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When the Sydney fireworks make you cry...

Hej and Happy New Year, Reader!
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Not gonna lie, New Year’s Eve caught me by surprise this year.

It was 2pm, the kids were napping, and my husband and I put the Sydney fireworks on TV. I wasn’t expecting much - just something fun to watch - but as soon as they lit up the Harbour Bridge, I felt this overwhelming wave of emotion.

Tears came out of nowhere.

It’s been 10 years since I moved to Sydney, and six months since we left Australia to start this new chapter in Sweden. This was the first time since the move that sadness hit me like this. Not because I regret being in Sweden - but because moments like this remind me of everything I’ve left behind.

The friends and family I miss.
The seasons of life that shaped me.
The feeling of belonging to a place that’s still part of me.

Cross-cultural life is full of these unexpected waves, isn’t it? One small moment - a song, a photo, or fireworks - can stir up so much:

Grief for what’s passed.
Gratitude for the present.
Homesickness that sneaks up when you’re least expecting it.

If you’ve felt like this too, just know you’re not alone. This is what it means to love people and places spread across the world. It’s heavy, it’s complicated, and it’s also beautiful and enriching.

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Have you had one of these moments? Yep, all the time Occasionally, but I get through it Not yet, but I’m nervous I will I feel like it’s coming soon

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I’d love to hear how you’ve been feeling lately - hit reply if you feel like sharing.

Kindly,
Linn