Wonderful post, Amy—loved the glimpse into your new life in Barcelona. And to be living near your daughters! It sounds ideal. This is a bad time in the US, and just thinking of Steve Winwood’s young plaintive voice makes me tear up. I hope we can find our way home, but it’s going to be a long time, I think.
Thank you Sarah! For reading & sharing your kind thoughts on my new chapter. It is just wonderful to be here but I worry for those I know & love and those I don’t know but still care about who will be negatively affected by the regime in the U.S. I hold onto my core belief that love is stronger than hate. Wishing you well, Sarah💗
Amy, reading your joys and delights as you experience life in your new home is such a delight! Light and love radiates from your words here (and your pictures too), warming me up on this cold day north of Toronto, yet another snowstorm on the way. My way to embrace it (to try and quell those thoughts that just want April to be here already) is to go play/shovel/walk/hike/snowshoe in the fresh snow – to make friends with nature, even when the weather isn't so agreeable. I love the idea of an Offline Club! Thanks for warming up my day!
Glad u are settling in well and so good that u are close to your family! Like hearing about your adventures. Remember most of the news you hear will be the negative things happening in the US esp in Europe There is still a lot of good in our country happening every day that the media does not cover.
I'm so happy for you that the love theme for you this Valentine's Day is Mother-Daughter Love 💖I can sense your great excitement to be living close to your two precious daughters after so many years with an ocean apart.
I understand the two opposing emotions tugging at your heart strings at the same time. One doesn't need to cancel the other. In fact, leaning into light, music and creativity, you're sharing the joy with us. Keep shining!
As for me, not much of any of these three. Well, at least the sun sets a little later, so I still get to catch a bit of light after work. As for music, it's funny you should mention The Rite of Spring (Rite should be singular). I resorted to blasting it on my speaker to my downstairs neighbors this past weekend, when I've had it with their incessant TV blasting that shook up my entire apartment. I had to apologize to Stravinsky for abusing his composition this way! Unfortunately it wasn't enough to bring any sort of self-awareness from my neighbors. Publishing a new Substack after a hiatus of a month was the little bit of creativity that I exercised. As the person you mentioned in your writing who experienced anxiety and depression, I appreciate your empathy toward my feelings.
Louisa, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment (and correcting my spelling of Rite of Spring, thank you!) I will continue to lean into the qualities of life that inspire me and share, in the hopes it lifts the spirit of others. I had to laugh when I read how you used Rite of Spring to "blast" your neighbor a message about their rudeness regarding the incessant TV (a sound I hate as well). I am so glad you published a new essay, too. And yes, it was of course you I referred to in this piece and I am always here to listen and empathize. Life is challenging now, but let's keep leaning toward the light, together.
Reading of the beauty you describe in your new home, all that you're experiencing, sounds so incredible. The gathering of The Offline Club at the Secret Garden sounds absolutely magical. <3
I keep turning back to you, Amy because you are a person who keeps turning. You keep turning towards the light and I always feel lighter after exposure to your words.
I love reading about how you are settling in. That view! Whoa. Super excited for you that THAT is now in your backyard.
And like you, I believe joy and sorrow hold hands. It's all a balance of one foot in the hard and the other in what gets you through. Without the dark, we can't feel the light on our face, right? We'll get through these hard times. Love always wins.
Like you, the greatest love I've ever known is in the faces of my kids - staring back at me. It reminds me of the song from Carly Simon - Love of my Life (written for her children).
Nature, music and other writers who write from their hearts (like you!) are bringing me serenity these days.
Allison, your comment about the turning brought tears to my eyes. How moved I am that you see me that way. I read aloud tearfully your comment to my daughter Marielle & she gave me a hug. And then I played’Love of my life’ for her💗thank you for reminding me of that song. ‘without the dark, we can’t feel the light on our face.’ Beautiful. So glad your sources of serenity are nourishing you.
Life truly is a balancing act and never more so than in these trying times. The temptation is to bury my head in the sand but I can't quite reconcile that approach with the sense of resposnibility I feel for staying informed and sensitive to what's happening all around us. But gratitude and appreciation for life's small wonders is indeed a great antidote to the constant amplification of misery on the airwaves.
So glad to hear how well you're settling in, and excited to be following along on your new adventure!
So eloquently said, Barbara. We are like-minded in this way, seeking out the balance, always. What are you grateful for and what small wonders and delights are you noticing lately?
I am so very very happy to be here in Barcelona/Badalona, and look forward to seeing you in Sweden later this year.
Oh Amy, it is so wonderful to see you in your new home in Barcelona! It suits you!! You’re looking radiant! what an inspiration you are! And thank you for the mention. I will do more meditations in the future. Big hug.
Thank you for the kind words and I was so glad to find you offered a yoga nidra edition in The Art of Lite Living. You sent me off to sleep last night!
Hello Amy. I am a 57 year old Brit living in Alicante and wouldn’t return to the UK for anything! We have problems here in Spain too but with the sun shining and people who smile and say hello in passing, not to mention the variety of fruit and vegetables, I feel blessed to be able to live here. Your writing filled my soul this morning and I hit the subscribe button without a second’s thought. I’m now off to listen to the music you recommend and continue my studies of Miguel Hernández. Have a great day! 😎
Louisa, I am so honored with your paid subscription, thank you! I see that Spain has worked its magic on you, too. How long have you lived in Alicante? It already feels like a blessing to have the privilege to live here easily, thanks to my EU (Swedish) passport. There is no greater compliment for me than you saying my writing filled your soul. I hope you enjoy the music. And thank you for mentioning Miguel Hernández. I love discovering new poetry, especially poets native to my new adopted country of Spain. I see from this link that Pablo Neruda described Hernandez this way: "His face was the face of Spain." https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Spanish/Hernandez.php What is your favorite poem of his?
I’ve been in Spain for about 16 years, backwards and forwards from the UK, but then Brexit happened and I made the decision to move here permanently 8 years ago. I’m to the south of Alicante now
Yes I too am thinking of Spain. I agree with all you said but no matter what I choose to be of the light and to lift up all humanity. Sadly the US is going through some things like you pointed out. Such a beautiful article!!! Enjoy!!
SO exciting to see you in your new life. That afternoon of creating, connecting, and yoga nidra sounds divine!
Thanks for sharing with us, Amy.
Thank you Cynthia! I feel like I’ve landed in just the right place for my next (creative) act.
Wonderful post, Amy—loved the glimpse into your new life in Barcelona. And to be living near your daughters! It sounds ideal. This is a bad time in the US, and just thinking of Steve Winwood’s young plaintive voice makes me tear up. I hope we can find our way home, but it’s going to be a long time, I think.
Thank you Sarah! For reading & sharing your kind thoughts on my new chapter. It is just wonderful to be here but I worry for those I know & love and those I don’t know but still care about who will be negatively affected by the regime in the U.S. I hold onto my core belief that love is stronger than hate. Wishing you well, Sarah💗
Amy, reading your joys and delights as you experience life in your new home is such a delight! Light and love radiates from your words here (and your pictures too), warming me up on this cold day north of Toronto, yet another snowstorm on the way. My way to embrace it (to try and quell those thoughts that just want April to be here already) is to go play/shovel/walk/hike/snowshoe in the fresh snow – to make friends with nature, even when the weather isn't so agreeable. I love the idea of an Offline Club! Thanks for warming up my day!
Glad u are settling in well and so good that u are close to your family! Like hearing about your adventures. Remember most of the news you hear will be the negative things happening in the US esp in Europe There is still a lot of good in our country happening every day that the media does not cover.
Wishing you all the best in Barcelona, Amy!
Thanks Linda!
I'm so happy for you that the love theme for you this Valentine's Day is Mother-Daughter Love 💖I can sense your great excitement to be living close to your two precious daughters after so many years with an ocean apart.
I understand the two opposing emotions tugging at your heart strings at the same time. One doesn't need to cancel the other. In fact, leaning into light, music and creativity, you're sharing the joy with us. Keep shining!
As for me, not much of any of these three. Well, at least the sun sets a little later, so I still get to catch a bit of light after work. As for music, it's funny you should mention The Rite of Spring (Rite should be singular). I resorted to blasting it on my speaker to my downstairs neighbors this past weekend, when I've had it with their incessant TV blasting that shook up my entire apartment. I had to apologize to Stravinsky for abusing his composition this way! Unfortunately it wasn't enough to bring any sort of self-awareness from my neighbors. Publishing a new Substack after a hiatus of a month was the little bit of creativity that I exercised. As the person you mentioned in your writing who experienced anxiety and depression, I appreciate your empathy toward my feelings.
Louisa, thank you for reading and your thoughtful comment (and correcting my spelling of Rite of Spring, thank you!) I will continue to lean into the qualities of life that inspire me and share, in the hopes it lifts the spirit of others. I had to laugh when I read how you used Rite of Spring to "blast" your neighbor a message about their rudeness regarding the incessant TV (a sound I hate as well). I am so glad you published a new essay, too. And yes, it was of course you I referred to in this piece and I am always here to listen and empathize. Life is challenging now, but let's keep leaning toward the light, together.
"Keep leaning toward the light"--I like that. I'm visualizing myself doing that, just like my plants 😁🌱
Beautiful! Glad it helped!
Reading of the beauty you describe in your new home, all that you're experiencing, sounds so incredible. The gathering of The Offline Club at the Secret Garden sounds absolutely magical. <3
Thank you Nicole!
I keep turning back to you, Amy because you are a person who keeps turning. You keep turning towards the light and I always feel lighter after exposure to your words.
I love reading about how you are settling in. That view! Whoa. Super excited for you that THAT is now in your backyard.
And like you, I believe joy and sorrow hold hands. It's all a balance of one foot in the hard and the other in what gets you through. Without the dark, we can't feel the light on our face, right? We'll get through these hard times. Love always wins.
Like you, the greatest love I've ever known is in the faces of my kids - staring back at me. It reminds me of the song from Carly Simon - Love of my Life (written for her children).
Nature, music and other writers who write from their hearts (like you!) are bringing me serenity these days.
Allison, your comment about the turning brought tears to my eyes. How moved I am that you see me that way. I read aloud tearfully your comment to my daughter Marielle & she gave me a hug. And then I played’Love of my life’ for her💗thank you for reminding me of that song. ‘without the dark, we can’t feel the light on our face.’ Beautiful. So glad your sources of serenity are nourishing you.
Life truly is a balancing act and never more so than in these trying times. The temptation is to bury my head in the sand but I can't quite reconcile that approach with the sense of resposnibility I feel for staying informed and sensitive to what's happening all around us. But gratitude and appreciation for life's small wonders is indeed a great antidote to the constant amplification of misery on the airwaves.
So glad to hear how well you're settling in, and excited to be following along on your new adventure!
So eloquently said, Barbara. We are like-minded in this way, seeking out the balance, always. What are you grateful for and what small wonders and delights are you noticing lately?
I am so very very happy to be here in Barcelona/Badalona, and look forward to seeing you in Sweden later this year.
Oh Amy, it is so wonderful to see you in your new home in Barcelona! It suits you!! You’re looking radiant! what an inspiration you are! And thank you for the mention. I will do more meditations in the future. Big hug.
Thank you for the kind words and I was so glad to find you offered a yoga nidra edition in The Art of Lite Living. You sent me off to sleep last night!
Amazing!! This makes my day! :)
Hello Amy. I am a 57 year old Brit living in Alicante and wouldn’t return to the UK for anything! We have problems here in Spain too but with the sun shining and people who smile and say hello in passing, not to mention the variety of fruit and vegetables, I feel blessed to be able to live here. Your writing filled my soul this morning and I hit the subscribe button without a second’s thought. I’m now off to listen to the music you recommend and continue my studies of Miguel Hernández. Have a great day! 😎
Louisa, I am so honored with your paid subscription, thank you! I see that Spain has worked its magic on you, too. How long have you lived in Alicante? It already feels like a blessing to have the privilege to live here easily, thanks to my EU (Swedish) passport. There is no greater compliment for me than you saying my writing filled your soul. I hope you enjoy the music. And thank you for mentioning Miguel Hernández. I love discovering new poetry, especially poets native to my new adopted country of Spain. I see from this link that Pablo Neruda described Hernandez this way: "His face was the face of Spain." https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Spanish/Hernandez.php What is your favorite poem of his?
I love many of his poems. El Teen de los Heridos”. And Llegó con Tres Heridas.
I’ve been in Spain for about 16 years, backwards and forwards from the UK, but then Brexit happened and I made the decision to move here permanently 8 years ago. I’m to the south of Alicante now
That’s a long time! I am just getting started and my Spanish is non-existent but looking forward to joining a language class soon.
Yes I too am thinking of Spain. I agree with all you said but no matter what I choose to be of the light and to lift up all humanity. Sadly the US is going through some things like you pointed out. Such a beautiful article!!! Enjoy!!