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Mélanie ◇ Storyteller & kindness marketer

@mimeliadc

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🌍 Wanderer 🐷 Vegan 🌻 Nature lover 🎶 Music Addict 🫂 Mental health advocate 🩷
✍️ @melanielycka.writer
💌 Read OFF THE BEATEN THOUGHTS 👇🏼

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It's that dump time of every month, and I'll join the trend for June to tell my Instagram feed I'm still alive 🤷🏼‍♀️

Singing in crowds and rooms, soaking in home, happily drowning in tea, being part of cacao and rose ceremonies, tasting local dishes and wagashi, learning in museums, walking in different cities, meditating with strangers, partying with colleagues, celebrating human colors, stalking an Egyptian goose, watching sunsets while having apéros on the balcony and healing my inner child by visiting a decommissioned prison 🌈

Only 20 slots to fit 30 busy days, sorry to all the moments that did not make it to the gram, you're in my heart though ❤️

😘 to all

PS: Instagram never really works well for me so some of these photos are not well framed but the app just doesn’t let me change it and there's no way I'm losing precious time to fix an Instagram post, life is waiting outside the screen 😅 by @mimeliadc

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4 months ago

I wrote this and felt like I might not be alone in being scared, drowning in questions and feeling helpless, so I decided to share it.
We could really wake up one day and discover they all have been murdered.

It's raw, messy, and vulnerable. It's full of mistakes but also full of feelings. I could try to edit the whole thing but it would never end.
I know it can bring me lots of hate, but I'm not one who stays silent when it comes to my values and what's right.
Who am I to say what is wrong and what is right you may ask... Well, not killing anyone feels like it should be an easy one for us all. Unfortunately, it's not.

Palestinian are not starving, they're being starved. They're not dying, they're being killed.
It's not a war, a famine, a conflict. It's a genocide.
Leaders may be playing with words, some may be trying to empty vocabularies and change definitions, but even if words matter, not naming things don't make them disappear.

To all the innocent souls lost without a beating heart to match... You're not breathing anymore, but you will keep existing through people all around the world, and we will speak up because you can't anymore.
To all the ones currently fighting for their right to exist in Palestine, we see you, we care and I promise you, we're trying.
To Israel, and companies, people and countries' leaders who support them... We see you too... by @mimeliadc

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a year ago

What if you could think, feel, and see the world a little differently? ✨

I just launched Off The Beaten Thoughts, a newsletter for curious minds and wanderers, full of deep reflections, and explorations of unconventional ideas 🎉

Expect a mix of stories, tips, introspective essays, love notes, unexpected insights, and meaningful conversations with people from all walks of life 😃 I’ll be exploring well-being, self-development, holistic healing, veganism, travel, living abroad, and the magic hidden in everyday moments 🌈

You’ll receive:
💎 In-depth posts—stories, explorations & interviews (some free, some just for paid subscribers 💐)
✨ The End of the Month email—lessons, discoveries & reflections from the past weeks (free for all 🎁)
🎶 Monday Playlists—songs about mental health for self-growth, empowerment & all the feels (free for all 🎀)

If you love interesting conversations, fresh perspectives, and content that makes you think and feel, this is for you!

Subscribe now (link in bio) and let’s upgrade our lives together! 💙 by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

I could focus on the highlights, only mention snippets of my 2024. I could let people think they brilliantly tell the full story of my year.

It would be gorgeous landscapes, beautiful encounters, cool accommodations, delicious meals and awesome activities. It would be a nice blend of smiles, joy, and everything that went well.

It would only be a piece of these past 12 months, though. And even if there is nothing wrong with reflecting on all my victories (quite the opposite), it wouldn't feel fair. I am who I am, and where I am, thanks to the good and the bad, the happy moments and the sad ones. I may be fonder of some than others, but life wouldn't work without the mixed package. I always advocate for honesty and the importance of sharing both the positive and the negative.

I don't have photos of the tears, the endless work hours, my dead hopes, failed attempts, disappointments, worries, stress, and so much more. I could pretend I didn't wish a few times not to wake up the next morning, but that would be a lie. My 2024 was also that.

And while I'm well aware of the wonderful, incredible and crazy life I keep creating for myself, I want to acknowledge all the "I'm so grateful for this moment" as much as the "Fuck this shit, what did I do to deserve this?", and everything in-between.

This morning someone asked me "How did you manage to turn out so great after everything that happened to you?" I've been asked before, but I still don't know the answer. I might never find out. But it made me want to shift my focus for this festive season.

I could only share the pretty highlights and what fits society's definition of success. But what I'm choosing to celebrate right now is:
✨️ the kindness and light I brought into this world
🌊 the strength I kept nurturing to keep going when it felt like I couldn't fight anymore
❤️ the unconditional love and support I gave to others - and myself (a big achievement this year)
🌟 the dreams I kept chasing, no matter how hard it was
🩵 the beautiful values I held onto, in a world that doesn't make it easy
🫂 how many people, charities, and ethical projects I've helped

[The end is in the comments] by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

How the year started (in Finland) VS How it ended (in New Zealand), and some of the in-between 🐽 What a PIG year 🩷 I'm such a fan of this wonderful animal, and I had dreamed of interacting with some for so long 🐷 I'm grateful to have been able to do so in 2024 🙏 I'm glad I went from stuffed pigs to real ones 😃🎉 They're so friendly, playful, smart, cute, loving, and much more 🐖 It's heartbreaking to think that so many are tortured and killed everyday just for meals 😭

Tell me if you agree or not but the last 3 photos, let's be honest... Isn't Maddie a Top Model? It would be selfish of me not to share these. I might even post them again in the future, just because I really can't get tired of looking at them 😍 (and I miss her and her amazing big sister Olivia so much) by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

6 months in, and New Zealand... Damn, you look gorgeous 😍🐶

Here are some photos of the dog side of my Kiwi adventure so far, to celebrate half a year on this side of the world. I've been fur-tunate with some adorable housemates, haven't I?

Lots of love to Indie, Zazie, Iago, Siggy, Dee, Lacy, Gritty, and Isla ❤️ taken in New Zealand, North Island by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

It may not be my whenua, but it's the land of people I care about. It's about their rights, their lives, their history, their stories, their culture, and much more.

When it comes to politics, I have been asked in the past, "Why do you care so much? Is there any impact on you?" Yes, there is. And I believe there's one on you too, somehow. When it happens in your neighbourhood, but when it happens on the other side of the world too.

I have been given a voice to speak up, a heart to care, a brain to think, the ability to march, the freedom to protest, the privilege to be and express myself without risking my life. Therefore, you will always find me standing up for my values, for my rights, and the rights of others. I can't fight all the fights, but I will be talking, writing, walking, etc. I may not make a lot of noise, but I am not born to be silent either. I can't passively witness.

We have so much power in our hands, every single day. When we buy, when we talk, when we vote, when we give our time and attention.

If all the drops in the ocean would dry because they believe they're insignificant, there would be no ocean at all. There would be no us either. We can make a better world together.

Today and every day, I stand with Māori people. Today and every day, I stand with what I believe is right.

Toitū Te Tiriti 🕊 taken in Wellington, New Zealand by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western culture. People expect bad things to happen, and flights are cheaper. One year ago was a Friday the 13th, it crossed my mind that I could die in a crash, but it somehow did not cross my mind that I was about to start one of the most wonderful chapter of my life.
Don't believe what people and superstitions say.

I haven't talked about it much around here. Well... I haven't said much about anything, really. One day, I might, but I don't even have enough time for my friends right now, let alone for social media. So, in the meantime, here are some random photos that make my heart sing ❄️

Finland... kiitos paljon for the love stories we wrote together 💙 I hope to see you again someday. taken in Finland by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

April 21st 1992… I don’t remember anything about that day, I imagine it would be crazy if I did, but it’s still, to this day, the most important one of my life. First tears, first breath, but not the last. Exhausted by the move, from the warm inside to the cold outside. Longing for love that, I didn’t know back then, I would never get.

Every year, the memory of it will keep being a special one because it’s how it is in a way, birthdays are important. There were times when I wanted classmates over, gifts and cakes. Blowing candles over wishes I quickly lost hope in. There were times I thought I didn’t want anything at all. Why celebrate an existence I wasn’t grateful for? Then, finally, these past years, I found beauty in being born 🌟

We’re 32 years away from this big first breath now… With a life full of colors, fun, art, people, places, and love. A lot of shit too. I’m grateful that I aged with audacity, mischief, and kindness, collecting meaningful stories while fighting so many battles. I could have easily taken another path.

I love getting older, everything is becoming more beautiful and clear. But birthdays are not that important to me though, because I made my everyday life a celebration worth waking up for. I used to wish that things would get better, but I don’t want this anymore. This new year of life won’t be better than the one ending, I won’t do better, I will do different. And that’s perfect to me 🩵

Dear 1-minute old Mélanie, if I could go back to April 21st 1992, I wouldn’t tell you much. You didn’t need to know how much it would suck, you managed anyway. I guess I would just hold you tight, whispering… “I love you, and I’m so proud of you, tiny little warrior. From your first breath to your last, you’ll simply be a masterpiece in progress, being alive is a miracle. For many years to come, you’ll wonder if anything will ever be ok, and if anyone will ever save you. I’m happy to say that someone will. And the best part of this, is that YOU will. Happy birthday to you!” 🎉

PS: to you reading this, whoever you are, you’re a masterpiece in progress too, celebrate it! ✨️ by @mimeliadc

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2 years ago

I'm finally discovering how it feels to be safe and fully appreciated, in a place where you can be unapologetically yourself. In a country that I'm deeply falling in love with, more and more every day. So far, it feels wonderfully great 💙 31 years, it took a while to find. Never give up! taken in Tammisaari by @mimeliadc

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3 years ago

THANK YOU to… The ones who were with me before 2023, the ones I’ve met but will probably never see again, & the new friends. The ones that offered me love, respect, help and kindness. The ones that have seen me, truly cared about me, cheered me up, inspired me, asked my opinion, did not just hear my words but fully listened, let me help them, trusted me, reminded me my worth. To the ones that are a burst of sunshine, sprinkling joy in my life and flooding it with laughter. To the ones that helped me grow, sang and danced with me, welcomed me in their homes, filled my days with deep conversations and silly jokes, made my soul shine, warmed my heart, taught me things.

We may have met in the middle of the Thai jungle, in a minibus with locals literally peeing themselves around us, in an old Finnish sanatorium, in a city bursting with life, in a Lao cat café, at a cooking class, in a train station, in a temple, in the Spanish countryside, at a handicraft workshop, at a tea plantation, or in another random place somewhere in Asia or Europe.

We have played games, swam in lakes and rivers, observed tarantulas at night, walked alongside snakes, hiked, shared homemade meals, lighted fires, tried bamboo rafting, skydived, chased leaves, admired sunrises and sunsets, won a debate in our second language, hugged, had to listen a guide showing us weird pictures of his dead wife, played and rolled in the snow, cut wood and built stuff, made our own knives, walked barefoot in the mud, traveled in car trunks, picked mushrooms in the forest, slept on water, laughed in caves, sent each other long voice messages, dissected our deepest thoughts and personality traits, watched movies, debriefed videos for longer than the videos themselves, shared cultures and languages, celebrated a wonderful wedding, attended music gigs, and so much more. Damn... the fun we've had!! None of this would have been so magical without you ✨

I think that we are the sum of all the people we meet, the choices we make and all the things we go through. I'm honored and immensely grateful to have spent 2023 with you all and to continue my life with a piece of you with me forever.

Thank you for being you ❤️ by @mimeliadc

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3 years ago

When my feet took a break to let my taste buds travel through all the Spanish flavors 😋 Traveling and discovering... it's way more than seeing things. It's smelling, tasting, learning, meeting, hearing, etc. All my senses are always celebrating 🎊

Here are some Spanish specialities 🤤

1. Paella, at @hmvegano
2. Croquetas, at @bubita_sangriabar
3. "Sea food" plate, at @bubita_sangriabar
4. Bocadillo de calamares, at @santaypuravegan
5. Tortilla de patatas, at @santaypuravegan
6. Croquetas, at @hmvegano
7. Corazones de alcachofas, at @bubita_sangriabar
8. Salmorejo
9. Naranja y chocolate con aceite de oliva

All vegan 🌱 (yes, I swear, you can try local food without any animal products in it. What a world we live in 🤯🥳)

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#spanishfood #spanishfoodporn #localfood #veganspanishfood #veganinspain #veganspanishtortilla #spanishtortilla #tortilla #paella #veganpaella #croquetas #vegancroquettes #vegancroquetas #veganseafood #salmorejo #spanishvegan #spanishveganfood #bocadillodecalamares #calamares #calamari #artichokes #artichoke #alcachofas #tastebuds #travelingthroughfood #travelingtastebuds #foodie #foodiegram #foodlover by @mimeliadc

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3 years ago