Hundred Days of Happiness – Week TwentyThree
Feeling more in control this week, I balanced productivity at work with preparing and participating in the 50501 protest here in Amsterdam and joyful moments with friends sprinkled throughout the week.
It felt like a much more normal week in life - maybe I felt more in control somehow. Yes the world is still chaotic and I care, but I also realized there is only so much I can do about it and I was taking action as I can. I do what I can and focus on that. I was more productive at work and was able to get quite a lot done in my daily life too. Not only did I do the laundry, but I folded it away that same day! Crazy, I know. I have been spinning quite a lot of plates and some got to be put away back in the cupboard of them this week, not broken into a thousand pieces, but whole and safe.
Apr 14 – Day 156
I don’t know what these plants are but the little yellow flowers remind me of buttercups from my childhood and they make me smile. They are growing in our front garden.
Apr 15 – Day 157
Met up with neighboring friends on Tuesday and we went for a walk at lunchtime around MaximaPark. It was lovely to spend time with our friends and get some lovely sunshine and exercise together.
Apr 16 – Day 158
I took my son and his friend off to bouldering practice and as it was a chilly spring afternoon, they had the fire going and it was lovely. I sat with my laptop and got work done while the boys climbed the walls.
That evening I had women over to play board games, and hang out together. It was lovely even if the game was complicated to explain but not that bad to actually play. One of those things where once you play one time through, then next time you’d actually know what to do and play better. We still had a lot of fun together.
These women are wonderful and I feel blessed to be in their company with the International Women’s Connect Utrecht. People so often tell me how brave I am to have moved countries so many times and “start over”. I don’t feel brave, just did what had to be done. But, I couldn’t do it as easily without learning how to build community and plugging into this network instantly connected me with +150 women in Utrecht. They have made finding that “third place” much easier.
I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be moving around in the coming months/years and it will be important to find ones’ “tribe” again. MeetUp and other websites where people come together over interests is a great way to find like-minded people. Instead of finding people, go do what you like to do with others local to your area and you will find friends with similar interests. Be open and kind.
Apr 17 – Day 159
This glorious peaceful scene graces the backyard of friend’s house in our neighborhood.
We had to take a selfie in front of their glorious wisteria after our 1KM+ swim on Thursday morning at the local municipal pool.
Apr 18 – Day 160
Friday was “Good Friday” and the start of the two week spring vacation here in the Netherlands and we had a impromptu visit of three young friends so I made a huge bowl of pasta for lunch and they polished it off no problem.
Together with another American woman, we made protest signs that afternoon to prepare for the protest in front of the US Consulate in downtown Amsterdam. It makes me happy to be “doing something”. The situation is horrific and I hope that all the men whisked away to El Salvador come back and get due process before the law. If they don’t have due process, no one does.
Apr 19 – Day 161
This is our protest in front of the US Consulate in #Amsterdam as part of the #handsoff #50501 protests on April 19. “Due Process” was the theme this afternoon. We were about 50 Americans living abroad and some Dutchies coming together to call for justice. It was great to be part of a group of people who give a damn and to connect with others. Yay for building community.
Afterwards, I walked through Amsterdam to meet up with friends from Buenos Aires and I saw some beautiful sights.
Click through to BlueSky to see the video below in full format.
Dutch engineering of bikes and bridges to let a huge boat get through the bridge in Amsterdam. An everyday normal occurrence which still amazes me every time I see it. #dutchengineering
— Beatrice Murch (@murchstudio.com) 2025-04-19T17:58:54.685Z
It was so great to connect once again in person after knowing each other almost 20 years now! Wow, that’s insane because on the one hand it doesn’t feel like that long ago, and on the other, it feels like a lifetime ago when I first arrived in Buenos Aires in 2006.
Apr 20 – Day 162
Sunday was a beautiful sunny spring day as DH made a barbecue outside to grill a huge chunk of meat from Cordoba Argentina. He was in his happy place. It sort of reminded me of the Sunday Roast tradition I grew up with in England, just without the Yorkshire Puddings. ;)
Wishing you a safe and happy and healthy rest of your week.
I leave you with a historical and inspirational speech by Professor Heather Cox Richardson on Friday April 18th from the same Old North Church where the Boston Sons of Liberty shone the lanterns to warn the coming of the British - one if by land, two if by sea. “Revere and the citizens of Charlestown whom he had alarmed then waited for a signal from Robert Newman, sexton of the Old North Church in Boston, about whether the British were indeed on their way, or taking the southern route.“
ONE IF BY LAND TWO IF BY D.C. the north end church in boston it’s 250 years today @northendpage.bsky.social
— Rachel Maddow (@maddow.msnbc.com) 2025-04-18T15:44:24.890Z
One of my favorite sign photos from a recent protest:
— Vivienne Leheny (@vleheny.bsky.social) 2025-04-18T19:05:23.380Z
One if by land, two if by sea. Words to fight by and for. Independence wasn't easy to get and now it isn't easy for us to keep it. Your protesting in the Netherlands was inspiring for me.<br /> Being around like-minded people who fight for democracy and freedom is always uplifting spirits and knowing we are not alone in wanting justice and democracy.<br /> Glad to see you're as active as ever and feeling better. Hope things continue to go your way. Aloha.