HELSINKI, FINLAND:
IT WAS FOLLOWING MY VISIT TO HELSINKI IN 2016 THAT I REALISED THAT MY WORKING PRACTICE AND LIFESTYLE COULD AND SHOULD WORK IN HARMONY .
NEVER BEFORE HAVE I EXPERIENCED PEACE AND TRANQUILLITY AS I FELT HERE. SITTING ON THE ROCKS AT THE WATERS EDGE ON THE ISLAND OF LONNA I WAS COMPLETELY AT ONE WITH NATURE, MY BREATHING SLOWLY SYNCHRONISING WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE WATER LAPPING BACK AND FORTH. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WOULD LAUGH OR CRY WHEN I EXPERIENCED ABSOLUTE SILENCE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE THICKETS OF THE TREES IN THE NUUKSIO NATIONAL PARK. THE EXHILARATION WHEN I HAD MY FIRST EVER LAKE SWIM IN KORPILAMPI. THE MOST MAGICAL MEAL I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED WAS AT ‘GRON’. THE RESPECT FOR NATURE, ONLY TAKING WHAT YOU NEED, SHARING AND GIVING BACK TO THE LAND MADE ME APPRECIATE THE FLAVOURS ALL THE MORE. BUT IT IS NOT ONLY AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE IN HELSINKI, IT IS AN APPRECIATION FOR LIFE, WHICH AT ITS HEART, IS THE ESSENCE OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. FOLLOWING FEELINGS, LISTENING TO YOUR BODY AND EXERCISE ALL SEEM TO BE PRIORITISED IN FINLAND, AND POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE DRIVES ALL ROUND WELLBEING. WHEN PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEY CARE ABOUT OTHERS. IN HELSINKI YOU CAN SEE THE SUPPORT NETWORKS, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SHARING: SO IMPORTANT FOR CREATIVITY AND MENTAL WELLBEING. WHEN FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION AS IT DOES IN HELSINKI, CRAFTS AND SKILLS ARE REGARDED HIGHLY AND INVESTED IN,THIS IS A PLACE WHERE CREATIVITY IS RESPECTED AND NURTURED. |