it's time to say goodbye

it's time to say goodbye

Author

Arnulfur Hakonarson
June 13, 2024

Hey everyone,

Six years ago, I did something that really changed my life, and next week, I’m about to do it all over again—yikes.

Today, I want to share what it is, how it affected me, the pros and cons, and what it means for the future of this newsletter and my content as a whole.

Let’s dive in.

🚶‍♂️ The Big Move

Six years ago, I packed all my belongings and left Iceland to move to Stockholm, Sweden.

Why?

Well, a few years earlier, I met a beautiful Swedish woman at a hostel in northern Thailand while backpacking—life can be so random.

We clicked immediately, had a long-distance relationship for a few years, and eventually, I decided to move to her.

🌍 Embracing Change

Moving to a new country means saying goodbye to everyone you know and everything you’ve built.

But I truly believe that when one door closes, many others open.

At the time, I was working hard to become a full-time magician. Moving meant leaving behind the network I had built to do just that.

In Sweden, I faced a choice: rebuild that network or try something completely new.

IMO moving to a new environment offers a great opportunity to leave old habits behind and get a fresh mental reset—a clean slate.

So, I decided to take the leap and go all-in on my small YouTube channel that I’d been building on the side to promote my magic.

💪 The Result?

Well…

Long story short, I’ve managed to build a personal brand with over 1.3 million followers across all major social media platforms and a thriving six-figure business sharing my passion for photography online.

Plus, while living here, my lady and I have multiplied ourselves by creating not just one, but two kids—wild.

🏡 A New Chapter

However, nothing lasts forever, and it’s time to say goodbye again.

After six beautiful years in Stockholm, we’ve decided to move waaaay up north.

This is happening in just a few days (not going to lie, it’s been a really stressful few weeks 😂).

But our new home will be a small farm in the countryside, not far from Sweden’s largest ski resort and close to the Norwegian border—lots of big mountains baby.

Why the move?

Well… to be honest, life is short. This place is stunning, offering a wide range of outdoor activities and sports year-round.

But most importantly, it feels exciting and fun.

📈 What’s Next?

What does this mean for the future of this newsletter and my channels?

I really enjoy writing these, so I’ll try to stick to my regular one a week.

For my channels, in the short term, probably less content.

But once we've settled in, you can expect a lot more across all platforms, with a much more outdoor focus.

And before I forget, I want to start a podcast based on this newsletter, and I also have a new name that I will reveal to you all very soon 👀.

In the meantime, take care, and next time we talk, I’ll be on a farm in northern Sweden.

Best,
Arnúlfur

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