31st of March 2024
It’s the last day of March. The rain has not arrived yet this day but we have got a lot of it in my little land and even snow.
This is just normal and when Icelandic people tell other Icelandic people about the weather here, they usually say it’s always hot! That is not true. We have cold winters and sometimes the summer doesn’t arrive until June or July, then I’m talking about the extreme heat.
This month has been good for me.
I have been stronger every day, slowly but steadfast, moving towards perfect health.
Going to the gym and having my personal trainer to help me and encourage me when I feel totally useless. One day last week I was seriously tired when I arrived in the gym and he saw that I could not make a normal training. He changed the plan and let me do some fun playing and that made me happy. Throwing a ball into something does not seem to be anything but it strengthens the shoulders and arms. Doesn’t seem a lot but it is. When I managed to hit the things, I felt the happiness. Happiness comes from inside, as I have so often said.
I am thinking about the people in Grindavik, who had to evacuate from the town because of the eruption.
Having to leave your home and not seeing any future other than move somewhere else is emotionally difficult. There are people all ages who lived in the town and now they are spread all around the country.
The pain must be unbearable.
It is sad to see some of the trolls on Facebook, belittle the pain and mocking the elderly for talking about their pain and how they feel when packing their belongings and looking at empty walls when all the pictures have been taken down.
Leaving your home is painful.
Sadly, there are some people who have no empathy in their hearts.
These days I am preparing my tax report here in Portugal and have to change Icelandic kronur to euros. I should do this every month when I transfer my pension but have not done it, so now I am reaping as I sowed.
This year will be different. I’ll be good and make the change every month, put it in my computer and have everything ready the first days in January next year! I promise myself!
The Syrians are trying to sell the apartment above me and I hope they will be successful. The problem is they are asking for too much!
This winter I have used my fireplace when needed and now I am able to carry the wood upstairs myself. The bags are about 10 kilos and it’s a great training.
My mind is at easy this day when I look forward to next month.
The clock changed this night and I was a confused individual when I woke up this morning. My mind is not happy when we change the time but it gets better after 2 or 3 weeks.
I listened to an interview with an Icelandic woman yesterday and it felt so good to hear the beautiful language she is using. The language is losing the battle to stay as it was and I remembered when I was young and my mother told me “speak Icelandic” when I was using some new words. She would not be happy with the situation now.
Last month I went to London to renew my passport and spoke Icelandic with the people in the embassy. I don’t speak Icelandic often and it came as a surprise that I was not as fluent speaking as I am writing.
Living abroad does affect the fluency and the sound is not as easy as before. This is ok because I am never going back, its just something I did not expect.
Life is full of challenges and I am lucky to have the life I chose and can be with those I love the last chapter of a long life.
Age is just a number as I often say. I am lucky to be gaining my health again and I can take care of myself with my mindset, my exercise, my food and most of all the people around me.
Friends are the diamonds of our lives.
Let’s spread happiness around us every day.
Let´s surround us with people who nourish our souls.
Have a great Easter day, full of love and light.
Hulda Björnsdóttir
My thoughts shared with you 