Every month or so I take some time off to reflect and write a newsletter. I reflect on my personal life 🏖️, writing about what I fill my days with, my routines (or lack thereof), and general learning. I also tell you about my professional life ⚡️, including insights on leadership and personal development, projects that I'm working on, and books/podcasts that I've enjoyed. Lastly, I share about nature 🌱. That could be about new principles of nature I've learnt about, observations, or simply what I've been up to in the garden.
Let Authenticity Guide You
Welcome back to my monthly reflections 🎉
This newsletter has three purposes:
- A dedicated time for me to reflect on and draw meaning out of the last month ✏️.
- An entry for conversation – if anything of what I write awakens something in you, I encourage you to reply 🙋♂️.
- An insight into my thoughts regarding the topics I write about 💭.
If a person you know would benefit from what I write about, forward this newsletter to them! At the bottom, they'll find a link in case they want to subscribe, too.
In this very email, I write about a childhood dreams, my MP3 player, authenticity as a compass, reinventing myself, pumpkins and lantanas.
I hope you enjoy!
Back to Running!
In spring I watched a documentary about hunters in an isolated tribe running an average of 80km daily(!) to catch dinner. That inspired me. With my newfound assistant ChatGPT, I quickly got a 6-month plan to go from half-marathon distance (that I had run once, the summer prior) to 80k.
I was sceptic - ChatGPT is sometimes overly optimistic - so I sent the plan to a friend who replied it'd be a conservative approach to training. It was my trigger to go for it!
In July I ran my first marathon but suffered from nasty knee pain. After suffering for too long, I found the right message therapist who relieved the pain in two sessions.
So, FINALLY, I'm back on the tracks and trails training towards the ultra run.
It also means my morning routine has been reactivated because a big part of it is running or walking which I couldn't do without pain for several months.
...and that I start my day with seeing the sun rise out of the sea most of the days! ☀️
A while ago, I asked myself what a childhood dream was that hasn't come true yet: being an athlete. I've always been athletic but had never seen myself as an athlete per se. By training like a semi-pro and participating in races, I make this dream come true.
Reflection invitation: What are childhood dreams that haven't come true yet? Is any of them still relevant to you? How could you still make it happen?
I'd be curious to hear from you! 🤗
MP3 Players Still Exist!
In my quest to spend less time online/on my phone, I bought an MP3 player about a year ago. Yes, you can still find some to buy!
With it, I can listen to my favourite music and meditation tracks in the morning without needing to get my phone and potentially be distracted.
With Android 13, it's possible to record internal audio on my phone - meaning the audio that theoretically comes out of the device without using the microphone - to then transfer it in original quality to the MP3 player!
I wouldn't want to miss the music and meditation in the morning but I don't want to use my phone/tablet so this solution is perfect for me!
What tricks do you use to be on the screens less?
Compass = Authenticity
How can I make sure that I will do the right thing, if I don't know what the future brings? I cannot fully prepare for it, I cannot fully plan for it, I cannot fully predict it...
This question has come up frequently in recent coaching sessions. In September, I found myself in several situations to which I wasn't sure what was the "best" way to respond.
In my need, I decided to check with myself, whether I was behaving authentically and made the deal if the answer was a "yes", I would evaluate that as doing the right thing and being successful.
I've introduced this idea to several of my clients who are now practicing applying this compass in their life and work, especially in situations that don't have a clear right way to respond.
What do you think? Would this be helpful for you, too?
Reinventing Myself
Honestly, I put this heading and then felt a lot of hesitation to write anything about it. Because I've always been curious to grow and develop, I've always felt like I was slowly but constantly reinventing myself.
But right now, it doesn't feel slow and constant but drastic and momentaneous. And not one moment, one after the other!
It's exciting and draining at the same time. It comes with uncertainty (hence authenticity as a compass!) and asks me to make decisions.
Maybe I'll write more about this next time 😉
Pumpkins & Lantanas
No, not lanterns, even though that would fit the season... 🎃
Lantana is a drought-resistant, multi-colour bush and I have a bunch of them in the garden. They are growing like crazy and attract bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies. Some of them have flowers that change colour from yellow to orange to read to dark purple.
The one in the picture is just yellow but I'm trying to grow a multi-colour one from seeds that I collected at my neighbours.
The butternut squashes still wait to be eaten. I removed the plant already because it was drying up. It provided with lovely foliage and three big fruits.
I also sowed for winter already: peas, fava and green beans, garlic... And because I emptied the compost out, there are a whole other bunch of seeds around. Let's see what springs up!
Made it!
And that's my reflection for October!
There are two things I'd like you to consider:
- Reflect on my reflections. I'd be happy to receive a reply from you.
- Forward this newsletter to a person you think would appreciate it.
Until next month,
Jorim
Hi! I'm Jorim.
Every month or so I take some time off to reflect and write a newsletter. I reflect on my personal life 🏖️, writing about what I fill my days with, my routines (or lack thereof), and general learning. I also tell you about my professional life ⚡️, including insights on leadership and personal development, projects that I'm working on, and books/podcasts that I've enjoyed. Lastly, I share about nature 🌱. That could be about new principles of nature I've learnt about, observations, or simply what I've been up to in the garden.
Welcome back to my reflections 🎉 This newsletter has three purposes: A dedicated time for me to reflect ✏️. An entry for conversation – if anything of what I write awakens something in you, I encourage you to reply 🙋♂️. An insight into my thoughts regarding the topics I write about 💭. If a person you know would benefit from what I write about, forward this newsletter to them! At the bottom, they'll find a link in case they want to subscribe, too. In this very email, I write about living in a...
Welcome back to my monthly reflections 🎉 This newsletter has three purposes: A dedicated time for me to reflect on and draw meaning out of the last month ✏️. An entry for conversation – if anything of what I write awakens something in you, I encourage you to reply 🙋♂️. An insight into my thoughts regarding the topics I write about 💭. If a person you know would benefit from what I write about, forward this newsletter to them! At the bottom, they'll find a link in case they want to subscribe,...
Welcome back to my monthly reflections 🎉 This newsletter has three purposes: A dedicated time for me to reflect on and draw meaning out of the last month ✏️. An entry for conversation – if anything of what I write awakens something in you, I encourage you to reply 🙋♂️. An insight into my thoughts regarding the topics I write about 💭. If a person you know would benefit from what I write about, forward this newsletter to them! At the bottom, they'll find a link in case they want to subscribe,...