Rolling with the Punches
So I’m 198 centimeters tall. But most of the time, when asked by a security guard at the bank or a street vendor or a waiting taxi driver who scrambles over to measure himself against my back, I say 2
So I’m 198 centimeters tall. But most of the time, when asked by a security guard at the bank or a street vendor or a waiting taxi driver who scrambles over to measure himself against my back, I say 2
Where are we supposed to be? Last year in February, we were supposed to travel to Vietnam and ended up in Chiang Mai Thailand instead. This time, we had planned to stay in Chiang Mai but ended up going to
It’s 3 am in the morning. I wake up from something tickling my arm. Or is it just an itch? Or maybe I’m not completely awake yet? I focus. No, something is definitely there, crawling around on my arm. Instinctively
Like most travelers today, I carry a smartphone that has become an indispensable companion. In Vietnam, it serves as my translator, my guide, and my lens into the unfamiliar. Through Google Lens, mysterious items at local grocery stores become instantly
This morning, as Håkan and I sat in our daily gratitude ritual after meditation, we realized it was the last day of 2024. “A complicated year,” Håkan summarizes. We had expected a year of my recovery from cancer treatments. Instead,
Disorganized, disobedient monkeys jumping in all directions. That’s how my mind feels at times. Stream of consciousness followed by random observations leading to even more loosely connected thoughts. Some big and scary. Most innocuous and of seemingly little consequence. Which
The waitress at our breakfast buffet comes by to pick up our empty plates. She says “I’m sorry” when approaching our table and entering our space. I want to tell her she can say “Excuse me” instead because she has
Here in An Bang Beach, Hoi An, we’ve become intimately acquainted with our neighbourhood’s nightly symphony. Last night, like all others, we were once again awakened by a medley of sounds that sent me reaching for my trusty earplugs –
“Happiness is available. Please help yourself to it.” Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Vietnamese Zen master, peace activist, and spiritual leader In the heart of Chiang Mai, our walks from our favourite restaurant unfold like solving a daily puzzle. This
Shy. Kind. Careful. Considerate. Caring. Your legacy. A life well lived. Fleeting like all lives of course but we will miss your gentle presence Kenneth. May you rest now. Free from pain. Surrounded by the light of our love. Håkan