My Joy List
May 27th - June 9th, 2024... the almost-birthday (!!!!) list
You’re reading The Sunshine Table, a newsletter written by Syd, an NYC-bred Life Coach learning how to melt into life in Amsterdam. Here, I share the challenges and wins of my own journey to joy and fulfillment as a recovering high-achieving people pleaser and perfectionist. You may find comfort, inspiration, and/or community. Welcome 🫶🏻
Joy spotting: the practice of noticing little moments of joy surrounding us all the time (more)
TWO weeks worth of joy!! … because I was away in Paris + the South of France on a little early birthday trip last weekend/week (real bday is tomorrow :)))))). So many amazing moments from that trip fill this list, but stay tuned for a more complete post about the trip :) Lots of pictures to share! Head to Insta for more shortly :)
my banana nail art… over and over and over… and matching it to my banana bag
a man playing flute on a quiet, off-the-beaten-path path in the park
the woman who smiled at me through the window while waiting for my pedicure appointment <3
stepping on to the soft, plush bath mat at my hotel
the cool breeze coming through the hotel’s open window while I shower
observing the lightly swaying trees, ocean, birdsong, and jasmine scent on the chaise lounge outside the spa post-sauna and steam
A messing up numerous times in our first game of Dorf Romantik after making fun of me for moving too slow
A having me play dress up with the beautiful decorative hats at Le Doyenne
the butterfly display at the Le Doyenne entrance
getting serenaded alone table-side to “My Girl” at the hotel restaurant under a huge string-light lit tree
eating some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had… in Paris! (called Melt)… and laughing because I went hesitantly
speaking Spanish with a barista in Paris wanting to practice for his trip to Barcelona
learning about my eyebrow threader’s trip to Dubai
listening to Bob Marley with A on the bus to Le Doyenne
my first birthday candle of the year and the olive oil + sea salt chocolate mousse that came with it at Shabour in Paris
joking with A about a hypothetical storyline for the seemingly peculiar dinner between strangers next to us at Le Doyenne
people watching on the Paris metro during rush hour
stumbling on an incredible Parisian chocolatier and selecting a bunch of truffles :)
the white doggy who greeted me on a quiet Amsterdam street seemingly out of nowhere
the ~3 year old girl in a pink bow eating gelato and waving to me through a gelato shop window
taking client meetings from the couch
writing my updated future-self vision on a street bench and on my roof
conversations with my future self… getting advice and realizing her voice is my heart’s voice
loving texts from mom and dad out of the blue
sending a birthday voice note to El
getting a life update from La <3
the group discussion/education about bees, honey, and royal jelly in the sauna amongst ~6 near-naked strangers
hearing about Dad’s bonsai tree
listening to Anne Lamott talk about love in the forward of Somehow on the Paris metro
a beautiful blue Parisian door + a plaque memorializing a man who lived there for a very long time
eating my parfait while walking around my new Amsterdam neighborhood
the adorable quaintness of Dreaming Man, a wonderful coffee shop in Paris
the beaded green bag with sunflowers at Vicas, a shop in Paris
the Texan who stopped by my table to tell me his family thought I was cool for sitting alone and journaling at a beautiful restaurant at my beautiful hotel in the South of France (more about this trip to come!)
the couple next to me at the pool joking around with each other, so genuinely loving each other
writing and posting about my silly pomegranate ordeal on Instagram
the couple next to me at dinner who, on the elevator to our hotel rooms, told me they watched me swim earlier that day and were mesmerized by my swimming, thinking I was professionally trained and had been swimming for a long time!
eating a tiny banana
being in focus in my self-timer photos
my self timer photos by the ocean
eating a slice of butter that I thought was a lovely goat cheese and trying to discreetly spit it into my napkin
the ~2 year old boy playing with his beautiful Spanish mama next to me at the pool
the way that Spanish mama treated their nanny like family
the Texan family at the hotel treating all hotel employees like family
drinking coconut water from a fresh coconut while looking at the ocean
helping two hotel guests figure out how to get to the ocean-side path
dipping my toes in the Mediterranean
swimming laps in the Mediterranean salt water pool at my hotel
chatting about life with Louren, the man who drove me between the hotel and airport, and learning about the van he’s building for European road trips with two yet-to-be-adopted puppies
Louren’s reenactment of nuzzling imaginary puppies
the morning dew on the flowers around the hotel’s walkways
a photo from Jul of her going swimming <3
eating dinner alone steps from crashing waves on the rocky Paloma Beach
a morning yoga/pilates outside, looking out at lush trees and the ocean with birds chirping
laying in the moderately cool air listening to birdsong in my towel after a sauna
my beautiful new sun hat from a lovely Columbian designer (Meraki Heritage) and the boutique attendant who helped me pick it out
the mind-blowing breakfast buffet at my hotel… the fruit, heirloom tomatoes, fatty lox, bread, croissants, creamy goat cheeses, and the beautiful display of it all
enjoying the leftover chocolate souffle tart my waiter insisted I take to-go that I was sure I wouldn’t end up eating
the sheep and cows polka-dotting the farmland on my flight’s descent into Amsterdam
the two people relaxing on a bench in the middle of a grassy field next to the airport runway, watching my plane land
the kids sitting on the sidewalk eating ice cream cones outside the gelato shop
the warmth and glow of the fireplace in my new apartment
my first morning pages at my new apartment, feeling so cozy, comfy, and at home already
eating my morning parfait at my new apartment for the first time in our new bowls
picking up and immediately using our new small plates for lunch
the smoked salmon salad i just discovered
laying in the grass looking up at the blue sky and green leafy tree after a walk in the park
all the little girls dressed up as Elsa at the Netherlands’ Frozen musical
the cheeky, charming, incredibly talented young Anna in the Frozen musical
the slice of homemade carrot cake from our farmers’ market
seeing the huge hog who must be pregnant while visiting our favorite farm, Lindenhoff, again!
the aged cheese on my open face sandwich at Lindenhoff
the arrival of heirloom tomatoes at our farmers’ market
the spontaneous route of my sunny Saturday jog
laying in the grass in the park, breathing and looking at the sky and stretching after aforementioned jog
getting a text with podcast recs from Katie
finding out Dani will be visiting Amsterdam <3
making plans for Em’s visit :)))
the chicken’s white feather lingering on my egg
