The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for me, and I wanted to share some updates—bits of info you might find helpful, thought-provoking, or simply interesting.

I Finished Writing My 2nd Book

Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my life. This reflection turned into a deeply personal project: writing my life story. It’s all there—how I remember it, the lessons I’ve learned, and the habits that guide me today.

For now, I’ve decided not to publish it. Why?

1. I’m genuinely enjoying a peaceful life at the moment and don’t want to stir up unnecessary attention.
2. It’s very personal, and I know parts of it could hurt some people—something I’d rather not deal with right now.

But the process itself was transformative. I genuinely believe everyone should do this. Write your story—not for fame or publication, but for yourself and those closest to you. It’s a way to preserve your lessons, share your truth, and connect with others on a deeper level.

I’m planning to share parts of my book with close friends, and they’ll undoubtedly learn new sides of me. If this is something you’ve ever considered, I can’t recommend it enough. Forget about perfection or publication; just write for the joy of it.

I’ll also continue sharing reflections here on my mailing list.

I Moved Into a New Apartment and Downsized Again

When I moved to Spain from South Africa three years ago, I arrived with just three suitcases and my two cats. Since then, I’ve collected a bit more, but during my recent move, I again threw out 50% of my belongings.

I’m a minimalist at heart and love how freeing it feels to own less. My new apartment is cozy—40 square meters with one bedroom. I’ve scaled down my wardrobe to just 7 of everything, embracing the philosophy that everything I own should be something I love.

Someone once said, “If you’re always looking for the ‘nice knife,’ you’ve got a problem—everything should be nice.” That stuck with me, and now, every item in my home sparks joy.

I Visited Morocco

I spent a week in Morocco with my business partners at The Beancounter. Marrakesh was vibrant and full of energy, but the highlight of the trip was spending a night in luxury tents in the desert. Sitting by the fire, under the stars, with music in the background—it was magical.

Nature has a way of grounding you, doesn’t it?

I Did a Hair Transplant in Turkey

I didn’t feel particularly self-conscious about my receding hairline, but after two friends raved about their hair transplants, I decided to give it a shot.

In late September, I went to Istanbul for the procedure. I opted for a needle-free approach, so it was mostly pain-free, cost €2,400, and the recovery was smooth. For a standard approach with a cheaper hotel, the cost is around €1,800.

Now I’m waiting for the results as my hair starts to grow back! If this is something you’ve thought about, the clinic I used was fantastic and offers a free assessment. Check them out here: https://www.mcanhealth.com 

I’m Now Standing Barefoot on 400 Nails Every Day

I recently added a Sadhu board to my morning routine. For those who don’t know, a Sadhu board is a wooden platform with nails that you stand on barefoot. It’s a mindfulness and focus practice that’s surprisingly challenging.

When I started, I could only manage 30 seconds, but now I’m up to 105 seconds, increasing by 5 seconds each day. It’s painful but oddly satisfying. Here’s the one I got. 

I Bought an Ice Bath

I’ve been experimenting with cold exposure since visiting Cape Town in late 2022, where I started with ocean swims. The mood boost and clarity it brings are unmatched, and the science behind it is solid.

Since then, I’ve been doing cold showers, cold pool dips, and occasional ice baths. But there’s no dedicated facility in Barcelona, so I finally bought my own ice bath.

It’s only been a week, but I already know it’s one of the best investments I’ve made this year. If you’re curious, I got mine from IceTubs, but I also had a great experience with Iglu Therapy in South Africa—they were super helpful with pricing and questions.

What’s Next? Peru and Brazil!

In two weeks, I’m heading to South America to explore Peru and end the year in Rio de Janeiro. I’m looking forward to finishing 2024 with travel, adventure, and some final reflections.

Let me know if you enjoyed this update—I’m exploring new ideas for this mailing list and would love your feedback. Also, what have you been up to lately? Anything interesting on your side?

Wishing you a wonderful rest of 2024!

P.S. The Christmas lights in Barcelona switch on tomorrow—it’s that time of year again!