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15 December 2010

#350 Write someone in power

There are a bunch of people in the world who would say that they were born with a certain talent. Some of them call themselves, and each other, poets and writers. Just to keep others out. It's bullshit. Anyone can write. But to get good at it, you need to practice. Get up early and sit in your chair, stop whining and write. Here are: Seven things you can write.

I know I should write this text about the time I wrote to someone in power. But I won’t. Instead, I’m going to talk about something much better. I'll tell you about when the world's sweetest guy phoned the Prime Minister of Sweden at the time and scolded him for breaking his promise.

I have a friend who has a baby brother. This little brother loves to collect autographs. Then one day he got the idea that he could get hold of the autograph of the prime minister at the time, Göran Persson. So he phoned the parliamentary switchboard and asked to speak to Mr. Persson.

For some strange and magic reason, he got put through directly to Mr Persson.

- Yes it is Göran.

- Hello Göran. I would like to have your autograph because I collect autographs and I don’t have yours.

- In that case I’ll get on it right away. Give me your address I'll send it to you at once.

- Thank you.

- Thanks.

A few weeks went by but no autograph appearance. My friend's little brother was totally pissed off. He called the switchboard again and asked to speak to Mr. Persson. And for the same strange and magical reason he was put through to Persson again.

- Yes it is Göran.

- Hello Goran. A few weeks ago you lied about how you were going to send me your autograph. Now I'm angry. Why haven’t you sent it?

- I am terribly sorry. I’ll send it NOW! Sorry.

- Okay. Thank you.

- Thanks.

Two days later my friend's little brother received the then Prime Minister's autograph in an envelope in the mail. And the story is much better than the one you thought you wanted to read in the beginning.

Text: Navid Modiri

Required time: 
1 week or more
Cost: 
Less than €10
Cons: 
You may need to wait for several weeks.
Pros: 
You can boast that you have the Prime Minister's autograph.
Taggar: those in power, terminal, telephone, marie Alsér, letters, degebo, Conrad, 365 points
24 July 2010

#206 Tell people you love them

1. Sit down. Make a list of people you have around you. Divide them into three columns. People you care about. People you love. People you don’t want to live without.

2. Get out your cell phone, pen and paper and e-mail programs. Send e-mail or SMS to the ones you like. Write nice and encouraging things.

"You are beautiful."

"You are a good person."

"I hope you have a fantastic day."

3. Call the people you love and ask how they are. Ask them what they’re doing tonight. Ask what they’re doing tomorrow. Before you get off the phone, say: “I love you. You are such a good person. “

Then comes the finale. Pick up a pen and paper and write handwritten letters to the people you have around you that you can not live without. They are indispensable, magic, and can read you like an open book. The people who put up with your hangovers, crying spells, panic and doubt. Those who will remain with you during the hard times. Write how much they mean to you. Write from the heart. Write slowly and mean it. Finish with love.

Required time: 
1 day or less
Cost: 
More than €10 in stamps
Cons: 
It's hard to say you love someone. Once the words are uttered, you'll be vulnerable. It is dangerous to be vulnerable.
Pros: 
It is human and beautiful to be vulnerable. We’re not meant to be alone. Man is a herd animal and we need each other.
Taggar: vulnerability, text message, telling people that you love them, love, letters, herd animals, 365 things