Two days have passed since I left Åre. My four days there were intense. Filled with lots of fun, laughter, inspiration, amazing people, activities and work. I’ve seen Åre in both heavy snowfall and beautiful sunshine and I can really understand why people choose to live there. It actually feels a little bit like home, with the mountains and the water – and all the snow. The nature is almost as breathtaking as it is here, in the far north.
My drive home took 10 hours. I only stopped three times to use the toilet and refill my coffee. Ten long, lonely hours on the road – in storm, snowfall and darkness – takes it’s toll on both body and mind. I came home just in time to read a goodnight story to Erik. I fell asleep beside him and didn’t wake up until ten hours later. I guess driving that far requires just as much time sleeping, in order to get back on track.
Driving through northern Sweden can be lonesome. But it is so beautiful.
Åre was great in so many ways. Amazing people with interesting stories, who generously shared their knowledge and experience from life in general, and blogging specifically. The activities we did, snowmobiling and skiing (snowboarding in my case), were just as fun and beautiful as I had hoped. The arrangements of the whole workation/unconference thing were on point, Sara and Linda made a great job putting it all together. Work and fun in a perfect mix, with great opportunities to get to know one another.
The first night at this years workation, getting to know all these great people.
Ready for a snowmobile tour with Åreguiderna. Driving through beautiful forests and over frozen lakes. Nothing new, but oh so beautiful.
Jacqueline with her eyes on the prize. In this case, a snowmobile to take us through the forests outside of Åre.
It’s been slow days at home since I came back. It feels like I have filled my soul and mind with inspiration and energy, and gotten confused and tired at the same time. My head is slow, my body tired and my focus is everywhere and nowhere, all at once. I try to refocus and stay sharp and productive, but the harder I try – the further away my thoughts wander.
The restaurant Grow at Holiday Club Åre serves great food. This time everything on our menu was vegetarian. Always good combinations and great taste. A delight to eat here every night.
It’s not always that you return from events like these filled with energy. Sometimes it works the opposite. All the information, inspiration and knowledge can mess up your mind and throw you off the tracks. Sometimes it’s just what you need, getting a push in the right direction. This time I feel like I was going somewhere, and now I don’t know where to start again.
I’m gonna let all the impressions sink in and let my soul catch up with my mind. This weekend I’m just gonna rest, spend time with family and let my thoughts be exactly where they are. Inspiration and energy will come, sooner or later. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to not push it. When the water around you settles, you’ll be able to see clearly again. I hope I will after this weekend is over.
Photo: Jacqueline Wester. Snowboarding in Åre was a delight. Not much people in the slopes, soft fluffy snow and plenty of slopes to explore. I’ll have to come back for a little off-piste snowboarding though, another time.
