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Loving Life Blog

Spur of the Moment Reflections

Fall Harmonies – Friday Fall Harmonies November 20, 2013

Filed under: Promotion,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 6:31 am
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Fall Life  Yesterday we, Keeva A Cappella, had the last rehearsal before our concert this upcoming Friday. Friday Fall Harmonies with local guest artist and poet Beryl Baker to warm up the mic. Or is it unplugged? It is unplugged. At least that was the instructions to one of the new songs. And maybe for a reason…

The new song I have in mind is “The Cave” with Mumford & Sons. A newly written a cappella version for our group by one of our new members. Imagine an acoustic, unplugged, in a wine bar version of that song (see/hear below). Although – this time it is at Dolores Park Cafe.

Yesterday I said “What would my last 7 years in San Francisco have been without Keeva?” It’s not to say that it wouldn’t have been great – but this group is a solid contribution to making it more than that. It’s really an awesome group of people, and… maybe come judge for yourself, see how a little bit of this groups music live impact you?!

We won’t give you this version of The Cave – but if you want to be this version of audience – feel free! 😉

Johanna

Friday Fall Harmonies with Beryl Baker and Keeva A Cappella

Come in out of the cold and warm up to the sweet sound of love songs and globally-inspired harmonies.
Local musician and poet, Beryl Baker will serenade you on ukulele and guitar with her acoustic folk, indie-rock and blues-inspired tunes. 
And Keeva A Cappella will treat you to soulful vocal music from around the world.
Come early for Dolores Park Cafe’s delicious food, and to grab a beer and a seat! 
A $5-10 suggested donation is appreciated and will go to Philippines typhoon relief efforts.

Dolores Park Cafe. Friday night September 22. at 7.30pm. 501 Dolores St, San Francisco, California 94110  

 

Be Creative. Make a Difference. November 19, 2013

Filed under: Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:19 pm
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BeCreativeBeDifferent

A picture says more than thousand words.
A bouquet of flowers speaks (above the) millions as well.

 

BatKid Day Forever! November 15, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:50 pm
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SFBatKid

A 5-year old’s wish to Make-A-Wish-Foundation was shared, it got some supporters who shared it – and in just a few weeks a whole city was involved to make this boy’s wish come true: to be Batkid.

This morning San Francisco’s Police Chief Greg Suhr called the boy named Miles into service help fight crime. As Batkid he rescued a woman from cable car tracks in Nob Hill and captured the Riddler in the act of robbing a downtown bank. He even rescued the San Francisco Giants mascot — Lou Seal — who was kidnapped by the Penguin.Mayor Ed Lee gave Miles the key to the city, and announced “November 15 The BatKid Day Forever”. 10,000 volunteers had registered to be involved to turn San Francisco into Gotham City – and in the end many more than that showed up.

Question to the father: “How do you think this wish come through for Miles will impact Miles and your family?”
Father: “He has been in remission since June after 3 years of fighting cancer. With this we got closure. This is a great way to kick it off”.

“The San Francisco Chronicle issued a special edition cover which devoted their entire front page to the young superhero. The headline for the lead story is “Batkid Saves City.” The author? None other than Clark Kent. The other front page stories, all about Batkid, are written by Lois Lane, Brenda Starr and Perry White.”

Even the President of the United States was involved via Twitter and Vine.

Question to you: “How do you think this wish come through for Miles will impact you and your family?”

Make a wish. Make a wish come through. A little dose of hero inspiration.

Johanna

 

Do you have time for life? November 14, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:02 am
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Are you a type A mom, being on a schedule all the time, to complete all you need, with the best of results?

Are you at the same time pulling your children along, keeping up with your tempo? Are you aware of the impact that may have on them?

The story in this article “The day I stopped saying “Hurry up!” “ can’t be unusual. It wouldn’t get that many (+1 million) likes and hundred thousands of shares and pins if that wasn’t the case.

Read or listen and reflect. What can you do, to start appreciate the qualities of the young individuals in our lives, and give more time for those to flourish, and start living in today.

[…] Whenever my child caused me to deviate from my master schedule, I thought to myself, “We don’t have time for this.” Consequently, the two words I most commonly spoke to my little lover of life were: “Hurry up.” […]

HurryUp

[…] My promise to slow down was made almost three years ago, at the same time I began my journey to let go of daily distraction and grasp what matters in life. And living at a slower pace still takes a concerted effort. My younger daughter is my living reminder of why I must keep trying. In fact, the other day, she reminded me once again.

The two of us had taken a bike ride to a sno-cone shack while on vacation. After purchasing a cool treat for my daughter, she sat down at a picnic table delightedly admiring the icy tower she held in her hand.

Suddenly a look of worry came across her face. “Do I have to rush, Mama?”

I could have cried. Perhaps the scars of a hurried life don’t ever completely disappear, I thought sadly.

As my child looked up at me waiting to know if she could take her time, I knew I had a choice. I could sit there in sorrow thinking about the number of times I rushed my child through life… or I could celebrate the fact that today I’m trying to do thing differently.

I chose to live in today.[…]

Racy May Stafford, Huffington Post

Thank you to those sharing experiences that can help others realize and learn the same, without doing the same or more damage to ourselves and / or others.

Slow down. Live now.

Johanna

 

Me and The Phantom of the Opera November 13, 2013

Filed under: Broadway,Entrepreneur,Herringbone — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 7:57 pm
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I’m coming home for Christmas! As I bought the ticket and the excitement started rushing up in me, the Christmas song started playing in my mind, “I am coming home for Christmas”, by Peter Jöback.

Then, it hit me…

Peter was a musical artist and rising star when I grew up. My cousins neighbor was his friend, and we were cheering for him when he participated in the “Melodifestivalen” – the pre-contest for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Peter was also managing the audition for the choir to the Lasse Kühlers Dansskola – the dance school where I ended up going for 5 years prior to the Ballet Academy. I was so so nervous for the singing audition. “Vem kan segla… ” (One of the easiest tunes there is.)

Peter was also “one of the Special Guests” in the US tour of Robert Wells Rhapsody in Rock with shows in Chicago, Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and The Civic Theatre in San Diego 2005. The show, that was the incentive to register my company “Go Blue Promotions” (now dba Herringbone) – while working our butts off to get 1000 people in the audience in San Diego, so my friend Ylva Andell Elias could be a local guest artist singing on stage.

Rhapsody in Rock Peter Jöback

Peter, is now the Phantom of the Opera. On Broadway.
http://youtu.be/r9Mkxw91nK0?t=2m6s

Three years ago I got the question: “Name three things you would do when you become a millionaire.” I think we had 5 minutes.  I shared it in an earlier post: I have a Dream. This was one of the 3 things:

Realize the vision of the Herringbone platform, selecting a true Herringbone story from Africa and turn it into a musical on Broadway, NYC – with performing cast from Africa.

That particular extension of the “Herringbone platform” was not something I had not thought before. But it stayed with me. And last week I got a non-profit in Africa wanting to use the solution – once it is created. (A minor hook).

The future will tell. Maybe I will have Peter to thank for reaching Broadway. Or I will manage the audition for him to be part of the cast…

Is it only me, or is your mind also taking loops like this? What is your dream? You may as well put it in words now… you never now.

What ever happens: Thank you for the music. Peter Jöback with Rapsody in Rock, and Ylva Elias at San Diego Civic Theatre exactly 8 years ago, November 13, 2005:

Enjoy,
Johanna

 

FaceRaped? or FaceLoved?

Filed under: coaching,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 5:15 pm
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Have you ever been faceraped? I have difficulties looking at that word, because it doesn’t look like a joke to me. But that is what it is. And it can be quite funny, depending on the content.

Facerape:
The act of abusing someone’s Facebook account on a computer where they have left themselves logged in. Usually results in a change of status proclaiming their sudden change in sexuality, as well as numerous wall posts to friends containing bizzare messages.
I left my Facebook account signed in on Jacob’s computer last night and he completely Faceraped me!


Face LoveEarlier this week I left my Facebook account logged-in at a friend of mine’s computer. As I realized it later I just sent a note asking if he could log out of it. What I get back is:

“I did log and close down your facebook page – but not before changing your status to “[A complete heart stroking compliment]”  😀 “

My face transformed to a big smile. The whole mental state shifted at some fundamental level. My body posture and the energy I had was different. And it lasted.

I don’t think I am the only one who reacts this way to an out-of-the-blue compliment. So if this sharing would inspire you to think a moment of the people around you, the positive about the next person you meet maybe, and share it with him or her – then I am complete. 

Pay it forward – share the smiles. Post a public recognition to someone in your own name. FaceLove – yes!
Johanna

 

Broadway Next? November 10, 2013

Filed under: Broadway,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 4:34 pm
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Rönninge Show Chorus, GoldAnd the winner is…. Rönninge Show Chorus, from the Nordic Region! Rönninge Show Chorus won gold in the world championship of barbershop singing, in Honolulu Saturday November 9, 2013.  They received the highest score in history. Keep spreading the news…

Gosh – I am smiling as I see the video from the performance in the final.

1) To me barbershop has always been such an american style of singing – the clothing, make-up, everything around it. And actually, living in the US now, it still seems – a tad different.

2) I’m seeing a lot of faces from the old times 18 years ago – this choir (132 on stage) has members in the age of 16 to who knows 75?

3) It’s a solid musical performance – and what is the theme?????!!!!?!?!?!? Can’t believe it. As it has been my theme this fall.  In the final package shown in the video below from the webcast the choir performs 4 songs. The show-tunes start at 12min 25s.

New York next? Maybe re-joining this choir, would be the quickest way to Broadway. 😉 Not kidding. I wonder if I would make it in the audition for the spot in the middle of the front row again. Imagine the wall of sound coming over you being in the very middle of 150 singers… Pretty amazing.

My vote is: Broadway next.

Johanna

 

Digging Gold in the USA November 8, 2013

Filed under: Inspiration,Swedish-American — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 3:46 pm
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At some point it’s time to stop counting the years… But it’s 18 years ago that I travelled with Rönninge Show Chorus for the first time to compete in the international barbershop contest. 120 of the 150 choir members came along. My mom joined as our medical doctor. The big arena in New Orleans was the stage.

We had trained hard, been coached by the best, and our own musical director was one of them: Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl. Later on she was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Sweet Adeline International. Another one was a male coach who had trained world class golf players. [visualization!] We got judged in four categories: sound, music, expression and showmanship.

One song from the final package was “One moment in time”, originally sang by Whitney Houston. When I hear that song today my mind is still triggered and I have straightened my spine for performance before I realize it is that music playing. Another show tune was “Gräva guld i USA”. The World Cup tune for the Swedish men’s soccer team 1994 – Digging Gold in the USA.

The soccer team came third. The choir came second. This year… may they get the gold. Last but not least in the final tomorrow in Hawaii.

Johanna
(And yes, I shared this on Facebook – so it is a back-date post… )

 

The Magic of Gratitude in Action November 4, 2013

Filed under: coaching,Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:23 pm
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OK – so I have had this book since the beginning of the year: The Magic, by Rhonda Byrne, who is one of the authors behind the Secret. “Ja, ja… the law of attraction crap – in your dreams.” One could think. Or one could give it a try.

So I got this book for Christmas, and I decided to give it a shot. It is a 28 day practice. Gratitude practice on different aspects of life. Starting with the past, with an aim to build a foundation, create closure to and set different situations in a enhanced supportive and positive light. Relationships, health, money, work…

I came to day #16 in the beginning of the year. And then I drifted away from my morning routine.

Last week I spoke at an event that had the theme “Freakout Moments” – for female entrepreneurs. One of the other speakers was Kariz Matic (The Matic), and the key take away from her story was: “Small or large events, every day – I meet them with gratitude”. The extreme situation she had experienced was (more…)

 

Making a Whoopi? November 1, 2013

Filed under: Entrepreneur,Inspiration — Johanna C. Nilsson @ 12:13 pm
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Johanna Making a Whoopi Shoes

An entrepreneurial freakout moment, a business turn around, or simply: making a Whoopi?

Read more on Bone Up! Blog at Herringbone.

Photo by: StevenGregoryPhotography.com – warmly recommended for event photography, professional or children portraits as well as tongue-in-cheek business photos.  

Whoopi photo credit: Annie Leibovitz

Originally posted at ShoeRumors.com 

 

 
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