This space is both mindful and nurturing— for those moments when you seek reflection, inspiration, and a gentle reminder of your inner strength. Read for inspiration on self-care, meditate or write in our journal.
There's something profoundly intimate about reading literature written by women. It's more than just consuming words on a page; it's a paper trail of recognition, of seeing my own experiences reflected in the narratives woven by female writers.
Last year I turned 35. This momentum made me reflect on the last five years that passed and the things that happened that set a metamorphosis in motion. I wanted to discuss this topic with others so on the fifth anniversary of the journal Dialogue with Self (November 2024) I hosted the first Dialogue at the Table with my close friends themed: What in the metamorphosis.
I hosted
Recently I've started hosting themed dinners called Dialogue at the Table. We gather with a small group of people to discuss one subject. Sharing thoughts and philosophies on a matter that every single person at the table has a deep-felt connection with. Our shared interest on the subject is the glue that brings the guests from all walks of life together. More editions of Dialogue at the Table on friendships, creativity, literature, illness, the body and feminism coming soon.
Creating space for the essentials—friendships, hobbies, and self-care—requires constant effort. It's easy to lose sight of how vital these are to my sense of self. Thankfully, my friends are my anchor, reminding me of the woman I was before becoming a mother. Recently, a friend and I discussed our creative ambitions and the challenge of achieving them. We realised that while we have plenty of ideas, it is often the execution that stumps us. After some reflection, I've researched and curated proven solutions to overcome them.
In the winter of 2022 we bought our house in a small village. We left a small yet adorable apartment in the city of Amsterdam and moved a few miles away to an idyllic place. The hopes for this change of scenery was to live a more peaceful life. Where I wasn't run by the hectics of life, but by an inner calm. I wanted to hear my own thoughts over the noise of everyone else's. And that I did.
I wrote about the privilege of modern self care before, but never as articulate as Zadie Smith put it in an interview (2018) with Arnon Grunberg. She talks about the privilege of focusing on your existential identity while others still have to make room for their political identity. In other words, there is no room to question the existential: "Who am I? What will my place be in this world?" If you are still making the world around you aware that the physical you, the political you is just as valuable and deserves the same autonomous reality that they know for themselves.
In the midst of chaos and exhaustion, the one truly transformative thing we can do is make a micro-decision towards a different outcome than the reality that is current. Educate yourself on the spot, pick up a pencil to make your emotion into art or put your money where your mouth is. Start a dialogue with someone outside your regular spectrum, and for some this means having a dialogue with self.
