Khaya Ronkainen

1. On Being in the Moment

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

2. “For the rain it raineth every day.”

Daylight gets shorter and shorter as snow fleets past with rain.

3. On Maintaining Friendships

It’s tempting to go into hibernation, when it’s cold, wet and dark outside as it is right now. But “I’ve always got five minutes for a friend.” Do you? Because it’s that time of the year, with holidays almost upon us, where it can be very lonely for those who don’t have loved ones close by to celebrate.

4. November Days

So, in these dark November days (as shown in the images above and below) I have no choice but to find ways to glow from inside out. How do I do this? I make sure to start my days by reading a poem or listening to a song, instead of rushing to check e-mails or threads on WhatsApp, for example.

5. Truth is…

I’m busy focusing on being fully present. Today though, I’m not here to talk about my personal truth but to share Nomzi Kumalo’s. Some of you might already know this remarkable poet from the blogs. Well, Nomzi and I do not only share love for poetry but she is also my homegirl. That is, she is also a South African, and a neighbour as she nowadays calls Norway her second home as I do Finland.

So, I’m super excited to share news of her debut single’s release, Truth, and an addition to my playlist. Nomzi has put her all in this work. If you’ve enjoyed listening to the song, please do spread the word!

Wishing you a lovely weekend! Remember not to let November tentacles rob you of joy and happiness. Be fully present in the moment!

Most Fridays, I share five random things I’m reading, watching, doing and thinking about. I love hearing about your days, too.

“November always seems to me the Norway of the year.” ~ Emily Dickinson

I don’t know what Dickinson meant with this quote above. What I know is that November always seems (to me) like time of the year, I always have to dig deeper in order to discover its gifts.

1. Tactics to save daylight

Summer is long gone and forgotten, and November tightens. But how sweet is the act of turning back the clock for one more hour to snooze!

2. Magic and mysteries of Crows

My favourite artist, MagicLoveCrow, introduced me to these fascinating birds. In fact, she painted this beautiful smile for me, a few years ago just to help me endure the darkness that is November. This remains the favoured art piece in my collection. To learn more about these smart creatures, feel free to listen to this podcast, Are Crows Scary or Just Scarily Smart?

3. Letter Writing as Art

“Long & long does it seem since I have had any word or sign from you.” ~ Anne Gilchrist

Letter-writing is something I immensely enjoyed, and terribly miss in this age of WhatsApp. Anyway, I especially enjoy letters of classic poets and writers. They always reveal a lot about the times these writers lived in. At the moment, I’m reading The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman. Thanks to friends, who keep recommending great books to read. 🙂

4. The Colour Orange

Orange signifies different things to different people. For me, right now, it simply means a colour to brighten the dark days of November. Think smell and taste of butternut soup. Yum! And of course, the fragrance of love; I simply adore lilies.

5. On transcending barriers

“We don’t have control over many aspects of our lives yet we always have an option on how we respond.” ~ Stephanae McCoy

Steph is one of the amazing people I met on the blogs, and call a friend. What first attracted me to her blog is her sense of style, which I soon find out that it is actually her mission. Steph is a crusader, who breaks the myth “blind people can’t be fashionable.” She raises awareness but also empowers blind and visually impaired women through her blog Bold Blind Beauty, and beyond.

Please take time to browse her blog for a real sense of the impactful work she does. And I hope her story, My Path from Poverty to Possibilities, inspires you as well.

Wishing you have a cozy and restful weekend, and always with a good book to read! And good luck to all, who are participating in NaNoWriMo.

Most Fridays, I share five random things I’m reading, watching, doing and thinking about. You’re most welcome to join the conversation.

Khaya Ronkainen

Random Things: Week 46

Random Things: Week 45