We’re right in the middle of the darkest days of the year, ‘de donkere dagen’. The sun rises at 8:30 and sets at 16:40 and the worst is yet to come. And then—typical for this season—it stays dark and gloomy all day long. It rains. Constantly. It’s been dark for a while, but at least the sun still showed up now and then. Not anymore. She’s left us. Just now, when we needed her most.
This is the time when so many people start feeling winter-weary -even though the winter has yet to begin! It’s exactly then that I like to bring the light indoors. Time to put up the Christmas tree, decorate it with twinkling lights, light some candles, get the fireplace going.
But I need to go outside. I need to move. So I head out for a sprint run, squeezing it in between two showers. It’s the middle of the day, yet it’s practically night. I go for it anyway. Earbuds in, music on, timer set on my watch: 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off.
It’s Gin and Juice (The Soul Jazz Era) is buzzing in my ears.. Wow. I recently switched from Apple Music to Spotify and ever since, I’ve been stumbling upon gems like this non-stop. You simply cannot not groove. My “walking” 30 seconds turn into dancing, and during my 30-second sprints I get frustrated because—how do you sprint and dance at the same time? It’s ridiculous and hilarious. I put the song on repeat. I’m home in no time—way too fast. Earbuds out. Now what? I look them up.
Apparently, The Soul Jazz Era reworks old soul songs using AI. Are you an AI lover or hater? In this case I honestly couldn’t care less : nobody can hate this—except maybe the original songwriters, but in that case I’d say: then go make music like this!
I’m obsessed. Outside it’s wet and dark; inside it’s warm, with candles and twinkling lights, and this delicious Soul Jazz playing in the background. Still on repeat.
Let’s get this winter started.
image AI generated
The Feel Good Way 
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