“Notes from the sunny Island” is a personal series on the Sun for life blog, where I share everyday moments and reflections from life in Crete – a place where light sets the rhythm of the day.
For several years, I worked professionally with topics related to light, tanning, and UV radiation. Moving to Crete and taking a longer break following the birth of my third child gave me space for reflection. This is how Sun for life was born – a project created from the need to share what brings me energy, calm, and health.
If you’re looking for a fresh perspective on everyday life and the sun – you’re in the right place. Sending you warm greetings straight from the sunny island.
The benefits of living in the sun – my observations
1. The Sun as natural therapy
One of the most noticeable changes I observed after moving was an overall improvement in our family’s health, especially my daughter’s, who used to get sick often in Poland and struggled with vitamin D deficiency. After just a few months of living in Crete, her levels returned to normal, without any supplements. What once seemed necessary (supplements, tests) now happens naturally, thanks to the sun.
Sunlight – especially its UVB fraction – stimulates the skin to naturally synthesize vitamin D, which is essential for the immune system, bones, muscles, and the nervous system. With over 300 sunny days a year, Crete offers ideal conditions for gentle, regular sun exposure. And while too much sun can be harmful, sensible dosing works like a natural health supplement – prescription-free, chemical-free, and cost-free.
I also noticed emotional changes – greater balance, less stress. The sun doesn’t just heal the body – it also soothes an inner tension we often don’t even realize we carry…
2. Mediterranean cuisine – simple, seasonal, local
In Crete, food isn’t just nourishment. It’s a ritual, a rhythm of the day, and a way to be together. The local cuisine is based on seasonal ingredients – vegetables, olive oil, herbs, fish, and fruit. At the local market, everything smells and tastes more intense: tomatoes are as sweet as fruit, cucumbers are crisp and juicy, and lemons have an aroma that’s unlike anything I knew up north.
Over time, our eating habits became simpler. Meals became more nourishing. The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world, and not without reason. But it’s not just about ingredients – it’s a mindset: slower, more mindful…
3. Calmness and siga siga – a life philosophy without rush
In Poland, life moved fast – sometimes relentlessly so. Task lists, calendars, time pressure – it was all normal. In Crete, everything slows down. People don’t plan their days in detail or live by constant alerts and schedules. Here, the rule is siga siga – slowly, calmly, with presence.
At first, this approach can feel strange, especially if you’re coming from a place where deliveries are on time and everything must “happen fast.” But very quickly, siga siga turns out to be… healing. Instead of acting under pressure, I began to observe more, pause more, and listen – both to myself and to the world around me.
The slower pace fosters mindfulness, improves sleep, and reduces stress. Instead of always thinking “I have to,” I started to feel “I want to.” And the time I gained, which at first I filled with tasks out of habit, I began to fill with presence… with simply being in the moment.
4. A Culture of connection – openness and diversity
Crete is a melting pot of cultures and stories. The locals are hospitable, warm, and ready to help even a complete stranger. It’s a place where I’ve met people from all over the world – each with their own story, their own journey, and their own reason for choosing this island.
Encounters – both random and deeply meaningful – became part of everyday life. Everyone can add something to our lives if we’re open. And although I used to be shy, here I’ve learned to talk, to listen, and to share the moment…
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to live closer to nature, to the sun, and to yourself, you’re in the right place.
Sending warm greetings from Crete,
Ania
My grandparents – a long history of loving the sun
My personal story with the sun began in childhood. I was born in Gdynia, on the Baltic coast of Poland.
My grandparents loved the sun and passed that love on to me. They used to take us to the beach by the open sea – to Dębki – where we spent hours playing in the sand and splashing in the water.
I remember my grandmother carefully applying sunscreen on my back and making sure we drank plenty of water.
Even in their later years, my grandparents would stroll along the Gdynia seafront, enjoying the sea breeze – they did this throughout their lives. They lived many long years together – my grandmother passed away at the age of 92, and my grandfather nearly at 97. Every free moment, they spent with their faces turned toward the sun. I truly believe it was the sun that gifted them longevity.
Today, I look at the sun not only with nostalgia, but with growing awareness.
For several years, I worked professionally with topics related to light, tanning, and UV radiation. I saw, on the one hand, how often the subject of sunlight is simplified or treated solely as a threat, and on the other – how much good it can bring when used wisely and in moderation.
Moving to Crete and taking a longer professional break following the birth of my child gave me space for reflection. From that space, a few months ago, the blog Sun for Life was born – a place where I share what is good and sunny. Here, I combine personal experience with what I’ve observed professionally over the years. I write with curiosity and a desire to look at light anew – not as a problem, but as a source of health and harmony.
