Writing...

Writing, telling stories, that’s what my latest reading has lead to.  I bought two books of Seth Godin.  The concept makes sense to me, and we do write a lot about and around our business in Bali, we are telling stories almost daily.  Does it make a difference if it’s personal as in personal experience?  Perhaps it does, perhaps people connect with something in each of us, or do not for the same reason.  Is this the secret as many life coaches motivators talk about?  If you tell your own story I guess two things for sure comes out of it.  One you learn to further define your thoughts and more about yourself and.  Second it makes sense that you attract people that like what they read and can connect with, similar thoughts and ideas leads to connections, engagement, trust and from that mutual beneficial business and friendship.

So I have decided to tell some stories, and as we go along they will be around what happens in our/my world on a daily basis, but, and it makes sense to begin with how I ended up here in Indonesia.  I remember back when I was a little younger than now back in Norway, where I come from, I was conscious as to not be caught up in the normal train of what’s seen as a life norm in our western world.  I think most actually do have these thoughts and few actually do something about it.  I wanted to live, experience, feel and learn in a different way than from school and education.  I came to Indonesia quiet a bit as a kid and young man to visit my father who still lives here as well. I was always attracted to its people, culture and different mind set.  And during one long holiday here I decided to stay with all risks jumping of the security I had back in Norway.  One of my jokes when speaking is that I am probably still on that  holiday, but I like to think that I chose to live, feel, love, and experience as I always wanted to.  At some stage Indonesia got to my in such a way that I speak the language fluently, I understand their culture, mind set and logic of life.  I did not resist this change, I embraced it with all my heart, and today I am Indonesian at heart and soul and if God will soon a citizen as I have spent more than half my life down here.

I have lived in many parts of Indonesia, Kalimantan, Sumatera, Java, Jakarta, and Bali.  I have visited and seen large parts of the country but still so much more to see and experience.

I am the lucky father of 3 daughters that I am so proud of, they have grown up to learn the best of both worlds, east meets west.  Gone through basic education  with a strong understanding and commitment to nature, humanity and it all being connected.  They have no fear for other cultures or way of thinking they know its an inherited set of mind and deep in there we are all the same.  I have a partner/friend who reflects Indonesia in all her ways, she is a living example of bhineka tunggal ika, and embracing what she can learn from the western world mixing it with her eastern setting.  More along these lines another day.

Currently our business seem to also move in the direction of building bridges, connecting people and businesses across borders, into this beautiful country just beginning to realize its enormous potential.  The world is also realizing that a country most had not heard of (except Bali) before now is on everyone’s lips and ears.  It’s a country with one of the largest population in the world and in not to distant future the 4-5 larges economy in the world.  Indonesia is making its mark, and will be a nation together with a few others leading the world forward.  So I am happy about this development of our business, it makes sense and make me feel more set towards my mission and meaning of life if that makes sense…to be continued…