Inspiring Women Magazine May 2023
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
that was unexpected, but one that ticks all the<br />
boxes. Plus, did I mention vacations are long<br />
and lovely in the Nordics?! I continually check<br />
in with myself and make sure that I’m trying to<br />
make the most of my time. I’ve had family<br />
members and friends pass away too young.<br />
These are goodbyes one is never prepared for<br />
or gets used to.<br />
I look around me and think – what would I want<br />
to do with my time if it were limited? And guess<br />
what? All our time here on earth is limited! If<br />
I live to 90, perhaps I’ll have eaten too much<br />
chocolate, not worked enough, cleaned enough<br />
or made enough money. But, one never knows.<br />
I’m not a hedonist, but I have tried to gauge my<br />
choices along these lines of making the most of<br />
today. I have a quote in Finnish on my fridge –<br />
it says “Tämä päivä on aina täällä, huominen ei<br />
koskaan.” There are many popular versions of<br />
it, but it roughly translates to, “Today is always<br />
here, tomorrow never comes.” In other words,<br />
a new beginning is always here.<br />
Ann Marie in Bali with monkey on her shoulder in 2017<br />
(above)<br />
Ann Marie in the Haaga Rhododendron Park, Helsinki (right)<br />
FAWCO Board 2019 (far right top, page103)<br />
2022 Luxembourg Conference, Region 2 group picture<br />
(far right bottom, page 103)<br />
102 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 103