Patriotic.

That word has always felt a little too small for me.

I consider myself a world citizen. That might sound strange to some, but when I look at my life, it makes perfect sense.

I was born in the UK and spent my first five years there. I was raised in Norway. Fifteen years ago, we moved to the Canary Islands. Three cultures. Three landscapes. Three ways of seeing the world.

So where is “home”?

Home is layered.

It is the language of my childhood.
It is the mountains and fjords of Norway.
It is the volcanic earth and Atlantic winds of the Canaries.

Being patriotic to me isn’t about waving a flag or drawing lines between “us” and “them.” It’s about caring for the place you stand on. Respecting its people. Honoring its history. Contributing where you live.

I feel gratitude for the countries that shaped me.
But my loyalty is to humanity.

To kindness.
To fairness.
To truth.

If patriotism means loving your country, then perhaps I love more than one. And perhaps my heart is simply wide enough to hold them all.

Roots can grow in more than one soil.

— Maggie
The Afterlove Voice 💫