Dear everyone,
Today is the day I wrap up all the last work tasks before the festive season wraps us in its warm, woolly embrace.
The final item on my to-do list: “write newsletter text.” With “Santa Baby” playing in the background and my kids in pajamas, it was tempting to ask my new AI assistant to take care of it. But I actually love writing and try not to outsource the things that bring me joy just to save time. If only AI could unload the dishwasher.
I always enjoy retreating a bit and pretending the world comes to a halt, only to be reborn on January 1st. Slowing down for a moment. Even though that’s far from the truth, and we’ll unfortunately face the same challenges on January 1st that we do today. But maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve been thinking a lot about slowing down this past year.
Not just while waiting (yet again) for a delayed train. But especially in relation to the challenges we work on. Some things move very quickly. For example, I’m truly proud that, together with our partners, we’ve seen so much of our work implemented this year.
The Netwerkintake training we developed in collaboration with UMC Utrecht surpassed 1,500 users last month. Through the Fair Practice Lab, we trained hundreds of institutions across the Netherlands to apply the Fair Practice Code in practice and create measurable impact. Mensenkenners was adopted by numerous organizations in the cultural sector. We also trained the municipality of Amsterdam and volunteers from the Pride festival to create a more inclusive experience.
These are projects that are making a real impact now, but many of them took years of hard work. Those processes often move more slowly than we’d like. When you see that things can, or even must, be different, you get impatient and wish for instant change.
But I’m increasingly questioning whether that’s always a good thing. All the projects we work on are part of larger societal transitions. And transitions benefit from slowness. Because what’s needed isn’t minor tweaks but seismic shifts: a more inclusive society, human-centered care, sustainable energy, a new understanding of how our psyche works.
No single person holds all the answers, and no single party can dictate the pace. Change is uncomfortable and sometimes downright painful. Slowly, collaboratively, and with small steps forward—while holding onto one another and resisting the urge to let divisions tear us apart as a society—that’s the real challenge. Especially after this year. That’s what we aim to design for.
In the coming year, we’ll work hard to do just that again, together with all our tireless and inspiring partners, and I’m so excited for it!
But first, let’s pause completely and recharge.
We wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a wonderful, healthy 2025.
See you next year!
With warm hot-chocolate greetings, on behalf of the entire Ink team,
Anna
