That's #CMEmber all wrapped up, for another month at least!

On what was an absolutely stunning morning on Sweden's best coast (not sorry!), Adriana showed us the light to prioritising what's important in our lives, and that taking some space for ourselves is ok too!

She brought the perspective of someone who's spent her whole career working with people, training, coaching, and helping them navigate their paths.

Through that extensive work, she's gotten incredibly good at recognising the patterns of burnout and frustration, both in others and in herself.

One of the most powerful things she reminded us was to never lose hope, even during the difficult or frustrating periods of our lives.

The embers of passion and motivation can lie dormant, smouldering away for a long time until they're reignited It's ok to feel a bit lost and unmotivated but recognising that and finding tools to manage our priorities and understand our capacities is what makes all the difference going forward!

A huge thank you, as always, to our ever-loyal hosts over at the International House Gothenburg!

They've been huge supporters of #CMGothenburg for many years now, and there are few other places we'd feel happy about rolling into at the crack of dawn.

They always keep us fuelled, welcomed, and ready for whatever Friday has in store! ☕️✨

Of course, another massive thanks to Sit & Draw and Samklang for the creative tables that get people making, chatting, and settled in. They help people feel at home and get conversations flowing before we've even started! 🎨🙌

And finally, to you, our incredible #CreativeMornings and the incredible volunteer team who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes, thank you for making this all possible!

Beyond the talks and our events is a diverse group of creatives who care deeply about staying curious and building something meaningful together.

Our incredible community is the reason we're able to platform diverse perspectives and keep pushing the format that little further each month.

You're the best! 💛

See you very soon for our last event before the summer break, It's going to be a very special one! ✨

✍️ Luke Farrelly-Spain
📸Sayalee Chaudhary

It was chosen by our Poulsbo chapter in Washington and illustrated by Sarah Gordon. The literal meaning of ember is a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire. But as a metaphor, it means so much more. Our Poulsbo chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

“Embers represent the quiet, enduring remnants of fire—what remains after the intensity fades. They carry a smoldering potential, a subtle strength that holds heat long after the flames have gone. As a quieter community outside the city, we may not always burn the brightest, but we never burn out. Our spark lives in reflection, resilience, and the space we have to pause, think, and grow.

In those calm moments, we find what many others miss: the steady glow of ideas, relationships, and dreams that don’t need noise to thrive. Embers remind us that even after challenges or change, something powerful remains—ready to reignite when needed. We hold that same quiet fire within ourselves, and in community with each other, we kindle more.

Together, we tend the quiet fire—fueling one another through presence, care, and shared warmth.”

Watch this video from our Poulsbo chapter for more on what ember means to them.

After Friday, it’s never been clearer... It’s about sharing moments with people and building real connections.

And wait... isn’t that exactly what happened on Friday?

Drawing together, playing with LEGO, listening to Shane Finlay’s stories about food and belonging. Shane even surprised us with soup and cake from Da Pao!

Suddenly we weren’t just hearing about how food creates community... We were living it. 🍲🍰

🧡Thanks, Shane, for making that happen.🧡

And what a perfect place to feel LOCAL... International House Gothenburg! Our local hub which, btw, just turned five years old! 🎉

✨Five years of making internationals feel local, five years of creating belonging in Gothenburg.✨

This was our 10th time being hosted by them… 10 times they’ve opened their doors, sponsored breakfast, and made us feel like we belong.

A huge thank you to our lovely host and Happy Birthday! 🎂🧡

But the biggest thanks goes to you all, who support our events every month and make the feeling of belonging so easy! I hope you enjoyed this one as much as we did, and can’t wait to see you next month! 🧡✨

Stay tuned for what’s coming next... 🌟

📸 Sayalee Chaudhary
✍️ Maria Savva

It was chosen by our Santos chapter in Brazil and illustrated by Simone Matias.

Local in Portuguese means “being a resident or native to a particular area.” Our Santos chapter had this to say about the significance of this month's theme:

“We are proud to be from Santos. The feeling of loving the city but sometimes moving away. The benefits of belonging somewhere.”

Watch this video from our Santos chapter for more on what local means to them.

So, how does where you’re from define who you are? How do different spaces foster that sense of connection? How can we develop and strengthen bonds with the people around us?  How can global flavours strengthen local bonds?

Our event around the theme will be on March 27th and registration opens March 16th 👀

That’s another one down! (but many more still to come ☕️)

February’s #CMCamino gathering has officially reached its destination!

Chrissy Liu invited us into a deeply personal chapter of her life, sharing how walking the Camino during a time of emotional uncertainty helped her find clarity when she needed it most.

She showed us how the path can often be more fulfilling than the destination, especially when you no longer feel the need to map out every turn.

Growth rarely happens on set journeys, sometimes the bravest thing we can do is just keep walking. 🥾👣✨

A huge shout-out to our gracious hosts at Arena Platinan for welcoming us into their beautiful space and keeping us exceptionally well fed and caffeinated all morning ☕️✨

It was our first time taking over their stunning co-working space, but hopefully not our last! You may just spot a few familiar faces back there soon... 👀

And as always, a massive thanks to you (and us!), the incredible #CreativeMornings family! Beyond the talks and our events is a diverse group of creatives who care deeply about staying curious and building something meaningful together.

Our incredible community is the reason we’re able to platform diverse perspectives and keep pushing the format that little further each month. We’re very lucky to have you all. 🤝🖤

(This is where we’d usually say “see you next month”... but you might be seeing us a little sooner than that. More details coming very soon. ☕️)

✍️ Luke Farrelly-Spain
📸 Sayalee Chaudhary

It was chosen by our Oviedo chapter in Asturias, Spain and illustrated by Marta Vila.

Camino (pronounced Kah-Mee-Noh) is a Spanish word meaning “path” or “way.”

Our Oviedo chapter had this to say about the significance of this month’s theme:

“It’s inspired by the centuries-old pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago, which passes through our region in Asturias and has been a symbol of journey, discovery, and transformation for generations.”

Watch this video from our Oviedo chapter for more on what camino means to them!

We’re looking forward to exploring the theme in our Gothenburg chapter on February 27th☀️

Ron Davis Alvarez gave us exactly the kind of hope we needed to start this year, the one that sounds like children from around the world finding their voice through music, communities… Becoming one orchestra.

That's KOORSOO. ✨🎶

What struck us most? Ron's honesty about what matters to him.

Those first few minutes with new children at rehearsal, wondering if they'll connect, if they'll find their place. Because that's what Dream Orchestra is about… Giving kids a space where origin doesn't matter.

If you want to make music and be part of a community, you belong. 💫🎻

Before we left, Ron invited us to stand and follow his movements, hands, body, rhythm. We looked like an orchestra of maestros by the end!

It was his way of showing us trust matters more than knowing. Like those first few minutes with new children. Like building a community. Like creating hope.

Thank you Ron. 🌟

Big thanks also to ISGR - The International School of the Gothenburg Region for having us!

Their campus was the perfect venue, spacious, bright, and somehow it brought us all back to being kids again, sitting together in a school lunch area.

The breakfast, the tour, the children’s voices, all of it made the morning even more special. We're so grateful! 🏫☕

To our Creative Mornings community... Thank you for being there, for engaging so fully, for conducting alongside each other, for starting this year with hope and openness.

You're the reason these mornings matter.

See you next month! 💚✨

📸 Sayalee Chaudhary
✍️ Maria Savva

And our theme for January is کورسو (KOORSOO)✨

In Farsi, it means “a glimmer of hope.”

It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy.

Discover more glimmers of hope with this month’s hashtag: hashtag #CMkoorsoo✨

Our event will be on 30 January and registration opens on 19 January. Stay tuned for details! 👀

The curtains have come down on our final CreativeMornings event of 2025. And what a doozy it was! Robert's personal journey through successes, setbacks (and sequins!) proved that growth doesn't always follow the most obvious or predictable path. We all carry expectations, from society, from peers, from ourselves, about how we "should" live our lives. Often, we get so caught up chasing these seemingly predetermined goals that we miss how the most fulfilling growth isn't always linear. Life doesn't have a set direction, personal growth can (and often does) happen in the most beautiful and unexpected ways. That's the power of drag, honey! 💅

We'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our amazing Gothenburg community for the incredible energy and soul you've brought to every single one of our talks this year. 🥹 With each event, our family has grown that bit bigger and more diverse, welcoming new faces and perspectives into the fold. Not all of the stories and experiences are shared on stage, but those connections are just as powerful and inspiring nonetheless!✨

To our phenomenal speakers who've shared their journeys with such vulnerability and honesty throughout the year, thank you for trusting us with your stories and allowing us to share them with the world. And, of course, thank you to the incredible venues that have opened their doors and hosted us with such warmth and generosity. You've given us the space to make these mornings possible.🙏

To each and every one of you who've shown up month after month, listened, laughed, and lifted each other up, you are the soul of CreativeMornings. Our events wouldn't be half as memorable or meaningful without you.💖

From all the CMGothenburg team, we wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season, whether it be here in Gothenburg, or further afield!🎄☃️ We'll be taking a (much needed!) hibernation for December but will be back on it in the New Year with new speakers, and more mornings to inspire and connect! ✨

See you again on January 30th!😉

✍️ Luke Farrelly-Spain

📸Sayalee Chaudhary

It was chosen by our Sacramento chapter in California and illustrated by Amber Rankin, and presented by Adobe.

When we were kids, it happened fast. We outgrew clothes and shoes seemingly overnight. We constantly reached for things just out of our grasp. We made messes and art without worrying about what anyone would think.

As we shift into adulthood, growth gets harder to come by. Get good grades and a great job. Burn the midnight oil. Struggle against the odds. Then somewhere along the way, we get comfortable with the status quo. Sitting on the couch, watching and scrolling instead of trying and doing.

But creativity demands growth. Not the kind that can be measured with a ruler. It’s about taking stock of your character. Who’s ready to chase wild possibilities and meaningful progress? We must unlearn the need to be perfect and busy. Remember how to play and get our hands dirty again.

It takes curiosity and courage. Because growth doesn’t always feel good. It forces us to shed our old skin, to stumble, and start again. Sometimes, growth happens quietly, in between uncertainty and doubt, the moments when nothing seems to be changing. Until everything does.

Our Growth event is happening on November 28th, and registration opens on November 17th. Stay tuned! 👀