March in Review

moments of presence amidst transition

Apr 01, 2025

Oh, hej1! 👋🏼 It’s been a while since I’ve logged onto this platform. Since then, I’ve rebranded this Substack to reflect the phase of my life. I will talk a little more about the energy of ‘untethered’ at another date, but if you’re here reading this - I appreciate you! We’re all about mindful and slow living in this space, with a hint of spirituality and a whole lot of appreciation for the small moments in life. If that sounds like you, welcome!

This year, I’ve chosen my word of the year to be ‘presence’, and it’s proving to be a very necessary anchor in a year that’s a bit characterised by overwhelm, chaos and big leaps of faith already.

A little bit of background. Last year, my partner and I sold his tiny house and moved into our self converted camper van to explore the North of Europe and figure out our next steps in life. We didn’t really know what would come our way, but what we did know is that we couldn’t find a sense of rootedness and belonging in the Dutch culture and environment anymore (hence, untethered). What we hoped for - but didn’t quite expect - is to find a place to call home somewhere else, somewhere more rooted in appreciating nature and the natural cycles of the seasons. A place that could support us in our lifestyle, which at that point was already very much characterised by simple, slow living.

We found that in the North of Sweden. We attended a beautiful event by a Swedish Youtuber, which offered us such a unique way of finding community and familiarising ourselves with the natural landscape around us there. It lit a fire inside the both of us.

These six months after the event have been both a ‘sorting our lives out in the Netherlands’ and an exploring of what a life in Sweden could mean for us. We decided to rent a cottage in the middle of Sweden for a couple of months, to explore that area and to know for sure that the north was what we would be choosing. The first weekend there, we knew. Even though the surrounding area of our rental in Värmland was beautiful, our hearts yearned for the north. Which is why, two weeks ago, we went to view a property in the area where it all began, fell in love all over again, and had our bid accepted that very same day. Everything has been falling into place ever since. We drove all the way back to the Netherlands to prepare for this incredible next chapter, and now we are in true life-admin mode. Technically the property isn’t ours yet and we haven’t signed a thing, which I’m adding here as a side note to make sure I unjinx whatever I’m jinxing by sharing this news with you already!

It’s been an overwhelming, chaotic and also incredibly aligned rollercoaster these first couple of months of 2025. I don’t expect it to slow down any time soon, which is why I’m carving out conscious time to sit down for my podcast and this Substack from now on. To have little pockets of time for creativity, reflecting and sharing. I’m convinced it will keep me sane amidst the chaos. 😉

At the start of the year, I knew 2025 would be a year of big transition, with us feeling ready to buy property, . Which is why I very consciously chose ‘presence’ to be my word of the year, so it could help me stay sane amidst the chaos, and connected within amidst inevitable planning mode. So, I will use these ‘months in review’ to reflect on how I was able to weave presence throughout my days and weeks (or not).

My March revolved around a feeling of letting go of one chapter and welcoming in another - and being in that liminal space between. As March often does. Here’s three ways in which I was able to weave in a sense of presence in a very untethered month.

Welcoming in Spring (& vårvinter)

In Sweden, there is a word for the fifth season they experience in a year: vårvinter. Vår is Spring, and Vinter is Winter - quite literally ‘spring-winter’. This is the season where it can still snow and the mornings crackle with frost underneath your feet, but you can also find yourself stripping down to your t-shirt in the afternoon and see the birds migrating back. It is like nature whispers, ‘I know it’s been a long, dark winter, and whilst I’m not quite done yet, here’s some glimpses of Spring to tide you over’.
I feel like I’m much more connected to the seasons in Sweden. In the Netherlands, most transitional phases in nature are marked by rain and wind, forcing you inside regardless of the time of year. In Sweden, the seasons are, in some regard, a little more extreme, but in other ways also much more stable. The autumns look like a Pinterest board come to life, and even though you have to wait for a bit sometimes, spring is quite literally a reawakening of nature and, in turn, of yourself. I also can’t wait for midsummer in the north this year, where the sun will only go down for about 4 hours in the night.

Spotting signs of winter and spring this past month have created little moments of nature connection, allowing me to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds and calm my nervous system. I already can’t wait to feel that way again when we go back up north.

Hobbies that keep me sane

I’ve always been a creative person and over the course of my life have experimented with countless outlets of my thoughts and visions. Most recently, this has been in the shape of garments (knitting & crochet), baking (traditional Swedish cinnamon rolls), reading (currently a lovely light read by Beth Moran and ‘This Wild and Precious Life’ by

Sarah Wilson

) and devoting time to my podcast, this Substack and my Yogamat.

When everything feels uncertain and there is little routine to my days, it can be very easy for me to feel overwhelmed and out of control. Prioritising activities that bring me join keep me tethered to myself and create space to breathe and see things with a fresh perspective.

Seeing the signs

& calling in support…

When we embarked on a very exciting and equally nerve-wracking journey north to view what could potentially become our future, I asked for signs. On my spiritual journey, I have learned that your spirit guides (if you believe in such a thing) want nothing more than to support you, if only you ask for it, and you get specific.
So, I asked for it.

First up, I asked the Universe, or my guides, or whoever was listening, to show us that we were on the right path by sending (larger) wild animals our way. An hour after we put in a bid, a moose crossed the road in front of us and we had to break. A half hour later, we received the good news.

Secondly, I asked for angel numbers. On the drive back to the Netherlands, I saw all numbers below 10 on number plates in either threes or fours (1111, 999, etc.). It became a little road trip game, but I never expected to see all of them.

Thirdly, I said I’d be open to surprises. On the eve before our viewing, we parked the van in a well-known camping spot and when we stepped outside to go for dinner with people we met there last year, the most beautiful rainbow appeared right above the camper. The day after, when we got back from our rollercoaster-roadtrip and we knew the bid got accepted, the most beautiful Northern lights appeared. We’d seen them before in the north, and they’re a little more unique where we stayed in our rental cottage, so it was all the more special on such a big day.

Fourthly… who needs signs when you get a lakeside view on your deck, surrounded by ancient rocks and beautiful trees? That will be us, next month. Someone pinch me.