One thing about me, no week is ever the same. Lately, I’ve been more mindful of how I spend my time and what I dedicate my energy to. 2026 is a pretty ambitious year for me. It feels like a pivotal year for me to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to achieve more.
A major goal of mine is to create art every day. I love it, but it takes up a lot of my free time. For the first time in my life, I’ve decided to take my physical health seriously. To my great surprise, I’ve been loving it. I’ve also decided to pursue my passion for writing and finally share it with others. And then, of course, there’s my job.
Here’s what has captured my attention this week.
What I’m doing
Alumni Talk at PPLE
This week I returned to my university to give a talk to a current student about my career. I studied Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics. It does sound like a lot. And it is. But it was an incredible programme for someone like me with so many interests. I was able to explore and discover what I liked, and ultimately settled for specialising in Psychology. To this day, I feel like having such an understanding of people is like a superpower.
It’s a really interesting opportunity to engage with the students and to remember how I was at the beginning of my studies. At 19, everything and every choice feels so important, the world feels really big, but somehow so small, and you don’t know how you’re going to fit in it. It feels like every decision you make will influence the rest of your life. I sympathised with their fears. I expected this talk to be for students to learn about my job and what I do, but it was a lot more about offering reassurance.
Art Challenge Highlight
Sometimes when I’m making art, which these days is pretty often, I have days when I’m not really inspired, or other times when I’m focused on developing a technique. Then there are those golden days when it all comes together, and I create something that resonates with me and feels like the art I’m meant to be creating. Producing art in large quantities really challenges me to try new things and to take it less seriously. By not worrying about doing it right but about getting it done, I end up creating in a more authentic way, without fear.
Amsterdam Cocktail Week Content Creation
Without a doubt, the highlight of my work right now is the content creation for Amsterdam Cocktail Week. I’ve been connected to the bar industry in Amsterdam for 10 years now. Being in the position to highlight the industry is very rewarding. It is also gratifying to acknowledge the bartenders who make it great.
Going to the gym 4 times/week (who am I?)
Perhaps the most unexpected twist of my life is how much I love going to the gym. I really don’t want to jinx it. It has only been two weeks. I have a feeling that this will stick. I never saw this coming. I’m really sorry to everyone that I made fun of for loving the gym. I didn’t get it then, but I get it now.
Vascobelo New Location
Gotta love a good cup of cappuccino. I am currently working on a project. It’s Vascobelo’s Best Espresso Martini of the Netherlands Competition.
Let’s be honest, this is a pretty fun project. This week, we worked on it from their brand-new location at the Berghaus. I even got to test out my photography skills!
What I’m watching
Grey’s Anatomy Season 7 Episode 18
I watch a lot of TV shows. A lot! And every few years, I like to re-watch the entire 20+ seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. I mostly have it on in the background when I’m cooking or drawing. However, I get engaged with the storyline. I fall in love with characters all over again.
This week, I happened to have watched the most bizarre (and that says a lot in the Grey’s universe) episode. One of the lead characters, Callie, gets in a car accident. And the entire episode, as the rest of the cast grapple with nearly losing their (pregnant) friend, they somehow resort to song. Personally, I didn’t really enjoy it. But I do appreciate the risk that the production took. From a storyline perspective, I like to think that the pain and fear were so intense that the only way to cope with them was through song.
Heated Rivalry
I really loved it 9/10. By the time I actually watched this show, I had already fallen in love with the lead actors. It was difficult to believe the characters in the first few episodes because of it. Connor Storrie’s Russian is impeccable, far better than mine ever was, insane that he was able to pull this off; his body language and facial expression feel so authentic!
I loved how the storyline developed with both characters exploring their sexuality and emotions through their careers. I feel, however, that the show’s pacing could have been better. The passing of time is a pretty crucial element of the story. I didn’t really feel it. As a result, some of the themes and character arcs didn’t translate as well as I think they could have. Aside from that, no notes. I do find it pretty funny that the creator of the show is the same guy who also made letterkenny, man, does Jacob have range.
What I’m listening to
Diabolical Lies: Jeffrey Epstein and the ordinary misogyny of extraordinary men
A lot has been said about this guy and the horrible crimes that he and his entourage committed. This is not what this podcast is about.
This podcast is about how entirely unremarkable this man was. The stark contrast between the standard that his victims were being held to, and that he was not. In an example, an article described him as such a smart man who lied about his experience to get his first job, yet when his victims were deemed unreliable in court because they had lied about their work experience during the time they were abused. In the episode, Katie and Caro go in-depth, breaking down the role misogyny played in how he got away with it.
Disco.
If there is a sound to describe my week, it would definitely be Disco. I’m not sure how I came across Make A Dance. Cool Girls and No Way Out have been on repeat in my headphones. I could dance to this music for the rest of my life. I’m looking to grow my Disco playlist, so if you have any recommendations, please share <3.
What keeps me up at night
No internet in Iran
It’s a troubling world, and it’s an uncertain time, especially when discourse questions if we are facing World War Three. The Iranian regime has murdered its own people; we know that. The leader of this regime has been killed; we know that, too. But there has been very limited access to people in Iran because the internet is shut down. This means thereis likely a lot happening on the ground that we won’t know about for a while. The only sliver of light from this story is that shutting down the internet is a desperate move that shows their weak position.
The Ellison Family owns TikTok, CNN, and Cartoon Network. They also own Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, Paramount, Warner Bros, and Nickelodeon.
I feel like I haven’t seen much coverage of this topic. This might be intentional. The vast amount of media we consume, at least in the West, is now controlled by one person. In times like these, independent and local journalism will really become our lifeline to reality and truth. Not to sound too aluminium-foil-hatty, but I’m not sure you can trust [Insert Any Reputable News Outlet] anymore.
While billionaires indulge in their newest fad hobby of buying up media agencies, independent publications are struggling to stay afloat. As a small business, there is no way you can compete for readership or relevance; the odds are really stacked against you. On the bright side, this is also what has inspired me to start a blog now. It is also how I have found myself exploring Substacks and following independent journalists.
What I’m reading
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
After getting to know Daisy Jones, Evelyn Hugo, and Carrie Soto, I became a TJR fan. I set myself a goal to read her entire (growing) bibliography.
Maybe in Another Life is one of her earlier works. Her style is not yet as polished. Her writing is not as captivating as her later works. With that said, the plot does keep you on the edge of your seat.
We follow Hannah’s life in two alternate universes. In one, she goes home with her high school sweetheart, Ethan. In the other, she does not.
Whatever you think this story could be about, I promise you it’s not. I’m nearly done, and I’m off to the next one!
The White Privilege of Avoiding Bad News by John Pavlovitz.
While we talk about independent journalism, I came across this on Instagram earlier this week. It’s an opinion piece that really does explain my experience quite well. The amount and frequency of horrible news around the world are overwhelming. I don’t know how to engage with it genuinely, without losing my own will to live.
I have had weeks where I really found my mental health and ability to focus at work seriously affected by the news. We’re not talking about headlines; we are talking about real people. The fact that I can sleep at night in a city and a home where I am physically safe, and have the option to avoid bad news, is a privilege, and it’s uncomfortable to recognize that.
That’s a wrap-up!
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