{"id":2881,"date":"2021-12-31T19:30:08","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T19:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinemussies.nl\/web\/?p=2881"},"modified":"2022-04-05T06:48:58","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T06:48:58","slug":"a-reflection-on-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/martinemussies.nl\/web\/a-reflection-on-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"A reflection on 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every year in December, I make an insanely long list of goals\/wishes\/intentions for the year to come. This year will be no exception. But I always start by reviewing last year’s list<\/a>… which is sometimes confrontational, but mostly fun. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

2021 has not been easy on me. Still, I should not complain. Every single day, I could make music, work on my research, engage in budo, crafting and baking, and endlessly cuddle & play with Boris the Bengal Tigercat<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some 2021 resolutions I had to let go<\/a> because of COVID, but often I found another way to realize the intention<\/a> (e.g. instead of going on tour to England, I gave a virtual Bardcore Party<\/a> for the IMC in Leeds). As such, many of my dreams have come true – some even much more beautifully than planned<\/a>. My wish to go archery again, for example, was fulfilled in a completely different way than I expected, namely in the form of the wonderful kyudo party at Washinkan<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Japan Fans Performance at Camera Japan Festival was one of the highlights of 2021 for me.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the whole, my Japan Fans project<\/a> contributed to many exciting events for me (such as performing Japanese music at a large festival). It hit the ground running, was featured in popular magazines and national newspapers, led me to meet a lot of interesting people, and enabled my friends and me to make meaningful contributions (through various activities such as making sushi for the homeless). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next to that, I launched my own illustrated brand BudoGirl<\/a>, started working with a writing coach<\/a> (highly recommended), and have thoroughly primed my idea for a book – Inside the Autside<\/a>. Thus, next to singing in church and doing budo (mostly at home), I could experience many wonderful things in 2021. So, time to dress up<\/a> and be grateful! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

January<\/strong> 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year started well, because Jolijn<\/a> taught me a beautiful new song, which I could play on both her Celtic harp and my Russian gusli:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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