November, a month of firsts and gratitude

Reflecting on milestones, small joys, and the connections that made this month memorable.

I had planned to launch a new series about Corsican food last weekend, but things didn’t go as expected — so the food will have to wait a little longer.

In the meantime, I wanted to start December by quickly reflecting on the previous month. As said in my headline, November has been a month full of firsts for me but also a month of heartfelt gratitude.

1/ First steps as a 'writer' here on Substack

I officially launched Sip of Corsica at the end of October but November marked my real first steps as an author, not just a reader. But calling myself a 'writer' still feels daunting — hello, imposter syndrome! I replaced it with 'storyteller' in my author bio because, at heart, that’s what I love most: sharing stories.

2/ First time I did a voice-over in a language that isn’t my own!

Recording a voice-over for my first article on Sip of Corsica was one of the scariest things I’ve done recently. Speaking English — a language I write in often but rarely speak in my daily life since I left the corporate world — was a challenge. It felt nerve-wracking, and I needed a few takes to stop my heart from racing with every sentence. But I pushed through and let go of perfection because I truly wanted readers to hear the words in my voice, bringing another layer of connection to my stories. The wonderful feedback I received from some of you has been so heartening, and it’s given me the courage to explore more audio content. Who knows? Maybe live sessions and videos are next!

N.B: if you haven’t already, you can listen to this voice-over in the article below.

3/ First time I joined a community here on Substack

I’ve been following

Claire Venus (she/her) ✨

for almost a year and always appreciated her authenticity, but up until recently, I wasn’t ready to commit to becoming a paid subscriber.

When I officially launched Sip of Corsica, joining Claire’s

Sparkle on Substack

community felt natural. Her values resonate deeply with mine, and her community provides the kind of support and creative inspiration I’ve been looking for to both build my writing muscle and grow my publication.

She also has another great publication that I like to follow as a free subscriber:

Creatively Conscious by Claire Venus

.

4/ First time I felt the urge again to pick up my camera

As I scrolled through old photos I took to illustrate the article below, a familiar spark returned — the urge to pick up my Canon camera instead of relying on my smartphone. Though I haven’t had the time to head out yet, I’m excited to capture new moments soon. I’m even thinking about a new “Corsica through my lens” series. Stay tuned!

5/ First time I stopped thinking and started acting

If I have to sum up this month, I would say that it felt like the first time I truly started taking concrete action towards dream projects I’ve had in mind for months, if not years. I’ve been laying foundations all year long for the changes I want to make, and I felt like November was the stepping stone in what is to come.

This month was also a month of gratitude. I can’t say that I am someone who always looks at the positive and bright side of things. I easily get derailed seeing what’s not working. But, reflecting on November, I realized that I’ve started shifting my mindset to look for the positive, even in small moments. Here are some simple joys that brought me gratitude this month:

1/ A family tradition

Introducing our 5-year-old daughter to one of Corsica’s beloved fall traditions — eating roasted chestnuts — was such a joy. We’ll have the occasion to talk about that more, but chestnuts are deeply rooted in Corsican culture, dating back to the 14th century. Though we ate them at home and not in my partner’s village located amidst a chesnut grove, sharing this family rite of passage felt magical.

2/ Fall days in Bastia

After the rush of the tourist season, I enjoyed quieter days in the city. With fewer people wandering in the streets, I took the time to slow down to truly appreciate the chance I have to live here, walking by unexpected music concerts in the middle of the streets or enjoying these kind of postcard views on an almost daily basis.

3/ Nurturing existing connections

It’s been a while since I hadn’t enjoyed a simple night out with friends, music, good wine and food — an assortment of local specialties, cheese and charcuterie is comfort food for me.

4/ Building bridges between Corsica and the rest of the world

Seeing strangers subscribe to my publication and realizing that I have readers living across the globe still amazes me. Connecting with people from different cultures and countries is one of the reasons I started writing so I couldn’t be more grateful to see this dream slowing starting to take form.

As I look back on November, I see it as a month of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new beginnings. From writing and recording to connecting with readers across the globe, these firsts have been both challenging and rewarding. And while this journey is only just beginning, I’m grateful for every step — and every reader — along the way.

What about you? Did November bring any firsts or moments of gratitude into your life? I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, or even just a quick hello in the comments.

Thanks again for being part of this adventure — and here’s to more stories, connections, and small joys in the months to come!

A prestu,

Maïlys