My Joy List
November 14th - December 16th: Amsterdam to Philly, fall & winter flowers, and a reminder on love
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 study positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, I coach fellow high achievers along their own journey, and I share their stories in a podcast, The Path Less Traveled. You may find comfort, empowerment, inspiration, and/or community. Welcome 🫶🏻
My dearest sunshiney ones,
Love Actually, one of my favorite holiday movies, opens with Hugh Grant saying the following:
Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling love, actually … is all around.
Love Actually premiered in 2003 and I think it’s as true as ever that “General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed.” We’re not starting anymore, though. General opinion does make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed.
But I agree with Hugh: “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling love, actually … is all around.” That’s what these lists are all about. When we feel low and down, when our phones ping with horrifying news, we should feel the feelings AND search for joy, awe, and love. I bet something good is a whole lot closer than you think.
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
— “Ten Thousand Flowers in Spring” by Wu-Men, The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry.
I’m going on my third year living In Amsterdam and yet it’s my first time noticing the fall flowers—that fall flowers exist. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t get to see the summer flowers go.
I knew about winter flowers thanks to my dear friend Jessie, but I didn’t realize there were flowers in between or that winter flowers meant anything other than Amaryllis.
There’s something comforting about knowing some kinds of things blossom when the days grow colder, shorter, and darker.
There’s something comforting about knowing not all things blossom when the days are long, warm, and bright.
There’s something comforting about knowing that all things have their moment and not all moments happen at the same time.
& with that, let’s get into the list! Joy really is all around us, if you look for it. Happy joy spotting <3
Joy spotting: the practice of noticing little moments of joy surrounding us all the time (more)
The Joy express van on the street
The appearance of a second pot of vibrant purple nerds candy-esque flowers on the street
the man and his elderly (maybe) mother walking tiny steps at a time, arms linked, down the street
Seeing the lily had turned completely orange and opened while tying my sneakers for my run
seeing marcus’ name change about eating during our evening zoom class
The gasps for breath between howling laughter of the two girls who came around the square on their bikes
The ladybug on the white fall flower bush while walking rubs
Waking up to numerous old photos in my inbox from dad
Spotting the vibrant purple nerds candy flower while waiting for Meg in taal
Katie’s voice note
Seeing Amanda’s belly
Biking along the quiet Prinsengracht in the crisp night air listening to my peaceful piano playlist
The tiny flower I noticed stuck in the sleeve of my bathroom post-shower
getting a Winkel 43 apple pie for Thanksgiving and texting Owen about it
A’s incredibly delicious stuffing gratin
The father in the trenchcoat and hoodie chasing his daughter around in Luxembourg Gardens
The belly deep laughter while joking with A about donuts at our parisian Thanksgiving dinner
getting instantly transported back to Japan at Nodaiwa in Paris
The whispy, pink clouds on the walk to the gym
Spotting the fullness and brightness of the moon out our bathroom window at 4:30pm
Waking up to find a stroopwaffle sitting on the arm rest of my seat
The beautiful red and blue assortment of berries when I opened my thermos of oatmeal
seeing mom and dad at the airport
The person riding their bike in shorts in chilly Philadelphia with a Santa hat on
walking and talking with Jackie to the book store during our class break
belly laughing at the holiday party when Francine kept making fun of me and Alicia for being so serious while writing letters to our post-grad selves
The buggy sticker on the back of the car on the way to JFK
reading the delightful little love notes from my classmates on the plane
Kelly’s text saying she woke up thinking about me
Rubs walking home from the park with her frisbee in her mouth
the joyful smiles of everybody walking by Ruby with said frisbee
the hanukkah decorations A brought home
A’s delectable latkes
making stephy, thomas, and A take a photo at the table
lighting the menorah with A
seeing my joyful baby face every time I looked down while writing my final papers at the desk
talking to the artists selling at the holiday market on museumplein
lighting the candles for my breakfast
walking leisurely with Rubs while drinking my hot ginger and honey infusion
sitting at the bar enjoying my falafel plate and gazoz at Esh on an overdue date night with A
hanging out and being silly with A on the couch after my park walk
That’s all. I really hope to send joy lists more frequently than these past few months in 2026, but I can’t make promises given my schoolwork. I do promise, though, to keep noticing joy and to share it with you as much as possible.
Sending you a loving, joyful squeeze. Choose to see the love. It’s all around us. Promise!
Love,
Syd
Thank you
Happy holidays 🎄🕎🎆