Manifesting Joy

It's the last day of 2025 and I wanted to share what has driven me in the past months, and what is my goal for the coming year.  In short:  manifesting joy.  Not only for myself, but primarily for others.  The principle of "homo ludens," the playful human, stimulates the brain and the soul in such a more inspirational way than the feeling of obligation.  At the same time, manifesting joy is perhaps the only way to combat the darkness and the festering cancer that is consuming the world.  

While music doesn't literally nourish people, or provide transport, or any other simply functional item, it does nourish the soul, connects people, uplifts their spirits, stimulates the brain and creates neural networks that no other activity is able to do.  Music, therefore, can manifest joy.  As one of my heros, Michael Jackson, said, we can "Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me, and the entire human race. There are people dying.  When you care enough for the living, make a better place for you and for me." 

My situation: The steps that I have taken in the past years to arrive at this need for new perspective in life have been professionally and personally daring and at times difficult.  Some decisions were forced upon me, and with others I myself took the initiative after a prolongated thought process.  The most important aspects of my professional situation:  are my talents being used to their full potential to bring joy to others and do create something positive in the world?  Are my talents being rewarded adequately, being it financially or with other results?  Am I myself utilising my time and my talents for a good cause, or am I just filling time?  I'm not there yet, but I am close.  One of the most important themes for me is the situation of children world-wide.

Children are miraculous.  They have hope, potential, and are wise because they are so open to observation without being hindered by the layers of adulthood.   They are bursting with creativity, easily open their hearts to honest emotions, and drink gratefully and greedily at the fount of knowledge.  Children are our future.  They are the hope for the human race.  They are our key to survival.  They trust us to surround them with support and safety.

The safety of children is not guaranteed in some (even many) parts of the world.  Confronted with the bad decisions of adults, and with the rage that ensues, too many children are ruined, traumatised, and even murdered.  Hind Rajab was one of those children who was literally surrounded by the rage of the world.  In the company of  her dead family in a small car, with looming tanks with guns towering over her from all directions, this 5 year old girl desperately used her cousin's mobile phone to call the emergency responders at the Red Cross to come and save her.  Listening back to this call is heart-breaking.  Two weeks later, when the area was finally accessible (two ambulance workers were killed when they tried to reach her), they found her dead, the car riddled with more than 300 bullets.  The trauma of this girl's death has created deep shocks throughout the world.  

The USA has cut back on international aid drastically.  Some important NGOs that contribute significants amounts of care and aid are forbidden by certain countries of delivering aid that is desperately needed.  We the people need to stand up and change this. It is up to every one of us that is able to give to ensure that children throughout the whole world have a healthy and happy existence.  Our very survival depends on this.

It's easy to slump in despair, as little seems to change.  And yet, everywhere I look, there are people helping.  There are people taking time out of their daily life to make a difference.  Tirelessly, creatively, passionately.

78 people are joining me to create Voices for Children, a benefit concert for Doctors without Borders.  Come join us on the 22nd of January in Amsterdam Zuid to see and hear a beautiful concert.  Donate to our cause, start the year with a good deed.  Help us to manifest joy.  The children need us.  

I'll be posting more about the music and the people joining us in the coming days and weeks.  I am looking forward to seeing you there.

​https://www.ensemble42.nl/voicesforchildren.html