Thank you, Stephanie! So far it's been amazing, but I'm also aware that the story is still being written, so I hope it will continue being the right decision!
What a beautiful metaphor. Kismet wasn't just waiting to be restored, she was quietly restoring you too. I loved this. Wishing you every success with the memoir. X
Thank you, Claire! It's almost too perfect, I worry people will think I made it up 😅 and I didn't know what Kismet meant until I got her, it was such a brilliant surprise when I realised. We really did help eachother in the end :)
I read all three fantastic instalments, Alexander.
What an amazing journey of self-discovery and finding your values. I think there are several universal lessons for readers too- I personally have a validation issue. Perhaps it formed in school and university days: a need to always be the best, which is usually neither healthy nor sustainable. And I think the way you pivoted that drive into ambition was such an elegant solution- a powerful mindshift. One that I hope to put into practice myself. Thanks so much for sharing.
And Kısmet really was the best name for the sailboat. What an irresistible call to change!
Realised I had missed this lovely comment! Thank you so much for reading, Simon, it really means a lot that it has resonated with your experience as well, this is the highest form of compliment for writing here, and I’m really honoured that it can be a source of inspiration 💙
Thank you Dave, that is very kind! Such a lovely compliment! Though I haven't read that specific book, I'm vaguely familiar with the story and I love Ursula le Guins writing. I look forward to reading it!
It is a very beautiful and wholly absorbing story, but also a gentle and wise allegory about life, and self understanding. I assume she wrote it for a teenage readership - she also wrote excellent novels that are much more hard edged and "adult" - but "A Wizard of Earthsea" is simply beautiful.
Love the 'cosmic serendipity' at play here. What strikes me from reading your post is that your heart was open - open enough to receive 'Kismet'. A wondrous gift - a life-line from life itself, and you trusted it. Wishing you further serendipitous moments as you continue your journey...It has been said, life writes the best stories - your writings wonderfully reflects this. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Writing about it all really highlights just how serendipitous it was, and it's good to reflect on the incredible fortune. But I guess in many other circumstances it might for one reason or another have led to nothing due to life getting in the way, so I'm grateful I was able to make the most of it!
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment! And I'm glad you recognised the Mary Oliver homage, it's a poem that I keep returning to that has helped me immensely, so it seemed appropriate to include a little line from it!
What a journey, Alexander! It seems to be the universal human condition.. to feel fear, and to feel not good enough.. no matter where we are in life or what we are doing. I love that throughout the whole process, you had an inkling that this wasn't feeding you in the right ways. You ultimately listened to that feeling and that allowed new things to come in. And how wonderful to be given a boat, to change course and find your way, in a completely different (and freeing) way! All of it was necessary to get you to the place you are now. Wonderful story and photos.
Thank you, Jaime! It does seem to be something everyone faces at one time or another. I'm grateful to have been so fortunate to have been given a boat, and that I found a way to make the most of it! It helped me get to a point where I started listening inwards instead of to what the world thinks, and that's transformed my happiness!
Thank you! I really have written it as a neat conclusion, haven't I? I'm very conscious of the fact that the story is still actively ongoing, and though the essence of it appears in retrospect, it was difficult to navigate whilst in it!
There were many twists and turns on the way here, and I expect there will be many more to come, but hopefully now I can navigate them with a little more clarity :)
It's a confluence of life really. I have always been intrigued by Edinburgh, and it was the first place I ever visited outside Sweden when I was 17! Then over the years my partner and I visited a few times, and when she was offered a PhD here it felt like the obvious choice! It's my favourite city I've ever lived in, and since I started sailing it's made even more sense, having close access both to hiking, sailing, whisky and that indescribable gothic mystique 🏴
What a beautiful reminder that we can break the chains of corporate culture and live again.
Thank you, Stephanie! So far it's been amazing, but I'm also aware that the story is still being written, so I hope it will continue being the right decision!
What a beautiful metaphor. Kismet wasn't just waiting to be restored, she was quietly restoring you too. I loved this. Wishing you every success with the memoir. X
Thank you, Claire! It's almost too perfect, I worry people will think I made it up 😅 and I didn't know what Kismet meant until I got her, it was such a brilliant surprise when I realised. We really did help eachother in the end :)
I read all three fantastic instalments, Alexander.
What an amazing journey of self-discovery and finding your values. I think there are several universal lessons for readers too- I personally have a validation issue. Perhaps it formed in school and university days: a need to always be the best, which is usually neither healthy nor sustainable. And I think the way you pivoted that drive into ambition was such an elegant solution- a powerful mindshift. One that I hope to put into practice myself. Thanks so much for sharing.
And Kısmet really was the best name for the sailboat. What an irresistible call to change!
Realised I had missed this lovely comment! Thank you so much for reading, Simon, it really means a lot that it has resonated with your experience as well, this is the highest form of compliment for writing here, and I’m really honoured that it can be a source of inspiration 💙
You’re living a dream, young man. Continued luck and calm seas.
Thank you very much, I do feel very fortunate!
Lovely to catch up with this post, and I find your exploration of ambition and self worth deeply thought-provoking 🙏🌿
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really happy it resonated
Hey Alexander
I have read each part of this with deep interest, and delight that you found your way.
It lends new meaning to the phrase "all at sea." You were, in fact "all at sea" while on land, but once you were literally at sea, you found yourself.
It reminds me of the ending of Ursula le Guin's beautiful book - "A Wizard of Earthsea."
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Thank you Dave, that is very kind! Such a lovely compliment! Though I haven't read that specific book, I'm vaguely familiar with the story and I love Ursula le Guins writing. I look forward to reading it!
It is a very beautiful and wholly absorbing story, but also a gentle and wise allegory about life, and self understanding. I assume she wrote it for a teenage readership - she also wrote excellent novels that are much more hard edged and "adult" - but "A Wizard of Earthsea" is simply beautiful.
The sea and voyages feature prominently.
D :)
Love the 'cosmic serendipity' at play here. What strikes me from reading your post is that your heart was open - open enough to receive 'Kismet'. A wondrous gift - a life-line from life itself, and you trusted it. Wishing you further serendipitous moments as you continue your journey...It has been said, life writes the best stories - your writings wonderfully reflects this. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! Writing about it all really highlights just how serendipitous it was, and it's good to reflect on the incredible fortune. But I guess in many other circumstances it might for one reason or another have led to nothing due to life getting in the way, so I'm grateful I was able to make the most of it!
Beautiful writing. I read all 3 parts and really felt the journey. I've been working on writing about burnout, too...from teaching.
Btw...aren't these lines from Mary Oliver? "the wild geese announcing my place in the family of things."
Thank you for reading and for your kind comment! And I'm glad you recognised the Mary Oliver homage, it's a poem that I keep returning to that has helped me immensely, so it seemed appropriate to include a little line from it!
What a journey, Alexander! It seems to be the universal human condition.. to feel fear, and to feel not good enough.. no matter where we are in life or what we are doing. I love that throughout the whole process, you had an inkling that this wasn't feeding you in the right ways. You ultimately listened to that feeling and that allowed new things to come in. And how wonderful to be given a boat, to change course and find your way, in a completely different (and freeing) way! All of it was necessary to get you to the place you are now. Wonderful story and photos.
Thank you, Jaime! It does seem to be something everyone faces at one time or another. I'm grateful to have been so fortunate to have been given a boat, and that I found a way to make the most of it! It helped me get to a point where I started listening inwards instead of to what the world thinks, and that's transformed my happiness!
Beautiful photographs, and a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy!
Thank you! I really have written it as a neat conclusion, haven't I? I'm very conscious of the fact that the story is still actively ongoing, and though the essence of it appears in retrospect, it was difficult to navigate whilst in it!
There were many twists and turns on the way here, and I expect there will be many more to come, but hopefully now I can navigate them with a little more clarity :)
Why did you choose scotland?
It's a confluence of life really. I have always been intrigued by Edinburgh, and it was the first place I ever visited outside Sweden when I was 17! Then over the years my partner and I visited a few times, and when she was offered a PhD here it felt like the obvious choice! It's my favourite city I've ever lived in, and since I started sailing it's made even more sense, having close access both to hiking, sailing, whisky and that indescribable gothic mystique 🏴