Normal and at once not

Everything has become so wonderfully normal, I thought recently. But is it really? Of course I think about what I should wear when we go out or I have to go outside, but one thing is always clear, it's Nicole, with a few exceptions. Even when working from home, I wouldn't even think of not putting on makeup or not wearing one of Nicole's tops.

Family birthdays in a dress, strolls through town and restaurant visits in Antwerp, cheese tasting at our cheese and delicatessen shop including a selfie with the senior boss and his wife and lively conversation with our previously unknown seat neighbors - all completely normal and natural. It doesn't even occur to me to dress any other way than as Nicole.   Gel nails in the office too? Completely normal. OK, it can't be done any other way with gel, but the development from subtle baby boomers to simple French manicures, to French where the ring fingers no longer have white tips but blue glittery ones and the whole thing is almond-shaped? Completely normal? In a way, yes.

And in a way, not. Because I'm still happy about so many little things that were anything but normal for me not so long ago. I'm happy that I can wear makeup in video conferences. That I'm wearing increasingly feminine blouses in the home office and am not afraid to turn on the camera anyway. I'm happy that I dare to accentuate my eyes with makeup in the office and wear one or two blouses (the more neutral ones, though). It's nice when someone addresses me as Nicole or Ms. Behrend or writes to me. I also enjoy my growing clothing selection and the significant shift in the contents of my closet. Of course, "hunting" for new items is also fun, because building up a completely new wardrobe for all seasons takes time, especially if you don't want to throw money around. It's just different whether you need an outfit every few weeks or for the vast majority of days.

To put it briefly, I am extremely happy with how things are going at the moment and the freedom and opportunities I have and I am very excited to see what the next few months will bring.

I hope you will continue to accompany me on my journey.

Your Nicole