On the Brink of Change

September's Letter

In September, we dwell in some introspection.

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What do you do at a crossroads?

You slow down and look at the signs to orient yourself. But it's not exactly a crossroads where I find myself at the moment. It's more like an on-ramp to the highway, coming from a quiet provincial road—that exact point where you slow down to assess when to merge into faster traffic.

Life is a breathing entity, and at this stage, it’s starting to feel larger, expanding. In less than a week, I’ll be sitting at an old university desk once again — an almost middle-aged woman among adolescents and young adults, trying not to seem too awkward or out of place. If everything goes as planned, by the time I turn fifty, I’ll be able to add "psychologist" next to my other professional titles. My one hope? That the right conditions allow me to sustain my intrinsic motivation alive.

Years ago, while doing my MA, I learned a valuable lesson: long-term plans are often nonsense. I had grandiose visions of what would come afterward, but instead, life surprised me with a wonderful baby. Maybe I won’t become a psychologist due to unforeseen circumstances, but one thing is certain: the next eight months will bring a faster rhythm and stronger beats to my daily routine.

Eirene Cafe is breathing, too, and will follow this change in pace. How and to what extent, I still don’t know. What I do know is that this expansion will be felt here as well. Hopefully, as my understanding of the world deepens, my writing, approach, and ideas will become more varied and articulate.

Rain is Coming, Stella Burggraaf

But this month and the next few months, I wont’t bring specific theme

This month is a beginning of a few months long interlude between two passages. More than a pause, it’s a moment of preparation for both me and my family. My little boy has just gone back to school, and my partner is returning to his demanding job. I’m preparing our home to support a more hectic lifestyle, trying to anticipate and prevent potential challenges. I’m equipping myself to be more efficient in mundane tasks as I carve out time and space for the weighty newness ahead.

This interlude will bring soothing and inspiring words in the next few months and will introduce lively art to accompany an introspective pause. After all, September, in one way or another, always signals an inevitable change.

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September Conversations

If you are in the mood for some self-discovery time and inspiring exchange, head to September Conversations. You can keep the answers for your introspective self or share them with others looking for solace in relating.