Out of the Box advice from Pippi and Astrid

4 learnings from Astrid Lindgren's life story

This girl was a big part of my childhood.

And I think, we can all agree: Pippi Longstocking really was “out of the box”.

I was a more quiet and shy girl (I know, for those who know me now, this might come as a shock). But even I sometimes thought: how cool is Pippi’s life? She has her own house, a horse, a monkey, friends, doesn’t have to go to school, and just does whatever she wants.

Then I realized that I am actually afraid to be alone at home, and decided I’d rather watch her. But I did look up to her. Her courage, her joy, her autonomy.

Why am I talking about Pippi Longstocking?

I started reading Astrid Lindgren’s life story this week. It has been raining for basically the past five days since we arrived in Germany, and my first stop was to go to the local library. (Can you imagine I got a membership for a year for 10 Euros?)

But this is beside the point.

Astrid Lindgren’s story inspired me. And as I always try to take some learnings from each book I read, that could inspire my life today, I did the same here.

Let me share with you the 4 learnings I took out…

1. It is never too late.

Astrid Lindgren only started writing in her mid-thirties and got published with her first book (Pippi Longstocking) at the age of 38. The book had been declined twice before someone finally published it. But she didn’t give up. And it became one of the biggest children’s books ever written. I doubt any of you will not know her.

—> No matter where you are in your life, you can start now.

"I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that." Pippi Longstocking

The fun of keeping your inner child alive.

One of the most delightful aspects of Astrid Lindgren's story is how she kept her inner child alive.

Her children often mentioned that she was a fantastic children’s book author because she never lost the fun and joy of childhood. Her son even said that she probably had just as much fun as he did on the playground.

This spirit of playfulness and joy is something I've taken to heart. For my son’s baptism this year, I chose one of Astrid Lindgren's quotes:

"Dont' let them get you down. Be cheeky and wild and wonderful." Astrid Lindgren

It's a reminder to embrace the joy in life, to be playful, and to let our inner child flourish.

—> Always include some fun in your life.

The power of resilience and versatility.

Astrid Lindgren's story is a testament to the power of resilience and versatility.

The beginning of her journey was marked by hardship; she had a son from an affair with a married man, which forced her to leave her home and start anew. She faced the incredibly tough decision of leaving her son with someone else while she moved to Stockholm to earn a living as a low-paid secretary.

Yet, these challenging experiences equipped her with invaluable skills for the future. Astrid was never "just" a successful writer. She wore many hats, evolving from a secretary to a children's book editor, excelling in both roles. Her ability to adapt and thrive in different capacities is truly inspiring.

Takeout: think out of the box and create your own path to success.

The importance of focus and determination

Reading about Astrid Lindgren, it became clear how exceptional she was at focusing on the present moment. As a child, she immersed herself in reading and school. When she became a mother, her sole focus was on how to care for her son, making tough decisions that no mother should have to face.

Once her life settled, with two children and a sense of order, she maintained a disciplined schedule. Mornings were dedicated to writing children's books, afternoons to her work as a children's book editor. This structured approach allowed her to excel in both areas.

And she had a clear goal:

"If I have brightened up one single sad childhood, then I have at least accomplished something in life."

Looking at the above I then started reflecting on the learnings and what they could mean to me.

• It is never too late: as my friend Sue like to say: “maybe it is not your season yet”. My days in finding what I am supposed to do will come. I don’t need to become a published author now or deliver that TED talk next year. There is still time.

• The fun of keeping your inner child alive. I can however enjoy this time with my son. Take the summer to be fun, joyful and a bit crazy. Creating memories for him and myself, that will last. After all, Astrid Lindgren only became a famous author because of the joys she had in her childhood.

• The beauty in doing more. It doesn’t have to be either or. Either self employed and flexibility for my child or working full time and having no flexibility at all. There is many alternatives and I just need to look out for them. I started discussing with people around me and am finding joy again in thinking “out of the box”.

• The importance of focus and determination: Whatever I chose to do, it needs to be a purposeful decision. And it needs to come with the focus it deserves. I realize this while being here in Germany. Saying “yes” to too many things takes off the focus and I don’t feel satisfied in the evening. I need to set more boundaries.

  Astrid Lindgren did the block approach (mornings for writing, afternoons for editor work, evenings for kids). I will try to do something similar next week. Setting clear blocks for the different areas in my life. Let’s see.

And because I am setting boundaries this week and spending more fun time with my son, I will leave it at this for today.

I hope the takeaways from Astrid Lindgren’s story inspire you to reflect on your own life and goals. Remember, it's never too late to start, keep your inner child alive, embrace the beauty in doing more, and stay focused and determined. Here’s to creating our own paths and making life a little more joyful and adventurous.

Thank you all for taking the time for yourself to read this blog article. It means a lot. Because while I just love it, it makes it even more special to see it impact someone else.

Looking forward, I have so many ideas still, but let’s see. The first objective will be to reach more readers. Aiming high would be 500 by the end of the year.

So please start sharing. :)

Keep thinking out of the box!