Growth Monkeys, Haarlem (2026)

26/01/2026

Life is funny, I can feel easy to slip into feeling comfortable sitting in the discomfort of life… Okay easy is probably not the best word to use here… Its uncomfortable! Thinking yeah I should probably change something up, then finding a reason not too.
Lets face it, there is always going to be a reason not to do something even if its something that you know will make your life better. Change can feel uncomfortable but the thing is, change is one of the only things that is really guaranteed.

But heres the thing, we live this life once. So don’t be afraid to fail, to learn, to grow, to experience, to feel. You deserve to live a life that aligns with you!!

But how do you really know when you are on the right path? When you stop abandoning yourself, and your dreams! Even if its a little step in the right direction every day, it all counts and adds up!

Take this from someone who has started over more times than I know what to do with, it will always work out eventually! When things are aligned, life has a funny way of falling into place 💙

Who knows, the new version of you could very well be your favorite version yet!!! So take the leap, you’ll look back one day and realize that you set the foundation of the life that you’ve always dreamed of having! You will look back on you now and feel proud that you took that leap! 💫

You got this!

Tag a friend to remind them of just this, and that you are cheering for them! 🫶

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26/10/2025

It can be so easy to protect ourselves from the world and other peoples opinions by keeping things to ourselves, but there is also so much power in letting go and just simply expressing ourselves! That doesn’t mean that it has to be shouted out at the rooftop or shared with the world. When it comes to expressing yourself It can be as simple as writing your thoughts down on paper, through movement, through the art of creating, through sharing it with someone you trust with your heart, it could even be through singing! Whatever feels good and aligned with your heart, you should do that! ❤️❤️

You deserve to be seen for who you truly are, but better still you get to be, experience and also express all that you are! You are a truly amazing being! To those that get to meet and cross paths with you… They’re pretty damn lucky if you ask me Xx

Wishing you a wonderful start to your week!

Lots of love

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14/09/2025

Hey friend! How are you feeling? ✨

I just wanted to take this moment to let you know that: I see you. 💓

Just because you carry your load well… That doesn’t mean that it isn’t heavy! You are carrying so much on your shoulders and in your heart. I know its not easy always either.
I just wanted to let you know how truly proud of you I am! 💛 You truly are amazing!

You make the world a better place just because you exist in it!!!

Tag a friend that means the world to you to remind them just how loved they are and how proud of them you are!

Was there a wholesome or special moment that stood out to you this weekend? Would love to hear in the comments below 🫶✨🥰

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30/08/2025

If this is something that resonates with you right now, just know that you are not alone in feeling this way!!

In order to cope with loneliness, we first need to understand why we are feeling lonely in the first place…

Is it a lack of meaningful connections in your life?
Or is there something holding you back from truly letting go, to make these deep and meaningful connections?
Or maybe you feel disconnected from yourself?

Once you have worked out the core of where this feeling comes from... Try and put some focus into enjoying your own company 🧡

Take baby steps, sweet soul… Here are some things they may help you too 🥰

💛 Ask the deeper questions to really get to know the people in your life
💛 Snuggle a pet
💛 Do something you enjoy
💛 Move your body in nature
💛 Share how you feel with someone that you trust

Try to embrace and enjoy all that you are, you are so utterly wonderful! Just because some people don’t validate your feelings, it doesn’t mean that they are not valid. And incase you don’t truly feel seen in all of your light and for all that you are, it doesn’t mean you aren’t all of those things, because you are! ✨🧡🧡🧡

Hope that this letter has helped you to realize that your feelings are valid, and that how you feel right now, will pass.
Big love 💌

Tag a friend to remind them that they are not alone, and that they have you 💛
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✨ ❤️ #ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｓ

26/08/2025

In full transparency and honestly this is something that I am still navigating and leaning more into, the more I go through life! 🌞🕯️

We often think of depth as this heavy, serious thing… The burden, the noise in our heads that won’t zip it, the big feelings, the sensitivity, and the parts of ourselves that ask for more than just the surface! 💜

We often see joy as this light and warm thing that’s playful, carefree and fun! 💛

But the truth is… They are not opposites from each other! Joy and depth can and do exist in the same place! 💜💛✨

Depth is what gives joy it’s roots! 🌱

Without depth, joy can be and feel fleeting and short lived… Much like bubbles that pop quickly! 🫧
Joy is what gives depth it’s lightness, without it our depth can feel overwhelming… Like carrying an entire ocean inside your chest with no place to breathe! 🌊

When we allow both to exist and live in the same place, something magical happens:
Laughter that has meaning, conversations fuel the soul, and love that heals as much as it excites! ✨

Darling, your depth is not a burden… It’s your super power!!! It allows you to see, it allows you to feel, and to connect in ways that others long for but don’t know how to reach! 🥰

Don’t go hiding your depth or go dimming your joy… You can have both, because together they make you whole! Together they make you, you! ✨

I see you, I feel you, I am you! ❤️

Sending you so much love and light you beautiful, deep and vibrant soul!

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20/08/2025

I don’t know about you, but I truly believe that this is the key to happiness right here! Focusing and poring love into all that we do have! 🌞💛

We live in a world and a society where there is a lot of pressure in chasing the next big thing, keeping up with the trends, looking at the highlights reels of others lives… It’s easy to get swept into the current of self comparison, competition, over consumption and overwhelm!

But it doesn’t beat stepping into the gratitude and appreciation of all that we do have! 🥰🥰🥰
Like the connections that bring light to your soul, the little precious moments in every day life that warm you up, strangers smiling at you, nature, movement, making things from scratch, fixing things, taking time to slow down and be with yourself, doing things that make time fly by… If we look hard enough within our own lives and selves, there is always something to be grateful for, always! ✨

Focus on what you’ve got and the good gets better! Sending loveeee and light! 🌞✨

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🙏 ❤️

19/08/2025

How are you at saying no? 🤔💭

This has been something I’ve struggled with for most of my life! I love new opportunities, adventure and grabbing life by the horns! But the thing is, we just cant simply say yes to everything and everyone without paying for it in other ways ourselves. 🙈

The older and wiser I become, the easier its come for me to say no… Sadly I didn’t learn this the easy way! But the more I lean into my body and whats truly aligned and feels good for me, the easier it is to say no.

Its also realizing that when you say no, you are choosing you and your own heart! You are making a conscious choice to live in alignment. This doesn’t mean its always easy mentally to say no, but looking at it in this way really helps me… Maybe it will help you too 🥰🫶❤️

Anyway, I hope you are having a lovely Monday!!
Would love to hear your highlight of the day, or if you are open for it… Your experience with saying no in the comments✨

Lots of love ❤️

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17/08/2025

Hey pals, Happy Sunday!! 🌞☁️

What’s your favorite part about a Sunday? Mines taking the time to slow down… Todays vibe is these hand-drawn words and blooms with Jazz tunes playing in the background 🥰🎼

Lately I’ve been spending so much time going inward, but it’s come time to share some of that world with you in this space too! ✨

Yes, it’s safe to say that it’s been a bit quiet over here lately! I was in a constant battle between striving for the polished style vs. the raw, messy and authentic… I was overthinking colour, focus, among other things! But I figured, let’s just figure it out as we go and grow through this journey together! And have some fun together along the way too! 🤩

I never was one to colour within the lines, so let’s just say; welcome to this messy, hand-drawn space, where we dive into authenticity, getting to know ourselves to the core, self-growth, among many other things! 💛✨

So buckle up pals, she’s backkkkk with her creative pants on! 👖

Thanks for being here, let us know what you love most about Sunday’s? Do you have a special ritual or thing that you do for yourself to get you set for the week ahead? Or are you someone who’s week begins on a Sunday? 🤔

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☀️ ❤️

21/03/2025

Taking a break was exactly what I needed, but a part of me always longed to return to this space. I never stopped walking or journaling, or thinking about this space but my intentions shifted. Instead of deep inner work, I was just moving through life, letting things pass through me. But now? I feel this deep pull to go inward again—to sit with myself, understand my struggles, and grow through them. 🪴

I feel calmer. My priorities have shifted. I’m learning to fill my own cup first so I can pour into others without running empty. Less Netflix, more podcasts. Less distraction, more alignment. More of what makes my inner world a place I love to be 🥰

And if you’re in this season too, if you’re quietly working on yourself in ways no one else can see… I just want to remind you: your growth is real. Even if no one else notices, even if it doesn’t feel big, you are transforming in the most beautiful way. Be proud of yourself. You’re improving the home that is inside of you, and that’s everything!!! I see you! 💛✨

Sending you love and light 🌞🌸

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20/03/2025

I’m sure we all guilty of over giving; our energy, our love, our kindness and thoughtfulness to others and forgetting to pour some of that goodness back into ourselves too… And as a result feeling completely drained 🙈 am I right? Or is it just me? I feel like I have to constantly remind myself to fill my own cup up too… But something I’ve learnt to apply more is this:

If we take the time to first pour some of that love, care and energy into ourselves, then we can better show up for ourselves, the people in our lives and the things that really matter… All from a place of fullness! 🌞💛

Anyway this is your reminder to do something super wholesome and nice for yourself today that puts a smile on your face and has you pouring into your own cup. You deserve the kind of love, kindness and warmth that you give to others… You wonderful and beautiful soul!

Today I filled my cup by going for a walk in nature, it’s been raining lots here in Portugal… So it turned into a bit of walking through puddles too, which makes my inner child so happppyyyy! It really is the little things! What’s something you have done or are going to do today to fill your cup up? Let us know in the comments ###

Tag your friend who fills your cup up, just by being in your life 🌸

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Illustrated by

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19/02/2025

To our beautiful Growth Monkeys fam! 💛

So yeah, it’s been a minute… Thought it was about time we showed our faces over here again! 🤪🙈🥰
We’re a bit shy, incase you didn’t notice 😂

Incase we haven’t already met/connected, Hey!! We’re Anna and Jens, Jens is from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and I’m from New Zealand 🇳🇿and we’re currently living in Portugal 🇵🇹🌞

Sooo anyway enough about us, how’s it going? 🥰
How’s life been treating you?

We’d love to catch up and get to know you more in the comments or jump into our DM’s… Don’t be shyyy… You know you want too 🤪😂🤩

P.s. we don’t really know anyone here or have friends in the area, (besides all the local stray cats) so you’d pretty much be doing us a huge favor here 😂 All jokes aside, we’d love to connect with youuuuuu 🩷🌸

The last few years we took a beat, to be present in our lives and just focus on building it quietly in the background, but we’ve been thinking of you and this space a lottttt and can’t wait to bring some magic and cool things back to this corner of the internet 🩷🌸

Sending you lots of love and warmth from us here in Portugal xoxox

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Growth Monkeys

26/01/2026

26/10/2025

14/09/2025

30/08/2025

26/08/2025

20/08/2025

19/08/2025

17/08/2025

21/03/2025

20/03/2025

19/02/2025

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