“I have come to appreciate my introverted side.”
As I am puzzling this blog together in my head, making notes on my phone while doing so, I am sitting on a park bench in town. Not too far away from Edinburgh Castle. It's a dry, but grey day. Light grey. The sun is hiding behind the clouds, not quite willing to show herself. On my left, I hear someone approaching. When I carefully move my head, to avoid being too conspicuous, I see it is a man in his 50s with a discman in his hand and headphones on. A discman: blast from the past that is. I cannot remember the last time I saw one being used. This guy is actually singing. I can't make up the song, but the passion of him doing so as he struts along the sidewalk, makes me chuckle. The man is THIS close from dancing the moon walk! Not a care in the world, this man. Twenty minutes later, this time coming from my right, another guy singing out loud passes me. Just as carefree as the first. It must be a day for it.
Carefree
How nice to be carefree, but not as easy as it sounds. What makes a person carefree? Feeling on top of the world, without stress or worries? This year I have lingered over this very topic. We are carefree as a child. Our notions of life are simplistic then and one-dimensional. Personality and character are there, right at the surface. Slowly, though, as we grow older, there is the risk of building up a wooden fence around who we are. Our souls. Affected by our life experiences and shaped by the people that walk with us for a while. Before one knows it, the wooden fence is replaced, ending up with a brick wall exterior defending the inner of our being. Walled like Jamie Fraser’s Lallybroch. Someone pass me a cannon please. Time to tear down the wall.
Solitude
Not a year of social buzz. Other than my folks this summer – who ploughed through the many travel restrictions, bless them - I have had no visitors from overseas and I was not able to travel abroad myself. For a while (team) sport commitments were restricted if not impossible; pubs, cafes, and restaurants were closed for the first couple of months; and virtual reality parties replaced face-to-face social meetups and home visits. No, I cannot say it’s been a very social year.
It was a year of solitude. As a social butterfly, it felt outlandish. Different, somehow. It made way for something new. New thinking. New ways. There was need for it, in hindsight. My pace was not sustainable. The events of this year, in combination with professional support, has helped me to look at my past, my present and my future. To better understand who I am and why. It was a patchy path, ruthless at times even, but it was worth it. During this introspective standstill - amongst other things - I have come to appreciate my introverted side. I am thankful that I started this journey. One I am still on today and will be tomorrow and the days to come.
Food psychology
Like so many households, some bad food and drinking habits entered mine during COVID. It should come as no surprise that my outfits started to tighten a wee bit, making me less comfortable in my own skin. There is no magic spell for weight loss, but there are obvious things one can do: eat healthier, eat less where you can and exercise more. No rocket science there. I have never been on a diet, and I wouldn’t say that I am on one now, but I am certainly living a healthier food life these days. With a bit of help. I can now recommend Noom to anyone:
“Noom uses science and psychology to help with weight loss, where technology will help you change not just how you eat, but how you think. And to keep it off for good.”
I don’t know about forever, that seems like an awful long time, but I can attest my approach to food gradually has changed. I am more aware of meals, ingredients, and calorie intake. I moderate my portions and make different food choices. I buy different products: avoid processed food (that usually contain lots of sugar and fats); am less tempted to buy calorie dense snacks and buy healthy food options instead. In general, I am more mindful of what I eat, when and why. And, most importantly, I feel empowered. I got this!
Weight loss is so much more than nutrition alone. Many aspects influence the food choices throughout our day. What I like about Noom is the integrated psychology behind weight loss, focusing on motivation and behaviour. I agree with Noom, that psychology is a key component to help you drive your food decision making and create a new, sustainable lifestyle. Did you know we make more than 220 food decisions each day? Brainy academics at Cornell University came to this finding.
I even started to take notice of the so-called vegan lifestyle and the foods that are associated with it. I am hanging out in vegan cafes and such. Never thought that would happen. I don’t think I will go all vegan anytime soon, but there is a certain appeal to it. Going vegan naturally encourages a healthier food intake. Which is why I have taken a recent interest. There are more opportunities to eat well, when eating solely plant-based foods. Calorie-dense foods are simply harder to find on the menu.
Sports
It’s been a sport entertaining summer. Wimbledon was back on and so was the European Championship Football, Euro 2020. I grew up with football (without playing myself, mind you). I always enjoyed watching the game. In real-life or on screen. I have not been exposed to the game much these past few years. By choice. I stopped watching and kind of lost track of it. The Euro 2020 rekindled my relationship AND affection for the game.
The COVID-era brought about a slightly different kind of sporting event with limited audience capacity for one thing, but Euro 2020 was enjoyable, nevertheless. It was a privilege to be a spectator again. No other sport I know captivates quite like football.
I love the anticipation of the spectacle, the magnitude of it, the cultural forces it brings in play. Fans coming together, standing by their nation. Celebrating the joy of the game. With full admiration, I watched players perform their technical skills with both endurance as well as perseverance. I watched coaching staff work their magic on the side-line.
In a way, Euro 2020 also refreshed my memory. I had forgotten the anxiety that, quite literally, makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Out of fear or pure happiness, depending on the team you are supporting. I forgot about the nerves inside the stomach when ‘your team’ is playing; the despair when faced with a definite game loss; the thrill of a last-minute goal; the bliss of a win. There truly is no other sport like it. THE global sport with good reason. Luckily, we do not have to wait too long for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November and December next year.
The 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo, was another enticing event. A cherry on the cake, in terms of sports entertainment this summer. It proved to be an endless stream of top-level athletic performance. In a variety of sports. 33 sports in total!
I am very proud The Netherlands ranked top 7 in the overall 2020 Summer Olympics medal table, with ten gold, twelve silver and 14 bronze medals. An amazing achievement for such a wee country. I was especially pleased with the Dutch hockey ladies winning the gold medal. As a Dutch hockey player this warmed my heart. That same week I had a hockey practice with my club. I came on the pitch fully energised by the athleticism of the hockey teams at the Olympics. Reality hit after the first couple of runs. In no way, I was able to copy the athletic performance I’ve seen on tv. Of course not lol!!
Great Britain’s top 4 ranking in the Olympics medal table is worth mentioning. Well done to the Brits. I will say, though, that it is not the same watching the Olympics in another country, through the eyes of another nation. It’s different watching it from afar. There is less connection with the athletes, the broadcasted sports, and local media exposure. I missed sharing the successes of the ‘Orange Nation’ and talk about it with fellow countrymen, over coffee or a drink. Does that make me a Dutch Nationalist? I should hope not!
Regardless, I enjoyed watching the Olympics. I am looking forward to the next Olympic Games in Paris, where pétanque will be introduced to the world as an Olympic game. Rightfully so 😉