Kiksun

Sitting here with cup of tea, being a bit sick (read sneezing and feeling cold and warm waves) but in spite of that I´m feeling wonderful because I am almost constantly thinking of the last weekend and our 25+ project which is not called 25+ anymore. The new name is "actio2552" and you can find everything in it. It is a project of Active and IOGT interrnational and it is aimed on people older than 25 years up to approximately 55.

The meeting was about "bridging the gap" between youth and adults in temperance movement. It was lots of brainstorming, defining, thinking, having broad perspectives and coming "back to Earth" to make it realistic. It was the best IOGT International meeting I have ever had and it is in top 5 of Active events as well =)

The task was serious and the project is important but when discussing, we found a great way to solve the problems and have fun at the same time. Moments of laugh and jokes shifted with serious talks.

When coming up with a name for the project, peoples´ sense of humour got to speak loud =) I was not able to throw away the flip chart sheet with our brainstorming due to its funny content. That would be a crime. I took it home and I guess I will have a look at it from time to time when feeling a need for laugh. Suggestions as: Active seniors, The lost generation, Middle aged people, Second spring, or (and that was the highlight) Too old to rock`n`roll, too young to die popped up on people´s minds.

Another funny thing was that half of the participants brought their pills and took out their glasses when reading. Then we realized..yes.. we are getting old. The evening programme ended before midnight and several people fell asleep twice untill then (for example while waiting for dinner in a restaurant or while chit - chatting..ehm..that was me). All people were asking for having a nap after lunch but the sitution was not that bad and we overcame the tiredness by having a short walk in the town.

To sum it up: 
- almost all people made it to the meeting
- almost all people made it till the end of the meeting
- we finally took the first step in for such a long time requested project (we actually took 2 steps)
- we are having three concrete things planned (more info will come after the IOGT International AC meeting)
- we all are still willing and motivated to continue working with it

I could not wish for more =)

Two projects approved today!
One EVS and one New Year´s Seminar - so slovak, estonian, latvian and swedish youth can spent New Years Eve (and some days before and after) in alcohol -free, safe and fun environment! Great great great!!!!!!!!!!!! =)

I am very happy =)

I do not fancy Facebook at all. I somehow consider it a very useless thing with even more useless applications. I have a profile there but I do not see a meaning in having it. So I think I am going to take my profile away from there.

Fake identity and fake solution for our social needs..that´s what I see there mostly

What would happen if every blog published posts discussing the same issue, on the same day?
One issue. One day. Thousands of voices.

http://www.blogactionday.org/gb

Clearly blue sky..walking, watching yellow leaves on the path, following my own shadow.
The sun right behind me..warming my back...
Seeing Dante´s ears´ shadow - happily swinging among the leaves
Cling cling cling

When I was some days ago explaining Acitve´s attitude towards alcohol and giving arguments for not drinking, one sentence had especially strong impact (together with a small visual help):

Today´s norm is to drink alcohol. What we are trying to change is to make sobriety a norm.
At the same time I wrote on the board:
NORM TODAY: drinking
OUR NORM: not drinking

Those simple sentences´ve opened a new perspective that many people haven´t so far even consider. So do not think u r boring by telling u r not drinking. And do not forget give ur reasons. Cause as said..today´s norms are not questioned and sometimes to stop for a while and think is enough to change one´s attitude.