by Laura Bernardeschi Nelson
At 57, I find myself in a chapter of life I never planned for — but perhaps one I deeply needed.
After years of stress, emotional exhaustion, and trying to “fit in”, I’ve finally begun to breathe again. Not through more activity or more people, but through less — less noise, fewer distractions, and far more stillness.
My healing didn’t come from the outside. It came from long walks, slow mornings, hands in the soil, brushes dipped in colour, and hours spent reading in silence.
Walking Away From the Noise
There was a time I felt suffocated by the world around me. News headlines, crowded spaces, gossip at work — all of it chipped away at my peace.
So I let it go.
I stopped watching the news.
I stepped away from social situations that drained me.
I stopped trying to explain myself to people who weren’t really listening.
It felt lonely at first — but then it felt liberating.
Reclaiming My Space and My Voice
Living in Newcastle upon Tyne has had its own set of challenges. The local Geordie culture is warm for some, but I’ve found it difficult to connect. The dialect is hard to understand, and the values often don’t align with mine. The obsession with pubs, small talk, and gossip — it’s simply not the life I want.
Instead, I’ve created my own space. Quite literally.
I built a small art installation outside my home and painted a large mural on the garage door — the only one of its kind in the neighbourhood. It turned heads. Neighbours whispered. A fence went up soon after. I’m aware I don’t blend in here.
But I’m also aware that I no longer need to.
I’m not here to please. I’m here to live honestly.
And I do not care for useless gossip or shallow criticism.
What Healed Me
My recovery hasn’t been instant or easy. I still have difficult days. But now I have tools.
- Art allows me to express what I can’t always say.
- Gardening gives me quiet purpose — watching something grow when everything else feels uncertain.
- Walking clears my head and resets my nervous system.
- Reading reconnects me to beauty, history, and deeper thought.
- Meditation helps me meet my emotions — even the messy ones — with gentleness.
And yes, I’ve had professional support too — my GP, a therapist, and now, free courses through a local charity where I’m learning how to manage emotions like rage, anxiety, and fear.
It’s a slow climb, but for the first time in years, that unbearable knot in my stomach is mostly gone.
What I’ve Learned (That Might Help You Too)
I’m not a therapist or a coach — just a person who’s been through a lot. But if anything in this resonates, here are a few quiet truths I’ve learned:
- You don’t owe anyone your energy just because they expect it.
- Solitude is not loneliness when it’s chosen with love.
- It’s okay to distance yourself from people who make you feel small.
- Peace often lives in small things: a plant growing, a walk in the wind, a page in a book.
- You can begin again at any age.
- Believe in yourself and love who you are
A Life That Feels Like Mine
The past fifteen years haven’t been easy. I moved to a new country. Tried to build a new life. Faced isolation, cultural distance, and personal pain.
But now, I can say this with clarity:
Even if I never fully connect with the local culture… even if I prefer plants to people… even if I remain “different” — I have found a way to live that feels like me.
I’m not interested in going back.
I don’t want to be “normal”.
I want to be free.
And for the first time in a long while, I am.
And you?
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by noise — the noise of people, the world, even your own thoughts — I want you to know this:
There’s nothing wrong with stepping back.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing peace over popularity.
And sometimes, solitude is the very soil where healing grows.
Have you ever found peace by stepping away from the noise?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, or simply take this as a quiet reminder:
Your life is yours to shape — even now.
Thanks for reading
Laura Bernardeschi Nelson artworld and travels 