The Year of the Mussel: Looking Back and Looking Ahead
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and the end of 2024 is approaching. This is a time for reflection and looking ahead, and what a year it has been!
Both personally and professionally I have pushed boundaries, learned and enjoyed intensely. And as always, 'the mussel' is central to my story.
Let's look back at 2024 together – and look ahead to what 2025 will bring.
In this article
The Year of the Mussel: A Calendar of Our Own
Ok cool, I'm going to digress for a moment. Because that's brilliant. Daydreaming for a moment..
When we talk about mussels, many people think of the months with an 'R': from September to April. But did you know that the real year of the mussel already starts in May? This is the time of preparation, reflection and construction, a period in which mussels grow and become stronger. The mussel spring runs until August, after which the mussel season reaches its peak in the 'R months'.
Why do we stick to the Julian calendar? Imagine a calendar based on the life cycle of the mussel. Two seasons, with time for reflection and preparation in spring and summer, and action and results in autumn and winter. A perfect metaphor for balance in life and work.
And then move New Year's Eve to the end of April? 🙂
2024: Highs and Lows
This year has had unparalleled highs, but also deep lows. The loss of my mother in early 2024 was one of the most profound moments. A void that is felt every day. But strangely enough, her absence also brought closeness: a constant feeling that she is looking over my shoulder, guiding and supporting me. It has become a source of strength to make her proud with everything I do.
At the same time, 2024 was full of personal and professional highlights:
- Cycling on the highest peaks in France, a physical and mental challenge.
- Dancing on a volcano and on a stage in modern dance
- Testing new concepts in team coaching, where creativity and collaboration were central.
- Improvising as a clown and singing in a choir, resulting in surprising insights.
- Swim like a mermaid in the Geejee Expee. The Gert-Jan Experience.
- Introspective moments at leadership events, heart circles and men's festivals.
- Taking up freelance communication and marketing, a leap into the unknown.
- Organizing mussel soups, laboratories for creativity that challenge teams and individuals.
- And then of course there is my mussel Helene, my biggest supporter in all these adventures. Together we build a life full of playfulness and connection.
Mussels from Brossels: Playground for creativity and collaboration
'Mossels from Brossels' is my playground, the place where creativity, playfulness and collaboration meet. Here I test new initiatives and bring people together. Whether it's teambuilding, coaching sessions or the now famous Musselsoupés, everything revolves around connection and growth.
In 2024 I learned how important it is to make choices. What adds value? Where do I want to grow? And where do I need to make room? These questions will also be my compass in 2025.
Looking ahead to 2025
2025 will be a year of new seeds, experiments and collaborations. Some plans I am really looking forward to:
- Team coaching, surprising team building, brainstorming sessions,.. There is already a lot in the pipeline for 2025. Fantastic! But there is still some room 😉
- Regular Mussel Soups: fast-paced, creative sessions that challenge teams and individuals to think and act differently. Discover the agenda >>
- New collaborations: with like-minded people to further explore and utilize creativity.
- Closing the mussel season: in April I am organizing a special mussel party. An event that revolves around the power of simplicity (“Don’t look too far”) and the question of what real mussels do with creativity. Discover more >>
My goal remains clear: to make the world a little more beautiful through creativity. Small and large sparks of creativity.
And that is only possible together!
Grateful for 2024, Ready for 2025
Looking back on 2024, I feel deep gratitude. For the people around me, the adventures I was able to experience and the lessons I learned. And I am excitedly looking forward to 2025 – a year in which new opportunities, ideas and connections are central.
Let's celebrate mussel season together, reflect in mussel spring and build something beautiful. Want to know more about what 'mussels from Brossels' can do for you or your team? Get in touch - I'm happy to help!
