One year ago I handed in the keys to my beautiful apartment, that special place that was my safe place for almost 3 years. Although it didn’t take me that long to make the decision to leave, the week prior to leaving the apartment felt heavy and sad. The realization of giving away the place that helped me feel happy again was bringing lots of emotions. I don’t know about you but I tend to attach lots of memories to places and people. So yes, it was bitter-sweet but a happier place was waiting for me in… Amsterdam.
Adapting took me longer than expected. Not so much because of the lifestyle, culture or life with my BF. More because it took me some time to find the right balance between working in Brussels and living in Amsterdam. this was preventing me to build a routine, new activities and actually feeling at home. Instead, I felt like I was going on city trips every 2weeks.
All the driving back and forth on top of very heavy days full of socializing and sleeping in different beds was very tiring. Hence arriving to Amsterdam meant sleeping and downtime. The laziness to explore was high and the idea of having to socialize was too much for me. It was only after our trip to Australia that I started changing my mindset and it was time for me to adapt to and live in Amsterdam. The need to feel creative, inspired, and motivated again kept increasing and I knew I had to change.
Little by little I started feeling better, forcing myself to go out, actually plan my office work by going one week a month instead of every 2 weeks, wanting to go for dinners, being more consistent to go to my Pilates class, and looking for activities to do. Friends are also coming more and more to visit and that’s probably what helped too.
Now I realize that I love going to my Pilates class, love going to the Bakery with the best cheese croissant, discovering a tea bar with so good chai tea and Matcha’s, discovering more and more restaurants, actually enjoying walking in our neighborhood, finding a very nice clothing store, enjoying the architecture and loving taking pictures of bikes along the canal that are covered in flowers and practicing my Dutch! Did you know that the movie theaters are actually very nice and have kept that old fashion vibe ?! Also, let’s be honest, every city is nicer and feels better when the weather is nice. So please god of the weather, make the rain stop!
Nevertheless, after a year, I still complain about how cold it is when it rains, and how expensive it is, and still don’t find the courage to ride my bike in the city but today I am looking more at the bright side of living in another city and taking it all in and enjoying my life next to my partner in crime, that has been patiently waiting for me to get myself out of that tiredness. Kudos to him!
The next step is sharing with you all the good places to eat, drink and visit and continue sharing my little adventures in Amsterdam.
Until then, doei!
With Love,
Brenda
Life with Brenda 