Recording My Summer in a Pocket Notebook

Welcome to Documented! Thanks for being here.

Today I’m sharing a few entries from my pocket notebook. It’s become my favorite way to record the little moments that have (so far) made this summer feel so memorable. I hope you enjoy reading.

If there was one thing I told myself I’d do this year, it was to enjoy my summer—and find ways to feel alive in that given moment in time.

Since moving to Berlin four years ago, I’ve always viewed summer as escape. Everyone’s on holiday mode, and most days the city is pretty empty (except for when it’s really sunny out and everyone, I mean everyone, is out dining al fresco or basking in sunshine at the park). I took it as a sign to escape, as well—I traveled frequently (to the US), initially for leisure, and eventually for work. I am incredibly grateful for my international teaching opportunities, one that allows me to teach classes, meet new people, and most of all, get to see my long distance friends and family.

This year, however, I deliberately decided against it. Instead of going to multiple cities on my annual US tour (as I call it), I booked an international work trip to New York, and made sure I’d be in Berlin for a huge chunk of my summer. My non-negotiable so far this year was that I’d never be away for more than 10 days at a time.

Don’t get me wrong. The guilt eats me alive. But you’re already in the US, Abbey! Why not make a longer trip out of it?

But so is the guilt of not being in my own home, enjoying the simple pleasures of my daily routine, and making the most out of my Berlin summer.

I spent the last two months recording details of my daily life in a pocket notebook. Field Notes1 sent me their Explore America series which boasts of beautifully illustrated covers of iconic national parks that scream summer. I picked the Muir Woods cover and paired it with my Moomin Energel pen and started jotting things down. I’m happy to report that it’s been such a bright spot to my week, carving out a few minutes a day to reflect on these moments and flip through them if I want to revisit it.

I truly believe that there is beauty and delight in the mundane, and so here are some entries I wrote inside my summer log. They are not in any particular order, and are snippets of how I record my days.

Every time I feel like my work is going nowhere, the universe continues to tell my otherwise. I almost missed an email to be profiled in an upcoming book from an editor I admire, and once I opened it, I burst into tears for a good five minutes. After weeks of back and forth picking photos and answering the questionnaire, I crossed my fingers and hit send.

The 1975 on repeat while cleaning this morning

I had a great day with Keish. I don’t do labels, but she really is my Berlin bestie.

“Can we just sit here and look at the trees, please?” I asked Char as we finished our lunch at the Saturday weekend market and sat at the nearby park.

Grabbing cans of cold tea and chilled tofu from the Asian market on the way home as I had a 1 hour debrief with mom

AC in the ringbahn on a very hot day

"To walk within the lines
Would make my life so boring."
—"Anything but Ordinary," Avril Lavigne

I look forward to my weekly walks at my new favorite park. Two hours of uninterrupted time: sometimes I have a playlist on, I’m talking in my tiny mic, or I’m calling mom. Sometimes it’s just me and the quiet comforts of nature as I think and process my emotions. It’s massive enough that I can never finish the entire route during my walks. But there’s always something new to discover.

Earlier this summer, I had a crush. This happens once every few years, by the way. It’s so silly typing it out now, but that period was a time.

I wrote a “practical benefits of having a crush” list as recommended by a friend. It’s funny how I listed down so many things I’ve been neglecting for 33 years: looking at the mirror and realizing I am actually beautiful (as someone who rarely tells that to herself), singing my heart out every single day (yes, Taylor Swift songs were on repeat, I Think He Knows in particular), and making an effort to look good for me. The crush era has ended, but also, thank goodness! Did you know how much I lacked sleep during that month? Brutal. Never again. *laughs in my thirties*

My 50th strength workout at Lifted! Coach Meg gave me a chocolate bar as a sweet gift (she’s the best). Nothing compares to the post-workout endorphins and feeling strong enough to carry my things. What’s a 23kg suitcase when I can do a 40kg RDL?

Nailing my color scheme and vision for August mail, and that split second of looking and admiring my work after finishing (also, matchy nails)

There was a week that I was truly going through it. Wise words from friends:

“Everyone is just winging it.” - KB

“Life is great!” - KM

Side quests with V: customizing our UNIQLO x BVG shirts, picking up popcorn at Knalle (and trying out all the flavors), bagels on a Sunday morning (complete with overpriced drinks that tasted so bad)

An acquaintance turned friend telling me, “Abbey, I think we met in a past life…” to which I responded, “Isn’t it such perfect timing I walked into your life?”. Touché.

Laughing on cue with Sop, who visited for a few days. We’ve known each other for almost a decade so our humor is always in sync. I thank my lucky stars she is in my life, as a sister and good friend.

Dinners at my balcony. The first was pizzas with H, and he pointed out the two birds on the tree near my apartment building (that I notice almost every day now). The second was with Sop, where we gagged at some of the candy we got from the pick and mix counter. “I hate this chewy texture!”, she blurted out several times. I couldn’t stop laughing.

Found out that I’m not yet ready to date or be in a romantic relationship (honestly, I’m terrified) and that’s perfectly okay. What a relief, really. In my own time!

Working with people who just get it and sees the same creative vision as you, aka the reason I love my job

Recolored my Google calendar to Shrek colors because I have free will, and the red deadlines were triggering—another reason I love my job

Reconnecting and catching up with my cousin and close friend, and talking about navigating life through big changes. I’m learning to value the people coming back into my life and holding space for rekindling these relationships.

Freshly showered after dinner, lying on my bed, with the TV on as I pick a movie to watch to wind down in the evening.

Opening a bit of my windows past midnight and the cool air wafting in as I’m covered in my blanket (peak)

Deciding to walk for half an hour instead of taking the tram, putting on the usual Indie Faves playlist while I breathe in the fresh air, after a serving of Saveur de Banh Mi that I devoured at the park I used to frequent near my old apartment

Started to play the guitar again. Grabbing it in the middle of a busy work sprint, playing some chords. A little self jam session; it feels nice—quick reset to shift gears, and a reminder that I am still the same girl when I was sixteen.

Being in the same season of life as the people I choose to be part of my life, and that the older I get, the smaller this circle becomes.

Realizing I don’t owe anyone an explanation. They can have their own narrative of who I am and what I’m made of, but the story I tell myself is what matters most.

Finally nailed stuff on the wall and put up the Yayoi Kusama exhibition poster. Happy apartment anniversary!

Coming home to my apartment, and eventually, coming home to myself.

How are you documenting your summer? I’d love to know.

As much as I love writing, summer is my favorite time to make video diaries.

Here’s a week of sun and socials as I share with you how it’s been building a life in Berlin: