This morning I stood in front of you all, and as I sputtered out words at random, as I tend to do, failing to make sentences that are comprehensible to anyone except me, and perhaps my little sister, I promised myself that I would write it down instead. Here it goes:
Ten months ago, I knew not one of you. Each of you were across the ocean, living your own lives, rising with – no, probably after – the sun, and doing whatever it is that you all do for your day jobs. The thing about November Project, is that most of us don’t actually get to know each other on that level, that suit and tie part of life, because quite frankly, it doesn’t matter. I don’t know how many hours you spend in front of an Excel spreadsheet, how much money you earn, whether or not you like your neighbors in cubicle land, or even if you are employed. For the majority of you, I don’t know your age or your hometown, or how your life brought you to Amsterdam. But I do know this:
You are kind beyond measure, you possess an inordinate amount of generosity, integrity, empathy, understanding, and drive. You are self-motivated and motivating to others, both friends and perfect strangers. You are open-minded enough to try something new, accepting enough not to pass judgment on others, and weird enough to enjoy each other’s [weird] company. You are willing to hug strangers even though at one point it freaked you out. Maybe it still does. I know that you show up – even though waking up before the sun is brutal, even though your bed is warm and it’s raining outside. You show up. Because working out is good for you, because you said you would, and because you secretly love sweaty hugs. And in life, you show up as friends, as sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, neighbors, coworkers, managers, and mentors. I don’t know what you do for your day job and sometimes I don’t even know your last name, but I know who you are, and I am extremely lucky to know you.
Thank you for showing up, thank you for baking me cake and brownies, throwing confetti, and blowing up balloons, thank you for getting up at the ass crack of dawn to sing me my first Dutch Birthday song and watch me struggle with words. Thank you for showing me an incredible amount of love, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Thank you for showing my parents what amazing humans make up November Project Amsterdam! I still can’t believe my parents were there. Thank you for bouncing with me, embracing sweaty hugs and bizarre and seemingly random photo shoots, and thank you for forcing me to run another marathon! Just kidding, I wanted to anyway…
You are all fucking beautiful.
Just love.
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Annelise
