Small Sparks, Big Ripples

Sometimes we think change has to be this huge dramatic event, like quitting everything, moving across the world, or starting fresh overnight. But the truth is, transformation often begins much more quietly. It starts with a single spark, or a moment of inspiration. A gentle nudge from someone who believes in you before you believe in yourself.

For me, one of those sparks came the summer I decided I wanted to move to England. At the time, my life in Finland did not feel very fulfilled. I was going out a lot, coasting, not really seeing a future for myself. That summer, I went to a festival in the UK with a friend. As soon as we walked through the gates, I was hit by a wall of energy I had never felt before. It was mesmerising. Everything was so well organised, everything flowed beautifully, and I felt a sense of ease that was completely new to me. More than anything, I felt a sense of belonging, like I had finally stepped into a place that matched something inside me.

Later that season, I went to a festival in Finland, and it felt the opposite. Messy, disconnected, nothing like the flow I had just experienced. That is when I knew: I want to create a life that feels like what I experienced in England.

At that point, I had already given up on high school. I did not think I would ever finish, let alone go to university. But that single spark lit something in me. I decided to finish my course, I applied to study in the UK, and the next year I moved there. One spark shifted the whole direction of my life.

And I have seen it happen again and again in the lives of people I love.

• I have seen what happens when someone finds the courage to step outside of their comfort zone. A weekly practice, a shared adventure, or even just a conversation can open the door to new friendships, new choices, and a new sense of freedom.

• I have watched people take leaps, starting businesses, moving abroad, creating lives that once felt completely out of reach, all from a small spark of belief in themselves.

• I have learned that it is not always about one huge decision. Sometimes it is the smallest invitations to see life differently. An afternoon of climbing, a retreat, a conversation, or a quiet practice on the mat can be enough to change the course of a life.

These stories remind me of something powerful: every action we take ripples outward. A practice is not just for today. It shapes the way we feel, the way we relate to ourselves, and the way we show up in the world.

That is why I created AHIMS. It is a practice space, but more than that it is a mirror. Every class, breath, and reflection is an invitation to remember yourself, not just the easy parts, but the messy and hidden ones too. Change does not happen all at once, but through these small sparks of awareness that ripple into your choices, your relationships, and the way you feel at home in your own skin.

This was the first spark that changed everything for me. But it was not the only one. Transformation happens again and again in different seasons of life. In Part Two, I will share how another spark through climbing, yoga in Nepal, and even surfing led me back to myself in a new way.

Love,

Jade x 💛