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Choose happiness: Always | Day 61 of my 2023 Journal

Cecilie Conrad·Mar 2, 2023· 2 minutes

I am always happy. And if I am not exactly happy, I am happy to know I am learning something important.

That is always how it goes.

Yet, it happens, I forget.

We have been sick for a week now. Taking turns to vomit and running for the bathrooms. Each time one of us got better, we truly believed it was over. Only now, after eight days we seem to accept we just have to take it slow, wait and see, and take time to recover.

It has been chaotic. Vomit in the streets, literally while parking in new places. In and out of Airbnb. Lost a lot of sleep.

Had to cancel great adventures.

It is not always Instagramable, the nomad life. It felt like the culmination when we had a flat tire in pouring rain.

But here is the rub. Here is what we are learning.

Here is why I am happy anyway, always happy and grateful.

You see. Within this week of sickness and low energy, we did have the crazy experience of the random place and the running cows on the beach. We also did a beautiful walk to the Venus pool, breathtakingly beautiful. And we observed the volcano Etna, beautiful with snow and steam and clouds.

We also learned, that we can handle even this while on the road with no tears, no fighting - just a steady doing of what needs to be done, solving each problem one by one.

When we had a flat tire, just like always, there were people to help immediately. It was not fun, but it was not too bad either.

It is a question of mindset, again.

Choosing to be happy even in this situation.

When tired, it can be challenging, but I accept the challenge.

It is a good one. 

Love and light

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Cecilie Conrad


Thank you for reading

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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.

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

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