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Thankfulness - One Step at a Time

Posted on February 19, 2010 at 6:15 AM Comments comments (0)
Subject: Gratefulness and thankfulness Take: We need to be more thankful - for our daily experiences as well as for our many blessings. Take 2: Culturally, levels of thankfulness appear to vary. I discuss some possible tendencies. What better way to enjoy the umpteenth snowstorm of our very snowy winter here in Norway than to focus on all that we are grateful for. And what better way to do that than to write about it, hoping others will hear the distant cabin mountain horn's sweet warbling call and enjoy the music. I was reminded of this topic after listening to 'Judge Judy' speaking with Larry King on CNN the other day. She observed wryly that we human beings simply are not so nice to one another a great deal of the time. Judge Judy, for those of you unfamiliar with her, has been a judge on U.S. television, hearing real cases, for many years, and continues to do so. Her take-responsibility approach and take-no-prisoners attitude have helped many minor miscreants face their personal and related legal demons. Recent research into this topical area suggests that we are more likely to be healthier if we take the time to appreciate what we have, as well as to appreciate something in our everyday lives - um - every day. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis recently found that people who focused on gratitude were simply happier, reported fewer negative physical ailments, exercised more and had more energy. They were also less materialistic and more generous. Other studies have found consciously grateful people to have: more clear thinking, better immune system responses, lower stress levels and longer lives. A small treat appears to help also. A Cornell University study found that doctors given a small 'token' candy were better able to process complex information quickly, were more considerate of diagnostic complexity and less likely to jump to wrong conclusions. Persons with a high gratefulness quotient exercised it as a discipline. They consciously considered their thanks for specific experiences, views, etcetera. Suggested ways to reinforce such behavior in our own lives include: recordation, passing on such thoughts (called the 'boomerang' effect), and reaching out to others. With reference to that last item, might we note the existing English word, eudaemonia? My goodness, it almost looks Norwegian, with that æ type of feeling. The word, eudaemonia, means the happiness or fulfillment that comes from an action itself, not as a result of the action. I personally think of this as related to RAK. That is, random acts of kindness. RAK is responsible for the happiness experienced by many people. What is the cultural barometer on RAK? I'm not sure. It would be interesting to compare Hofstede's cultural dimensions in business to RAK. For example, business cultures that are more universalistic, such as that in the U.S., rely on contracts and rules that all are expected to respect and observe. Doesn't sound very RAK-ish, does it? At the other end of the scale, business cultures that value handling issues on a very specific or particularist manner would likely be involved in RAK activities only for those who are valued as more special in that culture - for example, men in Middle Eastern cultures, or the elderly in Asian cultures. Business cultures that value individualism also value individual achievement, separate from group-related values and activities. The U.S. takes the prize for the world's most individualistic business culture. Again, not a RAK-ish feeling here, I don't think, unless of course we take our personal ethics and moral duties with us when we walk around in America being big individuals. On the other hand, the Chinese business culture, which values collective enterprise to a great degree, prioritizes elements of caring for others above one's sense of individual self. Not a bad value to try to incorporate in one's daily life, and definitely RAK-ish. My own experience of China resulted in my falling in love with the people as a whole, and made me want to embrace their individual and collective hopes and dreams. Most Chinese were very friendly, very personable, caring and interested, willing to go out of their way to make our welcome complete in almost every way imaginable, and just because that is what is of value to do - for others. Not just for yen, but for the yin and yang of it. Well, now it is time to trudge to the little grocery with Tinkerbell, the resident Shetland sheepdog. The wind is bracing, it is minus 9 celsius, and there are at least several inches of new snow on top of the old ice-and-snow package. Everything is white or shades of gray. Dull, insistent, unforgiving. Perhaps it is time to buy some small token treats to carry around. And, by God, I'm so thankful for it all, every bit of it.

Norway's National Anthem ? What do the words mean

Posted on January 18, 2009 at 7:57 AM Comments comments (4)

Norway's national anthem is a lovely song which also includes wonderful lyrics.  It is heard by us often during Olympic events, as Norway ratchets up the wins in gold, silver and bronze medals.  It is also heard and sung often on the 17th of May, the day of Norway's annual Independence Day celebrations. 

 

 

I was encouraged to learn it when I moved to Norway ten years ago, and became interested in the English translation. I have seen other translations, but felt obliged to create my own - to reflect, as closely as possible, the meaning of the words, even if it was not 'singable.'  I therefore provide a link to my translation of "Ja, vi elsker dette landet."  I hope you enjoy it. 

Norwegian National Anthem

 Lyrics:  Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 1859,  Music:  Rikard Nordraak, 1863,  Adopted:  1864

 

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,                                   Yes, we love this land,

 

som det stiger frem,                                          that emerges,

 

furet, værbitt, over vannet,                                furrowed, weather-beaten over the water,

 

med de tusen hjem.                                           with its thousands of homes.

 

Elsker, elsker det og tenker                               Love, love it, and think

 

på vår far og mor                                              about our father and mother

 

og den saganatt som senker                              and those nights full of long tales that sink

 

drømmer på vår jord.                                        dreams into our soil,

 

og den saganatt som senker,                             and those nights full of long tales that sink,

 

senker drømmer på vår jord.                             sink, dreams into our soil.

 

 

Norske mann i hus og hytte,                              Norwegians, in houses and cabins,

 

takk din store Gud!                                           thank your great God!

 

Landet ville han beskytte                                   The land he will protect

 

skjønt det mørkt så ut.                                      Understanding it appeared hopeless.

 

Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,                             All that our fathers fought for,

 

mødrene har grett,                                            and mothers wept for,

 

har den Herre stille lempet,                                has this God calmly lifted,

 

så vi vant vår rett.                                             so we won our right,

 

har den Herre stille lempet,                                has this God calmly lifted,

 

så vi vant, vi vant vår rett.                                  so we won, we won our right.

 

 

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,                                   Yes, we love this land,

 

som det stiger frem,                                          that emerges,

 

furet, værbitt, over vannet,                                furrowed, weather-beaten over the water,

 

med de tusen hjem.                                           with its thousands of homes,

 

og som fedres kamp har hevet                           and that our ancestors'  fight has raised,

 

det av nød til seir,                                             what was our distress to victory.

 

også vi, nar det blir krevet,                                Also we, when it becomes required

 

for dets fred slår leir,                                         for its peace, shall guard it,

 

også vi, nar det blir krevet,                                also we, when it becomes required,

 

for dets fred, dets fred slår leir!                         For its peace, its peace, shall guard it.

 

 

 

 

Publishing my Thesis Online

Posted on January 6, 2009 at 10:39 AM

Happy New Year to all!  And may it be a blessed one! 

I am writing to tell you that I've uploaded my thesis online, "Poetic Technique in Vikram Seth's The Golden Gate."  In it, I review Seth's use of poetic technique to achieve effects in the work.  Published in 1986, the book is a 'novel in sonnets.'  I include a Synopsis in the Appendix for those who are interested in reviewing the story but who have not read it.  The synopsis gives context to the sonnets I select for analytical examination in the body of the thesis. 

 

Poetic analysis can be cruelly detailed - frankly, boring, especially to read.  I tried to create a very enjoyable experience of it and hope I succeeded.  I combine the use of traditional literary analytical techniques with consideration of a variety of contextual concerns. 

 

I hope you like it!  You will find the Abstract and Thesis links at my "English Services" page on this website.