My Joy List
May 6th - 12th: Upper East Side moments, returning to Amsterdam’s flowers & beaches, and feeling the post-podcast launch loving
You’re reading a newsletter from Syd, an NYC-born gal who quit her “golden handcuffs” job and moved to Amsterdam to follow her heart’s calls for a path less traveled. Here, I share the challenges and wins of my own journey from people pleasing & perfectionism to authenticity, balance, joy, & freedom. Beyond this page, I coach fellow high achievers along their own journey. You may find comfort, empowerment, inspiration, and/or community. Welcome 🫶🏻
Happy Monday my sunshine squad!
A showed me a headline today that was something about CEOs not caring about talent or intelligence of employees anymore because AI can do it better (full article). This made me think, “It’s more important than ever to feel a sense of purpose that is not dependent on one’s job.” I feel so passionately about this. If you want help getting clear on that purpose, I’d love to chat with you. Message me via DM or simply reply to this email :)
On a separate note, I’m feeling so excited about finally launching The Path Less Traveled. I’ve had it cooking for a while and I don’t know where it’s going to go exactly, but I feel in my bones it’s needed.
Historically, I put a lot of pressure on both myself and my creative projects whenever I “launched” something. It’s like, after working on something for so long, my identity closes in on that one thing I’ve been working on, and I forget there’s a whole garden of other things that make me who I am and give me a sense of purpose: the people I love, flowers, trees, smiling at strangers, walking, food, travel, books, etc. If the project doesn’t meet my definition of success, not only is the project a failure, but my identification with the project means I’m a failure.
This podcast, however, has been unlike any other project I’ve ever worked on for so many reasons, but the biggest is that I haven’t let it consume my identity during this season of life. Yes, it’s important to me. Yes, I’ve spent many hours focusing on, talking about, and thinking about it, but I’ve continued to also focus on so many of the other things in my life that fill my cup. That made this “launch” not feel so… heavy and scary.
I’m also continuing to tell myself, “this is an experiment” whenever fear of failure starts to creep in and makes me question just how loudly and proudly to share about it. Maybe the podcast won’t inspire, reassure, and empower others in the way I think it can, but that may also bring to light what will do so. I won’t learn if I don’t keep experimenting.
If you haven’t listened to episode 1 about my own less traveled path, you can find it on Spotify, Apple, or Substack. Beyond listening, the most helpful thing you can do is send it to a couple friends :) & it is also very helpful when you rate/review and follow the show. Infinitely grateful for your support, now and always <3
& with that… on to all the JOYS! Happy joy spotting :)
Joy spotting: the practice of noticing little moments of joy surrounding us all the time (more)
Catching up with Dani over a walk in the park
Sitting in an EJs booth with mama
The classically bad but great diner coffee at EJs
Eating my favorite EJs omelette
Immediately spotting the Cavalier getting groomed when walking into canine styles
Realizing the cav was now turned in my direction and looking at me
Learning about the lamby dog toy craze from the mother and daughter in canine styles
Mom’s determination to find a dress for Ruby for our wedding
the end of school year energy by ps6 with the perfectly crisp but comfy temp and blue sky
Spotting em in Butterfield
Walking and talking with em in the most perfectly crisp warm air and blue sky
The two golden retrievers wrestling with each other by the great lawn
The incredibly vibrant green everywhere surrounding the great lawn
The woman in the pink suit presumably on her way to the Central Park hat luncheon outside of Ralph’s. A fabulous NY moment
Sending the reservation requests for my birthday trip
realizing A spoiled his surprise “welcome back” bouquets when he sent me photos of Rubs
Talking with my cab driver from the airport about life in the Netherlands vs. the U.S.
Ruby smothering me in kisses and loving when i walked into the apartment
The continued aliveness of our flowers thanks to A’s care while I was gone
The way the sun made the leaves on the top of the tree glow next to the balcony around 8:30pm
The fragrance of the vibrant yellow flower bushes in full bloom on the streets
My post-gym chocolate LMNT
Learning A already made food reservations for my birthday
Hitting send on my email sharing episode 1 of The Path Less Traveled
Watching Rubs walk around with her little red monkey bow tie on
Watching Rubs joyfully run around and play off leash with the other dogs at day care
The way the sweet pup with a wheel chair moved himself around
Sitting across from A for our first dinner on the Gertrude terrace this year
Em’s text celebrating the launch of The Path Less Traveled
Katie’s supportive text after listing to episode 1
My new foundation looking much smoother with my second attempted application
Rubs voluntarily getting her feet wet on the beach
Dais’s voice note about doggy day care options in NYC
The deliciously creamy burrata and walnut combo on my toast at Branding
Dancing in our living room on Saturday afternoon with the sun shining in
Recording a silly video while doing said dancing
Requesting that A come give me a hug on the couch
When Rubs came and snuggled up on my lap
Relaxing and enjoying lunch and kombucha while looking out at the ocean at Republiek
The seemingly endless explosion of volume and vibrancy of the pink and red peonies A picked out
Eating the perfectly plated Esh falafel platter at home
The thick and creamy labneh with fluffy homemade pita from Esh
Putting on my new foundation in the morning
A telling me I look beautiful
The way rubs was walking so well in the park
When rubs came to sit next to me on the couch after tiring of her mischievous obsession with the objects on my nightstand
Spotting A at the gym
Discovering a review of episode 1 of The Path Less Traveled on Spotify
Watching Rubs get more and more confident walking into the pond for a stick
Sitting with A on a picnic blanket writing this list while Rubs naps in her bike carrier
Big, big hug from me to you right… NOW! Hope you felt that one ;)
Love,
Syd