Blog

I recently passed my five-year mark since moving to Finland (my Finnaversary 💁‍♀️) and someone asked me whether Helsinki feels like home—like in that moment when you’re on a plane and you touch down, does it feel like coming home?  My answer was yes, but it’s not so black and white. I wanted to dig… Continue reading Reflections on home

I’ve been thinking about third places lately—communal spaces that aren’t home or work—and what mine are these days. The term “third places” was originally coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the 1980s, who described third places as “the anchors of community.” They’re places like cafés, pubs, libraries, churches, and parks where relationships form through spontaneous… Continue reading Finding my third places

I’ve recently been reflecting on the idea that we as humans are cyclical beings. The natural world is cyclical—think of the four seasons, the phases of the moon, day and night—and we as people aren’t so different.  Unlike machines, it’s in our nature to be inconsistent. Our emotions, energy levels, ambition, and creativity fluctuate. As… Continue reading Thoughts on our cyclical nature 

Be present. Trust the process. Enjoy the journey. These themes come up in almost all advice when it comes to self-help and inner work to the point that they can sound cliché. But just as eating better and moving your body are the only ways to be healthier (I know, annoying right), I think being… Continue reading How I set myself up to enjoy the process

About two years ago, I went cross-country skiing for the first time since over a decade. After attaching my boots to the skis, I shuffled forward and fell 30 seconds in while going down a “hill.”  The frustration was overwhelming, but I saw this feeling coming as I have a hard time enjoying things I’m… Continue reading Letting go of self-judgement and making space for fun

“Where do you want to go for lunch?” It’s a simple question, but I’ve always had a hard time making even the smallest decisions. What should I do on a free day? Should I buy these shoes?  It eventually became easier for me to make bigger decisions, like choosing what to study in university. But… Continue reading “I can’t decide”: How I starting trusting myself when making decisions

I’ve always been a fan of lists. Packing lists. Grocery lists. To-buy lists. To-do lists—whether for a workday, a day off, or personal projects. Everything about lists is so satisfying: The notebooks, the pens (Muji), and checking those tasks or items off—the smooth black gel ink swooshing across the page. (Yes, I also have lists… Continue reading To-do: Rethink my to-do lists

Over the past couple of years, I’ve become more intentional about better understanding myself. There wasn’t one specific event that sparked this—it’s been more of a slow unfolding. I’ve recently reflected on what tools have helped me with this work. How exactly have I gotten to know myself better? Haven’t I known her my whole… Continue reading Unearthing: The tools that have helped me better understand myself