letting enjoyment lead to sucess

One of my loved ones recently sent me a link to an article he found interesting. The article's premise was that we shouldn't ask ourselves what we want, but rather what we are willing to suffer to get. That all of the classic goals come with a price. (e.g. Being able to afford a yacht tends to come with some pretty long hours at a high-stress job, having a bikini body tends to come with either starving yourself or long hours at the gym (or both), etc.)

I found this amusing, because, for me, the things I achieve tend not to come with a price of suffering, but because I honestly enjoy the process of getting there--my lifestyle choices include lots of things I enjoy doing, and doing them gets me some cool goals/benefits/rewards.

How did I wind up with a PhD? I was having fun doing research.

Why is my house cleaner than many other people's homes? because I actually like the process of making things clean--watching the transition from icky to shiny is fun, and being the one to make it happen is joyful.

Why do I have only hand-sewn costumes in my closet, because I like the part about sliding the threaded needle through the fabric.

Why am I getting a fitter better body now than I have ever had before? Because I am actually enjoying my workouts.

So, one could take the approach of the author in that article, and ask yourself what goals are worth working for. Or, one could take my approach--what things that are fun to do lead to goals worth having?

three words out of a hat

I just replied to a post looking for "Drachenwald Songs" for a songbook. I sent her the pfd I did for my entries in the Norrskensbard competition last November. Of course, before doing so I looked in the document, and was surprised to discover that I still like my "Three Words out of a Hat" entry. I don't recall if I ever shared it here, but since I like the translation I just did for her, too, I thought I would post it now.

The words I drew were:

Gemenskap (companionship)
Attenmark (the name of the SCA Shire in Skåne, the southern most region of Sweden)
Myrskog (a type of forest: I think that we are talking the dense scary sort of forest like Tolkien's Mirkwood, but don't quote me on that, I am not a real Swedish speaker)

to the tune of Turdion:
Genom Myrskog

Genom myrskog ska de gå Från Attenmark till Frostheim
Genom myrskog ska de gå till Frostheim
Långt är den vag, de kommer för vår gemenskap
Långt är den vag för vår gemenskap

Given that I am still not very good at Swedish, it surprised me when I wrote it in Swedish,
rather than using the English versions of the words. I didn't even ask anyone for help.

The translation (after removing repetitive phrases):

They shall walk through the forest from Attenmark to Frostheim; the journey is long;
they come for our companionship.

Sometimes one just has to ask

Last week I received a snail-mail (in Swedish) addressed to those of us who became Swedish Citizens in 2015, inviting us to come to the Nationaldag celebration in the Luleå city center or in another town about a half hour drive north. Apperley those of us who can make it to one of these celebrations will receive a Sweden Pin at a ceremony there.

This sounded cool, but I always spend Nationaldag performing Swedish folk dance at the celebration in Gammelstad, and the times conflict, so there is no way I could be in the city center without missing our dancing.

Therefore I sent a letter (in Swedish) to the address at which we were meant to register if we could attend, and let her know where I would be and what I would be doing. Then I commented that if it is possible to get my pin at the celebration in Gammelstad instead that would be great, but if not I wouldn't be able to make it.

After sending the letter I wondered if there was anything I could do to make it possible. So I emailed our Nyckelharpa teacher, who is one of the organizers of Spelmanstämman, the huge folk music festival in Gammelstad the weekend before midsummer (at which we also perform folk dance), and asked him (in Swedish) if he knew who is in charge of the National Day celebration in Gammelstad. He replied with a name, and I found her email address and sent her a letter (in Swedish), letting her know of my letter (quoting it) and asking if she thought it would be fun to present me that Pin on stage, since I would be wearing Swedish folk costume. She replied (in Swedish) that it would be an honour, and there were a few practicalities to work out. So I sent another email (in Swedish) to both women, asking if they could work out the details between them.

Tonight I received an email from the lady at the city to whom I'd sent the first registration or regrets letter saying that I will be getting my pin in Gammelstad. :-)