A little over a year ago, I went to Norway — and I’ve never felt more alive, more present, or more clear. It was like taking the biggest breath of fresh air in my life, both literally and figuratively.

Norway was surreal. Standing in the crisp northern air, surrounded by towering mountains and the quiet hum of nature, I felt all of me fully within me. Not pulled in a million directions, not distracted by noise or obligations. Just here. Fully here.

I started my trip in Oslo and tried something a bit crazy: I asked strangers to join me on a road trip. My first conversation was intimidating — but once I took that first leap, it got easier. By the evening, three people had said yes: Karl from Dubai, Jackson from New Zealand, and Ahmad, who seemed chill and ready for adventure.

The next morning, our road trip began. The drive from Oslo to our first viewpoint was already breathtaking, but the moment we stepped out to see our first fjord, something shifted.

Ahmad spotted the perfect stone wall for us to sit on. We cracked jokes, shared stories, and paused to feel the weight of the view. Karl nearly shed a tear, overwhelmed by the beauty. Jackson shared life stories from back home. For the first time, it truly felt like strangers had become friends, bound together by a shared awe.

When we reached Flam, we paused briefly, skipped some rocks, and just enjoyed the simple joy of being present — playful, carefree, and fully alive. Drinking fresh stream water straight from the mountains, laughing at our own silliness, feeling like kids again — these were the moments that would stay with me forever.

By the time Karl had to catch his train, I realized something: life isn’t about rushing, checking boxes, or doing it all. Life is about fully experiencing it, noticing the details, and letting ourselves feel. Norway reminded me that clarity comes when you give yourself space to breathe, to step back, and to be present with yourself and those around you.

Here’s what I took from it:

On my last day in Norway, I took some time to journal and reflect — you can catch a glimpse of the journey in my latest IG reel.

If you take one thing away today, let it be this: create small pockets of presence and playfulness in your own life — even five minutes can help you reconnect with yourself, your clarity, and your dreams.

For me, this now looks like daily meditation — a practice that started small but has changed my life. But the spark? That started on the other side of the world, in Norway, where clarity isn’t chased — it simply exists when you step fully into the present.

These moments in Norway — the stillness, the presence, the courage to invite strangers into adventure — they didn't just change how I live. They changed how I lead.

When I came home and founded the Global Dream Team Community, I knew I wanted to create something that felt like that — grounded, alive, and rooted in real connection. A community where we give ourselves permission to slow down, tune out the noise, and build dreams that actually matter to us. That's what GDT is: a space to come back to yourself, just like I did on that mountainside in Norway.

With love and clarity,

Founder, Global Dream Team

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If you enjoyed this reflection, come say hi on Instagram @ysabelchav - I share more moments, thoughts, and behind-the-scenes from the journey.