On the topic of opportunities and answers

Long time ago, I had written the following headline: "See the possibilities in a landscape of no answers". I had this headline lying around for ages, because I did not really know what to do with it. But it is so obviously right. Because that is the way I feel: actually, I am most at ease in the situations where there are no obvious answers, where I have to look into things myself. And that is the case in many situations: if we do not know precisely what to do, it opens for creative thinking and quaint solutions.
For the same reason, it is worth saying: even if there might be an obvious answer for a question, it might actually in some situations be beneficial to try to disregard that answer and start looking into things on our own. Maybe something new is found along the way. And that even if the final conclusion is the answer that was disregarded in the first place.
(Translated from Noget om at se mulighederne, når man mangler svar, originally published November 21, 2015)

Everywhere!

If I were to offer a single piece of advice that I think, most people could benefit from every day, it would be as simple as:

Bring two books everywhere. 

A book, so that you always have something inspiring to read, if you happen to have an idle moment, and a notebook, so that you always have a place to nake a note, if you should happen to have a thought worth keeping for later use. Think it over: how many spare moments have been wasted on Angry Birds - or whatever happens to be the thing of the moment on the omnipresent smartphone? How many thoughts worth keeping for later use are lost, because they weren't noted anywhere?
All to all those objecting that "unfortunately, I have no space for the two books when I am on the move": let me guess that you always have space for the omnipresent smartphone? Well, then it is easy: install an e-book reader and an application for taking notes on it. And open one of these two, whenever you have the time and the urge to throw a bird...
(Translated from Overalt!)

Alone with your thoughts

I have often thought about the difference between being alone and being lonely - but the other day I actually saw something that took me a little closer to what I think must be a suitable description of the difference.
It happened when I saw a sign on which someone wrote: "A customer should never be left alone with their own thought".
Of course, thinking solely business, there is a certain reason in saying so. However, it initially led my mind to the thought that we can all benefit from having someone near us to help us when we do not want to be alone with our thoughts.
And then it dawned om me: lonely is what I am when I am alone with my thoughts without wanting it to be so. And when I'm lonely, anyone with whom I can share my thoughts is a friend.
I only wish for anyone that they will always have good friends available when loneliness closes in. And I'll do what I can to be a good friend when people around me do not want to be alone with their thoughts - while at the same time respecting, when people actually want to be alone with their thoughts.
(Translated from Alene med sine tanker)