We are only a few days away from closing out the year.

Can you believe it? This year, just like every other year, has flown by entirely too fast.

For me, the past few months felt like a blur. As I began reflecting on the year, I realized that a lot of changes took place that required me to recalibrate At times, my morning routine felt like my single source of truth.

Happy August!

You may have noticed that I haven’t slid in your inbox in a while.

In short: The past couple of months have been one hell of a ride.

So, about that…

In this day and age, many people label themselves as “self-taught.”

self-taught (adjective) - having acquired knowledge or skill on one’s own initiative rather than through formal instruction or training.

So far, the month of May has been filled with holidays, staycations, and carving new paths.

Last Thursday I went on a date. We spent the day at the park having a picnic and drinking wine. We listened to nature and talked about life, family, and traditions.

Earlier that day, we made a synastry chart which guided the conversations to come (don’t ask, haha). My date asked if I felt that I was conservative, and if so, how and on what topics…

I immediately responded, “Traditions. I am conservative when it comes to traditions and family.”

The internet used to be such a welcoming place. I grew up with dial-up internet, using forums as an educational tool. There was no YouTube — you would open a thread on a forum and someone, somewhere would come in and save the day… And when they did, they became your internet friend.

The internet isn’t as friendly anymore. And now, more than ever, it is easy to become the target of a complete stranger (read: troll).

This can make people terrified to share their work, thoughts, and opinions. I used to fear criticism until I started sharing my work and being criticized for it. Criticism can be insightful when it is constructive. On the other hand, it can be hurtful and discouraging when people go out of their way to put you down.

I know that aren’t people. My community of friends, family, and supporters. Moreover, I also know that trolls are merely projecting their own issues at others… Which most likely has nothing to do with you.

You’re midway through the week! Wednesday always calls for a celebration. 🍾

After being under the weather and hosting a friend at my flat all over the span of a week, I am beyond ready for the weekend ahead.

Tomorrow morning I will be traveling to Naples to visit family. We will be traveling through Italy, visiting both Amalfi Coast and Rome. I am most excited for a break from the cold weather.

You never know what to expect with the weather in Berlin at the start of spring. Some days it is sunny and semi-warm and other days it is wet and cold. It could be snowing, raining or there could be sunshine.

Happy Wednesday! This week I’ll keep it light with a quick read, a music video, a new playlist, and a few words that stuck with me.

I have a full week of birthday activities lined up starting tonight with a Sango show. I have two shows planned, dinner with friends, and a ton of other festivities through the weekend.

This is a big change for me as I typically don’t celebrate my birthday. I am one of those people who treat their birthday as any other day, but my friends weren’t going for it this year.

It’s been a while. A lot has changed since the last time I’ve sent out a letter. I cut off my hair, met Kanye West, and well… renamed the newsletter entirely.

What is Hurdle?

If you’ve read my , you already know the deal. If you didn’t, here’s the spiel: I’ve renamed the newsletter to . My vision is for Hurdle to be a mid-week pick-me-up that celebrates small wins and discoveries through introspect.

After all that has taken place in the States in recent weeks, I wanted to discuss self-care and the art of powering down in this issue.

There are some days when I am able to engage with media and other days when I simply cannot. Oftentimes, I become overwhelmed with what is happening in the news — this has rung especially true as of late.

Earlier this year, I started taking small strides by beginning my mornings with meditation and finding time within the day to completely disengage. It has been essential to helping me lead a happy life. 😊

Hello there! 👋🏽

Welcome to the first issue of Letters from Across the Pond.

I started this newsletter as a way to share my thoughts, feels, discoveries, sounds and more — in a concise and comprehensive format, as I journey through and make a home for myself in Europe.