The horizon is always shifting – just like me. Since moving aboard a sailboat with my family and travelling across the Mediterranean, life has quite literally been in motion. What began as an adventure has become an inward journey. I thought it would mostly be about wind direction, weather forecasts and navigation. But what I hadn’t foreseen was that the real course I was seeking was my own.

I come from a world where rational thinking, structure and planning were dominant. I felt at home in that for a long time: professional, analytical, goal-oriented. But something else was quietly stirring beneath the surface: a longing for calm, for space, for connection. For softness. For knowing without needing to explain.

Then Human Design entered my life (thanks, Evelien). As a Projector (4/6), I felt a deep sense of recognition. My strength lies not in initiating, but in seeing, guiding and reflecting. Pieces began to fall into place. I no longer needed to push harder. I could wait for the invitation. I could trust my intuition, something I had spent years rationalising away.

At sea, you are constantly attuned, to the weather, to each other, to yourself. The water demands surrender. It invites slowness. And that’s precisely what I’m learning. Sometimes, it means literally dropping anchor. Other times, it’s sailing onward without knowing exactly where you’ll end up. In that space, something new can emerge. Something real.

At the same time, I remain connected to projects that hold meaning for me. One of them is contributing remotely to the sustainability strategy of Rotterdam Ahoy, where the theme of ‘social’ is embedded as a core principle, with a focus on understanding, connecting and embedding impactful social initiatives. I’m also involved with Conferli, a platform that matches international conferences with destinations that align with their values and sustainability ambitions. And within the BeFuture project, I serve as moderator, guiding an international advisory board that is helping to shape the future of the conference and events industry, towards one that is more sustainable, equitable and human-focused.

This is where my passion lies: at the intersection of conscious living and meaningful contribution. Whether I’m standing on the deck of a boat or immersed in a strategy document, I increasingly aim to act from a place of truth. No longer on autopilot, but fully attuned. It takes courage. And trust.

This journey is not an escape. It’s a choice, to live truthfully, to explore who I am beyond roles and expectations. Perhaps the tailwind I’d always been missing was simply this: following my own compass, learning by doing, step by step.

Written by: Mirjam