• ENGLISH,  Inspiration

    “More you”

    By the end of 2021 I had the opportunity to be a part of a production by Castro Film (castrofilm.com) for Ving. The beautiful moving images were shot on the majestic mountains and by the glittery sea in Gran Canaria, Spain. It was such a lovely experience working with this proffessional team.

    A production by Castro Film (castrofilm.com) for Ving (https://www.ving.se/) directed by Markus Johnson Castro (@markuscastrophoto) with Nicole Edensbo (@nicoleedensbo), @narayana1monfleur, @samalaish and @mayagordon20. Moving images by @dp.carlrasmussen, @ikerelorrieta, @sergiovillalbastudio.

    In the water

    It was a beautiful day in Gran Canaria. A bit windy though so we had to be picky with the location. The water was a about 20 degrees so it was quite cold without a wetsuit, but the good spirits and chocolate made the difference! During the shot I started by wearing a blazer, dress, high heels and 5 kilos of weights around the waist to look weightless in the blue. It was harder than I had expected. Still the result came out beautifully together with the others performances.

    “More you”

    The production resulted in a beautiful ad campaign for Ving which can now be seen in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. When I least expect it, the beautiful moving images surprise me. In the metro, on the television, on the square. The campaign is called “more you” and I am very happy to have been a part of it just by being me.

    I am so impressed by everyone involved. I am happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of this production working with extraordinary talented people, both new and familiar faces.

    A production by Castro Film (castrofilm.com) for Ving directed by Markus Johnson Castro (@markuscastrophoto) with Nicole Edensbo (@nicoleedensbo). Moving images by @ikerelorrieta, @sergiovillalbastudio.I

    I hope you enjoy the results just as much as I do.

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2022-02-01
    Stockholm, Sweden

  • Depth

    Year 2020 – Freediving & Life

    The year 2020 was a very different year for many reasons. …for every one. For me there were many big changes. The freediving season 2020 started on the beaches of the french riviera and ended up at -75 meters depth in Kalamata, Greece.

    Nicole Edensbo in Kalamata, Greece after a training dive. Photo by: Takuja Terajima
    Starting a new season

    When the year 2020 started it was confirmed. I got one more year from my employer to do what I love, freediving. I also love my “normal” work, as a project manager within infrastructure. All though, sometimes I find life as a competitive freediver and a project manager hard to combine. So, I am fortunate enough to have an employer that support me doing this.

    Nicole Edensbo breathing up before freediving. Photo by: Takuja Terajima
    The first months

    In early January I travelled to France and lived in Villefranche-Sur-Mer. The village where the Depth World Championship was held 2019. I focused a lot on getting back to freediving mode after almost two months of rest. (The rest is crucial for me to be able to do this long term.) I focused on stretching and did a lot of swimming in the sea with a temperature of 13/14 degrees Celsius. I combined it with pooltraining in Nice together with CIPA Freediving including Alice Modolo, Guillaume Néry, Arthur Guerin Boëri and more. I also did a lot of training in Monaco at Stade Louis II mainly together with my brother who came for a longer visit. By mid february I did a PB in STA, a relaxed 07:05 minutes. A great success. Unfortunately, by then, Covid-19 started to spread more and more all over Europe and the plans on defending my title as the best female poolfreediver in Sweden were cancelled. In mid March I managed to get one of the few flights, departing from Nice, going back home to Sweden.

    Changed plans

    In Sweden restrictions were mild. Even if the pool training together with the club was cancelled I could still go and train together with friends. Things were not so easy, though, and the training suffered. I picked up on gym training even if that was not the original plan. But, yes, I guess this year there have been many people having to change plans. The original plan was to participate in the Swedish Chamionship in Pool and then in April travel to Greece, starting depth training.

    During all this, me and my ex-husband decided to separate. A decision that was not dealt with over night, I can tell. This was something we had discussed for over a year. Though, he always supported me, encouraging me to do what I wanted in life. We realized, what once was our dream of a future life was not our common dream any more. With respect to one an other we decided to move on in different directions. During all this, the commercial I did for Mercedes Benz was released, a beautiful video and portrait in my opinion.

    Nicole Edensbo in commercial video for Mercedes Benz.
    Something different

    With no choice of travel, difficulties finding opportunities to do training and a mind confused by life I started painting and writing more and more. Something I’ve always done when I’ve found the time. Together with Dean Chipolina, whom I met at the World Championship 2019, I started creating music something very unexpected but so exciting. In early summer we even performed three of our songs in collaboration with an old friend from school.

    Dean Chipolina and Nicole Edensbo as CoCo Muse performing at Warehouse Sessions in collaboration with Ljudbolaget. Photo by: Benjamin Reuber
    Depth training & National Record

    During May and June pool training was on the shcedule as often as possible. It was the preperation for the main purpose of this year, depthtraining. Depth training started in Spain and Gibraltar and in July the serious training started, in Kalamata, Greece. There were a lot of famous freediving athletes there such as Alenka Artnik, Aurnaud Jerald, Walid Boudhiaf, Dean Chipolina, Jennifer Wendland, Alice Modolo, Marianna Gillespie, Thibault Guignes and more. Mostly I did CWT (diving with a monofin, down and up) aiming to break the Swedish national record, held by Anneli Pompe.

    Training became very itense and after nearly 3 months of depth training my body and mind was exhausted. I didn’t feel I had what I needed to go for the national record, 91 meters. I did 88 meters though and ranked quite OK in the world the year 2020. Instead of going for the national record in CWT I put the bifins on instead. Two trainings and two competition dives later I had the national record in the AIDA ranking, 75 meters CWTB. Such a relief after this years wild ride. Many media channels such as SVT, Göteborgs-Posten and Expressen showed interest in the new record and for freediving in general wich is a success itself. A beautiful gift.

    The most beautiful gift of this year, though, is that I can travel the world doing what I love together with someone I love, someone who love what I love.

    Nicole Edensbo and Dean Chipolina in Kalamata, Greece. Photo by: Takuja Terajima

    I wish you all a wonderful year!

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2021-01-22
    Linköping, Sweden

  • Depth,  Inspiration

    The shooting for Mercedes Benz

    Last year, I had the opportunity to do a beautiful shoot with Mercedes benz for their campaign “What moves you?”.
    Earlier this summer it was released.

    Nicole Edensbo in the commercial video for the Mercedes Benz – V-class.
    Shooting in Tenerife

    We spent some wonderful days in the amazing landscapes of Tenerife, Spain. It was an experience I will for long remember. Driving this car from the small roads in the misty mountains to the endless sea doing what I love. Freediving. We did the shooting for two days. One day we spent in the sea to do the diving scenes and the second day we went up in the mountain with the black Mercedes Benz – V-class.

    The crew

    The crew where amazing and someone who really impressed me the most was the director, the incredibly talented Marta Trela. What really struck me was her ability to see people and really understand the person she works with. She has an eye for details which is crucial to be a director at her level.

    I really enjoyed recording the voice over trying to achieve different feeling so that the team could have a various selection for the final result. It is amazing how much time, so many minds and so much energy is put into the result of 1:35 minutes commercial video. In my opinion, the result is amazingly beautiful. What do you think?

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-08-22
    Kalamata, Greece

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    Exercises,  TRAINING & COMPETITION

    Learn how to hold your breath longer – Part 2: The Breath

    When we breathe normally, we do not use our entire lung volume and many of us have a tendency to breathe in the upper part of the lungs and not “breathing with the belly”. Today I want us to concentrate a little more on the breath and our breathing. You find a video tutorial below.

    Breathe consciously

    The respiratory system is something that for most of us just works. It regulates itself, among other things, with the help of CO2 levels in the blood which I wrote about in the first part of this series Part 1: Knowledge. However, we breath without needing to think of it. Before a breath hold though, conscious breathing is crucial.

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    “In this exercise we learn to be more conscious about our breathing”. Nicole Edensbo Freediver in the archipelago of Gothenburg. Photo by: Elin Larsgren
    The breath

    In this exercise we learn to be more conscious about our breathing, finding the volume of the lungs and get used to breathing with “all parts of the lungs” from the belly to the throat. Before a longer breath hold it is good to use as much of your lung volume as possible. If you know you are one of those that tend to breathe very shallow (mainly with the upper part of your lungs), this exercise is good to find the belly breathing. Now, remember we should breathe with the belly, so let it be big and bulge.

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    Learn how to hold your breath longer, exercise.

    EXERCISE

    Part 2: The Breath
    1. Find a place where you can lie down comfortably and undisturbed. Lie down straight and relax your whole body.
    2. Put one hand on your belly and one over your chest and just feel your breathing. Reflect on how your body moves as your breathe.
    3. Put both hands on your belly and breathe “only with your belly” (very deep) for ten breaths.
      (from 00:05 in the movie below)
    4. Put your hands on your chest and breathe “only with your lungs” for ten breaths.
      (from 00:35 in the movie below)
    5. Put one hand on your throat and breathe “only with your throat” (very shallow) for ten breaths.
      (from 1:05 in the movie below)
    6. Now put your bellybreathing and lungbreathing together. Start by “filling the belly” with air, then fill the lungs. Exhale by first emptying the air in the lungs and then the belly. Blow out all the air when you exhale. Do this for ten breaths.
      (from 1:25 in the video below)
    7. Now add all three parts together. Belly, lungs and throat. Start by filling the belly with air. When it is full, you fill the lungs and when they are full you finish your inhale by filling your throat. Exhale by first emptying the air in the throat, then the lungs and finally the belly. Blow out all the air when you exhale. Do this in ten breaths.
      (from 2:20 in the movie below)
    • In the video below, I do each part three times instead of ten.
    • Personally, in the beginning, I found it difficult to find the belly breathing. Therefor, I just tried to breathe and make sure to actively move my belly instead of the chest. Then, after a while, the belly breathing came naturally.
    • The exercise above can also be done sitting. Perfect as a little break at work before lunch.
    • My advice is to do breathing exercises on an empty stomach or a few hours after eating.
    How to hold your breath longer, tutorial video, belly breathing.

    GOOD LUCK!

    Get used to belly breathing

    Do this exercise to remind yourself to relax and find your belly breathing. I advice you to do this kind of conscious breathing for some minutes before a breath hold. Before a breath hold I usually breathe deep into my belly and a bit up into the lungs, like step 6 in the exercise. In the last breath before I hold my breath I breathe down into the belly, up into the lungs and then the throat to get in as much air as possible, like step 7 in this exercise.

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-04-24
    Gothenburg, Sweden

  • image 3
    Exercises,  TRAINING & COMPETITION

    How to hold your breath longer – Part 1: Knowledge

    I have noticed that people are curious about freediving and that there is a particular interest in breathing and breath hold. Very often the I get the question of how long I can hold my breath. Let’s start with revealing that my personal best in STA (static apnea = breathhold in water) currently is 07:05 minutes.

    Basic exercises

    Most likely, there are as many strategies as there are apneists to improve the breath hold. In this series I will share some exercises along with techniques for breathing, relaxation and stretching to improve the time of the breath hold. The excercises are basic and should suit almost every one. And no, you will not need a pool to do the exercises. A bed, couch or a floor will do perfect!

    Before we start!

    Before you keep on reading this article I want you to start by doing a breath hold, as long as you can. Count the time and write it down to see how much you, with the help of this series, will improve your breath hold.

    BreathHold Monaco
    Nicole Edensbo doing a STA (Static Apnea). Photo by: Jakob Sandberg
    Knowledge

    First of all, we need to know a little bit of what actually regulates our breathing. Some people might think that it is the lack of oxygen (O2) that creates the urge to breath. That is actually not the case. It is the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels that creates the urge hence regulates our breathing. The regulation of breathing can simply be described as follows.

    Regulation of breathing

    When the CO2 levels becomes high enough in the blood, signals are sent that cause the diaphragm to contract, which creates an underpressure in the lungs and air is drawn in through our mouth and nose. Simply, we take a breath. The air that we breathe in consists, among other gases, of O2 that our body need to function. The O2 is absorbed by the blood that simultaneously releases CO2 that is ventilated out when the diaphragm relaxes, and we exhale. When the cells in the body work, they consume the O2 and one of the residues of the process is the CO2. The CO2 is transported with the blood and out from our body through the lungs. There the circle is closed, and it repeats over and over again.

    image 3
    Schematic diagram of the respiratory system as a part of the series “How to hold your breath longer”.

    Have you ever tried holding your breath so that you have felt the contractions? Most likely, you can last at least twice as long. As long as you lie on a flat surface, without the risk of falling and you are healthy, it should not be dangerous to hold your breath for a longer time.

    EXERCISE

    Part 1: Knowledge
    1. Choose a place where you can lie comfortably and undisturbed
    2. Settle down and relax
    3. Take a few deep breaths
    4. Take in as much air as you can in the last inhalation before your breath hold and then hold
    5. Start a timer and notice when you get your first contraction
    6. Hold as long as you can
    7. Breathe!
    8. Stop the timer
    9. Write down the time for the first contraction and the total time of breath hold
    • Repeat this four times
    • Make sure you recover at least twice as long as you hold your breath

    GOOD LUCK!

    Benefits from exercise

    For many people the contractions comes later the second and third time they do the breath holds in this exercise. For some that means a more comfortable and longer breath hold. If you do this exercise a couple of times a week you’ll get to know yourself and learn how to handle the contractions and the uncomfortable feeling better. Your body will also slowly get used to lower oxygen levels. This means it is the first step to increase the time of your breath hold capacity.

    Nicole Edensbo 1
    “The CO2 is transported with the blood and out from our body through the lungs.”

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-04-15
    Gothenburg, Sweden

  • Inspiration,  MINDSET,  Reflection

    Passion or prestige?

    Almost anywhere we go in this world there is a message being sent to us, from ourselves, from society. The message encourages us to be something different from what we are. The message simply says ”…you are not enough!” It can sound like “You can work harder”, “You can do better”, “Do more”, “Do less”, “Do it another way”. As if what we do and what we are is not adequate.

    We are encouraged…to work harder and do better as if we must “be someone” to deserve our existence.

    Be someone

    The messages of doing better often comes from media but many times also from the people around us and from ourselves. We reward the fighters, we give them a pat on the shoulder and say, “You work so hard, keep it up, you are the best”. We are encouraged to encourage to work harder and do better as if we must be defined with a superlative and “be someone” to deserve our existence.

    I believe it is important to encourage to do good, to do better, to do something different. I also encourage the people around me. What we all must remember though, is that what is our intention with our encouraging words might not be what the receiver of the message understands. We are individuals in different situations in life with different personalities and what encourages me might not encourage you in a positive way. Maybe even the opposite.

    20200313 124809
    Encouraging words with destructing results

    For me, encouraging words work very well if the intention is to put wood on an already burning fire. I hear the words, mostly they make me happy and encourages me to do more. But the thing is, most of the time, I am already pushing myself. When I hear words like, you are such a hard worker, you are the best I want to prove that these words are truth. Of course, I want to live up to the image other people have on me if they are raising me to the sky. The words might have an effect on me that was not the intention. They might even be destructive.

    …my freediving has become something for show of. Something that has to do with numbers instead of being a pure passion…

    When it comes to freediving, for me, these are the moments when my passion becomes a platform for prestige. All of a sudden, my freediving has become something for show of. Something that has to do with numbers instead of being a pure passion born from the pleasure of being embraced by nature. It was not because of numbers I started freediving. It was because of what I felt, being a part of the endless sea.

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    Nicole Edensbo freediving outside Pylos, Greece, 2020. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

    I am aware of this and how I, as a person, reacts to encouraging, uplifting words and positive feedback. Still, it is sometimes hard to resist that a part of me that wants to show of and live up to the image. Everyday I have dialogues and discussions with my self about this. I remind myself that I am enough even though I do not hold my breath for more than 5 minutes or swim 100 meters without fins.

    To be is enough

    I guess I am not alone with these kinds of reactions. Even though we are all unique we are often very much alike. We, the society reward those who fight, those who “become someone” in life. Many of us want to be that someone, to be seen, rewarded and praised. Therefor we want to live up to these words and this image. To be the hard working and the best, the deepest, the coolest. I can go on with superlatives but let me stop there. Because to be is enough.

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    Nicole Edenbso Freedviver, Greece, September 2020. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

    Let encouraging words inspire you but do not let them make you a slave to your own or other people’s expectations.

    There is nothing to prove

    I have friends who are living lives different from mine. Sometimes I feel that they almost excuse themselves for living the life they live being happy with it, because it is a life not necessarily described with superlatives. I have heard words like: “I also want to be passionate about something to be more interesting”. And those who desperately are looking for their passion to find a meaning with life. Life is not about being someone by working the hardest at the office, diving the deepest on one breath, or doing the most interesting journeys. It is about love.

    Life is about loving what you do and be satisfied and happy with it. If that means waking up with your family every morning or diving the deepest doesn’t matter. Let encouraging words inspire you but do not let them make you a slave to your own or other people’s expectations. We just have to be who we are. We have nothing to prove, not for ourselves nor for others. We don’t have to fight to deserve our existence.

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    Nicole Edensbo. Photo by: Jakob Sandberg

    Remind yourself about that sometimes. For sure I will remind myself many times more.

    Be kind to yourself, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-03-19
    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

  • CNF Nicole Edensbo VM 2019
    Depth,  TRAINING & COMPETITION

    AIDA Depth World Championship 2019 – My dives

    As I am planning for the depth season to come I stumbled over the videos from AIDA Depth World Championship 2019. I watched my dives and I realize that seeing them inspires me, more than ever, to go deep again.

    Watch the videos of my dives from AIDA Depth World Championship below.

    CNF Nicole Edensbo VM 2019
    Nicole Edensbo, CNF -47 meters. AIDA Depth World Championship 2019.
    Photo by: Guillaume Estève.
    Beautiful dives & more to work on

    The championship was my first Depth World Championship as I started deep freediving last year. The championship was held in Villefranche-sur-Mer, where I am at the moment. I participated in this championship to gain experience witin depth competition, widen my freediving network, bring tags from the bottom plate and results of white cards. The competition gave me all of this and even more.

    I was and still am very proud of my performances since I got a lot of positive critics from the comentators. After the championship I went deeper in all three disciplines and in two of them I even did national records; In October the 6th I did -77 meters FIM (free immersion) and five days later -52 meters CNF (constant weight no fins). I still have a lot to work on and I am so curious to see what this season will bring.

    Watch the videos of my CWT and FIM dives from AIDA Depth World Championship 2019 in Villefranche-sur-Mer below.

    CWT -73 meters, dive time 02:05 minutes

    The video starts playing just before my official top.

    Nicole Edensbo freediving Constant Weight to -73 meters with a dive time of 02:05 minutes. AIDA Depth World Championship 2019.
    FIM -68 meters, dive time 02:20 minutes

    The video starts playing just before my official top.

    Nicole Edensbo freediving Constant Weight to -68 meters with a dive time of 02:20 minutes. AIDA Depth World Championship 2019.
    CNF -47 meters, dive time 02:10 minutes

    Here is the link to my CNF dive https://youtu.be/8_8lxBXpkFc?t=150
    …by some reason it cannot be embeded in this blog post at the moment.

    Be kind to yourself, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-03-11
    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

  • IMG 20200224 222253 314
    Inspiration,  MINDSET,  Reflection

    No expectations & acceptance

    Have you ever reflected over how much expectations from yourself or others affect your life? Do you ever feel limited to change or move on because of a situation or relation? There are so many of us putting ourselves in situations that are limiting to us. And the limitations creates a feeling of being disgruntled as they cover life as heavy cloud on a mountain top.

    Every single second we become something new. We must let go of our expectations based on the past.

    Expectations

    Even though some situations such as relations tend to make us feel unhappy we seem to be stuck there. We are someway trapped in a status. In a relation it might be called best-friends, marriage, brotherhood or sisterhood. We seem to be stuck because we expected the relation was going to last forever, and a changed status of the relation is considered to be a failure. In many relationships there are norms and oftentimes written or unwritten rules that create these expectations on us.

    Change

    We all know that kids grow up, they change. Yhey change interests, they change in knowledge and develop every day. They even remarkably change in appearance. We accept all this as a natural part of growing up. On the other hand, when it comes to “grownups” we seem to expect us to be like Bilbo’s trolls, but instead of turned into stone by daylight we turn into stone by adulthood.

    During the whole life, we change. This is something we must accept. We must accept that we are developing just as we accept kids as they develop. We cannot expect from ourselves, nor from others, to be the same person as one year ago, one month ago or even one second ago. We cannot either know what we will become. Every single second we become something new. We must let go of our expectations based on the past and just accept what we become every moment of life. We must be dynamic.

    That string is being strained and stretched until its breaking point and when it breaks it hurts.

    Acceptance

    Therefore, I think, it is not always easy to be static in one certain place, in one way of living or to be attached to certain people. To be able to evolve we must either to surround ourselves with people who has no expectations and accept the way we are and what we become. Or else, there will be friction and tension creating a struggle in life. The whole world is ever changing. Having attachment to something or someone, for me, is like a thin piece of string that prevent the natural development. That string is being strained and stretched until its breaking point and when it breaks it hurts. Sometimes the string completely hinder us to become what we could be.

    We have to cut of this string and go on without pointless obstacles in our way. The signs, that reveal which way to go on our way, are everywhere but sometimes hard to see because of this string holding us back, not being flexible for the world in change. Without the string, without the obstacles, we can see and understand the signs more clearly and follow them as they invite us to something new.

    Find a way

    I believe in living without this string, being free, without expectations. Then, nothing need to be forced, I just need to accept what I cannot change. I believe in living every second, taking one step after the other and find my way with sensitivity.

    Nicole Edensbo before a dive of freediving. Photo by: Bastien Soleil
    Free life & freediving

    I write about this as a reflection of my thoughts and a comparison to freediving. How I approach freediving oftentimes seems to work as a way of approaching life itself. Many times, I have learned to approach life through my experiences from freediving. This issue is nothing different. It can be compared to a dive.

    Drop your expectations. Approach your dive and accept what happens.

    Every moment the situation in a dive is changing. …from the countdown to officical top until being above the surface again. How I perceive a dive is affected from my approach towards it. In a dive it is important, at least for me, to empty my mind, drop all expectations from myself and others and be here and now. Every moment must be a moment of acceptance. The dive should not be forced just experienced with sensitivity. All the time I must be responsive for the signs that tell me to move on or take a new breath of fresh air. Every dive is a new dive and should be treated like a child with no expectations, acceptance and sensitivity. And the same goes for life itself.


    Nicole Edensbo in ascent of a dive of freediving. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

    Drop your expectations. Approach your dive and accept what happens, accept change. Do this with sensitivity and you will find your way.
    Drop your expectations. Approach life and accept what happens, accept change. Do this with sensitivity and you will find your way.

    Be kind to yourself, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-02-27
    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

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    Inspiration,  MINDSET,  Reflection

    Life no limits

    Every day I learn new things about the World. Every day I learn new things about life and my reality. I have understood more and more that we all live in the same World, but different lifes in different realities. The reality is unique for every single one of us. My reality is not the same as your reality. Your reality is not the same as any other’s. All of us are unique, and it is every single person’s own responsibility to live the reality they want to live.

    Nicole Edensbo freediver. Photo by: Jakob Sandberg
    It is your decision

    What is important to know is that no one else can tell us what to do with our lives. The decision is our own. It is all in our own hands. No one can tell us what to do or where to go. It is every single person’s own decision. We have to realize that we have the power to create and live the reality we want to live. I don’t say it is always easy to make all these decisions, because whatever decision we make there is one thing we have to deal with. That is to face the consequences of the decisions we make.

    People feel safe in pretending that there are limits of what they can do in life.

    Limitations?

    This way of thinking might upset people, but I think people actually like pretending being back bound not able to do what they want because of a job, a relationship, family or friends. People feel safe in pretending that there are limits of what they can do in life. When people understand that everything in life is possible, life gets to big…I guess. It seems that it is better to pretend that there are limits and restrictions because then no one will express any expectations on one self or the others.

    Everyone has the choice to do what they want…and follow the flow of life.

    A provoking life

    I have understood that I provoke some people with these thoughts and the actions I take with this way of thinking. I chose to live free and do what suits me. Some people call it egoistic and irresponsible. Other people say that I am lucky and fortunate to do what I do. They say it in a way as if they could not do something similar, to fulfill their dreams. To do what they truly want. The comments about being egoistic, I can accept, if that is the word they want to use. About being lucky I don’t totally agree. Everyone has the choice to do what they want, to go where the heart wants and follow the flow of life. Again, I don’t say it is always easy to face the consequences of the decisions. Many of us are too attached to places and people. These choices have not only been easy for me, I have faced consequences and dealt with some so far.

    Nicole Edensbo freediver. Photo by: Jakob Sandberg
    A parallell

    What is interesting is that I have seen kind of the same situations in freediving. People feel safe when they come to the training session and say; “I feel a little bit tired today…I will not do a hard training”, “Oh, I ate to much before the training…I cannot do a longer dive”. “My throat is a little bit sore…I think I will take it easy” When they say that I guess that they escape from the situation of having expectations on themselves or expectations from others doing extraordinary things. It is totally ok to not have expectations, everyone does not have to do the longest breath holds or do the longest dives or climb the highest mountains.

    Life is now

    But, if I at the same time say it is OK, why do I bring it up? It is because people seem to long for something else than their actual reality. They long for something different, adventures, nature…life. But, they seem to think that the possibilities in life are limited. Instead of living the life they want, maybe in a different way they indulge in other realities such as series, and social media on daily basis. Some people seem to want to escape the biggest part of the reality living for only a few moments in life. The consequences of making a change in life seem to be too hard to deal with. Therefor people pretend there are distractions in their way to fulfill dreams and live life. People pretend, and this becomes their reality.

    …there are infinite opportunities and countless paths to go.

    In my opinion life is too precious to be lived that way. I think life is meant to be lived every day, every second. Life is meant to be lived fully, every moment. People seem to lose life in the chase of life, “the perfect moments”. What is true is that the perfect moment is now, now and now. We need to wake up, make a decision and live.

    Nicole Edensbo freediver. Photo by: Jakob Sandberg
    Life no limits

    Remember, you are in charge of your own life. No one else can tell you what to do. The decision is yours. In this life there are infinite opportunities and countless paths to go. You are the one in charge, you are the captain of your own ship. What you have to do is to make up your mind and live a life with no limits.

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-02-16
    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

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    Inspiration,  MINDSET

    Top photos from 2019 – A story behind: Part 2

    During 2019 I spent a lot of time in the water. That is something that truly shows on the photos that are taken during last year. Some of the photos I have shared on my blog and also at my Instagram account @nicoleedensbo. In this post I present the second part of “Top photos from 2019” and the photos that have been the most appreciated together with the story behind it. I hope you like it!

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    This photo simply shows the birth of a dive…

    Immersion

    This photography is taken during a training in Kalamata. The circumstances for depth training in the bay were amazing. Normally the conditionsto expect were similar to a bath tub. No waves, no currents, just a little bit deeper than a bath tub though. If you ask me what I like about diving it is the whole experience, from waking up in the morning with the mind focused on this one performance and the feeling I bring with me. For me, this photography truly says more than a thousand words. This photo simply shows the birth of a dive and the immersion that have already started.


    Nicole Edensbo during a breathe up training together with the Freediving Club Greece owned by Stavros Kastrinakis. Photo: Nestori Virtanen

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    Beauty of Greece

    The early autumn sun was shining on us as we explored the southern parts of Messinia. We were looking for a beautiful place and what we found was more than one beautiful place. On our trip we stopped several times to breathe the ambience of Greece. We were amazed by the beauty. The magnificent mountains with its calming even so intense atmosphere. The playful sea inviting us as it perpetually showed itself behind the sharp rocks. The olive trees thirsty for water were everywhere, playing with the light, throwing shade under their silver colored leaves. We found the beautiful place. We found the beauty of Greece.

    Nicole Edensbo in Peloponnese, Greece. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

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    …the beautifully sandy bottom and the crystal clear water were almost irrestistible to not make a photo.

    In the search of darkness

    Another trip in the search of underwater caves in an area called Lakonia. This photo is taken on our way to look for the caves. It is not easy to see but in my left hand I am holding a torch, ready to face the dark of the world in the shade. I guess the beautifully sandy bottom and the crystal clear water were almost irrestistible to not make a photo. This time we didn’t find any big caves, but we had a beautiful swim and many playful dives in the underwater landscapes. We also had the opportunity to take a beautiful photo of a lion fish and its magestic fins with its amazing patterns.

    Nicole Edensbo snorkeling in crystal clear water in Lakonia, Greece. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

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    Where the sky meets the sea

    During late October I had the opportunity to spend some time with the team members of Freedving Club Greece. The summer had turn into autumn. By the waters of Kalamata harbor the waves were splashing on the concrete foundation of the pier. One of the team members is from my neighbor country, Finland. Nestori is a talented photographer, he was behind the camera as this photo were taken. So, where am I pointing? I am pointing at nothing and everything. I am pointing where the sky meets the sea. I am pointing at the endless horizon.

    Nicole Edensbo Freediver pointing at the horizon from Kalamata harbour. Photo by: Nestori Virtanen

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    I enjoyed every single moment of these training sessions, being in my element. Being free.

    Being free

    This photography is taken after a training session in Kalamata. I did a deeper dive and during the time waiting for the others we amused ourselves by taking photos in a glittery costume. In the upper corner to the left you can actually see the boat on which the set up for deeper was and a little bit further down a darker spot, which is a weight set at five meters for those who prefer breathing air with more oxygen after a dive. I enjoyed every single moment of these training sessions, being in my element. Being free.

    Nicole Edensbo diving in the Mediterranean Sea in the bay of Kalamata. Photo by: Bastien Soleil

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    Do you want to read more?

    Have you also read the first part of this series? You find it on the on the link below:
    Top photos from 2019 – A story behind: Part 1

    Be kind to your self, be kind to others.

    Nicole Edensbo, 2020-01-29
    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France