I so enjoyed this! I too have been trying to think more about how I can create space to do the things that are energizing and fulfilling versus balance
Misread your subtitle as "We're all in the same rain." (Which of course, we're not, but tack så mycket for making me want to pick up Swedish again. And find the whereabouts of my duck shoes.)
As someone who lives in a rainy area (Portland, Oregon), I love all the different words for rain! Wow! We only have a few different words....downpour, drizzle and sleet (which is almost snow) are the only different words (other than rain) I can think of. English needs more words! Ha ha! As for balance...it really seems unrealistic. In my experience, everything comes in cycles...actually, it seems very appropriate to say, "When it rains, it pours". :D
Haha it’s funny you say that because English, I believe, has more words than Swedish though I assume for other things 🫣 when it rains, it pours! Makes me think of a saying my grandma used to say that translates roughly to “chaos rarely comes alone, the same goes for good times” basically that there will be waves of lots of bad and waves of lots of good and we need to sail through it all enjoying the different parts
Slightly off topic - though I resonate with the ethos of what you're saying here! - but your 10 ways to describe rain reminded me of one of my fave books to read in winter: Fifty words for snow, Nancy Campbell. I find it a slow and cosy read, but also a good reminder of how we all might see something but it can mean different things, and feel differently, for us as individuals .... just like the idea of balance.
Love this Lauren - thank you for bringing this up! And you’re so right, and it’s also why I wanted the “odd rain example” thrown in there…. Because it’s all about context and relativity for each and everyone
i love the phrase 'one size fits nobody' I SO feel that about the how to space which is why I'm all about experience over expertise. Love that you bring that to this space too! And sending you good vibes in the mom chaos!
I had to laugh at the 10 variations of rain - it was so telling for us living up in the north. This Autumn we have had (at least in the South of Finland) a variation of all ten except for number 8 :-D. But that one is coming too... and when it comes to balance, it´s a myth that make us feel worse when we cannot achieve it.
I feel like life happens in waves or moving spirals and things shift up and down. Balance as a concept is only stressing us out. there’s a season for everything as long as we feel rooted in our values, vision and capacity, we’ll be okay 💖
I think balance is just another one of society’s marketing tactic of making you feel inadequate. We’re conditioned to believe this idea that balance exists - that we can have it all. What immediately comes to mind is the expectations of motherhood - how we care for our kids, our partners, our household, ourselves. We are told to strive for balance.
I’ve opted to believe in harmony. Instead of trying to achieve equal slices of the different parts of my life, I like to think of myself as a DJ. Sometimes I have to turn up or turn down the beats of my life. But not matter what, the result is a cool song. That to me is a win.
It's a personal thing, as you say, so we can only reach stability from within and on our subjective terms. A touch over 15 years ago, I wrote a similar type of thing:
Thanks for sharing Martin! It goes to show that it’s a never ending realization process, as valid today as ten years ago as it will be in ten years from now 🥰
One of the expressions a co-worker used to say to me when there was chaos in the office still makes me laugh, "It's never so bad that it can't get worse." It helps to diffuse my frustration in any situation and makes me smile thinking of him and his snarky view on life.
I so enjoyed this! I too have been trying to think more about how I can create space to do the things that are energizing and fulfilling versus balance
Yes I love that 🙌🥰
LOVE this. We think finding balance is hard because we're a wee bit shit. Actually, it's hard because it's bloody hard.
Yes 🙌 it’s hard because it’s hard and no more analyzing needed but to get through the hard haha 💖
Misread your subtitle as "We're all in the same rain." (Which of course, we're not, but tack så mycket for making me want to pick up Swedish again. And find the whereabouts of my duck shoes.)
Hahaha skickar mina varmaste hälsningar och uppmuntrande till svenskan 🥰 förhoppningsvis inte bara regniga ord 🫣
As someone who lives in a rainy area (Portland, Oregon), I love all the different words for rain! Wow! We only have a few different words....downpour, drizzle and sleet (which is almost snow) are the only different words (other than rain) I can think of. English needs more words! Ha ha! As for balance...it really seems unrealistic. In my experience, everything comes in cycles...actually, it seems very appropriate to say, "When it rains, it pours". :D
Haha it’s funny you say that because English, I believe, has more words than Swedish though I assume for other things 🫣 when it rains, it pours! Makes me think of a saying my grandma used to say that translates roughly to “chaos rarely comes alone, the same goes for good times” basically that there will be waves of lots of bad and waves of lots of good and we need to sail through it all enjoying the different parts
Slightly off topic - though I resonate with the ethos of what you're saying here! - but your 10 ways to describe rain reminded me of one of my fave books to read in winter: Fifty words for snow, Nancy Campbell. I find it a slow and cosy read, but also a good reminder of how we all might see something but it can mean different things, and feel differently, for us as individuals .... just like the idea of balance.
Love this Lauren - thank you for bringing this up! And you’re so right, and it’s also why I wanted the “odd rain example” thrown in there…. Because it’s all about context and relativity for each and everyone
Absolutely Elin - thank you for sharing 😊
i love the phrase 'one size fits nobody' I SO feel that about the how to space which is why I'm all about experience over expertise. Love that you bring that to this space too! And sending you good vibes in the mom chaos!
Yay thanks 🥰🥰
I had to laugh at the 10 variations of rain - it was so telling for us living up in the north. This Autumn we have had (at least in the South of Finland) a variation of all ten except for number 8 :-D. But that one is coming too... and when it comes to balance, it´s a myth that make us feel worse when we cannot achieve it.
So on board with what you’re saying Elin!
I feel like life happens in waves or moving spirals and things shift up and down. Balance as a concept is only stressing us out. there’s a season for everything as long as we feel rooted in our values, vision and capacity, we’ll be okay 💖
Hope your grieving heart is doing okay 😘
Yes to the rooted - you know the deal 💖
Thank you, you’re always a sweetheart, I’m going through it and trying to find back my flow again… it’ll come 🥰
YES! Thank you!!
I think balance is just another one of society’s marketing tactic of making you feel inadequate. We’re conditioned to believe this idea that balance exists - that we can have it all. What immediately comes to mind is the expectations of motherhood - how we care for our kids, our partners, our household, ourselves. We are told to strive for balance.
I’ve opted to believe in harmony. Instead of trying to achieve equal slices of the different parts of my life, I like to think of myself as a DJ. Sometimes I have to turn up or turn down the beats of my life. But not matter what, the result is a cool song. That to me is a win.
Adore the DJ analogy! Yes be a DJ, fantastic way to look at it 🙌💖
Seattle could benefit from all the terms for rain.
Haha it’s helpful to know whether it’s worth bringing a sweater/umbrella or if it’s just a lost case xD
Redefining balance. I'm all for that! ❤️
It's a personal thing, as you say, so we can only reach stability from within and on our subjective terms. A touch over 15 years ago, I wrote a similar type of thing:
https://theuniversityblog.co.uk/2009/09/24/does-balance-exist/
Thanks for sharing Martin! It goes to show that it’s a never ending realization process, as valid today as ten years ago as it will be in ten years from now 🥰
One of the expressions a co-worker used to say to me when there was chaos in the office still makes me laugh, "It's never so bad that it can't get worse." It helps to diffuse my frustration in any situation and makes me smile thinking of him and his snarky view on life.
Hah yes he’s right! It can always get worse (and it can also get better ) so better just enjoy the ride 😅😋💖
I need to know the specifics of all those different kinds of rain! They will likely come in handy when I finally move to Maine. 😂
Hahaha 😂 oh dear, I can imagine you’ll find out shortly then haha, my French husband lasted 3 years in Sweden (we no longer live there 🤣🤣)
This is so true Elin! We are all see-sawing through life. Only a dead body is in equilibrium! 💕
Yes you’re right! Thanks for being here Kate 💖