Cecilie Conrad logo - dark
Cecilie Conrad logo - light
⌘K
Blog Podcast Unschooling Parent consultant About me
bBlog
pPodcast
uUnschooling
pParent consultant
aAbout me
Back

The silent contrast: Finding peace in quit days | Day 313 of my 2023 Journal

Cecilie Conrad·Nov 10, 2023

The silent contrast.

Some photos are great. Maybe this one will not go down in history, but it does - at least to me - very well represent the days we live here at Playa. On the rooftop terrace in the sunset, splashing in the cool water, just the five of us.

We are making peace with the facts of life here. This is not the Mexico we came to see; this is not a place where we will ever go back - yet somehow, it is the perfect frame for us as we try to find our feet, our souls, and our peace.

We lived about 15 months in the Mercedes before we flew to Cancun.

We traveled in Spain, France, and Scandinavia, back down to Holland, Belgium, France, and Spain again, then the trip over the Mediterranean to Civitavecchia, and drove to Sicily, where we had some pause in beautiful Vila Nina.

In February this year, we were on a road trip around Sicily before zigzagging all over Italy in March and (half of) April.

We lived for a month at a castle in Normandie, sleeping in the van and hanging out with many travelers, mostly Americans soon to become our new great friends.

Scandinavia again, before another road trip through Holland, Belgium, and France, before we spend six weeks in England, moving around like ants.

As a Grand Finale, we walked 270 km of the Camino de Santiago before we drove back to Catalunia to visit the grandparents, ship and let go of most of our stuff, sell the bus, and pack the backpacks.

We did, indeed, need a pause without having to plan for it.

Playa used to be a slow town by the waters, now it is a buzzing playground for gringos, and we find ourselves to be some of them.

We can laugh about it, and we can observe the little things that seem real - but we are facing our own music: We wanted to go somewhere NOT interesting so we could calm down and stay home and work on our private projects for mind and body.

We did not expect it to be this repelling, but it works.

We hide at the rooftop in the cool waters, ignoring the craziness out there.

And we are learning to appreciate it.

We needed a place where we didn’t want to go out.

And now we have it.

Perfect?

With love

Cecilie-Underskrift-300x133

Cecilie Conrad

Thank you for reading
I would love to hear from you. Listen to your thoughts and reflections - or praise :) It is often emotional to share our lives like this, and we get very happy when we get your feedback. So feel free to share a comment below 😋 

See more images on Facebook

Previous Exploring Tulum's Mayan Ruins and Cenotes | Day 314 of my 2023 Journal
Next Beyond the Destination: Discovery and Connection | Day 312 (again) of my 2023 Journal

Comments

Write a comment...
00:00 Recording...

Unschooling and Parent consulting, conversations, blogposts, and podcasts on family life and learning

Hi, I'm Cecilie Conrad. I'm a trained psychologist, mother of four, radical unschooler and full-time traveller. I have lived with unschooling for over a decade and help other families find their own path – whether it is about homeschooling, unschooling, or the bigger question of how you want to live as a family.

I offer guidance, conversations and talks. I call my work grandmothering – not coaching in the traditional sense, but presence, professional insight and concrete help navigating motherhood and finding your way home to your own values.

Am I the right person to help you? You can book a free discovery call, and we'll talk and figure it out.

Unschooling & Parent Consultant
Grandmothering – not coaching. Read more here

Listen to my podcasts

I share my knowledge and curiosity about family life and learning in my two podcasts.

Listen here
Listen here

Read my latest blogposts

Beyond the Destination: Discovery and Connection | Day 312 (again) of my 2023 Journal
Sometimes, you just need to take a long walk to uncover life's simple joys. From birdwatching to appreciating local ingenuity, Join me on a journey o…Read more
To find what can not be found | Day 312 of my 2023 Journal
Explore the depths of self-discovery and the pursuit of balance, inspired by tales from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' to 'Alice in Wonderland'. A person…Read more
Contemplating Silence: A Personal Reflection on Disconnect and Discontent | Day 311 (again) of my 2023 Journal
I am in no state to write. I feel like I have nothing to say. Equally, I feel like nobody is listening anyway. Who am I even talking to? The rough v…Read more
Sometimes, we fall: Together Through Life's Ups and Downs | Day 311 of my 2023 Journal
Join us as we navigate life's challenges, finding solace in each other and in the rich cultural tapestry of Huichol art. A story of love, healing, an…Read more
Finding Meaning in Life's Wandering Journeys | Day 310 of my 2023 Journal
We embrace the beauty of life's unstructured paths. We enjoy the simple moments, from marveling at street art to hunting for board games and art supp…Read more
Embracing Imperfection: The Journey of Preserving a Writing Streak Amidst Chaos | Day 309 of my 2023 Journal
I'm balancing family, work, and travel. It's a journey of finding joy in the most unexpected moments. On top, I'm trying to maintain my writing strea…Read more
I Resisted the Urge to Take Pictures and Found Magic in the Everyday | Day 308 of my 2023 Journal
I resisted the urge to take pictures and found magic in the everyday. A day's journey in local authenticity and unexpected enlightenment. Read more
Moments with Meaning: Coffee, Conversations, and Life's Little Lessons | Day 307 of my 2023 Journal
Birds. Sugar. Jesus. Balance. The simple joys of life, like sharing a cup of coffee with loved ones. Discover how a mundane moment can hold profound …Read more
Crossing the Line: From Bystander to Participant in Cultural Festivities | Day 306 of my 2023 Journal
Delve into the heart of cultural immersion as we navigate the delicate balance between observing and participating in local traditions. Join us in re…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 10 11 12 13 14 … 48 49 50 Next
Beyond the Destination: Discovery and Connection | Day 312 (again) of my 2023 Journal
Sometimes, you just need to take a long walk to uncover life's simple joys. From birdwatching to appreciating local ingenuity, Join me on a journey o…Read more
To find what can not be found | Day 312 of my 2023 Journal
Explore the depths of self-discovery and the pursuit of balance, inspired by tales from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' to 'Alice in Wonderland'. A person…Read more
Contemplating Silence: A Personal Reflection on Disconnect and Discontent | Day 311 (again) of my 2023 Journal
I am in no state to write. I feel like I have nothing to say. Equally, I feel like nobody is listening anyway. Who am I even talking to? The rough v…Read more
Sometimes, we fall: Together Through Life's Ups and Downs | Day 311 of my 2023 Journal
Join us as we navigate life's challenges, finding solace in each other and in the rich cultural tapestry of Huichol art. A story of love, healing, an…Read more
Finding Meaning in Life's Wandering Journeys | Day 310 of my 2023 Journal
We embrace the beauty of life's unstructured paths. We enjoy the simple moments, from marveling at street art to hunting for board games and art supp…Read more
Embracing Imperfection: The Journey of Preserving a Writing Streak Amidst Chaos | Day 309 of my 2023 Journal
I'm balancing family, work, and travel. It's a journey of finding joy in the most unexpected moments. On top, I'm trying to maintain my writing strea…Read more
I Resisted the Urge to Take Pictures and Found Magic in the Everyday | Day 308 of my 2023 Journal
I resisted the urge to take pictures and found magic in the everyday. A day's journey in local authenticity and unexpected enlightenment. Read more
Moments with Meaning: Coffee, Conversations, and Life's Little Lessons | Day 307 of my 2023 Journal
Birds. Sugar. Jesus. Balance. The simple joys of life, like sharing a cup of coffee with loved ones. Discover how a mundane moment can hold profound …Read more
Crossing the Line: From Bystander to Participant in Cultural Festivities | Day 306 of my 2023 Journal
Delve into the heart of cultural immersion as we navigate the delicate balance between observing and participating in local traditions. Join us in re…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 10 11 12 13 14 … 48 49 50 Next
See all my blogposts
Cecilie Conrad logo - dark
Cecilie Conrad logo - light
Blog
All my blogposts Unschooling 365 Days Challenge 2023
Podcast
The Ladies Fixing the World Self Directed
About me
My story - Cecilie Conrad Stay Updated: Get my Newsletter Visit my danish site CecilieConrad.dk
Consulting
Parent and unschooling support Free Discovery Call - Text me on WhatsApp Testimonials: What Others Say Prices and payment options