The past few months have been full — not just with travel and change, but with gentle reminders of what really counts.

I celebrated my 40th in Malta with close friends — a trip filled with laughter, sea swims, and late-night talks.

Then came Australia: Sydney, a tech conference in Brisbane, and diving the Great Barrier Reef — pure magic.

From there, I flew to New Zealand with no plan (the immigration officer wasn’t impressed). I rented a car and explored the North Island, sleeping in hostels, meeting strangers, and feeling that simple joy that comes from being completely unplanned.

The contrast between luxury hotels in Australia and hostels in New Zealand reminded me how little comfort matters when curiosity takes the lead — and how much growth hides in the unfamiliar.

A few weeks later, I hiked the Pyrenees on the French side, swam in icy lakes, and spent a night in a small mountain refuge.
Nature and good friends — that’s the combination that continues to make everything feel right.

Amsterdam made another appearance too. Every time I go, I wonder why I don’t live there — until the weather answers that for me.
Still, I’m thinking about spending a few months there next summer and learning Dutch. It’s so close to Afrikaans, and after Spanish, it might be fun to take on.

I also went on a date. It wasn’t great, but it reminded me that I’m ready to start dating again — to connect and build something real.
My Tinder profile is getting a refresh.

I’m still off Instagram. The quiet has been good. The less time I spend on my phone, the less I want to.
There are pros and cons, but for now, less noise means more peace.

One book I enjoyed recently was Let Them by Mel Robbins. I’ve outgrown most self-help books, but this one hit home.
It reminded me how universal our struggles are — and how stories help us realise we’re not alone in them.

There were also moments of pure awe: a symphony orchestra playing house music (check out the vibe here), and a massive drone show lighting up the Barcelona beach.
Both left me speechless — and grateful to be alive in a world capable of such beauty.

Other than that, I’m doing the usual things: slow mornings, lots of meditation and writing, training, yoga, meeting people, spending time in nature, learning Spanish, thinking about the future — and enjoying the present.

A friend of mine recently lost his partner to a terminal illness. Reflecting on his death, he wrote me this:

“Life changes so much. It never stays the same, and it always shifts at the most unexpected times.
The key is to accept each change with love and appreciation for whatever it brings,
and to say goodbye to the old with the same love and appreciation for what it was.
For me, it’s important to stay in the present moment and block out all the noise — social media, TV, too much news.
Life is a trip, and I’m here for it.”

I thought it was beautiful.

Life keeps changing.
Maybe all we can do is meet it with love, gratitude, and curiosity.

Wishing you health, peace, and stillness.

Love,
Marnus