In December 2019 I settled somewhere – or I thought I had, until COVID came along – and started to work in a Spa retreat, where I could practice yoga again. I had almost forgotten how great it was.

I’ve always aspired to have elements of a mindfulness practice, even before I knew what mindfulness was. I was influenced very early on by the movie Amélie. There’s a scene at the beginning where the narrator is talking about the things that Amélie enjoys, and mentions things like skipping stones and putting her hand into bags of beans. I realised that those kinds of sensations were really things that I treasured. Now I actively cultivate that joy in the tiny tiny things.

I get inspired by my friends .. they are inspiring people. One, who is a writer, researcher and creative chef, told me that she was afraid that the lockdown would end before she had changed everything. That statement struck me and stuck with me: this lockdown period is an opportunity, and one too good to let pass.

Today I am pervaded by lightness. I woke up at a decent time to a workday that is not filled entirely with work. Today I gave myself space and time for slow living and for recharging my positive energy bar through a long stroll with a friend (at a 1-meter distance, of course!). I would be lying if I said that every day since the start of the COVID-19 crisis has been like this – but I am appreciating more and more an empty-minded way of living, without rushing and stressing over how many things I can fit in 12 hours.

It is exactly four more weeks, one month before I go back to the office and work my day job from there after something like three months of working from home. For me this time has been absolutely eye-opening, I have had so many realisations about my life, what I want, what I don’t want.