Healing through art, nature & heritage - Life on the Northwest Coast of Sweden
Healing through art, nature & heritage - Life on the Northwest Coast of Sweden
Happy Sunday evening everyone!
Let me know which photo is your favourite and I will re-create this with my professional camera and sell as a print. I will share more about this in a future blog post.
Sending you lots of love from my island paradise in the North Sea. Thank you for your continued support ♥︎
BIG KISS!
Will share more photos in tomorrow's post. Happy Full Moon!
The energy on the island is shifting and the colours are emerging. The seasonal change here offers me a whole new perspective in my own life. Have fun, spread your wings, dream big, and have patience. Enjoy the process.
Happy Spring time my dear friend!
Start your day on a good night. Wash away your worries by giving them a big warm hug. And then taking action to help lift up your spirit.
Today was a sunny day filled with positive possibilities. I went to look at an old 19th century farmhouse! Built in 1860. Can you imagine the joy I felt when I found this place? And only a few days after what I said in my last post. I feel goosebumps just writing this. I really feel like the Universe is on my side. On my last post I wrote about my drive back home and my reflections around buying a house in the area. More like dreaming and manifesting. And just a few days later, here it is. I felt it in my heart before even seeing the place. Anyway, I just want to show you some pictures from my day. This house is rich in history and I can't wait to share more about how it all unfolds. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!!
A beautiful chilly Spring day from above. Here come some drone shots of my favourite place on Earth. And a little story close to my heart and personal journey.
Hello my beloved readers!
There has been a whirlwind of things happening in my life the past three weeks. I caught a terrible cold that turned into a sinus infection, so I was sick for 3 weeks. I didn't have the energy to write much but I did film here and there so I hope to put together a little video blog. It's just finding the time to edit.
Now that it's a new season, I am reflecting on the winter memories made (ups and downs). We are now three months into 2024, and in those three months I have moved to a country that I have not lived in for 25 years, reconciled with my mother, spent some time healing, travelled to islands on the West Coast of Sweden, and started researching a home to buy in Sweden's beautiful nature. As some of you know, I am currently staying at my Dad's summer home on the island of Smögen while I research homes and plan my next steps in life. I can't wait to share more of this with you. Right now there are three areas of Sweden I am attracted to and plan to visit in the coming months: Bohuslän, Dalarna and Åre. Buying a home is like the feeling of attraction. It's instant! I'll know the right place when I see it, or rather, feel it. It will just feel right.
Yesterday, I spoke with my dear friend, Kana, who lives in Japan. We have known each other since 2005! She is such a positive and warm person. She is the least judgmental person I know, filled with unconditional love and acceptance. I am so grateful to call her my friend, my soul sister. Yesterday, we talked about how Spring is really the time to adopt this "New Year" mentality. Recently, I have removed this idea that I have to adopt new routines and rituals for myself in January because it's a New Year. As I get older, I move away from man-made constructs. I don't like things that are too commercialized. Overall, I think humans are getting tired of the noise to buy and consume. Personally, it leaves me feeling drained and disconnected with myself. I'm not a black and white person, and of course I consume what I need. I think everyone has their line where it gets too much. I hope that makes sense.
Right now, I seem to naturally gravitate toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle in nature, and in so doing I move closer toward my true self. Of course, we live in a world where we are part of a society, but isn't it wonderful to know we have the freedom to be ourselves if we choose to? The freedom to choose the life we want if we stop standing in our own way. Perhaps a life closer to nature and all the wonderful animals that call nature their home. Or whatever "Freedom" means to you.
I'm slowly learning to live a lifestyle that works for me. I don't like conformity to please others or fit into a culture I don't align with. Rather I prefer to live as my true self. And for me I feel most like myself when I'm alone in nature. I think it's because nature doesn't judge me. What has helped me get to this point in life are two main ingredients: self-awareness and self-acceptance. And it is my belief that you can't have one without the other. Both are needed to have a healthy relationship with yourself and others.
It's still very much Winter here on the West Coast of Sweden. For me, Winter is a time for surrender and healing. As much as I wanted day one in Sweden to be nothing but positive moving forward, it has actually been quite the opposite since moving here. In life there are always waves of ups and downs. I have faced many challenges, mostly with my personal relationships. I am someone who values emotional intimacy in my relationships. I value safety and security that comes with non-judgement, unconditional love, and acceptance. I am learning that it is natural to lose relationships when you are growing and changing. It's a shedding and letting go process. It's probably the hardest lesson I've had to learn this Winter season.
Now that it's Spring, not only is the energy outside shifting, but the energy within myself is also shifting. I can feel that I am transforming in a positive way. I'm finding my voice, I am chasing my dreams, and I am letting go of things and people in life that no longer bring me joy.
Spring for me is like New Years Day in the nature world. I'm curious to know if you feel the same. So with that said, Happy New Season. A time for rebirth, wiping off the cobwebs from the winter, and moving forward toward a life you want this year. Like a small snow drop flower enduring the Spring winds, yet hopeful about calm days ahead.
Have a beautiful Thursday! The weekend is nearly here ♥︎
On the drive back to my childhood summer house, I reflected on the concept of "home." For the past 2 years, I have wanted to root and build a home life. I am grateful to have lived, studied, and worked in many different wonderful places. But recently my longing to belong grew stronger. I have been dreaming of my own home for a while. A place to lay some roots, build memories, and make it my own. A place to feel free to be myself. In this moment I felt empowered to take responsibility for my own happiness. I knew with that mindset, things would change in a positive direction. So as I was driving, I started to imagine what my home could look like. And I started to believe in my ability to make it happen. I started to believe in manifesting, especially since so much had come true already. I was learning to trust again.
On the drive back I took a detour and started to explore what life could be like here. Each year, I fall more in love with Bohuslän. It's a love affair that has lasted two decades, and only grown stronger each passing year. I love the rich the landscape, and the combination of farm and sea life. I love the Norwegian influence, the rocks, the islands, the rich minerals in the soil, and the salt in the air. While I was driving, it felt so peaceful and right in my heart. There was a familiarity in the air, even down roads I had never driven down. Do you believe in past lives? Sometimes I wonder why people I have never met before or places that I've never been, can feel so incredibly familiar. Like home.
I believe that finding a home is all about the feeling of the place. I tune in with my feeling and ask myself, "does the energy feel right to me here?" I ask my body first, then my mind. Usually my body carries the intuitive answers, and my mind has all the logical fear based responses.
My curiosity for life and imagination allows me the freedom to dream of what life could be like. If you have a dream, then you have a direction. And if you have a direction you can make a plan. And if you have courage in your heart, you can turn your dreams into reality.
What are you dreaming of?
Good Evening!
Today is my birthday wohoo! I have lived 35 years on this beautiful planet.
What a day! As I mentioned in my previous post, I checked into a spa for my birthday. When I walked down for breakfast I noticed they were doing work on the pool. I asked the receptionist when they would be done and he responded by saying the entire spa is shut for the day due to a deep clean!!! I had only booked this day, my birthday, for the spa experience where you would go into all the different rooms. So I booked another night haha and spent the morning chilling in my lovely hotel room and the afternoon exploring beautiful Marstrand. Another island on the West Coast of Sweden. The West Coast is simply rich with beautiful islands. This island is another popular summer spot in Sweden. But in March, everything was closed, so I spent the time embracing the cold winds and exploring the streets, the buildings, and the nature reserve. Here come some pictures from this cold and windy day.
Fun fact: Marstrand was founded in the 13th century by the Norwegian king, Håkon Håkonsson, and did not become Swedish until 1658. It was an important fishing port for many years and by the 16th century it was the centre of the herring industry in Europe.
When I returned to the car it was 5pm. And suddenly all my three car batteries decided to die. I managed to use the manual key to get into the car but the alarm would not stop and the car would not start. In the end I had to download the Volvo app but I couldn't set it up because the car was not turned on. Oh the embarrassment! I wonder lady helped us order a toll truck to help us with the car. But suddenly the car started. I pressed the start button twice and suddenly it turned out. Turns out it was just luck and I assume it's because the key signal is too weak. But the last connection was made, just at the right time, because I had my birthday dinner reservation to make, and I were freezing my butt off outside. Oh the relief and warmth of getting into a moving car.
