Tag: sports

Things you might not know about me

Mia4 Comments
about
Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Daily Writing Prompt

Oh, happy days! I can talk about myself—not. I don’t like talking about myself. I’m not that vain. But I’m not talking; I’m writing. There are a lot of things people don’t know about me. My family members are all gone, but not even they knew exactly everything about me. I’m also not the person I was when I was a kid. Life experiences change you. You lose people in your life, but you also gain them. The same goes for how you see life. If you don’t grow and stay the same way you were when you were younger, you’re stuck in the past. I try to think positively because the world seems to be a depressive place right now. I don’t know how to plan ahead because I want to live in the present. Things I plan ahead are what I’m going to do next year. Will get back to that later. But now, things you might not know about me. Just a short list, though.

I use Duolingo as a game

I’ve started to use Duolingo recently again. Had a break from it for a couple of years. Not to learn a language. But to gain points and achievements. I have the language I know how to speak English, Swedish and Finnish. I try to learn other languages, too, but it doesn’t get stuck in my head. Some languages are easy to understand and learn, like Norwegian and Danish. I’ve started Italian, French, Irish and Spanish but haven’t used those in a while. I also use the app where you can learn music and math. So it’s entertaining to me, so I hardly remember much.

I love ice hockey

I watch sports often on TV, but my absolute favourite game is ice hockey. In fact, I’m going to see a game this evening (October 18) with my local team for the second time this year. They don’t show the games on free channels, so I usually listen to them on the radio. Seeing a match live has its own rewards. Even though no one ever talks to me or I don’t get to meet new people, the atmosphere is incredible. I would go more often if it was less expensive and the stadium would be closer. I watch the World Championships on TV every year. They show all the matches of Team Finland on the free channel. I only follow the Finnish league, so no NHL ones, even though I read the news if Finnish players have been playing. Sometimes, they show NHL games on TV, so I have seen some of them.

I love going to concerts

Silly, isn’t it. Especially when I didn’t like big crowds when I was younger and didn’t think I would ever go to a concert my entire life. But then came 2017, when I decided to see Robbie Williams in Tampere, Finland. The concert was outside, and the stadium was full of people. It was probably the best decision I ever made. The concert was fantastic, and I also got to see Erasure (pop synth duo) as a warm-up act for Robbie. You could say the live concert bug hit me that day. Now I’ve seen him twice, also in Finland. Concerts abroad are too expensive. The concert music is too loud, but you get used to it. The best part of concerts is to see your favourite act on stage, so it doesn’t matter. Besides Robbie, I’ve been to see Toto (next year, too), Duran Duran (best birthday party ever), Pet Shop Boys and Bryan Adams this year. And the plan for next year is; Kylie Minogue in June 2025, yeah! It’s been one of my dreams to see her live in concert. Fun fact. When I was younger, I wished she was my sister. I don’t know why, though.

I like driving a car

I got my driver’s license three years ago. Since my late dad wasn’t allowed to drive anymore, I decided to go to driving school. I tried it in 1995, but I didn’t finish it. Maybe I wasn’t ready. I didn’t like driving then. I didn’t need a car anyway. My late mother never had a license, so I thought it unimportant. But times changed, and I got my license. I don’t think I would have been so keen if my dad wasn’t with me when I was driving. He’s the reason why I got more confidence in driving a car. You get used to many things; the more I drive, the better it feels. Now I like driving. Driving long distances is a different matter, but I guess you also get used to that. Since my dad passed away, I own his car now. I’ve thought about buying a new car, but I just started to learn to drive this car, so maybe in the future. The vehicle is at least 25 years old, so it has its problems. I haven’t driven in the dark or slippery conditions that much, so I don’t know if I dare use the car in the winter. When the road is clear, it’s easier to drive. I don’t know if I ever get used to driving in the dark when other cars blind me with their bright lights on the roads. I plan to drive to an event in November, but I’m worried about driving that far. It will be close to Helsinki; the fastest way to get there is by highway. You never know the weather by then, so I’ll wait and see.

Those are some of the things people might not know about me. If you don’t know me by now, you might learn something after reading this post. There are Happy Days ahead, and one is happening tonight. Especially if my team wins. I’m just happy to be there, whatever the results.

Won’t feel blue when I get excited

Mia2 Comments
Made in Canva

Tell us about the last thing you got excited about.

Daily Writing Prompt

My excitement doesn’t show on the outside, so people don’t see it. Sports events are different, though. If a Finn or a team succeeds in a competition or a game, I cheer for them. Unlike other people, I don’t even need alcohol for that. I never liked that stuff. I don’t feel blue when I get excited. Especially when it’s about getting more confidence. Too many things have put me down in the past. I got excited at first, but the feeling faded. If it’s been in schools or workplaces. I haven’t found the right way that makes me feel comfortable. But now it might be different.

I’m taking part in two courses. The first is about taking photos with a digital camera and posting them on social media. I’m in its third week. It has 8 modules on different subjects related to photography. You get better photos with an SLR (single-lens reflex camera) than a mobile phone. Learning to take pictures with a camera with all the manual settings takes a while. It’s been a while since I did that, which is one of the reasons why I’m taking this course. But also because it has a Facebook group where you can share your assignments and contact other students. You can get help from the group or the organizers. It’s not only photography but also how to post regularly on Instagram. I participated in a free webinar about taking photos in one day, and the course was mentioned. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to join the course. I’ve taken pictures with my iPhone lately because it’s easier to carry. I might get excited again to use a camera. So far, I have no regrets. The teachers are professional photographers, and the FB community is fabulous. In this course, you get feedback on how to become a better photographer. When I studied photography from 2014 to 2015, we got feedback on our assignments, but I didn’t get any comments afterward, so you didn’t know if you improved your photos. Different people have different methods to teach others, so it’s nice to see another perspective.

The other course I’m taking starts on September 2. It’s about stepping into Instagram marketing. It’s for small businesses or those who are planning one. It has 8 modules with different subjects, such as social media strategies and building confidence in front of the camera. It sounded interesting when I took part in a webinar about the course. It isn’t cheap, but it might pay in the end. Both courses are in Finnish and females. They all sound like great people, too. I’m excited about both courses and know I’ll learn something. Anything new I learn is like that. I’ve put things off with becoming an entrepreneur for different reasons. Maybe I’m getting closer to it because I’m bored with my job search. I have people who can support me and help me get forward. I’m glad I don’t need to network on events when I can do it online. I feel blue when I hear or read about how to call or meet people at events. For an introvert, it’s hell. There must be other ways to market your business or when you’re only starting out. The courses I’m taking will help in a lot of things.

I hope my excitement will last a little longer this time, or I will feel blue again.

Things that makes me yawn

MiaLeave a comment
yawning man in front of laptop
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Everyone has a topic that fails to capture their interest. Online, you can escape from boring things, but in real life, interacting with people is not easy. You don’t want to hurt other people’s feelings, so you deal with what they discuss. I find it difficult to talk to people I don’t know because they usually don’t like the same things I do. It feels awkward when a stranger talks to you, so you only smile and leave. As an introvert and Finn, I don’t like small talk. That’s one of the things that makes me yawn. I don’t mind discussing the weather, but it still comes up. In a way, that’s an icebreaker, but nothing happens after that.

Listening to other people’s conversations is also a bore, especially on public transport. You think Finns are quiet, but you would disagree if you met one on a bus or train—with someone they travel with, that is. You don’t see us talking to strangers that easily. I don’t know how people become friends if they don’t talk to people. That’s another thing that makes me yawn. No matter where I see others, no one ever talks to me. I haven’t had contact with former classmates. Not that I mind because I didn’t have anything in common with them in the first place. They seemed not to want to get to know me either. Who needs people who aren’t at the same level as you are anyway? Over the years, I’ve stopped caring about it.

The European Champion in football is on, but the whole topic makes me yawn. I only care about football if Finland is playing and how my home teams are doing in the Finnish leagues. Other times, I don’t care. I love watching sports, but not all of them. Sports I don’t care about make me yawn. Those who don’t watch any sport probably know how that feels. The media is full of news about it, and I bet people who don’t care about the sport wish there would be less news about the topic. Fortunately, everyone has a choice. You either care about sport, or you don’t. You can always change the channel or turn to the next page in the newspaper (if you still read one). If someone talks about it, you can leave and do something else.

The last yawning moment is when people talk about movies or TV series that I don’t care about. It feels like people don’t like the same new movies as I do. The same goes for TV. I like watching classic TV shows, but sometimes I check out new ones. I don’t care about Netflix and their shows. Are people still watching it? I have only one paid streaming service provider, and that’s Disney Plus. You see commercials about different providers, but none of them interest me. I couldn’t afford it anyway. Disney Plus has all that I want to pay for. There are a lot of interesting documents to watch, and they are not only made-up stories. They don’t make me yawn, and that’s all that counts.