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

Pompeii had a thing with penises | Day 65 of my 2023 Journal
The secret room in the Archeological Museum of Naples has its own story. The Roman culture in Pompeii had a thing with the penis. Huge aroused ones a…Read more
What if it was easy? | Day 64 of my 2023 Journal
It is important to remember to ask the question: What if it was easy? How would it look? Because easy is not impossible, very often, it is the first …Read more
A rainbow over Scilla | Day 63 of my 2023 Journal
Some days can be defined by a single moment. I will let this one stand with its rainbow. The day was packed, but the rainbow alone would have been en…Read more
Goodbye Sicily | Day 62 of my 2023 Journal
We arrived in Sicily in mid-December. Now we are leaving. Sitting on one of the beaches, watching my seventeen-year-old son walking along the coast, …Read more
Choose happiness: Always | Day 61 of my 2023 Journal
It is a question of mindset, again. Choosing to be happy even when you get a flat tire on the top of a mountain. When I am tired, it can be challengi…Read more
Sicily: We have to talk about the trash! | Day 60 of my 2023 Journal
We have had the opportunity to reflect upon the garbage problem in Sicily. On this island, we have been shocked by how garbage is everywhere. It look…Read more
A Pride Sweater for Yuna, our Dog - Crafting with Purpose | Day 18 of my 2023 Journal
Join me in the delightful tale of knitting a unique Pride sweater for Yuna, our dog, and explore the joys and challenges of creating with purpose and…Read more
Hope vs. Belief: Navigating Life's Dreams and Realities | Day 17 of my 2023 Journal
Explore the intricate dance between hope and belief and how daring to dream shapes the life we create. Join the conversation on optimism and the cour…Read more
Embracing Winter: A Time for Peace, Planning, and Introspection | Day 16 of my 2023 Journal
Discover the tranquility of winter with our slow-living approach. Embrace peaceful routines, mindful planning, and the joy of anticipation for new ad…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 37 38 39 40 41 … 48 49 50 Next
Pompeii had a thing with penises | Day 65 of my 2023 Journal
The secret room in the Archeological Museum of Naples has its own story. The Roman culture in Pompeii had a thing with the penis. Huge aroused ones a…Read more
What if it was easy? | Day 64 of my 2023 Journal
It is important to remember to ask the question: What if it was easy? How would it look? Because easy is not impossible, very often, it is the first …Read more
A rainbow over Scilla | Day 63 of my 2023 Journal
Some days can be defined by a single moment. I will let this one stand with its rainbow. The day was packed, but the rainbow alone would have been en…Read more
Goodbye Sicily | Day 62 of my 2023 Journal
We arrived in Sicily in mid-December. Now we are leaving. Sitting on one of the beaches, watching my seventeen-year-old son walking along the coast, …Read more
Choose happiness: Always | Day 61 of my 2023 Journal
It is a question of mindset, again. Choosing to be happy even when you get a flat tire on the top of a mountain. When I am tired, it can be challengi…Read more
Sicily: We have to talk about the trash! | Day 60 of my 2023 Journal
We have had the opportunity to reflect upon the garbage problem in Sicily. On this island, we have been shocked by how garbage is everywhere. It look…Read more
A Pride Sweater for Yuna, our Dog - Crafting with Purpose | Day 18 of my 2023 Journal
Join me in the delightful tale of knitting a unique Pride sweater for Yuna, our dog, and explore the joys and challenges of creating with purpose and…Read more
Hope vs. Belief: Navigating Life's Dreams and Realities | Day 17 of my 2023 Journal
Explore the intricate dance between hope and belief and how daring to dream shapes the life we create. Join the conversation on optimism and the cour…Read more
Embracing Winter: A Time for Peace, Planning, and Introspection | Day 16 of my 2023 Journal
Discover the tranquility of winter with our slow-living approach. Embrace peaceful routines, mindful planning, and the joy of anticipation for new ad…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 37 38 39 40 41 … 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