I grew up in New York and spent most of my adult life outside Washington, D.C. If you had asked me where I’d find the most opportunities, the most entertainment, and the fullest life, I would have pointed to those places without hesitation. But it turns out that small town life in Sweden offers an even bigger life than I ever expected.
When you have endless options, it’s easy to participate in nothing. When you have a stronger community, it’s easier to participate in life.
The first week after my arrival, my husband and I went to a hockey game. I’ve been to games in the U.S. before and the fans are great, but this was insanity on ice. One section of the arena is called North Power. Here the super fans sit, leading the entire arena in celebration songs, individual dances depending on what player scores, and encouraging playful taunts for the opposing team. This was a community of fans dancing and singing, hugging and yelling, all as one. It was incredible. Skellefteå AIK also won the gold for the entire season so the experience was one to remember.
On the weekend we went to a nerd fest. This was right up my alley. There were booths with fantasy genre games, jewelry and shirts. A popular Star Wars cosplay group called the Swedish Garrison roamed the halls and had a large area where you could interact and take pictures. Now wait, you’re going to say. We have Comic Con! It’s tremendous! It’s popular in the United States! You would be correct, but this was in my backyard. I could just walk into town. The event was small enough to feel accessible to anyone who wanted to participate, without the crowds, competition for tickets, or high costs that often come with larger conventions. I’ve never been to Comic Con, and the event in Skellefteå was rough around the edges, but there was a ton of happiness for all.
What do you do when you live near so many beautiful lakes and rivers? You walk. Breathe. You choose to commute on foot or bicycle rather than car. People in Northern Sweden do belong to gyms, but many more incorporate exercise into their daily lives. I’ve found myself walking to the city center to shop or meet up with a friend for coffee because it includes an experience that is just for me while I get there.
One goal that I have this year is to incorporate more outdoor activities into my life. It feels almost necessary in the winter if you want to stay happy and connected to the world around you. In the summer I will be walking, kayaking and meeting friends. In the winter I hope to learn how to cross-country ski. My Swedish friends groan when I say this because it is apparently very difficult to do, but I’d rather fall to the ground when on a pretty level surface than hurling myself down a mountain and failing to stop.
Two weeks ago, I attended a luncheon with a community of women. They’ve created a group called Women’s Welcome. You just show up. Can you imagine that? You just SHOW UP! Every woman is welcome each week to get together, talk and share lunch. This kind of community and effort to link people together is something I haven’t really experienced back on the east coast of the U.S.
My son Max attended Skelleftea Creative Connect, a two-day event in the area that he has been studying, namely computer science and game design. Skelleftea has a strong game design community and I loved that he got to freely check this out.
Yesterday I returned from Stockholm where I attended Stockholm Writers Festival. There I networked with writers of all genres and gained new friends in the process. Signing up for this conference made me so anxious but I’m so glad I did!
All of these experiences are invitations to participate, connect, learn, grow, and belong.
Back in Washington, D.C., I had world-class museums, professional sports teams, concerts, conferences, and more opportunities than I could ever take advantage of. Yet somehow, I participated in less.
Here, in a small town in Northern Sweden, life feels bigger.
Not because there is more to do, but because it is easier to say yes.
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