I haven’t been very active on this blog lately, because of the busy summer months, juggling between trying to find peace and quiet moments for myself and seeing people, going on holidays and enjoying the end of summer outside of my home.
My favourite things about this month:
- Going to Malta with my friends: at the beginning of September, me and some friends/former flatmates, went on a weekend-long trip to Malta. It was really nice to finally do something all together and to get a last “summery” moment by the sea.
- Being outside: this month, the weather was finally decent here in Brussels, and my friends were back from the holidays as well, so there were many catching-up sessions in nearby restaurants, dinners at home and nice evenings spent outside chatting. No big parties that drain my energy, but smaller groups with more meaningful conversations and a nicer atmosphere.
- Walking week: we organised a walking competition at work at the end of the month. The aim was to get people to move a bit more, especially during the working week, when we are all spending most of the day in front of out computers. It was a really nice initiative and thanks to the different walks organised I could get to know some of my colleagues a bit more and discover new parts of the city. I will definitely take part next year too!
- Connection: I feel like this would be the theme of September because I got to hang out a lot with friends, to meet new people and to see and catch up with people that I hadn’t talked to in a while. Even though it was a bit exhausting at times, this was definitely a month of socialising!
My latest trips and adventures
- My trip to Malta has to be here too, because it was filled with adventures. I went scuba diving for the first time in my life (and loved it), drove a boat for a bit (but not too long), jumped off of cliffs, but also laid on the beach with a nice drink. I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the weekend, but I made the most of it for sure!
- Visit to the museum: a few weeks ago, during the Brussels car free day, my boyfriend and I went to visit an exhibit at the ING Art Center called “Hahaha. The humor of Art”. It showcased many works that showed how some artists demystified art by making it funny or by making fun of it. It was filled with caricatures, puns, parodies, etc. and also included the well-known Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, which is basically an inverted urinal. I hadn’t been to a museum for a very long time and the exhibit was very interesting, plus we made a day out of it by going for an ice cream later, so it was perfect!
- Promenade verte: during the Walking Week, I got to discover one portion of the “promenade verte” (the green walk, in English), which is a 63-km route that circles Brussels, allowing walkers and bikers to discover different parts of Brussels, mostly around nature but not only. I went on a portion of this with my friends and a colleague, and it was really great, as I got to explore a part of Brussels that I had never been to, plus I got some steps in for the competition!
Hobbies and distractions:
- With all these adventures and going out, I feel like there wasn’t much time for my usual hobbies, and I felt it very much. I really realised how much I need my quiet, alone time to recharge my energy by doing something that requires my full attention like reading, painting, playing the piano or even writing. I am planning on prioritising this in the future, knowing it will be easier with the colder months!
- Running: in September, since the weather was not too cold and not too warm, and with an unexpected motivation, I got back into running, a hobby that I sort of picked up last year. I did plan to go running twice a week during the summer, but usually life got in the way and I ended up going only a few times a month – which is still better than never! Thanks to this, I am also listening to more podcasts and I also get the satisfaction of feeling like I am actually moving a bit during the week. With winter approaching way too fast, I hope I can keep being active in a way or another!
General thoughts:
I came back from summer full of motivation to write more and publish more articles on this blog, with many goals and a whole lot of ambition, but things didn’t go as planned, and I didn’t write as much as I would have wanted too. However, I don’t regret enjoying the time spent outside or doing other things, as I know I will definitely miss it in the winter! As for blogging, I am slowly getting back into it though, and hopefully I will manage to catch up with the long list of articles ideas that I have. I won’t be bored, that’s for sure!
Looking forward to:
- Cosying up: you know how much I love summer and warm weather, but lately I really want cosy evenings and days at home, fluffy blankets and soft jumpers, warm drinks and wholesome soups. And cheese on everything. This is possibly because of all the socialising-exhaustion that I got from the summer, but at least it comes perfectly on time, given how cold the days are starting to get here in Belgium!
- Going to Canada! Yessss, you read it correctly: I will be flying to Montreal to see my sister at the end of October and I just couldn’t be more excited. I absolutely loved my stay in Montreal a few years ago, and I can’t wait to go back to the places that I had loved and discover new ones. This time I might not get a sugar rush from all the maple syrup, but I do intend to eat… a lot!
How was September for you? What are you looking forward to?
Published last year in September:
Exploring Shinjuku
– A morning at the Atomium
Sunny Days with Juliette 
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