Evening Reflections
Things move much slower here on this sparsely populated island in the North Sea. I am away from the city noise and light pollution I have lived with for the past fifteen years.
This slower pace of life is teaching me that not everything needs to be focused on hyper-productivity all the time. Since arriving on this small Nordic island, I am learning to enjoy the silence, the pauses in my day, and to simply be still. I also find power in reflecting positively on my past, learning the lessons, and visualising the brightness of my future.
When I think about my past, there was no room for silence, peace, or solitude. I felt like I was on a hamster wheel, keeping up with the rushing nature of others around me. I often felt like I could not breathe because I was doing everything to make others happy, only to be blamed, criticised, and judged by people who never truly took the time to get to know me. This way of living had to end. My life and happiness depended on it.
Coming to Sweden is the first time in my life that I have made a decision purely for my own happiness. I quickly learned who celebrated my return and who did not.
My life before Sweden left me feeling burnt out, lonely, and unhappy. These moments of silence and solitude are deeply healing. In these moments, I do not feel alone. I am learning that taking a pause in my life and in my day to rest and just be is not a weakness. It is a strength. It is a courageous commitment to myself, a chance to check my inner compass and recalibrate if needed. It is in the silence that we can truly sink into our own hearts and hear their gentle whispers.
