missing you & moving on.

you know what? i miss blogging here on a regular basis. i miss it a lot. i miss y’all a lot. i suppose that my lack of blogging has been mostly because of my blogging on my forty days of fika blog. visiting 40 cafes and blogging for 40 days (almost in a row) really took up my time. and then, with the paper and stuff… i have really given my attention to my coffee/fika/writing experiences and projects lately. and that’s all really good. reaaaaally good.

but i miss being here. i miss good ole being. loving. and living.

although, when i stop to think about it, i suppose that i have done the being part for some years. and also the loving part for some years. now, it’s time for the living part. and that, i am doing! it’s been all full speed ahead and such in my life since moving back to asheville.

but, that’s amazing. no complaints here. i have not been so wrapped up in my head lately, analyzing everything. but, i’ve been more active and social. living life to the fullest. enjoying moments with people. establishing new routines, new connections. and re-connecting with family and friends. and nature. i’ve found myself in nature more and more. and that is truly filling my soul.

so, i suppose it’s not all that bad that i’ve not been very active on this blog lately. i suppose it’s even exactly what i have needed at this point in my life. and i am proud of myself for living in the moment. going with the flow. and getting out into the middle of life, focusing on the here and now – not the past or the future. just being all about the present moment.

still, i miss y’all. and i miss writing here every day.

you know, i’ve just wrapped up visiting my 40th cafe yesterday for my 40 days of fika blog project. i’m still behind on getting out the last few blog posts, but nevertheless, the journey has pretty much come to an end. i’ll finish all the posts this weekend, and then i will close the door on the project. however, i’ll continue to publish “the fika files” in the mountain xpress, and i’m even looking into finding a way to publish my project as an entire book.

but, it’s time to move on. time for a new phase. a new project. i’ve been asked to do two different series (for the asheville blog i am a part of voluntarily). one on beer and one on food trucks. so, that’ll be fun! and i think i may add those posts to this blog too. maybe?

however, what i am really looking forward to is beginning work on my memoir. i have it all planned out. i know what time periods i am going to include and what my three main sections of the book will be about. i am so excited to get started on this. and i am going to get this thing done! first things first, though, i’m planning to do a large inspiration board for each of the three sections – with photos, words, thoughts, earlier writings, etc. i am basically gonna research myself, since i am going back in time a little. i can just feel that it is time to buckle down and get this done.

so, in the interest of moving on, i have made a photo journey based on just that. it was actually a theme suggested by one of my instagram friends, and when i saw her suggestion, it fit so perfectly with what i was thinking and how things were moving in my life right now. everything just lined up like magic. like it was meant to be…

during november, all of the word prompts for the photo journey have something to do with moving, be it moving on, or forward, or in, or around, or away. it’s a month to focus not so much on the future, but on where we are and how we deal with/think about where we are. moving on inspires us to keep moving, to not be static or get stuck. and anyway, life keeps moving on no matter what. i suppose the ultimate decision is whether we decide to move on with life, like a river flowing over rocks and around bends; or whether we just become stagnant, filled with bacteria, stopped, plugged.

this month, i want to challenge myself to remember each day to keep moving. to go with the flow. and to not just float along, but to make things happen as well.

well, what are you waiting for? what are we waiting for? let’s get moving!

the ways to participate are the same as always. but, if you’ve forgotten or if this is your first time participating, here are a few tips:

save the photo journey list to your desktop or on your smartphone, so you know what the word is for each and every day. each of the word gives you something to focus on for those days. remember that it’s all about how you interpret the word. be creative and express yourself however you want!

here’s a link to instagram so you can sign up & get started! click here to join in.

and if you want to become part of the bllphotoaday community, just follow me at @belovelivecoaching on instagram. and use the hashtag #bllphotoaday when you post your IG photo. then, you’ll see everyone else’s photos too. and there are some amazing people taking part from all over the world. check ‘em out!

if you don’t have or don’t want instagram (which is totally fine!), then simply post your pics on facebook or on your blog. but, let me know, so i can follow along. i’ll do my best to spread the word that you are participating. however, the best way to create a photo journey community is actually on instagram. buuuuut, there is one more option… you can post your photos every day to belovelive’s facebook page! perhaps we can get that community growing as well! invite your FB friends to “like” belovelive’s page and then our community will spread even further & wider! think of all the inspiration! click here to go to belovelive’s page.

my dear followers and friends, i think that i will be more visible here again, even as i begin new projects. i need to be more visible and active here. this space is all me. it helps me breathe. it grounds me. and i have missed being here regularly so very much. at the same time, i recognize that times have changed. my life has changed. i am no longer an american in sweden searching for where she belongs and experiencing a new way of life every day. i do not need this place to process my new swedish life. however, i still need this place. but, instead of putting ideas or thoughts into my head as to what i need this space for or how i will use this space, i will let it evolve organically. i will let it come naturally. because i trust the process.

so, here i am. returning to belovelive (though i never really left, i only put it on the back burner). returning to see where i go next. where my words and thoughts take me. as always, i will share with you my dreams, my everyday life, my photos, my thoughts, and all that inspires me. and we’ll see whatever else pops up…

as i move on.

peace.