Something that always confuses me around this time of year is the dissonance between everyone’s view of *Summer*. For many Swedes, midsummer (at the end of June) marks the start of summer with long bright evenings and the blooming of lilacs and honeysuckle. However, we never anticipate great weather at this point but instead gear up with knitted sweaters and wool socks for a week at the countryside. The actual vacation part of summer comes much later.
I’ve heard Parisians all more or less take the same weeks off for summer in August, and that the city comes to a stand-still. Anyone who can verify? Either way, I would love the same to be true for Stockholm but we simply have too strict of a “work ethic” (workaholic tendencies) to allow business to come to a complete halt. There’s always someone left at the office answering emails and taking meetings.
New Yorkers suffer in silence on top of smoldering hot pavement - or escape to the Hamptons. Those are the only two options.
And the rest of you - how are you holding up and when does summer actually begin?
After a week of sleep-ins, beach days, burnt shoulders and a minimum of two ice creams per day I’m starting to get an itch for routine. Now I’m not saying I’m jumping straight back into early mornings and porridge for breakfast and my running schedule. Buuut, I do want to get back into the habit of starting my day with a bit of movement, reflection and fresh air. Oh and also - me and my sister-in-law signed up for a local soft ice race next week where you run 6.9 km and get a free ice cream. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
I started looking through my sister’s copy of The Creative Act: A Way of Being (by Rick Rubin) the other day and I felt my brain light up with creativity. I didn’t get further than a couple of pages but you know when you read something that resonates with something deep within which makes your whole body just go “yes”? Yeah, that. In summary, the book begins with a simple thought regarding how creativity isn’t something some of us are “gifted” with but rather an inherent part of being human. Creativity is getting dressed in the morning, making the perfect breakfast sandwich, finding a quicker way to work, finding a more beautiful way to work, reorganizing the furniture in your home, and so much more. I just love people/books/ways of living that include, rather than exclude.
Last night we took my sister and her partner out for dinner at a local place named Aarsdale Røgeri & Bistro which was absolutely fantastic. We decided to go with the chef’s choice which meant a minimum of 6 dishes and a maximum of 12 - we managed 8 + dessert. More than sharing truly excellent food together with some of my favourite people in the world, I felt a sense of pride. For the longest time I struggled with money and finances due to a whirlpool of different factors and being able to pick up the bill for the four of us felt like a huge milestone for me. I’m excited to keep saving up for the future and reach even bigger milestones in the years to come. Go me!
There aren’t a lot of days left of the American Pride Month but luckily we still have Swedish Pride coming up in August and probably a whole lot of other pride celebrations around the world, no? I was delighted by
’s Getting dressed, pridefully! and definitely recommend you read it if you haven’t. Also, please consider donating to an LGBTQ+ organization if you’re able to.“I knew I was different the moment I saw The Wizard of Oz (1939) and felt terribly jealous that Dorothy got to wear those fantastic ruby slippers while I was stuck with Velcro sneakers.”
The other day we happened upon a little crafts market here in Svaneke where I found the most amazing knitted dress being sold in a stall. I’m now determined to make my own - I just need to finish my current project first, mostly to make sure I actually do finish it. I know, I know, knitting is one of those things that seems really high-maintenance clean girl aesthetic. But honestly it’s very meditative and you also get really cool handmade pieces to gift to people you don’t like wear. 10/10 recommend.
And just like that, my entire family has gone to bed and I’m sitting hunched over my laptop in the dark. Wishing you all a lovely weekend and a beautiful end of spring, beginning of summer or continuation of summer holidays depending on your geographic location.
Ta taa xx