Archives
Just how easy it is to forget the myriad of blessings we’re surrounded with. I merely arrived home from an odd job of cleaning dorm rooms, only to realize that I got paid more for 7 hours of work than most people in my home country after a whole week of full-time labor. The catch? There isn’t one.It wasn’t even hard, let alone mundane or dull. “How is this even possible?” –… Read More
“What are you doing tomorrow?”– Taking a banana for a walk with you. Plain and honest, just like the Dutch culture requires and expects.When you send a message like that, you’re likely to cause bewilderment.Confusion comes before excitement. Why is that? It is certainly not a regular idea among humans. You can easily spend a lifetime without ever coming across such a sentence, let alone actually do it the next day. I… Read More
People will call you crazy for almost anything these days. Not because you are mentally ill, but because it’s the easiest thing to say. Just try it and you’ll see. Do something that’s outside the comfort zone of other people, and you’re suddenly “insane”.Dare to go against their beliefs, and you’ll soon be rewarded with the title “lunatic”.Do anything out of ordinary, and you’ll be labeled as the “madman” of society. No… Read More
24 years of age. The thought of “soon you’ll be closer to 30 than to 20” began to creep up on me.Not like it changes anything.Your dreams, friends and qualities remain the same. It’s only the calendar that shifts.Besides, you never know what the next day might bring in your way. My birthday was actually on the 18th, but the party was scheduled for today.There was only one issue with this, is… Read More
What does it mean to belong? According to the definition, there are many options. You can belong to a country, a city or a house.You can belong to your family, your friends or co-workers.You can belong to a community, a cult or a religion. The amount of things we can connect to is exhaustingly long.So how come some of us can still feel alone, lost or without a home? If the World… Read More
It’s been almost 2 years. If I had to draw a conclusion based on these 700 days I spent living here, it would be this:It’s too good here. Living in the Netherlands is just extraordinarily comfy. That might sound like a blessing, but in many cases it’s actually the opposite. People are extremely unmotivated, mainly because “they have everything”They comfortably sit in the middle of the lifestyle scale.Not having to worry about… Read More
Have you ever asked yourself what makes the most charming person in the room so charismatic to everybody? It’s certainly not their style, profession or sense of humor. You don’t have to wear a $1000 suit, work for a law firm in New York or perform as a comedian. There is something else to their character that makes them a magnet of attention and interest.If we look at the way they talk,… Read More
Another day, another dollar. As the world is being taken over by corona, not many of us can afford to pass up opportunities to get some extra income. Even if it’s not within our expertise and we don’t make a bank, having a few extra bucks never harmed a wallet. Today I agreed to do some gardening for one of the most successful [self-made] businessmen of the Netherlands. I get paid to… Read More
What’s the most charming word in your first language? Tough question, I admit it. If somebody asked me today, I wouldn’t know how to answer it, mainly because I don’t speak it anymore on a daily basis. It’s quite a paradox, if you think about it. When you consistently use a language for years, you get better at shaping, sculpting and refining everything you say down to the smallest detail. The way… Read More
Waking up early can be a wonderful thing, except when you barely had time to sleep.Luckily a song from Burna Boy can make any ass shake. No matter the day, it’ll move that booty out of the sheets. It was 6 am, and we were about to go for an early morning swim. When we arrived to de Waal beach, the idea of a quick workout became very tempting. Since many of… Read More
“If I’m ever going to write about this day, you bet it’s gonna start with how you’re always late” It’s 3 o’ clock, Friday.I’m sitting on the couch, meditating. Preparing for the upcoming hours mentally.The house is clean, I went through the whole place and erased every little trace of our “Man cave”.A box full of snacks was waiting in the kitchen, filled with delicious grapes, almonds, cashews and blueberries.I loaded the… Read More
How do you strengthen a friendship?You probably have a few solid ideas already.Order pizza and watch a movie, get drunk and go out on a Friday evening, support them when they need it, continuous honesty and reliability, a surprise or a gift, cooking a delicious meal; or offering an open ear to listen to their great news or difficulties. If we really care about our buddies, none of these should be challenging.But… Read More
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Home”? Is it the place where you were born, where you spent your childhood?Is it the country, the culture, the people around you?Or is it the house where you keep your clothes, eat breakfast and have a shower? We all have our own definition, but all of us has one thing in common:That’s where our heart belongs. My… Read More
Whether there is a mysterious force called “Luck” or “Fortune“, some events remain inexplicable. Is there such a thing as a coincidence; or everything is pre-written? None of us can certainly tell, but there are days when such questions are even more prevalent – and Friday the 13th is one of them “Hei, how eager are you to bring me the computer?“My friend forgot his laptop at home when he left.This caused… Read More
“Mooi op tijd1” – He smiled at me as I locked my bike. It was 8:00 in the morning, we were about to hop into his car and do some gardening where he Lives. I made a promise that I won’t talk in English from the beginning of the year, which I kept quite easily. You see, this promise doesn’t include talking in Dutch either, just the lack of English. So I… Read More
Fireworks. Everywhere and always.Ever since Christmas they just keep shooting – from morning to evening. I was invited to a party last minute, so I didn’t have to spend it alone like last year. My friend’s sister’s boyfriend was kind enough to host a stranger – I couldn’t be grateful enough for such a treatment. It took place in the heart of Arnhem, so I had to cycle 25 minutes to get… Read More
I had a chat with the suicide prevention hotline the other day. Things weren’t going well, and I had nobody to turn to or talk with.Reaching out for help seemed to be the only possibility. When they picked up, they started to ask questions about where I am and what I’m doing.– At home, I’m safe. I’m not under the influence of any substance.This sentence was enough for them to close the… Read More
What would you do, if tomorrow was too late? The answer is supposed to be easy. Donate stuff, call some friends, make amends. Say goodbye to your family, co-workers, pets.Let go of the reign.Make peace with it. Is that really the best way to spend your last day? What about the Dreams you’ve had, the Promises you’ve made?It may not be enough to explore a Country, but it’s more than enough to… Read More
“There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.” ― Henry Ford When was the last time you truly believed that you can do something epic?When you felt that you’re capable of achieving something great? Good ideas can be scary. Great ideas are straight up terrifying.But why is it that every time our souls are set ablaze by a spark of passion, the second it… Read More
What’s the best way to conquer our Fears? There is a technique called Fear Setting.It’s very simple, yet extremely effective.Ready? Here it is: 1) Describe the worst possible outcomes you can come up with Let’s pick something common: Asking someone out in public. You see this gorgeous Lady standing on a bus, looking at her phone, reading a book or listening to music. She is mesmerizing. You could look at her for… Read More
Road to a New Life 