Dare to live
It can be dangerous – you can die. But before that, we must dare to live. Do what our heart wants, not just what has to be done. There are a thousand reasons why we can’t do what we dream of deep down.
And it’s easy to list them.
But are we here on earth to press our heads against the wall and stress week in and week out? Is it possible to look up – to see other possibilities?
Six years ago, I went to Portugal to visit a friend who had moved there. I didn’t understand why she had chosen Portugal. I knew hardly anything about the country and had no expectations or preconceived ideas.
But I was taken – immediately. By the climate, the people, the nature, the light, the sea… Portugal captured my heart. I went back several times to explore more. In the end, I brought my partner with me, and he also fell in love with the place.
It was September 2019. Three months later we had sold everything in Sweden – and moved to the Algarve. We haven’t regretted it for a second. We dared to follow our hearts, even if our brains sometimes wondered what we were doing.
Do we miss the kids? Yes, of course. But they come to visit, and we really get time together when they are here. Quality time – not just short moments in the middle of everyday chaos.
I know that not everyone can or wants to move to another country. But I tell you this because we broke a pattern. And it was both scary and exciting. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly alive. It became an adventure – one that is still ongoing.
To dare to look up. To think new thoughts. To listen to the heart. It is not only possible – it is life-changing. And the fear? It fades when you follow what truly feels right.
So – what is your heart whispering?
Is it maybe time to listen?
Meeting people
When I moved to Portugal, I was immediately struck by the warmth and consideration that existed in the encounter with people. Here, people greet each other when passing on the street.
I was immediately struck by the warmth and consideration that existed in the encounter with people. Here, people greet each other when passing on the stre. Children and young people show respect for the elderly and offer their help spontaneously. There is a natural kindness, a quiet care that also includes us who have moved here.
The family has a clear place in everyday life. Several generations meet, eat together and let everyone – even the smallest – getting attention and be seen. It is a way of life where relationships are at the center.
And I began to think:
Isn’t this what many of us really want?
To be seen. To belong. To feel that we matter to others.
It made me reflect on our own way of life. Have we forgotten to meet each other? Have we become so busy, or perhaps so cautious, that we no longer dare to approach each other – to offer help, to start a conversation, or just to say a friendly hello?
In my work as a conversation coach, I want to inspire just this: to stop, reflect, and rediscover the human in our encounters. Small actions can create big changes – both in our relationships and in ourselves.
Reflection on the year
As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on how it has really been. Overall, it has been a turbulent and at times messy year, marked by war and politics. Much of what I thought was based in truth and honesty has turned out to be something else, and it has been difficult to take in. What do you think? We are all searching for our own truth, and our truths do not always look the same – our experiences are unique. And we can still be friends.
In the midst of all the messy thoughts, the memory of all the people who have been, and still are, in my life over the years – not just this year. I am filled with deep gratitude for everything you have brought to my life, both in sorrow and in joy. I have learned so much from you, and when I look back, I realize that it is actually through the most difficult moments that I have grown the most.
Thank you to all of you – beloved people who have been and are a part of my life! I wish you a fantastic new year, filled with love and abundance.