A health scare in 2019 was the catalyst of my self-awareness and introspection journey. Rest was not a leisurely option, but instead, doctor’s orders! My hands tied, I embarked on this voyage at a time in my life when I had to pause. I perceived my health hazard as an opportunity to re-assess where and how I was allocating my time and energy. Through meditation and other self-soothing methods, I re-connected with my childhood self. Questions such as “who am I” and “what is my purpose in life” consumed me, and I returned to my roots – the island of Kythnos – to confront the answers.
Kythnos has embraced all generations of my family. My grandparents, uncles, parents, siblings, and countless cousins have resided on the island for as long as I can remember.
Come September, my siblings and I were visibly tanned and burned from not wearing sunscreen as often as we should have.
I spent every summer and Easter on the island until I turned 18. I’d spent most of my time going to the Panagia Kanala church in the town square to meet up and play with my friends. After becoming an adult, I did not return to the island. The need for exploration and the longing for freedom kept me away.
The years went by. Having met a mélange of people, places, and islands, I never expected to miss my humble island as much as I did. My parents and the friends I left behind were a huge motive for my return, and the thought of hugging my relatives again ultimately led me back to Kythnos.
I am overwhelmed with joy every time I approach the island’s port. Although I can navigate myself on the island with my eyes shut, I know that Kythnos will always guide me with its quintessential smell of thyme.
Hoping to gather photos of the island for my new website, I found myself on the liner with photographer Ioanna Tzetzoumi and make-up artist Kerasia Koui approaching Kythnos. Although we were at our dream destination, we still did not have a clear vision of the content we were aiming for. Within a few hours, we had wandered around the sea, fields, and town with the residents who opened their homes to us. We left the island with idyllic snippets.
