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Hugh Macleod: “Nobody can tell you if what you’re doing is good, meaningful or worthwhile. The more compelling the path, the more lonely it is.”

Purpose Fairy: “After doing so much work on improving myself and my life, I have come to realize that happiness is nothing more than a balance between holding on and letting go. In order for you to be really happy, all you have to do is let go of the things that make you unhappy and hold on to those things that make you happy. It’s that simple and yet that complicated.”

Earlier in 2012 posted the Purpose Fairy’s 15 things you should give up to be HAPPY. The 15 items below are the other side of the same happiness coin; the 15 things you should NOT give up to be HAPPY:

1. Don’t give up on love

2. Don’t give up on real friendships

3. Don’t give up thankfulness

4. Don’t give up integrity

5. Don’t give up hope

6. Don’t give up on your dreams

7. Don’t give up believing in yourself

8. Don’t give up your authenticity

9. Don’t give up kindness

10. Don’t give up simplicity

11. Don’t give up your playful spirit

12. Don’t give up faith in humanity

13. Don’t give up your vulnerability

14. Don’t give up your humility

15. Don’t give up on your ability to forgive

Florence Shinn: “The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy.”

Earlier this year Dutch singer-songwriter (and rockbitch 😉 ) Anouk had to cancel some of her ‘Symphonica in Rosso‘ concert and these have been moved to tonight (and Thursday) in a smaller, more intimate setting. Accompanied by Guido’s Orchestra, Anouk ROCKED the Ziggo Dome stage! What a voice, she didn’t miss a single note…WoW, what a fantastic concert…good times!!

Helen Keller: “When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.”

Nathaniel Branden: “Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.”

Napoleon Bonaparte: “[Medicine is] a collection of uncertain prescriptions the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to mankind.”

The YouTube video below shows a fantastic initiative by WestJet; great marketing in a true Xmas spirit! (it reminded me a bit of KLM’s “Surprise” Social Media experiment from 2010)

Haha, I guess the “socks and underwear” guy will have some regrets…

Sydney J. Harris: “An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.”

It is truly fantastic to live so close to incredible nature as I do; the Lysdammen lake at 5 minutes is such an example. It has many faces, below is its early winter face. The first picture was taken just before the ‘real’ snow arrived…walking on a freshly frozen lake is always exciting, will it hold? (it did 😉 ) The other pictures, well…breathtaking winter wonderland…me like!

N. Sri Ram: “There is no wisdom without love.”

Time is flying like crazy these days and there are much more important and nicer things to do in life than laundry…it is just a small thing, but this helps me, a real time saver! 😉

Julie A., M.A. Ross and Judy Corcoran: “When you own or take responsibility for your feelings, you place yourself in a position of power and control.”

The past days have been pretty pretty nice here in Norway; first we celebrated the dutch tradition of Sinterklaas (two times! 😉 ), Misha didn’t quite understand the concept behind it (neither do most foreigners 😉 ), but wrapped gifts are always a hit and really, what can beat a rubber duck?? 😉

On Sunday the (real) snow arrived, finally, and it didn’t take long for Misha to remember the fun we had last year…and start all over again!

This year’s bonus, he is now able (and more than willing!!) to help me shovel the snow in front of the garage, yay! 😉

And today, the Xmas season began! It has been here for some weeks actually, but as a dutchie I can’t start until Sinterklaas is gone…Misha made pepperkake (keppekake according to him 😉 ) in the kindergarten today…ho ho hooooo!! 😉

Amy Lowell: “Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.”

Nancy Friday: “To say something nice about yourself, this is the hardest thing in the world for people to do. They’d rather take their clothes off.”

Elizabeth Cady Stanton: “Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.”

Malcolm X: “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.”

Howard Newton: “People forget how fast you did a job – but they remember how well you did it.”

Eden Phillpotts: “The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”