Howdy from Hell in Norway - paradise on earth

The optimist is right. The pessimist is right. The one differs from the other as the light from the dark. Yet both are right. Each is right from his own particular point of view, and this point of view is the determining factor in the life of each. It determines as to whether it is a life of power or of impotence, of peace or of pain, of success or of failure.

I want to introduce the Happy new days’ Eve. Every day is worth celebrating as a step towards your success. Success is a progressive realisation of a worthy goal and every day is a stage in the journey. Celebrate it!

I had a great epiphany this morning – I was running through the woods and I realized my inner voice has two languages and each those have a different mindset. My native norwegian voice is a bit vary and introvert, my english voice is all about YES and more YES attitude. I will keep my english voice my major influence and develop my norwegian voice. How about you? What is the tonality and mindset of your inner voice?

So I found this quote by Dr. Chalmers in Samuel Smiles book «Character». I think this refers to Thomas Chalmers. Anyway, it led me to a pile of great quotes by John Burroughs:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place, but a state of mind.”
“The secret of happiness is something to do”
“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else”
“If you think you can do it, you can”
“Leap, and the net will appear.”
“The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are”

As they say in preparing for a flight you put your own mask on first, then you assist others. It is the same in life. Take care of yourself first, then help others. And this is actually a duty we have. We shall take care of ourselves and we shall then help others.

People get smarter the more different things we experience 🙂

One of the pleasantest things in the world is going a journey; but I like to go by myself. I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors nature is company enough for me. I am then never less alone than when alone.

During my morning read of Samuel Smiles I found a link to the writings of Sidney Smith and ended up going down a rabbit hole of wisdom 🙂 This is from a collection published 1911 🙂

«There is moral as well as bodily wholesomeness in a mountain walk, if the walker has the understanding heart, and eschews picnics. It is good for any man to be alone with nature and himself, or with a friend who knows when silence is more sociable than talk»

The Footpath Way: An Anthology for Walkers (Kindle Locations 182-184).

We are all known by the company we keep. Young and old cannot help imitating those with whom they associate. Imitation is for the most part so unconscious that its effects are almost unheeded. Thus it is important to take control of our thinking and define who and what we will let influence us and also our action based on the influence.

Even a picture of a noble or a good person, hung up in a room, is companionship after a sort. It gives us a closer personal interest in them. Looking at the features, we feel as if we know our heroes, and were more nearly related to them. It is a link that connects us with a higher and better nature than our own. And though we may be far from reaching the standard of our heroes, we are sustained and fortified by the depicted presence constantly before us.

If you live with persons of elevated characters, you will feel lifted and lighted up in them. Association with persons wiser, better, and more experienced than ourselves, is always inspiring and invigorating. They enhance our own knowledge of life. We correct our estimates by theirs, and become partners in their wisdom

«The duty of helping one’s self in the highest sense involves the helping of one’s neighbours.” – Samuel Smiles

This means as part of our way to success we are obliged to help others. Albert Einstein said that «only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.»