The past year was a year of things feeling somewhat normal while it also showed some obvious challenges on the world stage. But even the word ‘normal’ is relative here, because; time! Wow did time go fast this year… It was already summer before I knew it and now at the end of December, I feel like only three or four months have past this year. I kid you not! Numerologically speaking, 2025 is a 9, which means completion and the end of a cycle. I definitely feel more and more old energy is coming to an end and more people are ready for the future where compassion, freedom and context rule in stead of greed, control and universal law. However, since we’re still basically looking at a global theatrical play and reality is defined by your own perception and experiences, giving you any examples kind of feels pointless. If you want to know what I mean, go within and feel for yourself. Silence your mind, calm your emotions and allow intuition in your life so you can take a birds eye view on things. In stead of focusing on the big picture. this blog post is going to focus on what this year meant to me individually.
Music
This year I finished the course at the producer school I wrote about earlier. I always liked music as a unique way to express myself. This school has helped me to dot some i’s and cross some t’s so my productions sound as good as they can. Not only is it a way to express myself, it is also the way I want to use to improve the world.
After completing school I took my first steps towards turning my music production into a professional independent business. While it’s not going as fast as I had in mind, because of some unnamed factors, I am grateful for what I could do and excited for what I am busy with at the moment. I am not actively planning on being a DJ because of energy concerns, but I don’t rule anything out and always steer towards what feels good in the moment. I have something else in mind, but I am still working on that.
Vacation
One of the more complicated points of being an old soul with a mission can be seen as both a major downside and a major upside simultaneously: Namely; being so damn sensitive. Going through any regular day can already feel like I’m with my fingers in the power socket from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. That’s why I need all the rest I can get. My favorite way to get that rest is going on vacation on my own to a foresty or otherwise green place. A nice cabin in the woods or at a campsite is perfect. Nobody around me except those I choose. Driving with my car to wherever I want to be in the moment.
There were three moments this year which can be classified as being a ‘vacation’. The first is my two day trip to Luxembourg. I went there specifically to go to a pipe organ concert. It was something I never did before, but had in my mind for some time. So when I saw an ad from Anna Lapwood while scrolling on Instagram I took action and started planning. Not only was I there, but I was sitting right in front of the organ, which I loved.
The day I was there was also the day Anna Lapwood debuted an original written version of the music of the Pirates of the Carribean with a length of 18 minutes long! That was so cool and beautiful, hearing that film music on the pipe organ.
The second one was a vacation with a couple of cabins at a campsite with my family. No complicated stuff, just being in nature and a quiet place. It is somewhat a tradition which we repeat every once in a while and mostly exactly what I need. As much as I love being alone, this is truly priceless.
The third and final one, a week in the mountainous region of Belgium. Driving at 130KPH at highways and 90KPH at countryside roads, both faster and greener than anywhere in the Netherlands feels great. And not only greener, but also great for sightseeing on its own. Those mountains and hills provide plenty of opportunities for it.
Not super practical that it’s a French speaking region while I don’t speak any. But that only adds to the experience in a positive way. Because as always, the further I am removed from things I know in my daily life, the better I feel. “Removed from things I know” to a certain extent of course. You will never see me in a tent in any kind of desert for example. Because I dislike tents and extreme heat sucks the life out of me.
Anyway, Belgium was great all things considered and also the first vacation spot I took the drone to. Among other places I made some aerial pictures of the caves of Han. From the air it looks like any other mountain in the region, but it was interesting to have this picture anyway knowing what is below the surface.
Social
Improving the world begins with improving yourself. And with “social” I don’t mean social media, but actually going out and meeting people. No matter how I look at it or in what circumstances it is, meetups and talking to people never feels like “home base” or natural to me. But that’s why I do it. Throughout the year I went to several different meetups and fairs. Walking and nature meetups, producer and DJ meetups, Japan and anime fairs, spiritual fairs – all with ultimately more or less the same goal; meeting new people, starting conversations (but never forcing it) and to improve myself in various ways. It’s certainly not always easy, but I definitely feel more comfortable with it now.
When it comes to the spiritual fairs I got some insight into a specific area in my life that really explains some things.
Family
One thing I have in mind for some time now is a certain kind of house I would like to live in and more to the point, in a specific area. I didn’t have any idea how to go about it. I went with my dad to a construction and housing fair this year. It was new to me and while I didn’t walk away with anything specific, I got some ideas and general impressions of what’s possible when building a home. It is something I need to let run through my mind some more, but it felt like a breath of fresh air and the start of new ideas.
Three other things that come to mind are a day at the Once In A Blue Moon festival, a couple of times at the Efteling (a theme park) and a balloon flight.
The balloon flight was new to me. I never did it before and was actually a bit nervous before flying and even during. I am not afraid of flying in itself, but let me explain it this way: When you’re in an airplane and something happens to the plane or the engines, you still have two wings which you can use to soften your landing. When you’re in the basket of the balloon, something happens to the balloon and gravity starts pulling you down at terminal velocity, you immediately know it’s game-over. Regardless, I was glad to have done that. It was really peaceful up there, gently going with the speed of the wind in silence and watching a beautiful sunset at around 350 meters from the ground.
The Once In A Blue Moon festival I once again went to with my dad. It’s a music festival with lots of Americana music bands. It’s always in the open air in either a forest or a park. Several stages, food stands and lots of people. With both music and nature the festival combines two of my favorite things and I look forward to the next time.
And then there’s the Efteling of course. This themepark is one of the things that identify the Netherlands. I loved it as a child and I still love it today. Every square meter of the park, whether you’re in an attraction or simply walking from a to b, is like walking in a dream.. or a fairy tale. The main theme of the park isn’t based on a movie or company either, it is all 100 percent original. Started by one man in 1950 and it expanded and changed ever since, but always staying true to the original idea and designs. My favorite thing always was the “Spookslot” (literally “Ghost Castle”). Originally it was designed like a cave you walked through while going from one point in the park to the next. When walking through it we always stood still and waited for the automated performance to start.
When it started, the “Danse Macabre” from Saint Saens started to play and I loved it so much. In recent years the Spookslot was removed because of difficulty in maintaining it and replaced by a newer attraction now called the “Danse Macabre”. It is still based on the same idea, but in stead of watching the ghost dance, you’re now participating. Due to the nature of the new attraction the music itself was shortened, but it looks great and the movement goes quite fast as well. When it just came out I wanted to see it bad enough to go there by myself. Afterward later this year I went there a few more times with my family.
Video Production
Besides music production I also did some video production this year. If you have looked at my photos page, you might have noticed the drone pictures on there. That drone was also used to make a promotional video for the company De Jong Dakinspectie. If you would like to see it, check it out here! (Opens in new tab.)
In short, I have improved myself and I enjoyed this year a lot. I’m looking forward to 2026, because I have some great plans.
Willem Hubertus 
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