October 29, 2026

It's a strange feeling, knowing that you want to change your life while still waking up every morning to the same one.

The alarm rings.

You go to work. You buy groceries. You answer messages. You make dinner. You do all the ordinary things you've always done.

And somewhere in between, you're preparing for something completely different.

That's more or less where I find myself right now.

A little over a month ago, I wrote about my decision to leave Sweden.

That decision hasn't changed.

If anything, I've become more certain about it.

But there's something I've discovered along the way.

Making a decision is one thing.

Making it happen is another.

And apparently, the second part takes a little longer than I'd like.

I'm not particularly good at waiting when I know what I want.

Once I've made up my mind about something, I naturally want to start moving. Not necessarily recklessly, but I want to see progress. Something concrete that tells me I'm getting closer.

Right now, a lot of that progress involves looking for work.

I've been exploring opportunities outside Sweden, particularly jobs that would allow me to work internationally or remotely.

Some applications have been sent.

Some conversations have taken place.

Some opportunities have looked promising.

Others haven't led anywhere.

And then there are the applications where you simply wait.

You check your email.

Nothing.

You check again the next day.

Still nothing.

It's not exactly the most exciting part of changing your life.

At the same time, I'm also looking for new opportunities here in Sweden.

That might sound contradictory to someone who knows I want to leave.

Why look for another job here if you're planning to move abroad?

But to me, it makes perfect sense.

I still live here.

I still have responsibilities.

I still need an income.

And finding a better opportunity here doesn't mean I've abandoned my plans to leave.

It simply means I'm taking care of the life I have while preparing for the one I want.

I think that's something we don't always talk about when we discuss major life changes.

We often focus on the decision itself.

The moment someone decides to move, change careers, start something new or take a completely different direction.

And then we imagine the result.

The new city.

The new job.

The new surroundings.

The new everyday life.

But between those two moments, there's usually a period that isn't particularly exciting to watch.

There are applications to complete.

Practical questions to answer.

Finances to consider.

Plans that need adjusting.

And plenty of ordinary Tuesdays.

That's the part I'm living in now.

And although I sometimes wish things would move faster, I'm beginning to understand that this period is part of the change too.

Because I'm not standing still.

Even on the days when nothing seems to happen, I'm researching, learning, making decisions and discovering what might actually be possible.

Some days I feel encouraged.

Other days I wonder why everything has to take so much time.

And occasionally, I find myself laughing at my own impatience.

After all, I'm trying to make a significant change in my life. It would be rather surprising if everything fell into place after sending a few job applications.

There's also a more personal side to all of this.

Not everything that shapes our decisions is something we need to explain publicly.

Sometimes people, conversations and experiences become important to us in ways that are difficult to describe.

They become part of our everyday thoughts.

Part of what we look forward to.

Part of how we imagine the future.

I have those things in my life too.

And for now, some of them will remain mine to keep.

What I can say is that the future I'm working toward isn't only about finding a new job or living in another country.

It's about building a life that feels right for me.

A life with room for curiosity, creativity, meaningful connections and new experiences.

Of course, I know that moving somewhere else won't magically solve every problem.

There will still be ordinary days.

There will still be responsibilities.

There will probably still be mornings when I don't particularly feel like getting out of bed.

But that's not really the point.

I'm not looking for a life without difficulties.

I'm looking for a life I genuinely want to live.

And perhaps that's why this waiting period can feel so frustrating.

Because mentally, I've already started moving.

Physically, I'm still here.

Going to work.

Making dinner.

Writing.

Creating.

Sending another application.

Checking my email.

And continuing with the life I know.

I don't have a departure date yet.

I don't have all the answers.

But I haven't changed my mind.

Maybe that's what this part of the journey is really about.

Learning to live fully in the present without losing sight of the future.

Accepting that progress doesn't always happen at the speed we would prefer.

And understanding that the time between making a decision and finally acting on it isn't necessarily wasted time.

It's still life.

My life.

And I intend to make something of it.

Stories live in the quiet.