24 Dec 2024
Essentials
Health Mental health

Winter cocooning at 60 degrees north

My Christmas school reports were always the worst. I was slow to start up again after the summer break, and by the end of October my synapses would fire more slowly while I gently dozed off as the nights drew in and the light faded from the horizon. Then I moved to Sweden in my […]

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Health Mental health

What if things don’t happen for a reason?

The expression, ‘everything happens for a reason’ makes my toes curl. Especially when it is uttered with a helpless shrug of the shoulder and the underlying subtext of ‘moving on’. What if things don’t happen for a reason and there is no deeper meaning? Endless analyses and reflections will often present reasons why something has […]

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Health Mental health

Adressing Cultural Shadows

‘Sharing the Dove’ is a Dutch initiative by four young people with Jewish and Muslim backgrounds. Their aim is to keep the dialogue open and transcend differences. They give workshops in schools and last week they brought together two rabbis, two imams, a Dutch priest and a Syrian Orthodox bishop for an open dialogue about […]

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Expat Support Health Mental health

No one tells the truth in therapy

Summary: psychology has helped us to see that everyone holds a personal, subjective version of the truth. While this is better than the authoritarian believe what I tell you paradigm, there are more steps to take. Otherwise, many will continue to confuse ‘my’ truth with ‘the’ truth, leading to self-victimisation and splitting. Two children get […]

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Art Community Creative Arts Culture Design Education Essentials Galleries Lifestyle Networking Shopping Swedish Culture

Experience the 25th Anniversary of the Affordable Art Fair Stockholm!

This October, the Affordable Art Fair proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary with an exciting lineup of events at Nacka Strandsmässan from October 2nd to 6th. Recognized globally as a premier art fair, this event offers both seasoned collectors and new buyers the chance to discover unique artworks from a diverse group of exhibitors—all at prices […]

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Education Technology Work & Money

Sweden Moves To Upskill Workers And Bridge The Current Tech Skill Shortage

Sweden is expected to have a shortage of about 18,000 professionals annually between 2024-2028 — mostly in the tech sector in addition to other industries, a new report by TechSverige reveals. Artificial intelligence, software development, and cybersecurity are the main areas where demand outpaces supply. On top of that, tech-related soft skills (such as, digital ethics […]

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Health Mental health

Befriending the green-eyed monster

A former colleague has just been awarded a really influential role in a government advisory committee. I am happy for her, but also feel that familiar pang of envy. It reminds me of how I felt about a close schoolfriend. She worked hard for high grades and in the weeks before our exams she would […]

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Moving truck
Expat Support Health Mental health

Taking ownership of your relocation

At this time of the year, we play musical chairs in the world of international relocation. For families with children, the summer holidays are the perfect time to relocate. And the many love-refugees just don’t want the summer to end. We live in a place of transience and most of us see our current abode […]

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Hospitals Uncategorized

Karolinska University Hospital: Setting a Standard for Public Health in Europe

Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm has been highly acclaimed for its standard of care, but one of its most coveted rewards is having been deemed the world’s tenth smartest hospital in Newsweek’s World Best Smart Hospitals 2024 survey. The latter delves into how well hospitals are adopting and utilizing the very latest technology in areas […]

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Housing

Declutter Your Life With Swedish Death Cleaning

Swedish death cleaning — or döstädning — is the latest home organisation trend that involves decluttering your home before you die, so the responsibility doesn’t fall on your grieving loved ones. The term and method was developed by Swedish author Margareta Magnussen when she was tasked with sorting out a loved one’s belongings after their death, a process Magnussen […]

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