resilience

As the cold Norwegian morning unfolds with a chilly 3°C outside, I sit here, aboard this rhythmic train to the heart of Oslo, nestled into a corner seat, with a steaming cup of coffee and a heart heavy yet hopeful.

Just now, I stumbled upon a news article, its linguistic tendrils unabashedly cryptic, leaving me with an unsatisfied curiosity. It reminded me that incomplete stories exist everywhere—even within us. Each of us carries fragments of experiences that never summarize themselves. They remain as unfinished chapters, frozen mid-sentence, leaving us with a sense of profound anticipation, yet void of any closure.

And as I reflect on this, it brings me to a topic that often appears as complex to some as decoding that encrypted news article—acceptance and forgiveness.

You see, life, just like this train journey, is in constant motion. It's filled with fleeting moments and temporary stops but through it all, it's easy to carry around the weight of bitterness or unshed tears, curling it carefully within our hearts and nurturing it within ourselves. But what if we could learn to leave what's broken behind, not cast away forgotten, but forgiven?

How radiant would our hearts be if instead of clutching onto shards of broken promises, we could bask in the light of acceptance, if we could unlock the shackles of our past and dance freely into the strings of tomorrow? What if we could transform those unfinished chapters into eloquent verses of hope and understanding?

This reflective solitude is often punctuated by the low battery signal on my laptop. However, the sense of dread that once accompanied it is now replaced with gratitude. A simple device—a powerbank, has become my constant companion and energy supplier. It has successfully refueled my gadgets and in some ways, my patience. Its significance is not just in its function but in its symbolism—it's a reminder that we all have within us a reservoir of strength, an unwavering source of power that helps us embrace acceptance and forgiveness, if only we choose to plug into it.

And let me tell you, plugging into this source doesn't mean dismissing our pain or painting it over with artificial hues of happiness. No, it means acknowledging it, accepting it and letting it teach us the art of resilience, the beauty of healing.

So, here I am, heartbroken yet hopeful, sipping the last drops of my now lukewarm coffee, holding onto my powerbank like a lifeline, writing my daily blog post on this train racing through zephyrs of the freezing morning. And as the Oslo landscape flits by, I realize that each one of us is on this journey—navigating the terrain of acceptance, learning how to forgive, powered by our inner resilience.

It's not just about surviving the journey; it's about transforming the very contours of our existence. And as this train keeps moving forward, so do I, so do we all, one station at a time.

Tags: personal reflection acceptance and forgiveness resilience

As the train hums beneath me, gliding relentlessly toward the heart of Oslo, my fingers pause above the keys of my laptop. Outside, the world is smeared with watery gray hues, a fitting reflection of the 13°C temperature. The relentless drizzle against the train window mimics my current state of mind – morose, melancholy. As always, the day starts with a review of global happenings, this time throwing light on the perilous circumstances brewing several thousands of miles away.

Reading an article about Russia and South Korea in a Norwegian newspaper prompts a heavy sigh. It puts into perspective how quickly situations escalate and conflicts begin, rendering our lives into a tumble of complexities. Yet there they are, the tricky situations that beg a thousand questions penetrating the fog of melancholy that seems to descend with the morning mist.

However, every circumstance, irrespective of its intensity, awards an opportunity to rise above. It's an arduous task to maintain positivity when the world you see outside your window, both literal and figurative, lacks color. But isn't it exactly during these very shades of gray that the most vivid colors of human spirit shine?

Staying positive in grim situations is less about erecting a façade of constant happiness, and more about holding a steadfast belief in the power of resilience and evolution. It's reorientating your understanding from seeing darkness as destructive to acknowledging it as a canvas for creation. This isn't about dismissing grief or pain. They're raw and real, rendering the world into an impressionistic painting of sorrow. But, allowing this painful reality to coexist with the prospects of hope, that's the challenge.

Remembering to breathe is essential. The world will continue its unwavering pace, and we can choose to be swept in its torrent or anchor ourselves momentarily, breathe deep, and take it one step at a time. Breaking down the problem, understanding its components, it empowers us. It doesn't make the problem less potent, but it does make us stronger, the situation less overwhelming.

Next, seek aid in empathy. Isolation is a byproduct of crisis. Reach out. Share stories. Welcome shared experiences. Even if people can't mend your situation, just knowing that someone understands, that someone cares, can go a long way in restoring positivity and strength.

Lastly, remember your resilience. Difficult times are stark reminders of past hurdles that have been cleared and battles that have been won. Harnessing memories of prior resilience can act as a salve during present hardship.

Life, with all its twists and turns, is a mirror reflecting back at us our capacity to evolve, adapt, and persevere. And as I close my laptop, the frigid winds outside carrying the faint taste of sea salt and spruce, I'm reminded that even amidst the most brooding landscapes, positivity can, and does, survive. The faucet of bad news might continue running, wars might continue to rage on, but we, as individuals, can still find ways to stay positive amidst the chaos. Because without hope, what is there to fight for? Now, as the Oslo skyline springs into view, it's back to the university. Back to the place where I can at least try to make a difference, in my own little way.

Tags: positivity resilience global conflicts

As the pallid hues of dawn break across the Oslo sky, I join the throng of drowsy commuters meandering towards the train station. Gray swaddles the world, paintbrush streaks of cloud dappled over a raw canvas of reality. The arctic air, an icy tentacle at 5°C, seizes any warmth with ruthless, greedy tendrils. From within my cocoon of frosted breath I sit, and begin to type at keys that feel as frigid as the ambivalence of history toward the impact of women.

The harsh grating of wheels against rusted track is the somber symphony to this early morning, a stark reminder of the hardships so many inspirational women in history have faced. The charred embers of the news report I most recently devoured, sizzle still in my core - a sour stench of suspicion and tension, a somber reminder that whilst we fight for equality, freedom is not yet free.

Women of history have shattered glass ceilings, their contributions like shards of light gleaming bright through the murk of societal judgement. It is not their names that matter but their consistent resilience, the strength found in the adversity they faced, or their unwillingness to succumb to the overwhelming burdens of their eras. They rode the waves of change, charted course in unknown territories, played roles in the theater of revolutions - a testament to resilience; a beacon of hope.

They had ideas that rivaled those of men, accomplishments that pushed boundaries and, most importantly, they had voices that echoed throughout history despite contemptuous efforts to silence them. Yet, society's perception of these women’s achievements tend to be suspended in monochrome, a morose lament to what should be vibrant tales of victory.

No, they weren't all saints, much like men weren’t all savants. They were human, they erred and persevered, they fell and rose, they fought and fumbled. And still, they continue to shape, mold, and influence the society we live in today. They did so, not for glory or recognition but because they believed they could, and so they did.

As the train trundles into Oslo, I look out of the window to the awakening city, shrouded in the muted hues of the dawn’s daylight. My thoughts trace back to that chilling news report, the prevailing inequality, and the walls yet to be broken.

Nevertheless, these inspirational women of history remind us not to despair. They instill in us the courage to face adversity. They encourage us to continue raising our voices, making our choices and leaving our footprints on the sands of time, just as they did. Ensuring their struggles were not in vain, we move forward, making strides infused with their memories, their inspiration. Finally, they remind us to hope, for another dawn will break, and another day will come. And with it, maybe, just maybe, a brighter future for us all.

The train grinds to a halt, the doors fold open. I hoist my bag over my shoulder, my resolve settled like the frost on the city streets outside. Today, in my own little way, I too will strive to make a difference. The women of history echo in my thoughts, whispering tales of fortitude and resilience, a soft glow in the gray light of a Norwegian morning. This is their legacy, our inheritance. An inheritance we will carry with us, always. It must be done, and so, it will be done. Tomorrow awaits.

Tags: women in history equality resilience

As I press my forehead lightly against the frost-kissed glass of the train, feeling the sting of subzero temperatures through the veneer of insulation, my spirit can't help but mirror the stark landscapes rushing by, desolate and stripped of warmth. In the dawning light, even the beauty of the Norwegian countryside seems shadowed, its once vivid hues dimmed to the pallor of a grim winter morning.

My trains of thought deceptively align with those of the locomotive, chugging relentlessly despite the harsh climes, so consumed in the monotony of it all that every halt feels more like an intrusion than a brief respite. Isn't that the quintessence of living with a chronic illness, the unwelcome interruptions it brings?

Sometimes it feels as if every breath taken, every word spoken, each keystroke pressed tingles with an undercurrent of pain, dulled only by the routine monotony—a ceaseless cycle of pricking needles and swallowing pills. A mechanized life lived on ventilator rhythm, the pulsating hum of machines often replacing the throbbing of life.

And yet, life persists.

My eyes flit open to the glowing screen in front of me, one of the numerous news articles strewn across a dozen tabs, this one striking a chord of vague irritation. A hush-money case, jury members selected, trial date set—a stark reminder of the farcical transparency and the ongoing charade of justice. Life may be a ceaseless struggle against my chronic illness, but such news triggers a piercing pang that no medicine can remedy. The resounding echoes of power abuse sound all too familiar, threatening to drown my spirits in a relentless tide of pessimism.

At times like these, I find solace in my unassuming blog, a sanctuary within the pandemonium I invariably find myself. It's not merely escapism, for the words I laboriously etch in this space bear the scars of my existence - the searing pain, the gloomy despair and the frail resilience that underlies it all.

For those unseen, suffering silently beside me, please remember, your spirit may falter, but it will never be defeated. In contrast, it is in the embrace of the crestfallen, that we discover the tenacity of our resilience.

Living with a chronic illness is a silent war, waged daily within the confines of our frail bodies. It may seem to stem out of nowhere, much like the cold winter transplanting lush, vibrant greens with barren white expanses. But just like these landscapes, with stubborn resilience etched into their very core, we continue to inhabit our realities, undeterred by the hailstorm of apprehensions. It's a silent pledge to life, a promise echoing louder within our hearts with every single breath we take, every single word we manage to pen.

So, here I am, scribbling down these lines, trying to make sense of a world overpowered by a heavy shroud of cynicism and continuing to find ways to live, persist, and perhaps someday, even thrive.

Tags: chronic illness personal experiences resilience

The early morning chill pervades the air as I board the train, the digital display blinking with a somber 1°C - a stark reminder of the nonchalant sway of nature's moods. As we glide through the sparse, frost-ridden landscape leading to Oslo, a lamentable heaviness settles on my heart. A glance through the scenery's bare branches underlines the undeniable, desolate beauty of life, coexisting with its harsh realities.

It is difficult to stretch my gaze beyond the ubiquity of stress and anxiety these days. A recent news piece vividly stands out, painting a grim picture of nuclear unrest, like Ratatoskr, the squirrel in Norse mythology that carries messages of discord among the gods. It speaks of premonitions, of a yearning for peace amidst speculated war, and the permeating anxiety ensnaring the public conscience.

As such articles echo fear, the labyrinth of anxiety and stress intensifies. It's a relentless maze that seems to contradict itself, leaving one scrambling for the slightest sliver of solace amidst chaos. Ironically, it is often amidst this discord that the necessity to seek tranquility in our lives finds its most compelling voice.

Confronting anxiety is uncomfortable, akin to carrying a sack of stones on one's back through this desolate landscape. Yet, it's a journey we must traverse, acknowledging the stones in our sack and learning how to lighten them.

Anxiety, served cold like the morning outside, is an uninvited guest, often intruding our mind's haven. Instead of surrendering to its profound hold, one must extend a welcoming hand to understand its roots, its existence.

Stressed about the reality of a conflict and the hypothetical devastation? Challenge your stressors. Observe your responses. Assess their justification. Anxiety is a product of uncertainty, and the perceived catastrophic outcomes our minds construct.

Avoidance only amplifies anxiety; facing it is the commencement of coping. Grounding exercises like controlled breathing can enforce a slight but significant distance between you and panic. Adopting mindfulness can gently shift our gaze from the worry-laden future to the empowering reality of the present.

Hope is yet another dim light in our darkest times. Harness this light to focus on periods of calm and accomplishment, to forge resilient coping mechanisms. Practicing gratitude counters the beast of dread, extending our vision to aspects of life for which we can be thankful.

Never let uncertainty trick you into isolation. It's okay to ask for help, connecting with others in times of turmoil. Share your fears, your apprehensions, your worries. Speak. Communication annihilates the imagined dread that festers in the confines of silence.

Just like the morning journey on this train, where we look beyond the cold, beyond the bare branches, to the imminent rising sun promising warmth and renewal, let's acknowledge the stress, the anxiety, but not let it define us or our journey.

As we confront unsettling news about warfare preparations, it's significant to remind ourselves: even in the harshest winter, beneath the frosty surface, life continues to pulse. Harmony lies in accommodating these fluctuations and remembering that every frostbitten dawn ultimately surrenders to the nourishing warmth of the sun's rise. Uncertainty and anxiety are much the same - icy epochs in our existence that will inevitably melt into periods of calm and tranquility.

Sitting here, where the temperature climbs with each kilometer closing to Oslo, relief surfaces. We are resilient. Capable. Adaptable. And above all - humans, unified in navigating the convoluted maze of anxiety, gleaning strength and wisdom from each false turn and dead end.

As we find our way, may we also find warmth in our conviction that every chill eventually retreats, leaving us standing, stronger in the face of some new frost.

Tags: mental health coping with anxiety resilience

Stepping onto the train this frigid morning, with a delicate frost-quilted landscape unfolding before my eyes, my mind is restless. The overwhelming grip of melancholy tightens as I ponder on last night's news. The damage inflicted by Storm Corrie on Øresvika is heartbreaking, reminding us how swiftly our daily comforts can be snatched away by the somber temperament of nature. Yet, even in adversity, perseverance shines through.

Amidst the cruelly pruned trees and the gutted remains of homes stripped bare by the storm's fury, a spark of humanity glimmers. It reminded me of the essence of community service and volunteer work. It is the soul, rolling up its sleeves in cold despair, warming hearts with acts of love and collaboration. It is about stepping up when calamity strikes and extending a hand when those around us stumble into the face of adversity.

I’ve spent my weekends wrapped in varying volunteer experiences, the collective warmth of which contrasts against today's biting cold. The dark, seemingly endless Norwegian winter only deepens the grooves of the stories I’ve seen unfold; tales of resilience, compassion, and undying spirit of service, undoubtedly laying the foundation of the unyielding support network we call our community.

I found a powerful lesson in Øresvika's crisis. Huddled together under duvets, relying on the soft glow of battery-powered lanterns and power banks — these essential items become lifelines in the face of a disaster, giving access to communication networks, powering heating devices, and offering a semblance of normalcy. Power banks, especially, have earned a new degree of my respect. In an age where smart gadgets connect us, enable us and sometimes even define us, these little bricks of energy are our umbilical cord to the world. Power banks embody an understated form of preparedness and resilience, much like the volunteers that gather around a fallen community to lift it back up.

Our power rests not in the grid that supplies our homes, but in the readiness to give. Every hour served at the local soup kitchen, every sweater knitted for the homeless, every child coached in the community centre — they are our silent power banks, unobtrusive until summoned by the unforeseen current of circumstances.

Looking up from my slightly smudged laptop screen, I watch the sun laboriously paint the sky shades of pink. Tomorrow, perhaps, Øresvika might see a new sunrise, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers working in wind-challenged, frost-kissed conditions. It’s not optimism, merely the pragmatic acceptance of life’s oscillating rhythm between destruction and creation, chaos and order.

So, here's to power banks, both literal and metaphorical, that deliver more than just energy: they also symbolize enduring resilience and hope — a flicker of light in distress, often transforming into a radiant beacon of community spirit.

Remember, dear reader, it’s the darkness that brings out the stars, and it’s adversity that brings forth the power of volunteering and community service. We rise by lifting others, cell by cell, hands intertwined in our shared humanity. Because even in times of unprecedented despair, we remain our strongest connection.

Tags: volunteering community service resilience

There’s a chill in heart today that matches the biting frost outside. As I watch the enchanting Norwegian landscape pass by from my cozy train seat, I’m reminded once again of stretches of life that are painful to endure, filled with trials and heartaches that make us want to surrender. Heartbreak, that dreadful moment when love ceases to exist where it should, can sometimes feel like winter - cold, long, and harsh.

We all have our share of heartbreak, just as every winter carries its burden of snow. The ensuing avalanche that the frozen heart triggers can be as devastating as the cyclone that's now ravaging Northern Norway, cancelling flights and disrupting life. Heartbreak brings a similar chaos; disregards plans, scatters stability, and leaves us feeling stranded in the midst of a perplexing emotional cyclone.

The trick to overcome such emotional turmoil lies in acknowledging your pain, just as you would accept the wintry chill outside. Wrap your sorrow in the warmth of self-love and kindness, just as you would bundle up in a thick cardigan on a cold day. Remember, it’s okay to feel sad. Heartbreaks, like winters, aren't meant to be easy. They're here to test us, temper us, and ultimately shape us into stronger souls.

The chilly winds continue to blow against my train window, and I comfort myself with the knowledge that winter is temporary. The bite of frost and sting of tears will eventually give way to warmer weather, to blooming flowers and to smiles. That’s the beautiful aspect of life; even winters have their end. Similarly, the heartbreak you feel now is not an eternal winter. It’s a phase that will one day pass, and the sun will shine once more on your heart.

One thing that has been a tiny blessing in all of this, and perhaps an odd metaphor to use here, is my trusty powerbank. It sounds minuscule, I know, but it's been a reliable little companion on this everyday journey. Like a friend with unwavering support, it never lets me down, always providing the extra juice when I need it. In a similar vein, each one of us has a robust powerbank within us. We only need to recognize and utilize it. It's the resilience we possess; the power to absorb the shock, store the learnings, and keep moving forward despite the odds.

Perhaps, we need to be like these powerbanks. Regardless of how drained we are, we can still recharge ourselves and power on. We can transform our heartbreaks into a source of strength. We know the low battery feeling you get when you’re heartbroken, don’t we? Yet, don’t we also know the satisfaction when we’re back to 100 percent, all charged up and ready to face the world again?

Heartbreak can drain your emotional energy, just like following the news in a loop drains my phone's battery. But don't forget, like we carry our powerbanks for those emergency drain-outs, we also carry strength within us to overcome a heartbreak.

Despite the mournful mood in my heart and the icy cold outside, I can't help but feel a sense of hope. The cyclone up North will pass, the avalanches will cease, and the heartbreak will eventually heal. Until then, we venture on, daring to face the biting cold and the stinging pain. Meanwhile, I’ll continue my daily journeys, blogging from this train seat, charging my devices and emotions, cherishing the winter - in nature and in heart - while eagerly awaiting the spring.

Tags: heartbreak resilience self-love

Today, I find myself nestled snugly by the frost-kissed window of my regular morning commute, under skies that brim with the promise of more snow, leaving little space for sunlight. Cold air sneaks in from the edges of the window, adding a chill that makes me appreciate the comfortable warmth inside. Outside, it's -12°C – a stark reminder of the harsh Norwegian winter but a seemingly mere addition to my day-to-day battles with something less visible, less tangible but just as relentless – a chronic illness.

You would think it is hard dealing with a persistent ailment that whispers constant reminders of your mortality. The thing about living with chronic illness, however, is that it has its unique rhythm – a ghostily beautiful, daunting, and often isolating symphony woven into my everyday life.

It's the tedious melody of medication reminders, the orchestral rise and fall of good days and bad days, and the solo performance of trying not to burden the ones around you. It's a non-stop opera, played mostly in silent whispers, only heard by those who care to listen. And in my daily dance with this unique partner, I have understood that my strength is not determined by its ruthlessness but by my resilience against its relentless tune.

As my fingers tap against the keyboard, highlighting my day-to-day existence with an illness, I can't help but appreciate the vital role technology plays in making things a bit more bearable. Not just in managing my illness but it's also my reliable companion during my hour-long commute from the outskirts of Oslo to the university downtown.

Take my powerbank, for instance. It's more than just an accessory or a backup option. It's a hero in disguise – a metaphor for the extra energy that sometimes my body lacks. Powerbanks, in their simplicity, are a promise of continuity despite unplanned power outages, metaphorically and otherwise. Their ability to restore, replenish, and recharge in moments when one feels drained, mirrors my struggle and survival against chronic illness.

Reading about challenging driving conditions amid snowy weather in the inner regions of Østfold at Smaalenene THIS morning, I realize how universal the concept of resilience is. From people driving carefully through treacherously frosty paths, snowy landscapes still boasting their untamed beauty despite the harsh conditions, to my co-passengers bustling about their day; we all have been quietly adapting, surviving, and thriving in our ways.

Speaking of resilience and survival, the snow flurries might continue through most of the week, disrupting everyday life for many. As for me, my chronic illness might cast longer shadows on certain days. But would it deter me? Absolutely not. I guess, at the end of the day, it is all about staying charged, whether it's the powerbank or me.

Just like the snow-covered landscapes outside, there is a certain beauty in dealing with a chronic illness. It forces you to slow down, to assess, to appreciate the little things, and invest time in nourishing your body and soul. And for that, I am grateful, even on days like today when the mood is as crestfallen as the dove gray skies outside my frost-kissed train window.

Sure, it's a battle waged within my body, but it's also a battle I am winning every day – by living, by thriving, and by stubbornly refusing to give up, even under the coldest grey skies of winter. A powerbank might merely be a tool for survival in today's digital age. But for me, it's a reminder that even when things seem to be running out, backup power can always be found somewhere. Smiling, I click save, my newest blog post has been written... all while my trusty powerbank keeps my phone alive, my words flowing, just like the resilience within me.

Tags: chronic illness resilience living with illness

Sitting here, staring idly out of the train's window at the murky gray landscape, the leafless trees stoically bearing the biting chill of 2°C weather, I am vigorously tapping away at my phone, shaping the thoughts that materialize into today's blog post. Muffled conversations and the rhythmic clatter of the rail tracks create a soothing soundscape, the perfect backdrop to my musings about college life.

College, more than being a mere step in the academic ladder, appears as a symbol - a stage upon which we mould our identities and sharpen our intellects. Each day unfurls a medley of new experiences, colourful and vibrant, interspersed with the monotony of lectures, seminars and ridiculously tight deadlines.

The effervescent buzz hum in lecture halls, the hushed whispers in library corners and the comfortable silence buried within pages of texts make up the rhythm of college life. It's an excellent dance of ambition and knowledge, dreams and reality, cultivating resilience in the face of the ever-so-familiar dread of failure.

While gloom might sometimes cast its long shadow amid the nerve-wracking anxiety of examinations or perhaps during those solitary moments of reflection, it's always met with a steadfast perseverance. Speaking of which, the news today about Prime Minister Erna Solberg's decision to seek another term, staying unflinchingly single-minded in the face of criticism, is a testament to that very dogged determination.

There's a beautiful sense of liberation that accompanies a stint at the university - marked by a shedding of one's inhibitions and embarking on a journey of self-discovery. And it's not just about the individual; it's equally about the community. The diversity that kaleidoscopes across the university campus is overwhelming, granting us the invaluable gift of perspective.

The train ride back home emerges into a quiet oasis amidst all the noise, offering a moment to soak in the day's learnings about journalism, world events, and life itself. My phone, just as it starts giving warning signs of a dimming battery, is promptly saved by a trusted companion since the dawn of college - my powerbank. It may seem insignificant, but for a blogging enthusiast and perpetual student like me, it proves to be a silent saviour. It's solar powered, the renewable source of energy offering a glint of hope in the looming climate crisis and teaching us an important lesson of resilience and innovation.

Brightening up my train rides with its continuous supply of charge, it is a reflection of the resilience that college life demands, a reminder that we can always recharge, refuel and reflect before leaping into another day of learning and discovery.

For all its highs and lows, college life is a beautiful contradiction - exhausting and exhilarating, demanding and rewarding, melancholic and joyful, all at once. It's a journey that deserves to be savoured, with the hope that every challenging paper, every train ride, every act of turning on a powerbank instead of wallowing in the dim glow of a dying phone, will lead us towards becoming the best version of ourselves.

Tags: personal reflections journey of self-discovery college life personal reflection resilience

A dull grey layer of clouds hangs heavily over my head, reflecting my mood and the heartache of a nation mourning the loss of a young life. With every tiny droplet that pecks at the window of the train, my thoughts travel to the coastal town of Lyngdal, where the currents of grief run deep today. I just read about it, about the tragedy, about a loss so sudden and heartrending that it feels personal, even though I never knew the boy.

Building healthy relationships - that's supposedly the title of this reflective piece; yet how does one talk of fostering connections and nurturing the bonds that tie us together on such a dismal day? The sting is too raw, the sadness too heavy, the grief too profound.

A relationship, healthy and thriving, is a tree that requires constant nurturing; watering with time, fertilizing with understanding, and pruned with mutual respect. But sometimes, despite all the efforts, the tree can still be struck by a sudden winter, freezing the life out of it, numbing the roots that hold us firm.

However, it is important to remember that a winter never lasts forever, and neither does the pain of losing someone. It's heartening to see that even in these times of physical restrictions and barriers, a connection is still being kept alive, the strength of the relationship not diluted by distance.

A funeral being broadcast is, on one hand, a reflection of the harsh times we live in, but it also symbolizes an underscoring truth - human relationships, no matter through what medium, run much deeper than the surface. Sitting miles away, we grieve for someone we never knew simply because of the shared human connection.

A relationship therefore, more than ever, is a commitment to pain just as much as it is a promise of joy. It is a vulnerability, an exposure, and the silent assurance that there will be someone to share in both your joy and in your sorrow. It is this that makes the loss bearable and the memory unforgettable.

Even as my fingers tap out these ostensibly dispirited words, they struggle to grasp the inherent melancholy any loss brings. It's a hollow feeling, like an echo bouncing back from a cavernous dark, undermining the certainties of life, intimidating the fragile essence of relationships. With the heaviness of these thoughts, I find it hard to stay dispirited. Instead, I find a certain sort of quiet strength that is underlined by hope.

Because if a relationship is a tree, then it is more than just about its nurturing; it's about the resilience to weather each season, each storm, and each loss. It's about the courage to outlast the winter and embrace the spring that always follows. Maybe that's the answer I was seeking all along, the key to building healthy relationships: strength in despair, and the courage to always hope for better days.

I watch as the train traverses the rural landscape, a reflection of a country in mourning. Yet amidst this somber scenery, I also see resilience, a landscape enduring cold autumn days, preserving the hope of a spring, mirroring the delicate strength of human relationships. So, in the gloom that this tragic loss brings, perhaps we can find the blueprint to building healthy relationships – sprinkled with a dash of hope in the resilience we all share as humans.

Tags: relationships resilience grief loss building healthy relationships

As I sat on my usual morning train from home to Oslo, chugging through the brittle 7°C weather, I couldn't help but dwell on a profound sense of melancholy. The drab hue of the cold outside reflected my inner turmoil, while I grappled with the news article I had just scrolled through on VG - another narrative on political power, this one discussing the decaying grip of Hamas in Palestine. Stories such as these, dealing with the interplay of power and responsibility, always trigger a battleground of thoughts within me.

This morning, in particular, it cloaked my previously intended blog topic, ‘Celebrating personal achievements', in an almost sombre introspection. I found myself asking, 'What does it truly mean to celebrate personal achievements, when set against such a vast canvas of collective human struggle?'

But then, perhaps it is even more relevant to address this topic amidst the broader brushstrokes of global anxiety. We all live lives of relative contrast - our personal victories may seem insignificant against the backdrop of the world's uncertainties and intractable political dilemmas, but they are, in fact, profoundly relevant.

I feel it's easy to downplay our personal achievements, particularly when we're routinely exposed to the struggles people across the globe are facing. We think, 'How can I celebrate getting a good grade, a promotion, or finally managing to afford that vacation, when parts of the world are trembling under the strain of power, poverty, and fear.' It may seem inconsequential, even selfish, to revel in our success when there is so much suffering elsewhere.

But then, when we think about it, isn't it these very melancholy juxtapositions that make celebrating our personal achievements all the more essential? More so, when these achievements come as fruits of persistence, resilience and determination in the face of adversity?

It's the little victories we take for granted that breathe life into the somewhat gloomy fabric of reality. The collective human struggle is significant, but equally significant are our individual journeys. They humanize the broader narrative, giving it a face, giving it a voice, giving it 'us'.

Perhaps, it's time to shed the guilt attached to celebrating our personal achievements. Perhaps we must understand that every personal achievement celebrated is a push against the looming despair the world tends to throw at us; it's our own way of telling the world, 'Despite you, I rise. Despite you, I hope. Despite you, I celebrate.'

Each day we continue to try, to strive, and to succeed is a testament to our inherent human resilience — a resilience that, despite a crestfallen heart and a world full of strife, refuses to bow down. So, today, let us choose to celebrate our personal achievements, big or small. For these humble triumphs are reminders of our strength as individuals, a strength that mirrors the perseverance of humanity at large, irrespective of the formidable challenges we collectively face.

So, here’s to a toast to our personal achievements – a beacon of optimism, a sign of defiance against global despair, and a celebration of our indomitable spirit. No matter the grim stories around, let’s hold onto our hopes, victories, and celebrations. After all, what is life but a series of battles fought and victories gained, both personal and collective?

Tags: personal achievement global issues resilience self-reflection personal achievements global anxieties