I was going to buy a hot dog the other day. It was easier said than done. There were so many options to choose from: the type of sausage, size, how it should be prepared, type of bread, which toppings I wanted… Finally, I said, "I'll have an original." It's nice to have freedom o … | Continue reading
I watched a documentary about the Swedish author Bodil Malmsten. The conversation turned to the mistakes you make in life, and she said: I have short legs, of course I wish I had long legs. What can you do? It's the same with things you've done, things that were very wrong. You h … | Continue reading
I was listening to a documentary about Joni Mitchell. I was struck by something she wrote in a telegram to her partner when she felt her free artistic spirit was starting to be constrained: If you hold sand too tightly, it will slip through your fingers. It's often like that when … | Continue reading
Not so funny business I don't know about where you live, but around here in Sweden, parking tickets can really hurt your wallet. This morning, when I got to my car, there was one of those bright yellow tickets stuck under the windshield wiper. I ripped it off, cursing myself, bef … | Continue reading
This day didn't start off great. I was supposed to be working in the archipelago, which I love, but someone had forgotten to book a boat for me. I was supposed to be on the island at 8:30 AM, but the mistake meant I would arrive at 11:30 AM instead. Three hours wasted, and I was … | Continue reading
Today was my first day back at work after being on sick leave for two weeks with Covid. It feels really good to be back! One of the things that makes it feel good to be back is that it gives me a sense of purpose. It's not like I have the world's most important job. I work with h … | Continue reading
I've been thinking about something lately. Something that's the complete opposite of how I usually do things — and it feels really good. It's primarily the work on the Bearming theme that made me realize this. Before, I always wanted to have the whole picture clear in my mind bef … | Continue reading
I listened to an interview with Tom Englund, the vocalist of the Swedish death metal band Evergrey. He mentioned that he had worked as a hospital curator for four years. He provided support to people during their final days. When the interviewer asked him what people wished for, … | Continue reading
A month ago, I decided to shut down this blog. The next day I changed my mind, which I wrote about in the post "The blog that refuses to die." Yesterday, I launched a membership called Birming Buddies. When I woke up this morning after a long and good night's sleep, I realized it … | Continue reading
I've been considering starting a supporters page for a while, but I've been feeling conflicted... I don't want to launch it just for the sake of it. While I want it to add some value, I don't want it to feel like a cheaper experience for those who don't want to or can contribute … | Continue reading
Dear Dad, Today marks the first anniversary of your passing. Not a day goes... eeh, what’s that you said? "I know, you don't have to rub it in." Haha! Your sense of humor is intact. That's still one of the first things people mention when your name comes up: your wonderful sense … | Continue reading
I listened to an interview with the Swedish artist Per Gessle, best known for his work with the band Roxette. When asked what the key to success is, he replied: You have to dare, and you have to fail, and you have to make a fool of yourself, and you have to do terrible things to … | Continue reading
I know what you’re thinking: “Not another blog challenge!” But hear me out... There’s been a debate lately about the existence or non-existence of blog challenges. The criticism has been that quantity takes precedence over quality. Even though there haven’t been any requirements … | Continue reading
In the latest episode of one of my favorite Swedish podcasts, Alex & Sigge, the author Sigge Eklund said something interesting: It's unhealthy to constantly think about how others perceive you. It can lead you down the wrong path in life. So very true! How others perceive us is n … | Continue reading
I launched the Bearming theme for Bear blog last week, and then bam, I got hit with a case of COVID. Can you believe my luck? Not everyone gets the chance to spend their sick days coding and coughing at the same time. A lot has happened during these days... I removed the add-ons … | Continue reading
Abandoned shoes I had an idea to post a #phriday post on Fridays: a photo and my reflections on it. Then I realized it doesn't have to be limited to just me. Everyone will have their own associations about the same picture. It would be fun and interesting to take part of this wid … | Continue reading
I just read through the latest entries in my guestbook. So many wonderful messages! I'm both happy and touched. Thank you all! At the same time, I find it a bit difficult to truly embrace it. I don't feel like I have anything particularly valuable to contribute, and I think I'm a … | Continue reading
"I don't want to work in IT anymore." I saw this comment pop up on my Mastodon feed today. It really resonated with me, as I was in the same boat a few years ago. I had a great job at a great company. The people were friendly, the boss was understanding, the pay was good, and it … | Continue reading
"What's the secret?" I asked this question to one of my clients today. He was 85 years old, looked 60, and was as fit and agile as a 50-year-old. He replied: "There's no secret. I enjoy walking. That’s all." No secrets. No tricks. Completely natural. But that's often how it is, i … | Continue reading
This week, the workday began in an unexpected way. We received an email... "Mandatory Teams meeting at 4:00 PM." It didn't take long before colleagues started calling each other, speculating about what it could all be about. Now we know – at least to some extent. There will be re … | Continue reading
A close friend of mine recently landed a new job and is now considering quitting. It's impossible to predict whether you'll enjoy a workplace, but it usually becomes apparent soon after starting. If you consistently feel like "this is the wrong place for me," I strongly believe y … | Continue reading
My brother said he thought my blog was broken, so I decided to give it a makeover. I call it Bearming (because every theme needs a fancy name, right?). Based on the standard Bears theme, I aimed to create a clean theme with good readability. The appearance of the list of blog pos … | Continue reading
I read that Cole has been experimenting with blogging from his iPhone. He says, among other things: Using my iPhone to write blog posts feels more casual and personable. It’s like drafting a note to a friend or texting them about the latest happenings. Sounds wonderful! For me, i … | Continue reading
I saw a thought-provoking piece of street art on my way home from work. "Ring henne" – Swedish for "Call her." Why wouldn't we make that call? If someone asked us, or if we asked ourselves, the answer would probably be, "It's pointless." But that's not entirely true, is it? We he … | Continue reading
The above piece of art was created by one of today's clients. He was about to throw the container from a burned-out tea light when he thought, "I can make something out of that." He had made several different versions, and when I complimented him on its beauty and cleverness, he … | Continue reading
Speaking of the importance of interests, technology has always been one of mine. Today feels like Christmas Eve for some of us tech enthusiasts as Google hosts its annual Made by Google event, where they unveil their latest innovations (even though most is already known, as alway … | Continue reading
One of the houses I visited today had what potentially could be the dreaded dry-rot fungus Serpula lacrymans. As a result, I had to collect samples to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. This type of assignment occurs only a few times a year. Consequently, it always requires ex … | Continue reading
During the weekend, I sat and fiddled with a new theme for Bear blog. I'm not a professional designer and have no ambition to become one. I just think it's very fun and interesting to tinker with. Time slips away in an almost meditative state as small snippets of text magically t … | Continue reading
"We are all different" – a phrase thrown around quite often. And thankfully, it's true. Some adore winter, others summer; some thrive in nature, while others prefer the city. But there's one area where this diversity seems absent: socializing. The first to leave a party is brande … | Continue reading
One of the customers I visited today was an elderly couple. I asked what was on the shelf in their bathroom. They explained that it was sand they had collected from all the places they had traveled together over 35 years. They spoke enthusiastically about the places they had visi … | Continue reading
Hello fellow blogger, I found your blog and the "Finding my Blogging Voice" post through Bear's discovery feed. It's wonderful to see that you got your first post out there. A good and interesting one too, that many bloggers can relate to. Now that you're up and running, the hard … | Continue reading
Yesterday, R. Scott Jones shared his latest project, Blog Prompts. I decided to give it a try and picked the following suggestion: Write a blog post about whether you lean more towards being a planner, or would rather "go with the flow," and why. I'm definitely a "go with the flo … | Continue reading
One of the houses I visited at work today had an absolutely stunning view of the sea. I could have easily stayed there all day. When I mentioned how amazing the location was, the owner of the house replied, "Yeah, but you don't think about it after a while." It should be illegal … | Continue reading
Long after I'd finished creating the theme for this blog, I still thought the design was spot on (and still do). It's the ideal theme in my opinion. Recently, I asked my brother for his thoughts. He replied: "It looks like the site is broken. There are no images or anything. It's … | Continue reading
Have you ever thought about creating a timeline of your blogging journey? We all have our own unique reasons for blogging and our individual approaches. No two blogging journeys are identical, not even our own. We shift focus, experiment with different platforms, and might even c … | Continue reading
Today, I realized that the past three days share something important and beautiful: community. Today, the pride parade took place here in Stockholm. I met up with my mom, sister, her husband, and their kids, who had come to the city for the occasion. It was wonderful sharing the … | Continue reading
Today I heard an interview with the Swedish judoka Tara Babulfath. When asked what advice she would give to young athletes, she answered, "Dare to dream and go hard." It sounds simple, almost cliché, right? But how many of us truly live by these principles? We often let doubt and … | Continue reading
Yesterday, I wrote that I had decided to end this blog. When I woke up this morning, I immediately realized that it was the wrong decision. Crazy? Maybe. But that’s how it sometimes is. You can’t always reason your way to the right decision. At least, I can’t. I’d been pondering … | Continue reading
Today marks the end of the JulyReply challenge. A huge thank you to everyone who participated! I hope it brought joy, inspiration, and new connections. May the spirit of JulyReply live on in your writing and interactions. As some of you know, I've had recurring doubts when it com … | Continue reading
A friend recently asked me how I stay motivated to work out. My answer might sound simple, but it's more about what I don't do. When I get home from work, I... ...don't read the news. ...don't turn on the TV. ...don't answer messages. ...don't scroll through social media. ...don' … | Continue reading
A friend recently asked me how I stay motivated to work out. My answer might sound simple, but it's more about what I don't do. When I get home from work, I... ...don't read the news. ...don't turn on the TV. ...don't answer messages. ...don't scroll through social media. ...don' … | Continue reading
You know that feeling of panic when you realize your keys are missing? I had that feeling yesterday, only it was my computer that was gone! I had been doing some writing at a cafe and then went grocery shopping. When I got home and was about to sit down at my computer, it was now … | Continue reading
Eriq's entry in my guestbook led me to his recent post, Going from spark to a steady fire. He describes how passions often ignite intensely before rapidly fading away. I completely resonate with this, just as he did after reading my post I wish I was more dedicated: It's ridiculo … | Continue reading
Eriq's entry in my guestbook led me to his recent post, Going from spark to a steady fire. He describes how passions often ignite intensely before rapidly fading away. I completely resonate with this, just as he did after reading my post I wish I was more dedicated: It's ridiculo … | Continue reading
I recently rewatched the series Dopesick. Really good! Well-made, deeply moving, and thought-provoking. One scene in particular resonated with me. A character who has finally overcome addiction shares his wisdom in a group therapy session: You know, pain is just pain. Not good, n … | Continue reading
Yesterday felt like it would never end. So many places to visit, long drives, and overtime. I felt pretty drained when I got home. Today was an absolutely fantastic day at work! Incredibly beautiful places, a boat trip in the archipelago, and I was home at a decent time. I feel e … | Continue reading
I’m re-watching the gripping show Dopesick. One of the stories is about a couple of parents who are having a hard time accepting that their daughter is gay. When she goes to the doctor for advice on the situation, he replies: Forgive them. Love them. Be patient with them. Then he … | Continue reading
After the first house inspection today, the client offered coffee on the porch. Beautiful weather and view of the water. So nice and relaxing! They were retired and had a morning routine of going swimming with their neighbors during the summer. One of them mentioned that he looks … | Continue reading