Rubina

I have to write about Rubina. She has been living in the streets of Exarchia for eight years with her husband. They are from Armenia. They live in a tent. I wanted to give her some euros, money, but she declined...

Power of the People

I'm in Exarchia in Athens. The area that was taken by the anarchists. But also drugdealers. That, to be true, feels bad. Although it makes me ponder about the power people have when going together. Doing things together. Graffiti putting out the messages. Squatted houses.
Sweden is very individualistic. People make enough money not to care about others.
Here you find anarchistic places to have a simple meal, pay what you can or not. I like the thought. We have a security system from the state, which is great, I don't want to blaim that. But to be honest, it makes us also very lonely and passive. Nothing to fight against. Deep down I was always an anarchist. I believe in the power of people.

Reflections

Finally a day with sunshine and I went out to look at the view from my penthouse. High enough and away from the busy traffic.
I need to stop and reflect a little. Still I don't quite get that I'm here yet. But it's doing me good. I can feel it. The creativity is waking up in me that was burried for a long time. No pressure. Most of my pictures look terrible, but that doesn't matter. Just to bring the camera up to my eye again is a victory to me. It's still a long way to go and I take babysteps. In between I need to rest and listen to my brain...that is the way to go but difficult. Working on it.
To go away from the comfortzone is sometimes necessary to be able to look at yourself. To change things that are not good for you. Habits.
I write in my journal, I give myself guidelines to keep. I stumble, go back to read what I intended and get back on track. Over and over again.
It's so hard to stay focused and not to fall back. But only to be aware is a step into the right direction.
There are many things that one can do to feel more content and alive. Shut down media and stop to read the news. Start to write a journal, with a pen and paper, not digital. Be analogue.
Don't watch television. Read books. Meet up with friends and talk about life or don't talk, take a walk together. Be careful with alcohol. Sleep well and eat well. Care about what is close to you. Don't try to change what you can't, but what you can. Yourself.

Streets of Athens

No

We are all bloody good photographers, aren't we? With colours and all that. Phones, everywhere that I look. My camera is doing it for me, yes?...small, but unobtrusive.
What are you doing with your phone...really. Do you print? Do you collect? Do you honestly document? Anything?
No, no, no. No, no.  No.

Akropolis

I wonder about people going in the same direction and why. I find myself wanting to do the opposite. That means it's harder of course. I question myself and have to reflect and make an active choice. Never took the easy way. But I can't stop wondering why...for sure it would be easier to follow the flow. But how boring. No I skip Akropolis, just looking at it from a distance and taking my own picture of it.

My view

An interesting thing that strikes me is when you change perspective. At home everything is familiar, you kind of grow into a comfortzone that not is helpful all times. You have to get out of it, I know it's a kliché, but klichés are often true.
Go to places you didn't know existed. Take a different line for once. Fuck it, I wish I could.

Reminder

Arrived yesterday in a wonderful AirBnbflat. So much space here and an enormous terrace all by myself. So far, so good. Although the weather is gray, I long so much for the sun. Eventually. But I thought to myself to make the best of it, hey!?
Planned to take a walk to a nice area with a little help from Google Maps. That confused me even more and it turned out that I walked in circles around the block and that tired me out. Well, I did some shopping for cooking, making my little nest comfortable and secure. The area around the block is really busy. I live close to several hospitals and the sirens are loud 24/7. Glad I took earplugs!
The first thing I did when I got back to my place was putting this note up.
Just to remind me that what I feel out there is fine, no need to feel down because I can't do everything I want at the moment. I enjoy it anyway...as long as I listen to myself...

Trying myself

Painfully aware. I took a chance, booked a flight and now I'm here in this busy city. Looking at the map, all those places I would like to go to. Have to remind myself of the conditions. Take it slowly and be happy...

EVA

Eva, vi kände inte varandra alls och ändå möttes vi en förmiddag vid ett litet bord. Efteråt kände jag det som om jag hade känt dig i hela mitt liv. Du, jag älskar dig, fina vän.