I see some new faces here already, which is very exciting. Välkommen!
I hope your week has started positively. I sit here just finishing my tea, getting ready for sleep. It's 10:42pm, and I’m trying hard to get into bed earlier so I can wake with the light. The days are getting longer now. The sun rises 20 minutes earlier than when I arrived three weeks ago. It’s fascinating when you really think about it. I feel like it’s the climb toward the top of a mountain, and once we reach the top, it’s light all day, both outside and within.
It’s important not to underestimate the power of dark nights. How I’ve missed the darkness. I recently came across the phrase “winter baby,” and that is exactly how I feel. I’m loving this time of soul hibernation and reconnection to myself. In honor of this internal transformation, I created a short film to celebrate this moment in my life. I will post it in the next post.
It was fun playing with visual storytelling using film and music. Art is such a powerful way to heal ourselves and others.
When we are not aligned with our true selves, I feel like we are wandering ghosts seeking the light and I really wanted to try and capture this in the video. During times of transition, we can feel restless and look for answers outside ourselves. I’ve learned that the answers really do lie within if we are willing to listen and face our fears.
Today, during yoga, the instructor said, “I recognise the light in myself and others.” I think that’s beautiful and deeply true. I have heard this before in yoga classes but never fully understood its depth until now.
I couldn’t resist sharing the beauty of this island. Yesterday’s sunset was so stunning that I had to capture it on camera. I’m so glad I did because today has been raining all day.
The weather is getting warmer, and I can feel spring arriving. I see a lot of season-related content online, but there is beauty in the in-between. Beauty in the space that is not quite winter and not quite spring. This in-between can reflect our inner emotional experience, when we are letting go of fear and pain, while at the same time standing in our light.
I personally feel like I’m in that transition phase. I feel more inspired, connected, and clear about what I want in life, yet I also feel some energetic heaviness in my body, especially in my muscles. This weekend, I did yoga to release stagnant energy that no longer serves me. It helped a great deal, but some lingering energy still needs to be acknowledged. Next week there is a full moon, which will be a perfect opportunity to release what I no longer need in my life.
Here are some photos I took yesterday from the house. I just had to step outside the back door to witness nature’s symphony. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I’ll speak to you soon.
Sending you lots of healing magic from this island ꨄ
Whenever self-doubt creeps in, I listen to this Ted Talk by Ethan Hawke: "To express yourself, first you have to know yourself." To truly know yourself, allow yourself to get close to what you love. For me, this is nature. I have consistently loved nature and animals since I was a child.
As I get closer to nature and the things I loved as a child, I feel a deep desire to create. Through that process, I embrace everything I am. I fall in love with myself, and as a result, I create art that is authentic to my true self. I express myself fully as an artist.
I hope this little blog speaks to your heart and inspires you in some way.
The most inspiring 10 minutes of my lifeLittle me happiest in natureNothing has changed
In January 2024, I created this video but felt too shy to share it on YouTube. Today, I chose to own my story rather than hide it, hoping it might inspire others to create positive change in their own lives.
In this video, I am truly emotional, filled with a mixture of feelings about my decision to move to Sweden. Mostly because it meant letting go of the familiar. Yet my inner voice was guiding me toward a different way of living: a life as my true self. So I set off for Sweden on a journey of self-discovery and reconnection with my heart and roots.
I share my life-changing decision and an important life lesson: your life is now, and you deserve to live it for YOU. I used to feel selfish for putting my happiness first, and some people might think I’m selfish for making this decision, but that’s okay. Staying true to myself by following my heart is the best gift I can give myself. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your own wellbeing, and for others! How can you truly care for others if you are drained? You cannot fill from an empty cup, as they say. I hope my story inspires you to start putting your needs, feelings, wants, and desires first. You deserve it!
The only person standing in the way of my dream was myself. Who knows what the future will bring, but this is what I need to do in this phase of my life.
I finally feel the need to root and reconnect with my true self before making any other life decisions. I’ve been longing to return to my Swedish heritage and live close to the nature I experienced as a child. Why? Because it’s the place where I feel fully connected to myself. I’m not running away from problems or life. I’m running toward myself with my heart and arms open. It’s a journey of self-love and self-discovery. And I believe anyone who chooses to embark on this journey has the heart of a wolf.
When I filmed this, the feelings were so fresh that I struggled to find the words. That’s usually how I am when I’m still processing my emotions. I just go blank.
On a positive note, I’m very excited to share what lies ahead on my journey toward authenticity and creativity. I hope you enjoy watching my story unfold and that it inspires you to create, reconnect with your true self, and feel courageous enough to make that life-changing decision. Here’s your sign, sweet soul.
Let me know in the comments what you dream about in your life, both short-term and long-term. I strongly believe that when you share your dreams with the world, you are owning what you want in life. Communicating that to the Universe has a powerful manifestation effect, but you have to truly believe it with your whole heart. And if you’re feeling a little scared, know that I believe in you! ꨄ
God Morgon kära vän! That’s Swedish for “Good morning, my lovely friend” ꨄ
Today I woke up full of energy because there isn’t a cloud in sight. All the snow has melted, and I can feel a hint of spring in the air.
I love the grey weather too, as it’s always an invitation to go within and reflect on my life journey. I’m a very emotional and introspective person. The past few nights, I’ve been soothed to sleep not by fake rain sounds on YouTube or a sleep app, but by real rain always the best.
I had planned to catch up on personal admin work today, but the weather is just too beautiful. I’ll go out for a walk and take some photos to share with you. I won’t film too much because I already have plenty of footage to catch up on, and I don’t want to burn out too soon. There will be plenty of opportunities to share this beautiful place with you.
This weekend, I plan to take some time for myself: enjoy the sun, catch up on admin tasks in the evenings, and create a plan and budget for the next six months. I feel I need a reset for my body, mind, and soul, so I’ll do some yoga, release tension in my upper body through restorative and trauma-informed practices, and just breathe in all this fresh air. I want to allow myself to simply be and avoid screens, as I’ve experienced multiple headaches over the past two weeks.
This rest from producing is something I intuitively feel I need right now. So with that said, I will step away from screens for two days. I wish you all a beautiful weekend and hope you feel inspired to reset and refresh as well. Take care of your body, think happy thoughts, and accept everything you are and feel. One day at a time!
Sending you lots of love and spring sunlight from this magical island. Speak to you on Monday! Happy weekend ꨄ
I’m at a cozy coffee shop on the mainland, enjoying a delicious fika. I’m going to spend a few hours editing footage and photos from yesterday’s adventure.
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I drove to Varberg yesterday to look at a car I was interested in buying. It was a long day at the dealership, but I was so happy to work with such a genuine and helpful person, Claes. I was relieved to hear that they had a Hertz drop-off center in Varberg, so I didn’t have to drive back to Landvetter to return the rental car! The whole day went smoothly… until it came to payment.
I have a Swedish bank account from when I was a child, but because I haven’t lived in Sweden since 1999, my account was so old-fashioned that I needed a cheque book to make the payment. Today, Sweden is mostly cashless, and of course, cheque books aren’t common anymore. I was stuck with old restrictions and no way to access the money. At that point, I was stranded in Varberg, having already returned the rental car.
Today I went to the bank and, as you can imagine, I was very frustrated to learn that I wouldn’t have access to the money without this 1990s cheque book. I had to submit a request to close the old account, which will take six months.
I am so grateful to my Dad, who loaned me the money to buy the car. Now I have my car, which I will spend a long time with. I’ll take good care of it and already see it as part of the dream I am building here. I envision many photography and camping trips in my new SUV. I think my future dog will love it too. It’s the perfect size for long drives along the coast. My dream is to visit the national parks and fjords in Norway.
There is so much to look forward to, and I feel like a whole new door has opened now that I have allowed myself to dream again.
The lifestyle I want now requires a car. Gone are the days of relying on London public transport and being stuck in city traffic. Here’s to nature, the open road, and my new car whom I’ve named Snowflake.
Yesterday day ended with sushi to celebrate before a very dark and rainy three-hour drive up the West Coast to Smögen. My Swedish grandfather worked for Volvo his entire life, so it feels special to honor him by investing in a Volvo.
Speak to you soon!
Annika
Meatball and beetroot sandwichWaiting for a troll to jump out!Driving to VolvoVolvo!TiredTime to buy a carAdmiring the beautiful artwork in the officeCelebratory sushi before driving 4 hours homemmm
Here’s some inspiration to start your day with sun salutations. I hope this video gives you a little spark to awaken and reconnect with your heart. The most powerful way to do this is in nature — especially in wide-open spaces like a forest, a field, or looking out at the vastness of the water.
Doing sun salutations in minus-degree conditions, instead of the comfort of a warm room, was truly magical. I filmed this at sunset, but mornings are also a wonderful time to set positive intentions. How you spend your day is how you spend your life, after all. Being outside and showing gratitude for the sun infused me with a sense of inner awakening — another way of feeling the goosebumps of being fully present and lovingly accepting everything within and around me.
Why is this important? I think self-awareness and self-compassion are answers to many struggles we face as human beings on this planet. Nature can help us grow in both.
Now I’ll drive three hours to Varberg to take a look at a car I would like to own. The snow has melted, so it will be safer to drive now.
I hope this video inspires you to get outside, feel alive again, and reconnect with your heart and soul. Much love and light to you from Sweden ꨄ
“There are two wolves battling inside of you, one is fear and one is love. The wolf that survives depends on which you decide to feed.” ~ Jaden Wilkes
Now it’s 22:43 and I feel grumpy and tired. This is usually how I am when I lose my routine or don’t get outside. I’ve spent most of the day glued to my laptop, editing my latest vlog where I documented my first self-portrait shoot in nature. I love editing, but it takes a long time.
I also created a few short reels and played around with music video ideas and visual poetry, which I really enjoy. I love communicating visually without explanation or talking. It lets people interpret the art themselves, and that’s why I find art so healing. I feel like a whole world of creativity and inner expression is opening up just by creating and being here.
Anyway, here is the vlog from yesterday. I hope you enjoy it! I’ll speak to you tomorrow. I need to get some rest because I have a long drive to Gothenburg to drop off the rental car and maybe even buy a car. I’ll drive to Varberg first and then continue on to Landvetter Airport. It’s going to be a very long day.
Sleep tight, my sweet friend. Puss ꨄ
I also have a Youtube channel where you can follow my story through videos
I sit here with my salt rock lamp glowing beside me, candlelight flickering softly, and a big plate of pasta in front of me. I felt inspired to write because dinner time is such a comforting moment to slow down, connect, and share the events of the day. So tonight, I thought I’d welcome you to dinner with me and maybe you’ll share a little about your own day in the comments.
Today, I spent most of my time preparing for a self-portrait photo project. I brainstormed themes close to my heart, journaled about my personal experiences, and explored ways to express my inner world through visual poetry. I’ve been drawn to self-portrait photography for years, long before I even knew what it was called. And today was the first day I truly tried it. It was love.
I had so much fun even though I was freezing in my dress, surrounded by snow, with icicles falling straight into my tea. Somehow, it was still perfect. Photographing in nature makes you feel like you become part of it, like it’s holding you. It’s an amazing experience. I put together a mini video blog you can watch at the end.
I’ve always been fascinated by the connection between humans and the vast natural world — partly from an environmental conservation perspective, and partly because I believe nature is deeply healing for our emotional wellbeing. Being back to my roots and living close to nature helps me feel emotionally safe again. Here, I don’t feel any outside pressure. It’s just me, the wind, and the silence. It’s the safest I’ve felt in a long time.
Can you spot Bohuslän's Väderöarnas in the distance? It means The Weather Islands in Swedish
I understand now that I truly accept myself as I am. But I also see that I struggle when I’m surrounded by people who don’t accept themselves — because they project their insecurities onto me, and suddenly I start doubting myself. It’s all very subconscious on both sides. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that being self-aware helps me understand what energy belongs to me and what belongs to others. Without that awareness, I take on too much, and it leaves me feeling disconnected from myself. If I let it go too far, my emotional wellbeing suffers, and then my physical wellbeing suffers too.
But here, alone in nature on this island, none of that weighs on me. I feel more connected to myself than I have in years. Some people might think I’m running away from the world or from my problems — but I’m not. I’m reconnecting with myself. I’ve made a conscious choice not to run away, but to move toward myself again. Back to my heart. Back to who I actually am. And through that, I hope to build healthier, more loving relationships with others.
So on this photoshoot, I wanted to capture this moment in my life: this return to my heart and soul, my emotions, my purpose, my roots, the earth. I want to live more in tune with nature and let go of the heavy expectations of others. That’s why I chose to come back to this part of the world.
I also understand why artists often feel their work is never finished. After I wrapped up taking photos, I met a lovely older man named Ulf who lives on the island, along with his daughter’s dog, Ego. We chatted for a while and I introduced myself. He spoke with a strong island dialect one you don’t hear very often anymore. Because this island is so close to Norway, the dialect carries a lot of Norwegian influence. I think it’s one of the most beautiful dialects I’ve ever heard.
Here are some more photos from today’s adventure. It was truly a special day.
The adventure starts with a warm cup of coffeeTime to pack the camera bagMost important thing of allChocolate is the way to my heartI can't wait!Ready to go on my first photoshootMind the gapHappiest outsideTracksI think it's a fox. What do you think?When equipment doesn't workAll is well with a warm cup of teammmmThe original photoEdited in Adobe Lightroom ꨄThe sun is low this time of yearTime to relax and editBack home again! Time to edit & share with the world
And here’s a little video capturing the highlights.
The hours outside in the snow felt like minutes, and I barely felt the cold because I was so excited. For my first attempt at self-portrait photography, I’m really happy with the results. I’ll definitely keep experimenting and growing. I did notice the image quality wasn’t as crisp as I expected do you know what might have caused that? I shot on my Nikon D850 in RAW and on manual with my 50mm lens.
I’ll say goodnight now. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Puss och kram ꨄ
Sending you lots of love from these magical north sea winds
Stay inspired!
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