A Concept of Freedom

What does it mean to be truly free?

The concept of freedom differs from person to person, woman to woman. For some it may be having the option to dress in whatever way we like, for others it may be the ability to speak freely, without constraints or judgment. But for us, it’s having the time, courage and opportunity to spread our wings, travel to distant shores, drink the culture and colour of new worlds, and experience the weightlessness of a day unfolding before us filled with unknown wonder.

We spoke with fellow waterwoman and friend of Found Treasure Sonja, about what travel and freedom represents to her. Her story is one of courage and curiosity…

“Traveling for me is such a big part of my life and my self growth,” started Sonja, “It is my way of feeling free. It has shaped me into who I am and what I’m like as a person, and allowed me to gain confidence in a way that I never knew was possible.”

There is nothing quite like a sense of anonymity for feeling freed. Arriving in a new country, with no prior knowledge of the communities and people, a map of possibilities spread out before you. The journey into learning and connecting reaches further than with the locals, but turns you inwards to find out more about yourself. By freeing ourselves from past preconceptions of ourselves, we gain the power to peel back the layers and find out who we are without the comforts of home surrounding us.

“My solo-travel journey got me where I am today. My passion for traveling allowed me to discover so many places, meet so many people and dive into the career that I always wanted to study. Seeing different cultures and exploring new places inspired me. I kept those feelings of inspiration in my mind forever and now I use them in my designs. I also really value my roots and Finnish design.”

In our experience, a creative rut is always cured by a trip. Whether that’s simply to the beach, venturing out barefoot to consider the shapes and textures we find in nature, or further afield, spreading our wings and discovering new and exciting lands. The smell of a Moroccan market, the colours of a Balinese rainforest, the sparkling stars peppering a Scandinavian sky. These are the experiences that awaken our inner creativity, place our feet back on the ground and catapult us into the moment, igniting the fire of our imagination.

“I love traveling alone because it pushes me out of my comfort zone. I was definitely scared when I didn’t have people around me that I knew, and I had to be open if I wanted to hang with people. I’ve met a lot of people, some becoming friends for life. Every place I’ve visited and lived has been so different, and allowed me to learn a lot about myself and grow my confidence.”

How beautiful to know that we have friends all over the world, we just haven’t met them yet. It’s hard to believe it’s purely coincidence to meet your soul sister thousands of miles away from home, on a packed bus, rattling down the side of a Mexican mountain. What divine forces were in play to bring you together, on that exact same day, in such an abnormal situation for you both? The friendships that are established and discovered whilst traveling are powerful and special, bringing together a unity of cultures and an inkling towards the inevitable.

“Freedom for me means the power of choice, the power of doing what I want, when I want. I love traveling and I recommend it to everyone. The growth that happens within you happens insanely quickly, and the connections that you make are unreal. The fact that you make friends all over the world is so amazing and I think everyone should feel that at some point in their lives. I cannot wait to finish my uni degree and have some time off to get back out there, because traveling makes me feel so alive. It fills my cup more than anything. I wouldn’t be that person I am today, having my fashion label Savari Jam, being a creative or living in a place that makes me so happy, if I never took the first step to travel solo.”

Whilst new and exotic lands are the spice of life for many, you don’t need to go far to envelop yourself in freedom. Take a walk somewhere different today, swim out in a bay you don’t usually visit, call a friend you haven’t seen in a while and plan a day-trip south. Gently alter your horizons, you’ll be surprised how much your perspective changes.

To follow Sonja and Savari Jam’s journey you can click here.