Do you know the feeling that you have taken a step aside, or out of your regular path to come at the end back on the right track? Stepping out of your daily routine, out of your comfort zone makes you stronger. And above that, it proves again what you really want?

That’s exactly what happened with me ☺️ By moving to the United States, giving everything up what we had, taking the step and now finally moving back to the Netherlands via Belgium, it was one of the best things happened to me.

Proof? I just returned from the European Meeting and Event Conference organised by the association Meeting Professionals International in the Netherlands hosted in The Hague. I didn’t want to go, I just moved 4 days ago in my new house…. I prefered to stay at home and enjoy my my house and unpack. Nevertheless, as soon as I arrived this feeling was gone! I meet people from all over Europe but mainly from the Netherlands, and again the reactions were overwhelming. Welcome back, great to have you, what happened, etc.

After being abroad for more than 15 years I realised more than ever that I am perhaps more Dutch that I would like to admit ;-). The curiosity, being open and direct, but more over the courage to do things differently, that was the red line in the conference and an amazing success. That topic is also the red line in my life, I always want to do things differently and try new things. Changing the game is the theme I love, it’s in my DNA. I have been always a sort of black sheep, a strange duck in the water, but it feels damn good to be me!

Starting on the conference on Saturday afternoon. And after 4 days, at the closing session on Tuesday morning when all the volunteers came on stage, working for more than 3 years on this unique concept, you saw that some of the volunteers became emotional,  it hit me in the heart. I felt being part of this unique team, perhaps better say the family.

And actually I am part of the MPI family. I know how much work, effort, energy, frustration it is to get it all done. Wow! You hit me in my heart me and many others. You gave me an amazing warm feeling of being part of an international community with fantastic people. WOW! Congratulations!

After all what happened in the past couple of months, you something doubt, am I still doing what I like? After such an amazing conference I don’t need to doubt a second if this is the right industry to work for. Despite the fact that I am now tired, after long intense days, I feel also energised after so many motivational conversations. I’m back definitely back on the right track in the right country!

Now time to recharge my batteries before I will go to Istanbul…. .

Still fresh the first evening at the conference… together with Amanda Armstrong