My Joy List
June 24th-30th: canal-side sushi, backgammon, & recreating a summer day out East in Amsterdam
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. I also share their stories in a podcast, The Path Less Traveled. You may find comfort, empowerment, inspiration, and/or community. Welcome 🫶🏻
Hi lovely sunshiney souls!
It’s so freaking steamy in Amsterdam. I grew up with this kind of summer heat in NYC, but I didn’t realize how fortunate we were to have air conditioning. Amsterdam is not so fortunate! So, I write to you sitting in my living room in a sports bra next to a fan. Très chic, like Ruby’s new diaper below.
& with that steaminess, summer energy is in full force. I’m thinking a lot about how I want to bask in the energy. I’m asking myself: how can I bring summer into everything I do?
This past Sunday, as I was doing my morning pages, my summer mornings out East on Long Island came bubbling up. Blueberry muffins. A bagel with cream cheese. The beach.
So, that’s how I spent my Sunday. It felt amazing. It felt like summer.
Maybe channeling what summer as a kid looked like can help spark ideas for you too. Or ask yourself: how can I introduce a little spice and levity into my day-to-day routine?
Maybe it’s working from a picnic blanket in the park for an hour or two, or maybe it’s getting up a bit earlier than usual for an early morning coffee + walk date with a friend (or yourself!). Great way to beat the heat too.
Just because the what you do might have to stay the same in summer, doesn’t mean the how you do it has to stay the same too.
So many ideas to play around with here. Go play! Go wild! Summer ain’t here forever!
Ok that’s all! Let’s list it up, shall we!?! Happy joy spotting! Mwah.
Joy spotting: the practice of noticing little moments of joy surrounding us all the time (more)
A’s stuffed portobellos over his creamy cauliflower mash
Realizing I could use the kitchen tongs to keep our bedroom doors shut
Rubs’ fabulous new floral and pink leopard diapers
running into Stephy in the park again
Catching up with Dani over a walk in the park
**reminder: you can eavesdrop on one of my life-pondering convos w/ this inspiring lady on the most recent episode of The Path Less Traveled!**
The synchronicities of recent events in Dani’s life with my life and the upcoming Path Less Traveled episode
A’s fab arroz con coco with grilled shrimp on top
The continued growth of the new magenta flowers on the tree
Rubs trying to eat her antler bone after it fell on her couch stairs without getting off the couch
The incredible tomato slices on A’s fabulous BLT sandy
The quiet, deliciously temperate afternoon bike ride home from de Kade
Standing at the counter with A enjoying afternoon pastries from Shanti
eating sushi with A along the Lauriergracht where we got engaged this time last year
Letting my shoeless foot dangle over the canal
Playing our second game of backgammon over a post-dinner hang in the park
running in to Hannah and Rosa having a drink while taking Rubs on her evening walk
Sitting on A’s lap on the balcony enjoying my kapow cacao, the blue sky, and the quiet of Sunday morning
Eating Sunday morning breadwinners lox and cream cheese everything bagels on the balcony with A
Rub’s befuddlement at the water coming out of the watering can
Rubs trying to drink said water
Rubs little head popping out of her backpack in the car
Watching rubs swim to get her feather
The way rubs made an immediate friend in Lutje at the lake
The sunny Sunday buzz of bikes and boats gliding about outside my window while driving home from Noord
The live jazz music floating down the street from Cafe Weling on our way to dinner at Buurtcafe de Trois
Rubs eating her whole dinner at Buurtcafe
Laughing over food and drinks with Ethan, Tori, and A at Buurtcafe
The elderly man holding a sun-shielding umbrella over himself and his wife with her walker upon arrival at the market
Watching A bike in front of me with the yellow bouquet I just assembled bopping along on the back of his bike
A’s creamy, cold leftover asparagus soup for lunch on this hot day
Sending you a not-so-tight hug because I don’t want to get you all sweaty. But the sentiment remains the same. Stay cool!!
Love,
Syd