Letter 10 : And then, I came Home

This letter feels particularly special to write, because I am writing it from France.

A few months ago, I started asking myself some very personal and sometimes quite deep, questions about the future I wanted for myself.

What really matters to me for the years ahead ? What kind of life do I want to create ?

And how do I want to move through these years while continuing this search for a life that feels meaningful, joyful and true to me ?

Little by little, the answer became clear. As difficult as it was to accept, I knew that returning to France was the right choice for me.

Of all the experiences I have had living abroad, I believe this one has been one of the most special. It has touched my heart in ways I will probably only fully understand with time.

Oslo is such a special city. The nature is extraordinary and yet so close and accessible. There is something about living there that makes you slow down, breathe a little deeper and feel safe. It feels like a little bubble, one that you feel incredibly lucky to be a part of.

And Norway itself… its mountains, its fjords, its immense landscapes.

They have a way of reminding you how small you are and how much greater nature is than us. It makes you look at the world differently and perhaps reminds you that respecting and protecting it should be one of our greatest responsibilities.

Of course, winter is not always easy. The darkness, the cold, the weather in general…

I imagine that, with time, you learn to embrace it and find your own ways of navigating it.

Was it part of my decision to leave ? Perhaps.

But somehow, the beauty of everything else is so powerful that you learn to live with it.

More than anything, this experience has taught me, again and again, to question myself, to discover, to accept and to learn.

And it has given me something I will carry with me for a very long time : some very, very special people. The kind of people you meet when living abroad and who somehow become part of your story. The kind of connections you know you will want to keep, even when thousands of kilometres separate you.

Perhaps this is one of the hardest parts of leaving.

As my sister put it so beautifully, a certain nostalgia has already started to settle in.

And I know that a little part of me will always remain there.

We often say that choosing something means giving something else up.

But I also believe that choosing can mean making space.

Space for a new page to unfold. Space for new people, new ideas, new places.

Space for something we haven't imagined yet.

And perhaps, most importantly, space to create something that will once again carry a little piece of me.

So here I am, back in France, standing at the beginning of a new chapter.

And I have to say, I am incredibly excited about what lies ahead.

There are new projects, new ideas, new dreams and a very full heart.

I feel an immense sense of gratitude for everything this journey has brought me.

For the life I was lucky enough to experience in Norway, for the people I met there, for everything I learned about myself and even for the things that made me question what I wanted next.

I feel confident about the years ahead. Not because I know exactly what they will look like but because I trust myself a little more now.

And I want to remind myself that so much is possible when we move forward with humility, courage and confidence.

I also keep coming back to something very simple : I am incredibly lucky to have the possibility to choose the life I want to live. So many people in the world do not have that privilege. And I don't want to take it for granted.

So, for now, I am choosing this new chapter with a full heart.

With gratitude for what I am leaving behind.

With excitement for what is coming.

And with a little bit of curiosity for all the beautiful things I cannot see yet.