Blogs

Moving to Spain can look like a dream from the Netherlands: freedom, adventure and a life outside the usual path. But once you’re there, the status disappears and you’re simply one of many foreigners. You start over and discover the other side of the dream too: your arrival can contribute to rising house prices for locals. What remains when no one is impressed anymore? Perhaps the opportunity to rediscover who you are, separate from status, work and image.

We are good at coming up with the next thing: a bigger house, more money, a beautiful trip, a new car or an adventurous life. But what do we expect these things to give us? Often, it isn't really about the thing itself, but about a deeper desire for freedom, recognition, peace, love or meaning. Once we achieve something, it quickly becomes normal and the search begins again. Perhaps the more important question isn't what we want to achieve, but what we truly desire.

What you’re used to largely determines what feels normal to you. Our four-year-old happily eats both Wagyu and hot dogs. So why do we, as adults, so quickly see a smaller house, working less or earning less as a downgrade? Maybe less isn’t always less. Maybe it’s simply different. An invitation to step outside your own frame of reference every now and then.