Another one of my weaknesses

People who know me will know that I have a passion for languages ​​that goes far beyond my ability to put foreign languages ​​to practical use - a very good indication is that at the time when I first wrote this, I was the proud owner of the first volume of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - in no less than eight languages, of which I am totally without abilities to get understandable meaning out of at least half of them. But then I at least have the books on the shelf if one of my kids should take an interest in one of the languages ​​in question, and think it might be fun to use the young wizard as a companion venturing into it.
One of the more stressful side effects of my language obsession is that I just have to have a shallow exposure to a language before I get an unbearable desire to learn more of it. Initially just greetings, courtesy phrases and such stuff - and a similar urge to learn a new alphabet if there is need for anything but the one I normally use.
And now it has happened again. With the usual acquisition of basic textbooks, dictionaries and the like. Not that I think I'll ever master this language either. One can ask oneself if I will ever become any wiser.
And frankly, I do not really hope so.
(Translated from Endnu en af mine svagheder, originally published February 25, 2018)

Kindness is not weakness

I am of the firm conviction that kindness is the best policy - the one which will bring us furthest in life and as a species. Yes, in fact, I think the world will become a better place if we let kindness be our favorite reaction pattern when we interact with the world.
There is only one problem in this. There are people who confuse kindness with weakness, and some of these people will do their utmost to exploit such weakness for their own benefit.
And as such, there is only one way to meet that kind of people. They must be kindly, but definitely, be told that the exhibited behaviour is kindness, not weakness. And furthermore, that it must be considered most reasonable that we invest our kindness in people who recognize it as kindness and who therefore will not attempt exploit it.
(Translated from Venlighed er ikke svaghed)

On the topic of weak weeks

When looking at things and how they change over a longer period of time, it is sometimes easier to notice change.
Not so long ago, it was nothing special if a month went by with no tralsation of posts into English on this blog.
Now I am at a point where it is difficult to interpret seven days without new posts as anything else than "a weak week", which I would so much like to do better than.
So therefore: No, seven days without posts is not an omen indicating that I am about to return to the frequency of translation of the past. It is actually simply a sign of this being "a weak week".
(Translated from Noget om svage uger)

An (honest) appearance

We live in a culture that does not favour display of vulnerability and uncertainty - vulnerability and uncertainty are signs of weakness, and weakness is not a personal feature that has overwhelmingly positive impact on one's career prospects. Rather, it can be taken as an invitation to others that this is a person who is easily bullied.
But does it have to be that way? For is it not so that the one who tries to build up an unbreakable armour by radiating safety and invulnerability will make other people think that there must be something hidden somewhere? A weakness, which the person is overly eager not to put to display?
I think the best thing to do is simply to let other people know that I can also be vulnerable and insecure. If such cases are put on display, it becomes much more trustworthy when I appear to be robust in other situations - because I am able to show weakness.
Who knows - maybe one would even be able to hide the uncertainties that one is not interested in displaying in public?
(Translated from Et (ægte) ansigt udadtil, originally published October 12th, 2012)