What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0097

4801.  The Swedish meatballs (with cream sauce, lingonberries and potato purée) at Restaurang Riche (Riche.se/en/) in Stockholm(, Sweden) are pretty tasty;

4802.  I can say I’ve had Swedish meatballs in Sweden;

4803.  Unlike in the U.S., a woman counts as a person entering a club in Sweden;

4804.  Most Swedes are unwilling to pay a cover (charge) to get into a club;

4805.  Apparently, the Swedish dating model is (to) have sex a couple of times, find out if you like each other and then go out on a date;

4806.  Apparently, Wednesday is considered “little Saturday” in Sweden;

4807.  (Some) Swedish women can get self-conscious if they’re drinking and you’re not;

4808.  There’s complimentary tailoring if you get your jeans at NK Denim (NK.se/Stockholm/Avdelningar/NK-Denim/);

4809.  A cashless society has got to be rough on panhandlers;

4810.  The Max Grilled chicken salad at Max Burger (Max.se) is (actually) pretty tasty;

4811.  In Sweden, you can only buy liquor at Systembolaget;

4812.  In Sweden, they only sell beer by the can or bottle.  There aren’t any six-packs or cases;

4813.  Liquor is (quite) expensive in Sweden;

4814.  Don’t let me arounds docks when I’ve been drinking;

4815.  It’s not a good idea to shotgun beers after helping to polish off a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red (Label);

4816.  What do you do after taking swigs of Johnnie Walker Red (Label), shotgunning beers and passing out at a lake house in Sweden?  The answer is: Shower, get dressed and go to the club (specifically Café Opera in Stockholm, Sweden);

4817.  Apparently, I’m Ian’s guardian angel;

4818.  The “Insane” (i.e., vertical spinning coaster) is probably the best ride in Gröna Lund (GronaLund.com/en/);

4819.  The “Lustiga Huset” (i.e., walk through fun house) in Gröna Lund is really fun.  Some of the stuff they have in there, you couldn’t get away with it in the U.S.;

4820.  A poached egg is just a soft-boiled egg without the shell;

4821.  I can say I’ve drank from a Midas bottle of champagne;

4822.  Swedish snus is (really) potent;

4823.  Apparently, it’s come full circle. . . . I helped get Andrew laid;

4824.  Mister French (MrFrench.se/en/) is a nice place to get drinks and/or eat in Gamla stan (i.e., “The Old Town”) in Stockholm(, Sweden);

4825.  Self-actualized people never place anything into their imaginations that they don’t want to harden into an objective fact;

4826.  Apparently, (as a U.S. citizen,) the U.S. government doesn’t limit how long you can stay/travel out of the country;

4827.  In Sweden, the traffic lights turn from red to yellow (for a split second) before they turn (to) green;

4828.  I’ll always have fond memories of Stockholm(, Sweden);

4829.  Apparently, you can get your VAT/GST taxes back from purchases made abroad at stores associated with Global Blue (GlobalBlue.com).  (It could save you up to 19 percent);

4830.  Steven (Agarwal) said I seem calmer;

4831.  Flavor Flav can play the bass;

4832.  Apparently, Flavor Flav is against racism and separatism;

4833.  Beluga vodka is very smooth.  When it’s chilled, it’s (almost) like drinking water;

4834.  Steven (Agarwal) said I don’t have any problems talking to women;

4835.  Luisa said I seem happier and that I smile more;

4836.  If you are depressed, you are living in the past.  If you are anxious, you are living in the future.  If you are at peace, you are living in the present;

4837.  The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up;

4838.  Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer;

4839.  The sun is always shining someplace;

4840.  The definition of evil is unfriendliness;

4841.  The more we help others, the more we help ourselves;

4842.  What you are thinking about you are becoming;

4843.  When you’re right, nobody remembers.  When you’re wrong, nobody forgets;

4844.  Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.  Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power;

4845.  You can’t grow as a person unless you experience adversity.  Just like you can’t get big muscles without first tearing them up at the gym, you can’t have a strong psyche without experiencing psychological and emotional pain;

4846.  Face the pain.  Embrace the challenge.  Go where you’ve never been before.  Do what’s uncomfortable.  This is what a master does.  This is what a king does;

4847.  Not only does pain provide a direct avenue for growth and development, it also gives us the contrast that makes pleasure enjoyable;

4848.  Write down three of the most emotionally jarring experiences you’ve had in your life.  Write down three reasons to be thankful for each experience and three ways each experience made you a better person;

4849.  Allow yourself to scream and cry whenever you face a difficult emotion.  Challenge yourself to be as present as you can during the experience.  The expression of pain is cathartic.  It’s something each of us needs;

4850.  Make a statement of gratitude every time you face a challenging or uncomfortable situation in your life.  It can be directed to yourself, to reality, the universe, existence or God.  It doesn’t matter.  Just make a point to say “thank you,” in some way.  Start doing it even if you have to force it through your teeth at first.  Over time, it will become more and more natural.  In this way, you’ll train yourself to embrace challenges;