You're kidding, this is where I've traveled in my life, to Provence.
In the photo, me, intoxicated with freedom, on a Finnlines ship from Helsinki to Travemunde. The car is in the hold and I'm eating delicacies at the ship's buffet. After filling up my small car with everything possible from leftover food to garden decorations, I shook off the tires of my hometown and headed towards a new life in France.
My dream has come true. Amazing.
But, lest this sound too envious, I will tell you that the road here has been painful, so difficult in fact that I never thought I would make it out alive.
Here I live now, in a shuttered stone house in the middle of an old olive grove, watching the sunrises and sunsets over the Mediterranean.
My path to my home has been through thousands of horrible twists and turns, although on the outside it may seem very straightforward, and because of that I am even brave.
In truth, I have been full of fear and despair for years. You wouldn't want to trade places with me. I am convinced of that. Believe it.
I'm ashamed of how easy my life seems and how apparently things have gone well in many ways, and my life seems far too fine if you look at the surface: this house, this change of life from Finland to Provence.
Okay. My 25-year marriage with three children, dogs, vacations and second homes turned out to be a lie and me a gullible "fool". The revelation of this nearly broke me.
Now I'm creating myself again, learning new steps and confidence in throwing myself.
I finally love life.
Here in Provence <3
I'm standing. I'm alive, I'm breathing, and there are an unimaginable number of exciting new collaborations and projects going on, both in Finland and here in France. One of these would also open La Petite Provence's online store when it comes to fruition <3 Now let's see where everything leads and which plans will be realized and how they might still change.
Yes, we will be carried, dear friends, yes, we will be carried. In any case.
With gratitude and zest for life,
Katariina greets and sends warm thoughts to all of you <3
Ps. If you long for a change, to reflect on your identity and even possibly need to change it, and you think you'd enjoy spending a week in the spring of Provence, please get in touch. Together with my wonderful friends, I'm organizing a transition preparation retreat in a lovely Provençal setting with the theme "Finally free!" in signs. Ask me more if you get excited <3
P. 040 7203581 / Katariina