Dear Members,
Happy New Year! May it be peaceful and prosperous!
We are still in the dark season, but the light will slowly return over the next months. Along with it, I hope that the activities of the Forum will continue to attract our members and bring us closer together!
The world is still a fickle and often a dangerous place, and I don’t see any change in the near future. But during difficult times, it is good to show people around you that you are positive and friendly. That you accept people for what they are. International Forum has a mission of promoting friendship across cultures. That is what we in Forum do best. A smile will always be well received. A smile will open doors and hearts. We may be culturally different, but we all share the basic needs of family, food, peace, and safety.
The winter this year seems to become a wet or icy one. I for one do enjoy skiing, both cross-country and downhill, so my NewYear wish this year is snow! Lots of it! Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, being out in nature always soothes your soul. The snow smells nice when it is fresh, and it has the acoustic ability to muffle noises and clear your mind.
In the city we never greet people we meet on the street, but in the ski trails we always say hello and smile as we pass other skiers. This may be a cautionary approach to strangers that Norwegians – who used to live far from their neighbours – have practised for centuries in order to verify whether a stranger is friendly or not. Better stay on good terms with the people around you.
I wish you all the best for the new year: friendship and peace of mind. May you all be safe wherever you go.
Elizabeth S. Rasmussen
President