Last week I ventured out to what I consider
one of the most beautiful areas in England.
Although there are many, of course,
but this place stole a piece of my heart
two years ago,
when I only just began exploring English countryside.
The majestic rolling hills of Peak District,
a place where I made my first memories
of my first ever long road trip.
A place where I nearly got lost while wandering
the most beautiful hills covered in purple heather,
under a rare golden sunshine that was disappearing
too fast in the late summer evening.
A place where I, for the first time,
finally discovered my love for nature.
For the slow and peaceful life I’ve continued
building over these past two years.
Life changed quite a bit since then.
And I feel anxious and excited
thinking how much it can change in the years to come.
This time I visited Peak District with a purpose.
I remember walking through a beautiful
heather covered path two years ago
and seeing tiny blue berries on green bushes
dotted amongst the purple of heather,
which I only now realized were bilberries
or huckleberries, whortleberries or simply wild blueberries,
depending on where you come from.
They are from the same family
as the regular cultivated blueberries,
though they are smaller and more intense and flavor.
I remember eating them as a child.
They grew in the forested areas in the country
I was born in
and picking them on a rare occasion with family
was an activity that imprinted strongly in my memory.
I was always a city person and moments like
these were most special ones.
Even if back then I didn't fully understand it.
What I find so incredible is that nature keeps providing us
with wild, seasonal foods
which are available for anyone to pick
In the world where everything is so readily available
to purchase from the supermarkets all year long,
there is something so special in
being able to find and harvest your own food,
whether by growing it in your garden
or foraging for it in nature.
Yet so many of us walk past without giving it
any thought, which is understandable, of course.
I feel like we are constantly made to believe
that anything that grows in the wilderness
is meant to be dangerous for us.
And I myself had these misconceptions.
Of course, I would not suggest collecting plants for food
unless you are fully sure that they are safe to eat.
And there are many books, resources
and knowledgeable people to seek advice from.
I made a bilberry cake with berries I foraged in Peak District.
It's my birthday this week and I spent a lot of time
reflecting on my life and past decisions.
The month before my birthday is always the most difficult one.
I often feel a bit more reflective and emotional in July.
I turn 29 on Saturday, the last year of my twenties
and years ago I tried to imagine what my life would look like by now.
If I'm completely honest,
it's not even close to where I imagined myself to be
or shall I say it's completely different.
I haven't reached the career goals I had in my twenties,
haven’t bought a house yet,
haven't “made it” in a conventional, successful
with lots of money type of way.
But I question this daily -
does straying from the original plan make me less successful?
I changed careers multiple times in the past decade,
changed my goals and ambitions
and even ideas
of who I actually want to be as a human being.
This week, as I enter the last year of this decade,
I feel like I'm starting again with a clean slate.
My mind is open to change and possibilities
and my heart is full of love
for what I've managed to build up until now.
What my naive, young and inexperienced 20-something
year old self cultivated through these years
that led me to this moment today,
even if completely different to
anything I could ever imagine.
I was always afraid of getting older, you know,
afraid of time running so fast, so mercilessly
slipping through my fingers like sand.
But today I feel a little excited.
Excited for the next chapter, for the life that is ahead.
Perhaps our twenties are meant for mistakes,
for silly decisions,
for life building, life altering,
and even life breaking choices
which eventually will all intertwine
and merge into the most wonderful
and strongest version of self.
No matter where life takes me,
which goals I achieve or toss away into the wind,
whether I run through the streets of a big, loud,
busy city, or daydream blissfully
in the quiet of a tiny cottage garden
under the faint August sun.
All I want is to always stay true to that curious,
hopeless romantic self,
seeking tiny moments of beauty in life.
No matter who I become,
this curiosity, seeing the nuance, will always be my superpower.
Thank you for spending your time today with me.
I will see you again next week.