Today we introduce you to Johanna Swanson. Wife, mother, teacher, business owner and all around amazing optimist. Johanna sets the bar for how to live a healthy and balanced life and I feel so lucky to have dove into some of her tips and tricks for good living.
What is one thing I should know about kids? Don’t ever stop being a kid at heart! Kids thrive with structure and within that structure you can offer them the security to be spontaneous and creative. Never underestimate the intelligence of a child! They are capable of understanding the most complicated concepts if you just give them a chance. Just like adults, they don’t like being talked down to; they want respect and the benefit of the doubt. Be extremely careful what words you say in front of them. Whatever they hear you say about who they are, what they do, or how they feel will create their identity. So choose your words wisely as to never label them in a negative way. Ex. A child is not bad, a choice is bad. It’s not that they don’t like vegetables, they are just going to try eating broccoli again another time. I feel like I have to try and think things through about ten steps to make sure I am not setting myself up for a trap. It might seem easier and a good idea right now, but in a week what consequence will I have to pay!
Could you tell me a bit about Mar Y Lana? Mar Y Lana is my passion project! It all began when my children were passed down ponchos that had been in our family for 40 years. I work with traditional artisans of Colombia, where my family is from, to design loom-woven ponchos. My goal is to support this ancient tradition by helping artisans, reclaim, preserve, and innovate their craft by creating a market for their products. Mar Y Lana gives back 5% of profits to the local school in Colombia, and my greatest goal is to produce enough demand for loom-woven textiles that I can get some of them men, who used to weave full-time but have since had to go work in the coal mines, back on their looms and in the safety of their homes. Mar Y Lana wants to advocate for SlowFashion and importance of buying things that last and can be passed down.
What advice would your older self give to your younger self? All of your mistakes are not in vain! Keep trusting your intuition and the lessons you are being taught, you know how to grow. You are beautiful, appreciate the beauty of your youth rather than being so self-conscious.
If you could wake up in another place tomorrow where would that be? I would want to wake up right here in Cardiff but back in the late 1800’s. I’d ride my horse across all the flower fields and down to the beach and then I’d grab a surfboard (even though they didn’t exist here yet) and I’d surf my little heart out before returning to my farm where I’d hone my skills as a Kumeyaay Indian medicine woman and midwife.
Mantra of the moment? "Those who matter don’t care and those who care don’t matter." When I’m putting myself out there and feeling vulnerable, this really helps me feel more confident.
Fight or Flight? I like to take things head-on. I’m a lover not a fighter but I don’t run away from my problems or conflicts. If you ask me how I am feeling I am not scared to give you an honest answer.
When do you know if the time is right to give up on something? I have to know that I have given the situation EVERYTHING! I don’t want to look back and wonder, what if? I may have stayed in relationships longer than most or kept failing at something over and over but maybe that’s the fight in me. I don’t want to live with regrets.
Favorite quote? "Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness."
What do you want to tell men who don't understand? Validate, validate, validate…this doesn’t mean you are saying a woman is right. It means that you are hearing her out and not going to run away from her and her feelings. You are telling a woman than you want to try and understand her even when she may not understand herself. This is how you earn a woman’s trust.
How do you keep yourself psychologically healthy? I think I may have been born an optimist, but I am also very kind to myself. I know that thoughts are one thing and actions are another. So I don’t beat myself up for having those natural yet unfavorable thoughts and feelings. I choose to spin negatives into positives and don’t take things personally very often.
If your diet consisted of one ultimate don't, what is it? Milkshakes in the morning disguised as coffee.
When you look in the mirror what do you see? I see a happy, playful, and loving girl because I honestly don’t feel like a 40 year old wife and mother. I often forget just how much life I have lived and all the experiences that have shaped me into a really resilient and strong woman. My husband and I joke that I have body dysmorphic disorder where I think I am younger and better looking than in reality.
What is the best advice you have ever received? My dad has always had a tremendous amount of faith in me, my character, and abilities. When I graduated from college and was trying to figure out what to do with my life he told me that the hardest thing for me was figuring out WHAT I wanted to do. He told me that I was capable of doing anything I wanted to do I just needed to decide WHAT that would be and the rest would come. I believed him then, and I still believe that now.
Tell me about cancer.... We all know cancer sucks, but luckily by discovering that I carry the BRCA gene mutation I’ve been given the opportunity to take control over my risks. Last year I decided to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy and hysterectomy. It’s been a very humbling experience because I had two infections and 7 surgeries, but I know that I made the right choice in order to be around for my children. It has given me great confidence in my body’s ability to heal, my mind's ability to cope with challenges, and understand how incredibly fortunate I am to have the support of my family and friends. I am a Previvor!
You love adventure? Anything cool coming up? Life is nothing if not an adventure, some you choose for yourself, or the some are thrust upon you. This summer my husband and two children ages 2 and 4 will be selling almost all our possession and travelling for a year to volunteer and surf throughout South American and Europe.