books, all taken from her own shelf, at Folie à Deux.

Kari of peregrine by nature captures the beauty of autumn colours and makes me wish the colorful leaves will stay on the ground for another few months.

And Cate over at the Caffeinated Traveller revisits some of her favourite haunts and friends back home in New Zealand.

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Happy Friday!

Making Excuses Not To Travel

Erica Johansson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:59:30 +0000

As most of you know, I have wanted to return to London for a long time. (Since September 2007 to be exact.)

At first I thought “I want to travel, but I can’t because…”, and listed various reasons in my mind, including the ones in my personal check list.

“I should pay off my debts first.”

“I have to get over my self-destructive addictions.”

“I must conquer my insomnia.”

“I need to be sure I won’t revert to any shopaholic behavior again.”

“I should sell and give away stuff I don’t need first. ”

“I have to visit my optician and dentist.”

Once I had taken care of those ‘obstacles’, I found other reasons why I couldn’t travel.

“I must finish some work projects before I can leave.”

“I’m not ready.”

“It’s too expensive.”

“I need more money/savings.”

“It doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s not the right time.”

Someone recently told me that there’s no such thing as the right time, that the only right time for anything is ‘now’ — and everything else is an excuse. That I would travel if I wanted to. I realized he was right. As long as I kept saying I wanted to travel and at the same time gave reasons to why I couldn’t, those reasons were merely excuses. If I really wanted to travel abroad now, I’d hop on the next flight — no matter what, despite the consequences. But I choose to put other things first.

I realized it’s not a question of ‘can’ or ‘can’t’. It’s about wanting. And clearly I don’t want to leave Sweden yet. Don’t get me wrong. I think about/miss London more or less every day. Yet, I want to live in Sweden for now. Or, more precisely, Gothenburg. I still plan to travel to London, although I don’t want to move right now. And when saying I don’t want to do something, that’s not an excuse. From now on, no more excuses.

Not too long ago, I said to someone living in London, “If you knew everything about my current situation, I think you’d understand why I don’t want to travel now.” But it wasn’t just about the situation I was in at the time; my intuition told me otherwise. And I need to listen to it, because I truly believe it will serve my best purposes. Like Bill Gates once said, “Often you have to rely on intuition.”

If I don’t know whether to turn left or right, I pay attention to my intuition. So far, the worst thing that has happened when I didn’t listen to it involves a broken collarbone and several nights in a hospital. Since then I decided to not ignore it — irrespective of what it tells me to do. And in October, my intuition told me to move from Halmstad to Gothenburg. (More about that in another post.)

How about you? Have you ever made (or are you making) excuses not to travel?

Music That Makes Me Happy: Breathe

Erica Johansson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:33:05 +0000

Nailah – Breathe

“My music sounds like what it is.. .an expression from the depths of my being. Spirit speaking to me and through me to itself in everything that is.” — Nailah

Photo of the Week: Morning Impression on Palm Beach

Erica Johansson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:31:24 +0000

Morning Impression on Palm Beach © Frank Giebel

The first light of the day on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. If you’d like to download this phote, visit Frank Giebel’s profile on sxc.hu

No Matter Your Location and Circumstances, Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

Erica Johansson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:31:26 +0000

Of late, my usual positive, optimistic self gave into a number of negative thoughts and feelings. To pass through this state of limiting beliefs and put myself back on the right track, I read a couple of self-development books.

Earlier today I finished reading Notes from a Friend by Anthony Robbins, leader in the science of peak performance. In the last lesson of his book, he presents the Ten-Day Mental Challenge (which enabled him to control his mind by not allowing himself to hold any negative thought consistently). Since I aim for a more blissful life, one of my main intentions is to eliminate all negative thoughts from my mind, irrespective of my current location and circumstances. As a first step towards this goal, I have decided to take Anthony’s challenge, starting tomorrow. I encourage you to do the same.

The rules of the game:

1. During the next ten days, refuse to hang onto any crummy thoughts, feelings, questions, words, or metaphors.

2. When you catch yourself focusing on the negative — and you will — immediately ask yourself questions to get you to a better place. Start with the Problem-Solving questions.

3. When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself the Morning Power questions. Just before you fall asleep at night, ask yourself the Evening Power questions. This will do wonders to keep you feeling good.

4. For the next ten consecutive days, focus completely on solutions and not on problems.

5. If you have a lousy thought, question, or feeling, don’t beat yourself up. Just change it immediately. If you dwell on any of these for more than five minutes, however, you must wait until the following morning and start the ten days over.

The goal here is ten consecutive days without dwelling on a negative thought. Anytime you dwell too long on the negative, you must start over, no matter how many days in a row you’ve already met the challenge.

According to Anthony Robbins, the power of this challenge is amazing. And, if you stick with it, you will gain a heap of benefits:

1. It will make you see all the mental habits that hold you back.

2. It will make your brain search for powerful, helpful alternatives.

3. It will give you a tremendous jolt of confidence as you can see you can turn your life around.

4. It will create new habits, new standards, and new expectations that will help you grow and enjoy life more and more, every day!

For your reference, the questions Anthony Robbins refers to in the challenge:

The Problem-Solving questions

1. What is great about this problem?

2. What is not perfect yet?

3. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?

4. What am I willing to no longer do in order to make it the way I want it?

5. How can I enjoy the process while I do what is necessary to make it the way I want i?

The Morning Power questions

1. What am I happy about in my life right now? What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel?

2. What am I excited about in my life right now? What about that makes me excited? How does that make me feel?

3. What am I proud of in my life right now? What about that makes me proud? How does that make me feel?

4. What am I grateful for in my life right now? What about that makes me grateful? How does that make me feel?

5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now? What about that do I enjoy? How does that make me feel?

6. What am I committed to in my life right now? What about that makes me committed? How does that make me feel?

7. Who do I love? Who loves me? What about that makes me loving? How does that make me feel?

The Evening Power Questions

1. What have I given today? In what ways have I been a giver today?

2. What did I learn today?

3. How has today added to the quality of my life? How can I use today as an investment in my future?

Rather than doom and gloom, the world needs more blissfulness and loving, positive thoughts. Taking the Ten-Day Mental Challenge is one way to support that belief. When you’ve pulled off ten consecutive days without holding onto any negative thoughts, I’m sure you’ll see and feel the difference.

The challenge and the questions will make even more sense if you’ve read the book though. If you live in Europe, you can get your free copy of Notes from a Friend at http://anthonyrobbinseurope.com/

Where I Have Lived

Erica Johansson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:00:39 +0000

Updated from a post in 2008.

The post My Cities / 2007 by Taylor Davidson inspired me to make a list of places where I have lived so far. A few nights in a hotel don’t count, only a consecutive stay of at least one month.

Halmstad, Sweden

Frösakull, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden

Borensberg, Sweden

Mayville, MI, USA

Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, France

Seefeld, Zurich, Switzerland

Notting Hill, London, England

Värnhem, Malmö, Sweden

Vasastaden, Linköping, Sweden

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Where in the world have you lived?

Enjoy the Sun, the Clouds, the Sky, Sunrises & Sunsets

Erica Johansson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:31:00 +0000

Yes, I know, quite many videos lately but I’m in a video mood again and this one’s a must watch. New wave hiphop couldn’t sound, or look, better.

Theophilus London- Enjoy The Sun (Prod. By Machine Drum) from GFCnewyork on Vimeo.

What’s the most beautiful sunrise or sunset you’ve seen?

North From New York: A Motorcycle/Surf Road Trip

Erica Johansson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:41:31 +0000

At HI SHREDABILITY | North from New York | VBS.TV I came across a motorcycle/surf road trip starting in New York.

The wisest words from the video: “You almost wanna get lost… ’cause getting lost is part of the fun.” Very true. Some of my best travel memories consist of the number of times when I’ve gotten lost.

Music That Makes Me Happy: It’s The Earth That Moves

Erica Johansson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:47:06 +0000

Bibi Tanga – It’s The Earth That Moves

The funky result of a collaboration between Bibi Tanga & The Selenites and Le Professeur Inlassable.

Photo of the Week: Flying Over the Rooftops

Erica Johansson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:30:35 +0000

See more of Benjamin Earwicker’s work on Garrison Photo.

Where Would You Want to Wake Up Tomorrow?

Erica Johansson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:22:30 +0000

Thanks to World Hum’s post Video You Must See: Where Would You Want to Wake Up Tomorrow? I came across this cool project in which a film crew travels to a city and asks 50 people the same question.

Description of the project from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo:

Fifty People, One Question is a simple project with surprising results. We go to a place, ask fifty people the same question and film their responses.

The project started in New Orleans, LA and received such a warm response that we decided to do it again in New York City. Now we’re traveling to more cities and asking new questions. Always just trying to capture a little slice of humanity. Whatever happens … happens.

Where Would You Want to Wake Up Tomorrow?

What Do You Wish Would Happen By the End of Today?

The original “Fifty People, One Question” video by Benjamin Reece. Later his production company Deltree partnered with Crush + Lovely to create more films in new locations.

One of the Smartest Personal Transport Modes

Erica Johansson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:24:39 +0000

Like I’ve said in the past, cycling brings plenty of advantages. Every day, almost 500,000 bicycle journeys are made in London. Since 2000, nearly twice as many people travel by bike. In “Undiscovered Business Entrepreneurs” by Star Alliance, journalist Yasmine Chinwala and photographer James Stroud meet the entrepreneur whose extraordinary idea developed into one of the world’s most loved bicycles.

Wouldn’t you like to own one of these? I sure do!

For more information about one of the smartest personal modes of transport, visit Brompton Bicycle.

Music That Makes Me Happy: Tourbillon

Erica Johansson — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:30:57 +0000

Soha – Tourbillon

French-Algerian singer Soha’s Tourbillon filmed in Cuba.

Photos of the Week: Veggie Potato Gratin and Homemade Apple Pie

Erica Johansson — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:05:20 +0000

All travelers must eat. Pictured above, part of yesterday’s dinner at my cousins’ house, veggie potato gratin with sliced carrots, black olives and Persil.

For dessert, homemade apple pie with vanilla sauce.

Love Snow, Love Balls, Love Winter!

Erica Johansson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:39:05 +0000

In Halmstad, we got the first snow of the year earlier today.

To celebrate the arrival of winter and all the good stuff you can do, lastminute.com has a new video starring none other than legendary BBC weatherman Michael Fish!

Will we have another winter whiteout this year? Is Michael ready for a hurricane storm of a winter? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.

If you’re up for a winter of good stuff too, don’t forget to check out the lastminute.com good stuff 24 hour countdown every Thursday 10am. It’s your chance to get some cracking deals on hotels, holidays, theatre, restaurants and more.

We love winter and now so will you!