The night couldn’t be more perfect for a stroll along the beach. The breeze is gentle, and the sea mirrors its stillness. I inhale deeply, letting the scents of the evening fill my senses—the salty mist in the air, the refreshing scent of eucalyptus drifting from the trees nearby. My toes sink into the sand,…
Tag: Silence
Untangle Me
The need to get away is not merely a desire for physical distance but a quest for mental respite, a longing to breathe in the fresh air of simplicity and serenity. It is a recognition of the profound importance of finding space — space to rest, space to reflect, space to reconnect with the rhythms…
Homesickness
I was struck by a feeling of homesickness this afternoon. Most of the time I go about my life without feeling it, yet every now and then it hits me full force. Being Finnish-Australian, I do add a touch of Finnish into my everyday life in any way I know how. I have moomins, Marimekko,…
Light Mind
Being originally from Finland, but living in Australia, I have often been asked what a Finnish sense of humour is like. If you are a Finn, you would understand just how challenging it is to explain it! Customs and beliefs are easy to explain but a sense of humour is not. A lot has been…
A Dying Art
Disney’s Belle is one of the best fictional bookworms around. When the Beast gives Belle her very own key to his magnificent library, cream-coloured double doors open to showcase paintings, a writing desk, a spectacular fireplace, spiral staircases, floor rugs, and some reading chairs on the colourful ceramic floor. But most importantly, the walls are…
Escape
The tougher life gets, the more I tend to daydream of escaping. The dictionary tells me the definition of escape is: “to get free from something”. We press the key on our computer keyboards which allows us to leave our current screen. We interrupt a process by pressing the “esc” key. I wish it was…
Rustic Wisdom
During our last visit to Finland, I had the honour of staying at my late mother-in-law’s childhood home, in a small village, in the Finnish countryside. These days this ancestral homestead belongs to one of the cousins, Hannu. When I stepped inside the old country house, it felt like the earth had paused to take…
A Few Words
If I were to pick one characteristic of Finnish people, I would pick this: “Finns place great value on words”. The keys to Finnish character are peacefulness, calmness, and placidity. They value tranquillity, serenity, and silence. It is reflected in the way Finns choose their words carefully, how literally they take what is said and…
Life Defining Moments
There are certain events that get burned into our memory, so totally, that no matter how much time passes, it feels like it only happened yesterday. It was a Friday evening and mid-winter. Although I had only just finished eating dinner, it was already dark outside. I was alone at home. My husband had taken…
The Magic Word
To an English speaking person, Finnish language can sound a little blunt at times. Finns don’t beat around the bush. They don’t pretty things up. Finns appreciate honesty and straightforwardness. Finns are known for their dislike of small-talk. It’s totally debatable whether Finnish small talk even exists. On the other hand, there is a lot…
Apples of Gold 