✧ July Wrapped ✧
Sunlight, sudokus & cinema: my monthly recap
July was quite an intense month. I’ve spent the past few months reflecting, healing, and focusing on myself and my thoughts. Then, out of nowhere, it brought me a little poisoned surprise. It caught me off guard — but in hindsight, I’d say it was a blessing in disguise. That’s when I realized my healing journey is paying off, and that I’m, in fact, much more grounded and steady than I thought. Perhaps that’s exactly why I was confronted with a lesson.
In this monthly wrap, I want to share with you what I was up to: from hobbies to thoughts, and everything in between!
So, over the course of thirty-one days, I’ve watched ten movies and two shows. I finally had time (and patience) enough to sit down and start crossing some things off my watch list — also, feel free to add me on Letterboxd.
Movies:
Paris, Texas (1984)
Lilya 4-ever (2002)
Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Becoming Madonna (2024)
Homem com H (2025)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Contempt (1963)
Sweetie (1989)
Shows:
Normal People (rewatched)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (started)
Overall, I enjoyed every movie I saw last month. They all had great plot lines or interesting visuals. Yet, the ones I loved the most were Paris, Texas, Lilya 4-ever, and Homem com H. These movies, to me, were somewhat life-changing and made me understand, on a deeper level, different realities from my own. Both Lilya 4-ever and Homem com H, being based on real-life stories, make the experience even closer and touching.
Since I’m not really in a show-watching mood these days — even though I wish I were — I decided to rewatch Normal People. It’s an easy, comforting watch, and I finished it in just two sittings. I also started JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure — an anime a friend recommended. I confess I only watched the first two episodes, not because I wasn’t enjoying them, but because I got a bit busier and couldn’t binge-watch. (I might pick it up again in August.)
Obviously, I didn’t spend the whole month watching films and series. I also found a new hobby: crochet. As crazy as it might sound, I had never learned how to crochet before! So, I bought a beginner’s kit and taught myself. It was easier than I expected, and I ended up making three cute peas in a pod. If you’ve never given crochet a try, I highly recommend it — it’s fun, keeps your mind busy, and you can listen to music or a podcast while doing it. Plus, you end up with a finished piece in the end!
I have also rediscovered my joy for Sudoku! When I was back in Belgium, during my Erasmus semester, I bought a Sudoku magazine to entertain myself when I didn’t have anything to do. But I ended up forgetting about it and completed only three or four games. Last month, I picked it up again and spent quite a few hours around it. I’ve noticed that completing Sudoku puzzles has helped me with concentration and lowered my screen time — and probably increased my attention span, too.
Another thing I spent time doing in July was tanning by the pool. It wasn’t just for the bronzed skin (well, mostly), but also to spend more time outdoors, reconnect with nature, and let the sunlight help me heal from within. I always feel so much happier after soaking up some sun — wear your SPF, by the way! My skin got more tanned, I felt prettier, and overall, just filled with joy. During those tanning sessions, I always had my headphones and Spotify with me. So, here are my Spotify July favorites:
Sativa by Jhené Aiko & Swae Lee
Por Supuesto by Marina Sena
Exagerado by Cazuza
Guess by Charli XCX
Ring Ring Ring by Tyler, The Creator
This was the playlist I was always listening to:
Switching from sad, low-beat music to Brazilian (MPB) and more uplifting sounds played a huge role in why I felt so much happier throughout the month. I truly believe music influences our spirit and mood, so I made myself shift things a bit — and ended up loving it, even becoming a little addicted to the genre.
I felt that July was somewhat productive and filled with joy — despite a few not-so-great events. For August, I hope to keep discovering new hobbies (and returning to old ones), write a lot, reflect, and keep on my healing journey! I am not setting palpable goals, since I just want to enjoy my last college-free month without any type of pressure and just be present, do as I wish, and have fun.
What about you? I’d love to know — how did July treat you, and what filled your days?