Move, move, move!
Inspiration shot March 2025
I was supposed to take it easy… But yeah, who am I kidding? December and January ‘kind of’ worked out, but last month, I even drove myself crazy. Eight different places in just a few weeks, constantly on the move. But hey, it’s my own choice – and honestly? I love it.
Everyone’s busy, probably you too. So how do you stay afloat in all the chaos? For me, three workouts a week with my online personal trainer are non-negotiable, and I make sure to hit 10,000 steps daily, usually with an inspiring podcast in my ears. In this inspiration shot, I’m sharing my favorite ones with you, along with a few other experiences and insights.
Back in time
In Antigua, Guatemala, I reunited with my friend Moncho (Ramon) after 30 years of no contact. Back in the ’90s, when I was studying Latin American Studies and Anthropology in Florida, I spent a lot of time with him. His family is one of the wealthiest in Guatemala. I couldn’t find Moncho on social media, but on a whim, I sent a message to his 30-year-old phone number just a few days before my trip and got a reply within a minute!
I spent the weekend with him and his partner at their ‘pied-à-terre’ in Antigua, an impressive, stunning house that takes up an entire block in the old city center. Reminiscing, joking, debating all sorts of things; it felt just like old times.
Moncho finds my way of life a bit odd and insisted on sending one of his security guards with me when I walked back to my Airbnb at night. And honestly? That turned out to be a good thing… but for a completely different reason than he expected. I even wrote an embarrassing Facebook post about it!
Being busy is a choice
Over the years, I’ve had several ‘internships’ in the life of my artist brother Michael, who’s 12 years younger than me. He now lives in New York, and I figured, since it’s ‘kind of’ on the way from Miami to Amsterdam, I’d stop by. The only catch? My schedule was already packed. In just two and a half days, I crammed in real estate visits, coaching, interviews, theater show prep, workouts, social meetups, and spontaneous adventures. It felt amazing until I wondered why I was so exhausted.
Being busy isn’t necessarily a problem, as long as you intentionally schedule downtime too. Something I still need to learn… and maybe you do too?
This thought-provoking article suggests a mindset shift: ‘To-do lists are menus.’
Creativity is an energizer
Despite (or maybe because of) my packed schedule, New York sparked some wonderfully weird moments. Like that time we pretended to be on a rollercoaster in the subway. Or the inspiring brainstorming sessions for my theater show, where Michael came up with brilliant ideas. Oh, and did I mention? He’s actually going to be my scene partner for a few parts!
Right before heading to the airport, I managed to squeeze in a quick visit to my favourite Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka. I was practically bursting with energy going there! Michael even caught it on video.
The takeaway: Being busy drains energy, but spontaneous, creative moments give it right back. Sometimes, the magic isn’t in resting more, it’s in finding energy sources within the chaos. I’ve gathered a few great examples in the Inspiration Bites below!
Inspiration bites
PLAYFULNESS
In a world where we’re always busy, we sometimes forget that playfulness can be the solution. On Instagram, women are sharing their ‘whimsical’ habits—like making tutorials for their dogs or voicing self-criticism in a funny accent. Small, silly rituals that make life just a little lighter.
PODCAST
TMBA has over 10 million downloads worldwide. This is a podcast for founders who have built life-changing businesses and achieved personal freedom. I was once interviewed for the episode:
CREATIVITY
Angelica Hicks creates hilarious outfits by playfully recreating fashion shoots using whatever she can find at home. Her humor and creative twist make every remake one of a kind.
Did you know...?
…that we’ve been taking care of my dad for nine years now since his Alzheimer’s diagnosis? My sister took me to a meeting of her Alzheimer’s support group in Miami, and that’s when it hit me: we’re real veterans by now. We’ve been through so many phases of adjustment, letting go, and grief. Not to mention navigating the complexities of the American care system… But in the end, we’ve found a structure that works for us. Dad gets to stay at home as long as possible, receives individual attention, and because of that, his decline has been relatively slow.
P.S. We’re looking for someone who’d like to live in Miami for three months starting in June or September to help with his care. Interested, or know someone who might be? Let me know!
Where is Esther?
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of adventure, encounters, and unexpected moments.
–> Antigua, Guatemala – A luxurious and incredibly fun weekend with my old friend Moncho and his partner.
–> Lago Atitlán, Guatemala – A few days of peace in a mountainside hut with a breathtaking view of the lake and volcanoes. One night, I slept under the stars; another, an earthquake made my entire house dance. By chance, three participants from the ISTA training in Peru were in the same village!
–> Miami – Quality time with my dad, his caretakers, my sister, and her family. On my last sunny day, we enjoyed a beautiful boat trip.
–> New York – Three snowy days, ‘interning’ in the life of my artist brother MichaelAngelo, who proudly showed me his new book. We worked on my theater show together, and I checked out a few interesting real estate projects just outside the city.
–> Amsterdam – Three days to recharge, recover from jet lag, and repack.
–> Toulouse, France – A midweek getaway for a dear friend’s birthday. I even used this visit as a personal example in my second AI column for the career platform Intermediair—my in-laws thought it was hilarious! Read my AI columns here.
–> Amsterdam (again) – A quick stop to see friends, visit the dentist, and pack for…
–> Puglia, Italy – Finally, four weeks in one place! Though… maybe a ski trip in Italy? Or a quick hop to London for a workshop? 🤔
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