Musings

Our pride and joy, Anna Marjella

2010-07-13T19:23:00.001+02:00

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Anna Marjella_Our little miracle

2010-05-31T22:41:00.001+02:00

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Onderweg naar Groningen, lekker weertje!

2010-05-06T11:26:00.001+02:00

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Not home yet... :-(

2010-01-08T17:31:00.001+01:00

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Blizzard going home, traffic jam 18km

2010-01-06T16:50:00.001+01:00

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Peace on earth ... and in Culemborg

2010-01-04T13:27:00.003+01:00

Riots in Culemborg, special taskforces on standby ...

Why?

Do some people really believe that they are part of a race that is superior to others? Aren't we all members of the same, namely HUMAN, race? The place where you, or your parents were born does not give you other (let alone better) rights and privileges as a human being. True, some of us are lucky enough to have been born in a country where people in general can live under better circumstances. That, however, has nothing to do with your own superiority nor with a superiority of the 'race' you were born into. LUCK is the word I use ... think about it ...

Those among us who are LUCKY enough to have been born into a situation that made our life relatively easy compared to those trying to survive in countries where people are more likely to get shot or die of starvation than to be able to find a job or a good education, those among us who don't have to struggle each waking moment for our basic survival should be more aware of our good fortune and support our less fortunate FELLOW HUMANS any way we can.

Another thing I can't bend my brain around ... is it really up to us to judge (and punish) people who don't believe in the same DEITIES as we do? Let the deities be the ones to fulfill that task. If deities do exist then who are we to speak in their name?

A wise man once said that it is far better to lead your life as if there is a God when perhaps there isn't than to live is as if there isn't and then find there is. The same can be said about the different kinds of FAITHS that we see around the globe (consider that the word FAITH means something different than KNOW). What I am trying to say here is that first: no-one knows the absolute truth about their FAITH, or they would at least use a different word to describe it. Second: if my first statement sounds true, isn't it better to respect those with a faith other than your own? Who knows, they might be right and you might be wrong (or the other way around ... or... you could both be wrong). Do you honestly think the deity that does exist (if one does exist) will appreciate it if you have disrespected (or done even worse) to his followers? The other question is also relevant ... will your own deity respect it if you disrespect a fellow human being just because he or she has a different belief?

I know some followers of some religions will say YES to my last question... however search within your soul and try to find an answer based on what you feel, not on what you were raised to believe.

In the meantime ... respect each other, that's the only way to earn selfrespect.

IMG00086.jpg

2009-11-30T17:51:00.001+01:00

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kleverpark.jpg

2009-06-25T22:20:00.001+02:00

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What I Learned From a Mountaintop Experience

2009-06-02T08:12:00.008+02:00

Since I was a little boy (not that I am that large grown up, but you know what I mean *smile*) I have been very much into self improvement.

One of the first books that changed my life in a paradigm fashion was 'How to win friends and influence people' by Dale Carnegie. What really astounded me then, but I have come to understand over the years, is that it makes such a big difference how you enter a room or answer the phone. Needless to say, there is always a big smile on my face in both situations... in fact, I smile all the time now and feel great about it... not only that, it also gets me results I would never have dreamed of a few years ago.

When I grew older I realized that I liked improving myself and sought out someone to help me out. After reading a whole bunch of books and trying different techniques I finally stumbled across 'Awaken the Giant within' by Anthony Robbins. I did the programme very seriously and in fact achieved all the goals I set for myself. E.g.: double my income, get a bigger house and a company car (all within my two year deadline). Since then I regularly listen to Anthony and watch every kind of material I can get my hands on.

Two years ago the company I worked for gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. They sent me to the 'Unleash your power within' seminar by Anthony Robbins in London. For four days I was immersed with hundreds of kindred souls in a very serious programme that has changed hundreds of thousands of lives around the globe.

On the very first evening I experienced my 'mountaintop'. Along with everyone there I walked across several feet of hot burning coal. I never thought it would be possible to do this without sustaining serious injuries, however, my feet weren't even blacked by the ashes. Right in that moment, when I stepped on to the coals and walked across to the other side was when I experienced a profound and lifechanging moment. I realised that nothing is impossible, you just have to put your mind to it and believe... and that's the message I want to send out to everyone out there... we are capable of so many things, we just have to believe and (as Nike puts it) 'Just do it'.

Feel free to drop any comments, they are most welcome.

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s 'What I Learned From a Mountaintop Experience' group project.)

Kinderdijk

2009-05-29T20:43:00.001+02:00

My new hobby... That'll keep me busy ;-)

2009-05-21T11:25:00.001+02:00

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My latest gadget... Love the colour!

2009-05-20T13:44:00.001+02:00

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Forced uncalled-for emancipation

2009-05-20T08:59:00.005+02:00

Nowadays it seems that the female part of our population need an extra push to come close to or even equal the number of men in higher management.

There are two words in my introduction that I need to emphasize: seems and push. Let me explain.

It's safe to say that men and women in general have different (subconscious) goals in life. Evolution has made sure that we are genetically designed to take the decisions in life we need to in order for us to achieve our goals. Now when I say genetically I am not just referring to our physical differences. Even more important than that is our mental 'wiring'.

Believe it or not, we are not even aware of most decisions we take. The bulk of our decisions are subconscious ones, aimed at ultimately fulfilling our life's destiny. And yes, men and women do have different ultimate goals in life. Although this seems to be an old-fashioned way of looking at things it is still true (even if it is only our subconscious mind that seems to act accordingly).

Fact of the matter is that women (even nowadays) choose their personal life above their career. For them, being around their children and providing a good environment for them to grow up in is a more important priority than becoming CEO of a global company (and having to spend over 60 hours a week at the office).

In short: women choose their own future based on their mental 'wiring'. We shouldn't push them to aspire a role they weren't genetically designed for. And I am not saying they are not just as capable as men, I am just saying that in general women find more happiness in the role they were wired for i.e. taking care of their children. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, there always are, these exceptions will make it to whatever goal they aspire.

I am a firm believer in the capability of human beings to achieve whatever goal they reach for, as long as they really want to reach their goal consciously as well as subconsciously. That's were the wiring gets in the way most of the time.

Leave me a note whether you agree or not... just because this is what I believe doesn't mean I think this is the ultimate truth.

What I learned from... Community

2009-05-08T10:13:00.006+02:00

It has been quite some time since I joined the 'What I learned from...' community. Unfortunately is has also been some time now since I last wrote a piece on one of the subjects...

Although I do not believe in fate... the topic at hand comes at an unbelievably well-timed moment.

Since I last posted there have been quite some changes in my life: my girlfriend (for seven years) has decided to leave me and has taken all of our mutual friends along with her (so far for that community).

Furthermore I decided to switch jobs and by doing so I have effectively replaced my working community for an alternative one.

Now I believe that there are actually two ways to respond to the topic 'what I learned from community'...: 1> What did I learn from being in a community ... and 2> What did I learn from the individuals in the community... It's a slight difference, I agree... but a difference none the less. I will focus on the first question for this post.

What I learned from being in a community

The most important thing I have learned is that I prefer being part of a group to being on my own. Unfortunately I learned this lesson when the community around me dissolved and I felt I needed to find myself a new one. That's true for most of these epiphanies... you don't know what you've got till it's gone... *smile* (they paved paradise and put up a parking lot) ... lol ... I realize there's probably a better version out there but I just really like this one ;-), hope you enjoy it as well...

My working community as well as my personal community have taught me that two know more than one... (at least most of the time)... actually, let me ask just a quick question to all you readers out there... Have you ever been in a situation where you were with someone who just blew you out of the water with a statement you knew in your heart to be so untrue... and you just gave in because the other person seemed to be so sure of him (or her) self that you started doubting yourself? Those situations should be the exception to the rule (or so I hope), because otherwise the opposite would be true and one would know more than two...

This is where it gets complicated... Why? You might ask... Because in order to really and definitely put this discussion to rest we need to define the word 'know', at least within this context.

What I am trying to say here with a lot of words is that it wasn't too long ago when people 'knew' the earth was flat... so there's the dilemma... is what we humans as a collective 'know' considered truth until proven different? Or can we just throw the entire concept of truth out the window? But that's something for an entirely different post...

I'm sticking to the two know more than one for now... I truly believe that the human race is capable of great things... as long as we learn to be interdependent... As infants we are completely dependent on other human beings (most of the time our parents and teachers). As we evolve into adults we let this dependence slide and become independent individuals. Too many people don't evolve any further than that and just remain 'independent' individuals. It is my belief that this has to do mainly with the need for human beings to stay in their comfortzone. Being dependent on other people makes people feel insecure, they want to be the ones to set and control the stage.

Whether you agree or disagree... leave a note telling me... I'm trying to be as interdependent as I can comfortably be ;-)

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s What I Learned From Community group project.)

Dump opa en oma voor €3,- p.u.

2008-10-24T10:31:00.003+02:00

Alleen in België ...

Waar de ouderen nog gerespecteerd worden ... en zelfs de kleinkinderen blijkbaar genoeg verdienen om professionele hulpverleners te betalen om datgene doen waarvoor ze zelf geen tijd hebben ...

Waar de ouderen nog niet het samenscholingsfenomeen ontdekt hebben ... waar in Nederland tegenwoordig groepen bejaarden de overdekte winkelcentra onveilig maken en voor overlast zorgen door met hun rollators fiets- en wandelpaden te blokkeren en er regelmatig voor kiezen om juist tijdens de spits in hun even antieke automobiel de grote weg te gebruiken voor het doen van hun dagelijkse boodschappen en bezoekjes aan bridge- en andere hobbyclubs ...

Daar is in België nu (preventief) dè oplossing gevonden ... een crèche, speciaal voor de aandacht behoevende oudere ... met tien tegelijk kunnen de fossilerende Belgen in een speciaal voor hen gecreëerde omgeving in alle rust en onder professionele begeleiding nu daadwerkelijk hun oude dag slijten zonder zich te hoeven bekommeren over schuldgevoelens jegens de kinderen en kleinkinderen ...

IJsland kan snel bij de EU

2008-10-21T11:09:00.012+02:00

... watte? ...

Ik ben LOST ... geestelijk verdwaald ... de vraagtekens in mijn hoofd drijven me tot waanzin en bijna heb ik zojuist Wouter Bos gebeld om hem te vragen hoe ik dit aan mezelf moet uitleggen. Toegegeven, ik ben zeker geen financieel genie dus wellicht dat ik een en ander niet in de juiste context weet te plaatsen... maarre... was IJsland niet bijna failliet? Op de rand van de afgrond?

Is dit dan misschien het ultieme reddingsplan? Gaan wij hiermee de leningen terughalen die onze Bos net aan IJsland heeft toegezegd (... waarmee zij dan de schulden van Nederlandse spaarders bij ICESAVE gaan terugbetalen??) ... het valt me trouwens nu pas op ... ICESAVE ... geestig gevonden ... je zet je spaargeld dus op ijs, in de vriezer zogezegd ... volgens mij moet de eerste vriezer die daadwerkelijk rendement oplevert nog uitgevonden worden...

... beam me up Scotty!

2008-10-13T15:13:00.005+02:00

Eindelijk is het dan zover ... hell is freezing over en pasen en pinksteren vallen op dezelfde dag ... Geloof het of niet, maar op 14 oktober gaan we iets meemaken!

Inmiddels barst het internet al bijna uit z'n voegen door alle berichtgeving over het bijzondere fenomeen waar we wereldwijd getuige van zullen zijn. Niet alleen Radio538 vulde zendtijd met dit nieuws ook de website waarmaarraar en talloze andere pagina's op het WorldWideWeb hebben inmiddels ontdekt dat de wereld na 14 oktober nooit meer hetzelfde zal zijn.

Ik weet natuurlijk niet hoe het met jou zit, maar ik ga toch nog eens nadenken over wat ik ga doen op deze bijzondere dinsdag. Blijf ik thuis, ga ik werken, moet ik vanavond toch maar eens flink de bloemetjes buiten gaan zetten? Als we de berichten mogen geloven zijn het deze buitenaardsen die ervoor zorgen dat onze financiele wereld instort en dat een groot gedeelte van het kernwapen-arsenaal niet meer werkt. Doen ze dat omdat ze zo vredelievend zijn of bereiden ze gewoon een hostile take-over voor? Wie het weet mag het zeggen. Vooralsnog ga ik morgen net doen of het een gewone dag is, dus lekker op tijd naar mijn werk en mooi op tijd weer naar huis... en mocht het dan zo zijn dat er in de tussentijd iets gebeurt ... dan zien we dat dan wel weer.

Oh ja, misschien een idee om toch Nostradamus er maar eens op na te slaan... en wellicht dat de Maya's ook wel ergens iets roepen... (hoewel deze twee betrouwbare bronnen het vergaan van de aarde voorspeld hebben voor 2012... dan hebben we dus nog wel even... zou dit de opmaat zijn?)

Kredietcrisis, de volgende hoax?

2008-10-13T10:32:00.005+02:00

Ik doe er niet aan mee! Zo, laat dat duidelijk zijn... Nog niet heel lang geleden las ik op een duistere, goed verborgen pagina van het World Wide Web iets dat mij tot op de dag van vandaag is bijgebleven en waar ik bijna dagelijks aan terug moet denken.

In de huidige maatschappij waar ik weet niet hoeveel miljoenen boodschappen ons ieder uur op ik weet niet hoeveel manieren proberen te bereiken is dat een knap staaltje communicatie, lijkt me....

Kort gezegd was de essentie dat overheden en invloedrijke mensen continu bezig zijn om mensen bang te maken (een bange aardbewoner schijnt zich namelijk nogal gemakkelijk te onderwerpen aan de grillen, grappen en grollen van deze groeperingen). Is het niet een oorlogsdreiging waar we bang voor moeten zijn dan is het wel een dreiging van buitenaards leven of terroristen. Op dit moment wordt duidelijk de financiele hand gespeeld. Eens zo grote banken vallen om de haverklap om en vele miljarden worden op global niveau geinvesteerd om ervoor te zorgen dat ons o zo fijne kapitalistische systeem overeind blijft.

Toegegeven, veel mensen zijn in ieder geval een gedeelte van hun spaargeld kwijt en dat is buitengewoon vervelend. Je kunt je echter afvragen wat de reden is voor het omvallen van deze grote financiele instellingen. Nog los van het feit dat de media een belachelijke rol speelt in het geheel (i.e. de rol van de grote bangmaker) kijk onder andere naar de extra nieuwsuitzending over de kredietcrisis op RTL4. Wat we nu volgens mij vooral niet moeten doen is ons geld oppotten en niets meer uitgeven daarmee helpen we onszelf alleen maar verder de crisis in.

Vooralsnog ga ik alleen maar meer geld uitgeven, ik bestel nog wat boeken, dvd's, games en cd's bij een grote online winkel en ga komend weekend eens lekker uigebreid uit eten... aan mij gaat het niet liggen.

What I learned from stress...

2008-09-29T13:44:00.004+02:00

Is it just me or are we people stressing out more and more? I can't seem to remember my father ever mentioning stress until a few years ago (when he was laid off because the company he worked for went belly up...). It seems as though the further we move into the 21st century the more we want to speed up things (or do we feel we need to because that's the way every one around us is acting?).

There used to be a time (probably before the Industrial Revolution ;-)) when people used to live to work, nowadays people work to live. Although the words are the same this means a totally different way of looking at things... doesn't it? This paradigm shift, along with the Industrial Revolution itself and ongoing technical progress has changed, and is continuing to change, the way people deal with everyday issues.

A wise man once said that nowadays people who deliver good results get poor rewards, people who deliver excellent results reap good rewards and it is only the truly outstanding performers that get what they deserve. It's no longer true that we are only in competition with ourselves, thanks to the globalization we have competition all over the globe (not just in our town or province). We have to prove more and more that we can cope with issues and situations better than our colleagues just to stay on top of the game (i.e. stay employed).

Although we don't like to admit it I imagine most of us suffer from stress every once in a while. There are, however, tips and tricks that will reduce the number of stressful situations significantly. If there is one thing I learned from stress: it always works counterproductive... we need to avoid it at all cost (... now that almost makes avoiding stress sound like something that could produce stress ;-) ...)

Being the type of person I am according to Myers-Briggs (MBTI), that being a very typical INFP, I don't stress out too much. However, because of my natural way of doing things (i.e. always one second before deadline!!!) there have been numerous situations in the past and the present in which I know I could have avoided feeling the pressure of the deadline by simply doing things as they come up!

I recently 'discovered' a very helpful little book by David Allen called Getting Things Done which has changed my life for the better. To all you stressed-out people out there ... buy the book and implement the suggestions a.s.a.p... I know for a fact that it will reduce your stress significantly.

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s What I Learned From Stress group project.)

What I learned from my friends ...

2008-09-09T11:23:00.004+02:00

So many friends taught me so many things …

Realizing that different kinds of people tend to look at different situations in different ways is a real eye-opener. This insight becomes even more valuable when you try to see things from the viewpoint of someone else. It is a great way of learning from your friends without them actually having to be present.

There will always be situations in which, when your own views and/or methods have not delivered the result you wished for, it is extremely helpful to think of a friend and ask yourself in what way he (or she) would deal with this. Being able to shift your views in a paradigm fashion ‘using’ friends as inspiration is what helps you in solving all those problems that seem to be insolvable.

In this way so many friends have taught me so many things… and have helped me to grow to an extent I have never thought possible.

(This post is part of Middle Zone Musing’s What I Learned From My Friends group project.)