Reflections
by Sini Kunnas
The Northern Lights, like the flowing skirts of angels, dance across the night sky. This is what I pondered while lying on the Lappish winter ice at Arctic Circle, bundled in layers of warmth, embraced by the silence of the Nordic forest river area and snow forests. The darkness and crisp air wrapped me in an otherworldly sensation, feeling the cold and silent freedom, just being present under the titanium-white glow of the full moon.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, often conjures images of Arctic adventures and Santa Claus for many, but to me, it is a place of elemental power—a home of ancient granite hills. Here, in the secluded wilderness, you are always still only a flight away from the world’s bustling metropolises.
It is from this raw, natural beauty that my most profound projects have emerged, and where I’ve tapped into the core of feminine leadership.
My work, primarily focused on ocean advocacy and cultural art initiatives, is a mainly digital, global endeavor. From the pine-scented stillness of Lapland, I soar to Manhattan, Lisbon, London, or Reykjavik for public speeches and art events. This fusion of the Arctic Circle’s quiet nature and vibrant urban life feels like a seamless unity between two worlds, which seldom meet.
Now at 55, I embarked on a new chapter by enrolling in the University of Lapland's open law program. Having been a professional artist since 1998, the study of law now feels like the solid ground beneath my creative skies—a foundation that combines the visible with the invisible, the tangible with the abstract. Studying the vastness of corporate sustainability laws alongside enjoying the simple joys of wearing perfume and my daily makeup empowers my sacred feminine energy, all while going to the home office backyard wilds of Lapland. I highly recommend this approach to blend many living environments to women who feel a lack of purpose or fulfillment.
This article aims to inspire especially younger women with a law career to embrace their authentic feminine selves through this story of mixing the wilderness of the Arctic with an international lifestyle. Leadership and career success are not tied to adopting traditionally masculine traits. By embracing our inherent feminine strengths, we can offer something unique to the professional world—leadership that is intuitive, empathetic, and deeply connected to our core.
Law, to me, represents the essence of understanding societies. My background spans radio broadcasting, classical painting, and security training. Now, civil law is the glue that connects my past experiences with a deeper understanding of pragmatic global structures, political decision-making, and societal function in a cohesive, meaningful way in this inspiring stage of life.
As women, we are simultaneously spirit and a feminine body, intellect and emotion, a balance of experiences and circumstances. Maintaining youth and inspiration with a spark of courage requires wisdom to recognize the true self.
Finnish women, often noted for looking younger than their years, attribute this vitality to a deep connection with nature—berries from the forests, the purifying heat of the sauna, and an active outdoor lifestyle - all intertwined with the country’s high-tech society, European Union membership, and now, also NATO.
True longevity requires balance—between action and peace, mind and body, the inner and the outer world. It’s a form of self-betrayal to let ourselves be dictated by external megatrends. Is our appearance truly own, or is it a reflection of what society expects? Without grounding the body with nature, to proper nutrition, joy, exercise, and the simple pleasures of pure air and water, longevity becomes elusive. It is not enough to drift through life on the fumes of convenience.
A successful woman leader, whether she’s a lawyer or in any profession, must find a deeper sense of purpose as time goes by. Money and recognition can carry us far, but they alone do not satisfy the soul. Applause may wane, and admirers may fade with time. So, how do we sustain beauty, success, and our vitality through the years? The answer lies in self-awareness, in understanding who we are and which path is right for us.
Taking moments to pause, to meditate, to detox before a hectic week, or to simply retreat from the cacophony of daily life can create space for our inner voice to be heard. Whether it’s the sound of perhaps loud children, the noise of the city, or the chatter of a television, stepping away allows us to reconnect with ourselves in solitude before re-engaging with the world. And the family.
One of the quickest ways to recharge is to seek out to nature—the sea breeze or the summit of a hill. These moments of stillness and breath are essential. After a night of revelry, a peaceful evening of self-care can restore us. If we are tired, sometimes the best remedy is turning off the noise, sitting in quiet reflection next to loved ones, and letting the stillness carry us into sleep.
Lapland’s nature is not just about silence. It calls forth something primal within us—our sensual, expressive selves. We shout to the cliffs, leap from sauna to icy lakes, walk up hills, and feel the ancient presence of stone-age landscapes beneath the pastel light of winter’s snow.
In today’s world, as long as flights are available and the internet hums, we can craft a life that blends the elements we need for long-term fulfillment. Even a demanding office in London can coexist with time spent by the sea, breathing in the salt air.
Balancing a career, motherhood, and leadership can be challenging. Women often put own needs second to those of their loved ones, while still shouldering the pressures of work and stress. Even in an era of formal equality, the expectation to be the nurturer often lingers. But we must find space for ourselves amidst it all.
This reflection comes from a woman who has known both success and loss, both family and career. What drives us toward a long, fulfilling life? It is inspiration, passion, openness, and the courage to live from our true core.
I once read a study of people who lived past 100. The common traits? They spent daily time outdoors, worked with their hands and knew how to let go.
And a humorous aspect was the recognition of some doses of stubbornness in each.
Rovaniemi, Lapland, often conjures images of Arctic adventures and Santa Claus for many, but to me, it is a place of elemental power—a home of ancient granite hills. Here, in the secluded wilderness, you are always still only a flight away from the world’s bustling metropolises.
It is from this raw, natural beauty that my most profound projects have emerged, and where I’ve tapped into the core of feminine leadership.
My work, primarily focused on ocean advocacy and cultural art initiatives, is a mainly digital, global endeavor. From the pine-scented stillness of Lapland, I soar to Manhattan, Lisbon, London, or Reykjavik for public speeches and art events. This fusion of the Arctic Circle’s quiet nature and vibrant urban life feels like a seamless unity between two worlds, which seldom meet.
Now at 55, I embarked on a new chapter by enrolling in the University of Lapland's open law program. Having been a professional artist since 1998, the study of law now feels like the solid ground beneath my creative skies—a foundation that combines the visible with the invisible, the tangible with the abstract. Studying the vastness of corporate sustainability laws alongside enjoying the simple joys of wearing perfume and my daily makeup empowers my sacred feminine energy, all while going to the home office backyard wilds of Lapland. I highly recommend this approach to blend many living environments to women who feel a lack of purpose or fulfillment.
This article aims to inspire especially younger women with a law career to embrace their authentic feminine selves through this story of mixing the wilderness of the Arctic with an international lifestyle. Leadership and career success are not tied to adopting traditionally masculine traits. By embracing our inherent feminine strengths, we can offer something unique to the professional world—leadership that is intuitive, empathetic, and deeply connected to our core.
Law, to me, represents the essence of understanding societies. My background spans radio broadcasting, classical painting, and security training. Now, civil law is the glue that connects my past experiences with a deeper understanding of pragmatic global structures, political decision-making, and societal function in a cohesive, meaningful way in this inspiring stage of life.
As women, we are simultaneously spirit and a feminine body, intellect and emotion, a balance of experiences and circumstances. Maintaining youth and inspiration with a spark of courage requires wisdom to recognize the true self.
Finnish women, often noted for looking younger than their years, attribute this vitality to a deep connection with nature—berries from the forests, the purifying heat of the sauna, and an active outdoor lifestyle - all intertwined with the country’s high-tech society, European Union membership, and now, also NATO.
True longevity requires balance—between action and peace, mind and body, the inner and the outer world. It’s a form of self-betrayal to let ourselves be dictated by external megatrends. Is our appearance truly own, or is it a reflection of what society expects? Without grounding the body with nature, to proper nutrition, joy, exercise, and the simple pleasures of pure air and water, longevity becomes elusive. It is not enough to drift through life on the fumes of convenience.
A successful woman leader, whether she’s a lawyer or in any profession, must find a deeper sense of purpose as time goes by. Money and recognition can carry us far, but they alone do not satisfy the soul. Applause may wane, and admirers may fade with time. So, how do we sustain beauty, success, and our vitality through the years? The answer lies in self-awareness, in understanding who we are and which path is right for us.
Taking moments to pause, to meditate, to detox before a hectic week, or to simply retreat from the cacophony of daily life can create space for our inner voice to be heard. Whether it’s the sound of perhaps loud children, the noise of the city, or the chatter of a television, stepping away allows us to reconnect with ourselves in solitude before re-engaging with the world. And the family.
One of the quickest ways to recharge is to seek out to nature—the sea breeze or the summit of a hill. These moments of stillness and breath are essential. After a night of revelry, a peaceful evening of self-care can restore us. If we are tired, sometimes the best remedy is turning off the noise, sitting in quiet reflection next to loved ones, and letting the stillness carry us into sleep.
Lapland’s nature is not just about silence. It calls forth something primal within us—our sensual, expressive selves. We shout to the cliffs, leap from sauna to icy lakes, walk up hills, and feel the ancient presence of stone-age landscapes beneath the pastel light of winter’s snow.
In today’s world, as long as flights are available and the internet hums, we can craft a life that blends the elements we need for long-term fulfillment. Even a demanding office in London can coexist with time spent by the sea, breathing in the salt air.
Balancing a career, motherhood, and leadership can be challenging. Women often put own needs second to those of their loved ones, while still shouldering the pressures of work and stress. Even in an era of formal equality, the expectation to be the nurturer often lingers. But we must find space for ourselves amidst it all.
This reflection comes from a woman who has known both success and loss, both family and career. What drives us toward a long, fulfilling life? It is inspiration, passion, openness, and the courage to live from our true core.
I once read a study of people who lived past 100. The common traits? They spent daily time outdoors, worked with their hands and knew how to let go.
And a humorous aspect was the recognition of some doses of stubbornness in each.