My Year. Updated list of Living Life. March

March is here, it is International Women's Day today and I work on my List of Living Life.

A few weeks ago I bought The Paintbox, a bit too big for my Italian suitcase, but I'll make it........, and now I am practicing almost every day.

I am no artist, but the love of playing with the colours is a game I love to play anyway. And as long as my paintings and drawings are for my own pleasure only - who cares about a lacking artistic skill :-)

My calendar tells me it is March 8, the Intgernational Women's Day. I look over at my bookshelves and take out three books by women I admire from different reasons.

Fanny Trollopeby Teresa Ransom. Fanny was born in  1779. She married young and got 7 children in 8 years, Anthony was one of them. Her marriage was a disaster, and to make money for the living of herself and her children she started to write. Among her work are also some travel litterature.

One Foot in Laos by Dervla Murphy. I never get tired to read Dervla's traveler's tales. She is among the bravest women I know. I've had this book for some time, and look forward to read more about this country I visited a few years ago.

The last of the three books is a biography by Olga Capek, the wife of Karel Capek. This is an old hardbound copy from 1951 in a Norwegian translation (I am unable to find it is English to show you). I read this book for the first time before visiting Praha a couple of years ago, and look forward to read her life story again.

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I will be 50 this year, in a couple of months. And I've got my first pair of glasses.

Turning 50 - is it a new beginning, a totally turn around or is it just a keep going?

I am looking forward to being 50. I find myself looking at older women, thinking - they are filled with lived life, the lines in their faces and on their necks comes from having loved through decades. Sorrows and happiness, it is all about living the life you are given. Age is beauty.

Turning 50 means "keep going", and again I pray with St. Birgitta "God show me the way and give me the willingness I need to walk it."

Turning 50! Keep going also means that I will continue giving myself challenges!In my diary I make a list.....

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• travel to India (I bought the tickets yesterday. YES!)
• plant roses
• read a book in a foreign language
• say hello to a stranger ( a stranger is a friend you don't know yet)
• climb a mountain
• love

The list will grow throughout the year.............................

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Update in January:

• Read Henrik Ibsen's plays.

Update in February:

• Buy a new paintbox before flying down to Italy for Easter.

Update in March:

• read books written by women I admire

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But before doing any reading I'll take a long hike to try out the new lightweight hiking boots I bought yesterday, for long hikes in the Italian countryside.