Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 9

Christmas balls, stars and light part 9
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Day 9

The worst feeling in the world is jittery. I used to hate it, but as the years have gone by, I’m not as jittery as I was when I was younger. I still don’t like giving speeches or talking in front of a big crowd. Talking to strangers is easier the older you get. You don’t have anyone who could speak for you. If you’re worried about talking to people, you don’t get anything done. I thought I would never get over my jittery when I was a child and a teenager. Even when I went to the store, I wanted to leave there as soon as possible. The more I interacted with other people, the less jitter I felt. Life experiences also make you feel confident and care less about what others might think about you. I still get jittery when I should call a stranger on the phone, and that’s something I should work on. I’m worried they won’t get the message I want to say, and things won’t happen as they should. That’s one of the reasons why I prefer writing an email. But you need to call on the phone for certain things.

Life is easier when you don’t feel jitter, but a little jitter isn’t bad. Everyone can feel it at first. Even people in the public eye might feel jitter in their stomachs before a speech or standing in front of an audience. No one has died of jittery. It doesn’t matter if we make mistakes. We’re human and not perfect. It’s not the end of the world if you screw up. Next time, you can do better. Besides, no one really cares if you make mistakes, and they might not even notice. Things feel much better once you no longer have that negative jitter in your stomach.

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 8

Christmas balls, stars and light part 8
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Day 8

In the lack of sunlight, may I offer you an artificial moon? My city of Turku has a light show called Path of Light that goes along the river. Today, Sunday is the last day. This moon is on one of the bridges. This bridge is close to the city theatre, and they will be having The Adams Family musical next year in the Autumn, so it’s part of the path. The moon showed shadow figures once in a while. The Path of Light was last year, too, but I missed it then. It was a lovely evening walk in these dark times. A shame they don’t keep it longer. It was only for 4 days. It won’t replace the sunlight, but it would have been a little lighter outside.

artifical moon
Photo: ©Mia Salminen

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 7

Christmas balls, stars and light part 7
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What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

Daily Writing Prompt

Day 7

After my Dad died on February 8 this year, I had at least one positive event to feel optimistic about. I went to see Bryan Adams in concert in Tampere, Finland, on July 5. I bought the ticket before my Dad died, but I never got a chance to tell him. I always said where I was going, whether for education or an event. It probably didn’t matter since my Dad knew little about foreign music anyway. He didn’t mind what was playing on the radio. I got my love for music from my mother, I suppose. When she was young, The Beatles and Elvis was a big thing. My Dad always asked when I went to events or saw a movie what I would see or how it was. Now, I don’t have anyone to tell, and not even on social media people seem to have enough time or care to react. It wouldn’t be the same anyway.

I will see Bryan Adams next year because it was so much fun. He does not only play music but also interacts with the audience. This time, the concert will be in Helsinki, closer to Autumn. Next year, I’ll go to four different concerts. You only live once, so why not fill the vessel of concerts with many events in one year? The first concert is only 85 days away. If this question were asked next year, I would be able to give more positive events than today. One positive event is better than nothing at all, right?

Music is not the only positive event that I’ve attended. I’ve also been to several ice hockey games. They were fun, even if my team lost some of them. The atmosphere is always great, and you see your favourite team play. The latest positive event I attended was in Helsinki, where the photography course I’ve taken had a VIP day on November 25. Even if I’m not an entrepreneur yet, I met many of them. It was nice to see other people for a change. I’ve got a lot of new information about marketing your business: lights and wireless microphones. It was a great day.

As I wrote, the vessel to positive events will continue next year. Who knows what else will happen.