Writer’s Notes, 06.09
“Whenever you are creating beauty around you,
you are restoring your own soul. “
Mornings in Southern Greece are beginning to change. Each day feels a little cooler—sometimes too cool to sit outside with my morning coffee. When I open the shutters, the shift is clear. The light has turned golden, spilling soft leaks of light in the house, marking ever so subtly the arrival of a new season. And yet, summer still lingers. September feels like a soft extension of summer with its sea swims, long afternoons and al fresco evenings—these days feel like the sweetest stretch before life starts to feel different again.
September has always felt a little like the beginning of a new year. I suppose it’s something I still carry with me from school days—the feeling of fresh starts, sharpened pencils and the anticipation of new routines after the long ease of summer.
This sentiment of anew reminded of the high school agendas we used to get with the school crest stamped on the cover—a real eyesore for any teenager! But that’s where creativity came in. I remember carefully filling mine with magazine cutouts of my favourite bands, movie stubs, celebrity styles and little notes from friends, making sure the school logo was nowhere to be seen! Much patience and love had gone into those agendas, filling page after page as the year progressed. We’d pass them around in class, hearts drawn on favourite pages, tiny scribbles tucked between the lines. It ultimately became a creative way of expressing who we were and what we loved in that moment of time.
In their own way, these monthly Notes feel like a grown-up version of that same practice—a collage of words and images that speak to the feelings I’m leaning into, the beauty I want to notice—to feel, to connect. The same intent and joy arises each month when I share these Notes with all of you.
A look back at Summer
This summer felt full in the simplest and most meaningful ways. We didn’t plan much, but that was the beauty of it. The rhythm was easy—slow mornings, afternoons by the sea, impromptu plans that filled our calendar and evening gatherings with family and friends at the plateia.
One of the biggest joys was having my family visit. Quality time with my sisters was very much needed and those days truly became the highlight of summer. Catching up, laughing and simply sitting together over coffee felt like exactly what I had been longing for. Sometimes it’s those ordinary, unplanned moments that end up feeling the most precious.
Stepping away from social media for much of the summer gave me a deeper sense of presence. Without the constant pull to document and share, I was able to simply be fully in the moment. The break gave me a fresh perspective on my relationship with technology and allowed me to refocus on my priorities, my personal growth and my creative pursuits. For a while, I had felt this urgency that I needed to create more, do more…it was overwhelming to constantly feel like I had to perform. The pause remind me that what matters most is simply showing up for my creative curiosities—nothing more, nothing less.
This year, our son turned seventeen—a moment that still feels unreal to me. I just cannot comprehend sometimes where the time has gone. There are moments when I look at him, and as strange as it may sound, I still cannot believe I’m his mom! When he was little, I used to joke with him, “When is your mom coming to pick you up?” and he’d look at me with the most puzzled expression. I said it again this year and he just smiled.
I thought of all his milestones, how each one has shaped us as parents. Never would I have been able to imagine how parenting changes you. And yet it does, in ways you never expect—it stretches you, humbles you and teaches you patience and grace. Parenting has its ebbs and flows, but being present and seeing the wonder of life through our child’s eyes has made the journey rewarding and meaningful. Seventeen will surely ask more of us, yet I trust that, together, we will find our way through each new chapter.
Savouring the Autumn Season
I cannot begin to describe the joy that overcomes me when the season of warmth and comfort arrives. In Greece, autumn is gentler—the days soften slowly, the light takes on a golden warmth and the air carries a hint of crispness. I can’t help but to feel a touch of nostalgia for Canadian fall with its fiery leaves, moody settings and yet, I’ve come to greatly appreciate autumn here as it unfolds in its own beautiful way.
For me, it’s about returning to my favourite autumn comforts. I’ve found comfort in creating those cosy, comforting vibes within our home—the first pots of soup simmering on the stove, pomegranates in a bowl, blankets and warm tones settling into their corners. Weekend hikes, where the changing of the foliage evokes a touch of Canada, feel like a seasonal gift, as do the layers that make their way back into my wardrobe—pieces that make the season feel full of warmth. I find myself romanticising the season to the fullest, just like those quintessential films I love so much, with intention, love and delight. Movie nights with candles glowing, curling up on the sofa, diving into the books I collected over summer and cooking meals with the jazz music in the background—these are the seasonal joys I lean into, the moments that make autumn feel like home.
Autumn is a time to romanticise life, to lean into all the comforts it brings—from lingering over a double cappuccino at a café with a friend to soaking in all the little joys that make these days feel warm and tender.