I believe that if you are a curious person, you will have many passions throughout your life. I have several, like running, traveling, studying and meeting people. I’d like to focus on that last one in this post.
One of the great joys that the Internet has given me is the opportunity to meet people that I probably would not have met otherwise. This includes all the youtubers from around the world that were so central to my life, especially between the years 2009-2018. It begain internationally, but as the platform grew with active creators, so did these new friendships also form here in Sweden.
But it’s not just about other creators. Because I do what I do with my content, first on youtube and now also on instagram, I have the privilege of meeting people that share both my love for languages, but also the need to connect with people. It can be someone who recognizes me on the street. It can be someone writing to say that they’re coming to Stockholm and ask if I wanna hang out. It can be me finding people to film with that then grows into mutual following and friendship. So much of this is about interaction and curiosity. What can I learn from this person, what can they learn from me?
I have so many stories to tell you about and I am grateful for every single one of them. When people who share a similar level of energy meet, great things can happen.
I have never sought to be famous. I just want to be respected for what I do, and who I am in other people’s life. Because of my many years in front of a camera and my continued passion for creating, something not triggered by online success but rather from the need to do it, I suddenly find myself with a quickly growing account. I see the comments, I read the DMs and it fills me with so much pride, for the mere reason that I have place, a function in other people’s awareness. To be able to contribute to the passion of others is an amazing feeling. It’s a win-win.
A few years ago, we had a running thing in the comments of my posts of how incredible it would be to rent a big house in the woods somewhere in Sweden and just gather a bunch of us there for a weekend. Strangers at first, but quickly turning into people with a passion to connect, a passion for languages and a passion for making the world better because we get to meet across different backgrounds and cultures. How cool would that be? Definitely something to work towards.
And you know what? I would love to be able to share some of your stories as well. What is it like to study in Sweden? What is it like to learn a language from halfway around the world? Why are you learning Swedish? What is it like to live here as someone who emigrated here? These are all stories that I truly believe others could benefit from and feel inspired by. For as much as the Internet is a screen that we alone have in front of us, it can also be a gateway to amazing friendships and connections. Being able to bring people and their stories together is something that drives me.
We’re in this together, my friends. So let’s make the best of it.
24 October, 2022 at 11:31
We have connected o/ \o You transcend your passion into your everyday work. This article, especially, brings lots of things that connects me to your passion of making the world better through meeting new people. Yes, we first put our passion on what we are and what we do ( it is written in my book 😀 ), and growth is just a mere coinsequence. Curiosity is a fuel for experiencing the world and practsing empathy among people who run into our lives. I am greatful for seeing your passion with what you and how you communicate with everyone who gets to you. Thank you.Cheers!! 🙂
24 October, 2022 at 14:02
You are like a fulfilled prophecy of the post <3
It is so amazing to be able to connect with people in ways where your geographical place does not limit you. You have the whole connected world to find like-minded people with their own stories. What a time to be alive!
25 October, 2022 at 00:55
Yes, I am! 🙂 It’s really a great time to be living this special moment, connected here and in the other social medias to people beyond our frontiers and joined to our dreams, passions and experiences,like you and yoir followers <3
28 October, 2022 at 05:57
A house in the woods full of strangers? Count me in! I’m a Scout, I know this will be fun. I don’t know if we have the same level of energy – you are like a hurricane! – but I recognize the same curiosity and optimism. I have many passions – studying (million things), teaching, scouting, painting (badly), watching old movies, playing with my dogs. I love people, especially when I can see their hearts and they touch me, or I touch them somehow. And I love Swedish – or maybe I love Sweden and everything about it. I don’t know anymore what happened first. A journalist once suggested it was “Astrid Lindgrens magi ” 🙂 Learning Swedish from halfway around the world is… difficult, expensive, a great practice for the imagination and I’m not even certain that I’m learning. No, I am. It is a leap of faith. But it is almost impossible to find a book in Swedish here. Last year I found Carl Larsson’s watercolors and I almost cried… Anyway, you do make a difference in my life. A daily dose of Swedish surprise keeps the passion alive. I think you touch us all with your generosity, your joy and enthusiasm. Thank you! oohh and thanks for Hanna Turi singing Uti vår hage, I’ll never forget that!