Where it all began...
A bit more about what brought me here.
Waking up is the exact feeling I’ve been experiencing since January.
I’ve felt like coming back to life after a very long slumber, slowly reconnecting to my senses, my spirituality, my sense of self.
But my eyes are not totally open yet. It’s as if the sun was just starting to tickle my eyelids and I was gently getting accustomed to the brighter light in the room. I’m enjoying the warmth I start to feel on my skin, the distant noises emerging around me… I don’t want to go back to sleep, but I don’t want to rush opening my eyes either. Instead, I wish to linger a little in this transitional state, between dream and reality. I feel the promises of a new day but I’m still afraid to confront the reality to all the things that made my dream so vivid. It’s a strange state being “in between”. How to capture the ideas and opportunities I saw in my dream and make them “my” reality?
I remember vividly the first day I woke up in my new home, after moving to Corsica 7 years ago. I was up very early to be sure to catch the sun rising on the Tyrrhenian sea. As I ran to the kitchen window, I stopped, mesmerized by the beauty laid in front of me. The view on the horizon, the island of Elba emerging from the sea, the colors of the sky and the reflection of the sunlight on the sea… everything seemed otherworldly. It almost made me cry. In that instant, I felt I was exactly where I needed to be - at last. And the Universe was giving me the nudge I needed to acknowledge it.
I wrote this piece a few months ago thanks to a prompt in episode 3 of the podcast connected to the book “The Way of the Fearless Writer” by
. Though I’m far from feeling “fearless” just yet, it felt like a good place to start my journey here on Sip of Corsica, a place where I’d like to share not only the beauty of this Mediterranean island but also my personal journey of self-(re)discovery.Truth be told, I don’t know yet where this publication will lead me, but I’ve decided to trust that quiet inner voice and follow my heart. There’s so much I’ve been wanting to share over the past few years about Corsica— places and people I love, cultural discoveries, hidden treasures, food specialties…
I started an Instagram account in 2018 to share glimpses of my new island life, but I soon felt the urge to go beyond the surface of pretty pictures. Corsica has so many layers. Until recently, though, I was hesitant to go where my heart truly wanted to go: sharing not only travel tips and recommendations from my unique ‘insider/outsider’ perspective, but also opening up about my personal journey on this appropriately named “Island of Beauty”.
As I wrote in a Note a few days ago,
“Sharing my words here, especially in a language that isn’t my native one, truly feels scary and far outside my comfort zone.”
But because it scares me, I know it’s precisely what I’m meant to do.
So here I am, using my fear as a GPS, and Corsica - this place that has taught me to listen deeply and trust the unfolding - as a muse.
I invite you to explore Corsica with me and see the island as I do—layered, mysterious, full of wonder. And I hope that, along the way, my words will inspire you to pause, explore, and perhaps follow the call of your dreams, wherever they may lead.
Enjoy the ride and see you in the comments!
Maïlys
Hello Mailys and welcome. In my half-awake morning mind, the word Corsica jumped out. We visited the island six times and I loved it. I will return to read your first post carefully, and am looking forward to your insights. I may even dig out some images to share with you!