Marja-Leena's Birthday Challenge

This week at the Somero English Club we celebrated Marja-Leena's 60th birthday. I asked the class to help me write something about her by asking questions about her life. The first response when I asked them to help me describe her was "she is a very nice woman."  She is. But there is a lot more to her than that.

Marja-Leena was born in Häntälä village and lives near the Häntälän "notkot" (hills). She has never moved far from her childhood home. For fifteen years she moved to live in Terttilä and then came back to live in Häntälä where she was originally from.  She is married to Kari. When I asked her to say something about her husband her immediate reply was "miten sanotaan ihana englanniksi?" (How do you say wonderful in English?) They have two daughters, Tiina, who will soon qualify as a maths teacher, and Terhi who works as a music teacher. Both are musical and play the accordian.

Marja-Leena has many hobbies. She speaks Estonian, goes bowling and likes listening to many kinds of music. She loves nature and enjoys simple pleasures such as picking berries and going for walks. She especially enjoys eating blackberries and strawberries picked direct from her own garden.

In 2009 Marja-Leena was diagnosed with breast cancer which obviously left a huge impact on her. Thankfully she has made a full recovery, but she said that the experience has made her think hard about what is important in life, and she has learnt to enjoy each moment as it happens and live in the here and now. She also said how it made her realise how much time we spend worrying about trivial things that really have no importance at all when you are faced with a serious illness, as she was.

Marja-Leena previously worked for seven years in the village shop in Pitkäjärvi, so will be a familiar face to many. I have only known her since we started the Somero English Club, but she is someone who radiates positivity and energy and clearly enjoys giving to others whenever she can. She has also made incredible progress in English in only a short space of time and has much more talent than she realises!

We enjoyed a delicious cake that Marja-Leena had brought to share with the class.  Before she left, she gave us all a challenge which I promised to publish on the blog. I hope you will take part, wherever you are.Here it is.

 "Take some time this week" she said, "to visit someone who may be feeling lonely. It could be someone old, or sick...or anyone at all. But take some time out of your busy schedules and make an effort to go and see someone who would appreciate it. Just think what a huge difference it would make if we all did this from time to time. We could transform Somero.  Not only that, but when you go and visit someone who needs it, you always end up receiving more that you give." 

And of course this doesn't just apply to us here. This applies all over the world. I think this is an important challenge and one which would have a positive effect on everyone who takes part. Happy birthday once again Marja-Leena and thank you for the challenge.... I hope it will inspire many people into action!