May, on June 18th
May was a crazy month, so it’s not surprising that only today I realised I hadn’t written about it and I promised myself I would sum up every month this year. Adapting to a new job, new house and new circumstances made for a month full of doubts, ups and downs.
The month started with me fresh in my new job, getting to know my new colleagues and understanding my place in a new company. I’m happy to say that I’m now at the 2 month-mark and, so far, I survived.
When 2024 began, I was ready for a rollercoaster year. I was going to try and travel full-time and be prepared for everything that would come at me. Little did I know that the roller coaster would be much different than I expected. Even so, I’ve learned a lot so far this year and I sometimes stop just to think about how happy I currently am and don’t take that for granted.
Summing it up, here’s what this year’s first 5 months taught me:
- January: SPF 50 is non-negotiable when going to the beach
- February: It’s possible to go to a wedding in a different continent for 10 days and just bring a carry-on
- March: Skiing is not my passion
- April: It’s ok to do nothing for two weeks
- May: Hangovers are terrible after 30
Having ended 2023 thinking I would be travelling more and having to adapt to a new reality by the end of February 2024 was tough. But I can now say it was the best decision I made. I’m still travelling somewhere every month and enjoying my time both in and out of Portugal.
So, what was May all about? It was about work, friends, Sintra and just chillin’. I spent most of the month in Sintra/Lisbon, working at the office, spending time with friends and also got to listen to some cool music. Looking back, I realise how much I needed to be just be home, calm down, take my new life in and enjoy being in the same place for more than a week.
This said, May ended with a trip to sunny Barcelona for a few days. I took some days-off to go to a festival and spent the others working from there. Those few days were great for me to step back and realise how fortunate I am for being able to do that.
I got to eat many, many tapas, drink cava and too many beers, stroll next to the beach, cry laughing and listen to a DJ I had been meaning to hear for more than a year now. I’ve written before about how I’m the happiest at music concerts and this time was no different. Sure, I had a few beers enhancing that feeling but I will always remember being at the Barry Can’t Swim concert just feeling free, happy and without a single worry in mind. No deadlines, no work, no personal issues. Nothing. Just pure bliss.
