Reflections of March

A way of making sense of time...

Mar 23, 2025

2025 has been a slow year so far, even though it feels like it’s moving too fast. We’re almost into the fourth month, and the year has already felt overwhelming in its own ways. I had started questioning all the things I used to enjoy doing, including writing. Somewhere along the way, this stemmed from a sudden realisation that maybe, somehow, writing had become a way to escape the things I should be actively working on or doing.

That realization didn’t sit right with me. For one, I had been spending a lot of time on Substack—maybe more than I should—while other things, perhaps more important at this point, were waiting. And no, I’m not undermining writing, because I know how much it has given me—a community I am forever grateful for.

But sometimes, I think we convince ourselves of what’s important in life until something or someone gives us a reality check. During that brief period when I had that reality check, I found that I had no motivation to write. But even then, I knew I wouldn’t want to give it up. Things don’t always offer the same happiness or solace, but time changes, and eventually, you find that happiness again—maybe not in the same way as before, but somehow, it finds its place in your life. And, this time, I was ready to let it return in its own time.

To cope with this overwhelming feeling of time passing so quickly, I came up with the idea of doing a monthly reflection, inspired by some writers. I want to look back at my month and everything that’s happened. This way, I can make sense of time, see how far I’ve come, and realise that it’s no longer just time passing by. I can also smile again, thinking about the things that made me happy, and realise that the month had a lot of highs, not just the lows.

The things that made my month:-

Days of Summer and Spring – which improved my mood even more. Fewer cloudy days and more reasons to step out of the house. It’s almost the season of cherry blossoms.
A day trip to Delft, even though it was just for a couple of hours, made me appreciate the beauty of small cities.
A new book given to me by my sister, which I’ve started, and a line from it that struck me:

A problem becomes a problem only if you believe it to be so. And often, others see you as you see yourself.

I treated myself to a good spa massage after the longest time here.
Reading a book while soaking up the sun on the deck when the temperature reached 21°C.
Random firecrackers for five minutes. It doesn’t happen often here, but it made me happy.
Finally got a Belgian waffle, although by the time I had it on the train, it was already soggy and not the best.
Discovering my love for Japanese cuisine, which started earlier this year. I can’t get enough of ramen and sushi, and the pleasure of finding a go-to place for comfort food.
Random Ideas striking while cooking my meals, especially my breakfasts. Sometimes sharing meals with my flatmate.
Planning my next trip and looking forward to summer.
Finally letting go of the stress of getting back to dating. It felt like a task, and I was almost tired of it. But sometimes, it just takes a tiny reminder to take one step at a time and see it as an experience—getting to know a new person and maybe trying new places and experiences.
The biggest reminder was to surrender and let go of the control I like to have. That things will happen in their own time and pace. This can sometimes be so hard to digest.

The month hasn’t ended yet, but listing all these things and thinking about them already makes me feel so much lighter. I know it’s often said that we should always look forward, but I think sometimes, looking back is equally important to truly appreciate how far you’ve come. And even though it might feel like you haven’t done much or have been struggling, it’s easy to overlook the small steps we take every day.