I have grown up in a small Swedish village in Lapland called Ensamheten (“the Solitude”).

When my father was young he avoided as much as he could to say that he come from the village Solitude, so he didn’t need to explain anything.  I have always done the opposite and emphasized my parentage, since I’m proud of the Solitude.
The thought fascinate me that right here, in the Solitude people have in generations been drudged, fought, cried and laughed. When I rove the woods and walking on the same paths as they once did, I’m filled with what most closely can be described as primordial power. They are my ancestors, my roots and I carry a small part of them inside me.

I grew up among people with an ecological view of life who highly appreciate quality of life and responsibility. An ecological view of life is obviously about the preservation of the earth and its natural wealth, but also about the human being and its actions.

A human with an ecological view of life wants the humans to abandon their artificial world, open their eyes and see the fantastic natural world. Maybe more people would feel in harmony with themselves and also understand how important it is that we preserve and defend our environment if they only gave the joy of discovery a chance.

What is most important to you? Maybe it is that all humans appreciate equal or that the ones you love will stay healthy, and of course it’s very important and something I appreciate highly, but what happens if you can’t breath fresh air and drink pure water and if the protecting ozone around our globe would cease to exist? If that happens, everything will become meaningless, because then we can’t live in this world.

photo: Helen Ahlsson

 We are a great drain on our world irrespective of we want it our not, because the system we are born into is built up on consumption of material things and maximal use of the resources on earth, but who has said that we should swallow it all? We can all have an influence on our own situation in life, provided that we have the will to do it.

You can’t save the world on your own, but you can’t just sit down and give up and defend yourself with that everything is too big and superior for the small human. There is so much vi can change if we just want to, both when it comes to ourselves and the world around us.

A beautiful thought is that if everyone started with themselves, and what they could change in their own ways of living to create a better and more healthy world, the world would be guaranteed to improve.
 
We all have a need to be somebody. Identity and to be of part of something is important and I am and will always deep down, in the heart of hearts be a “Solituder”. Wherever in the world I will go, and whatever happens I always know that I can return to The Solitude. The Solitude is much more than a small village, a place - it’s a spirit of understanding, a lifestyle, closeness and love.

The future tempts and I’m dreaming about building an ecological house one day in a beautiful place in the Reality with a lot of feeling and who know maybe it will be on a hill in the neighbourhood of The Solitude, but then maybe the place should be called the Nearness?

” Lonely you can be strong and reach far, but together you are stronger and reach longer”

Heidi Andersson