A very subjective look into AWFC

Happy 2026!

Absolutely surreal typing this, innit? But alas, the reality is that we have started a new year and I truly hope this is the best year of your life. If you’re going through a tough time I hope things get better soon. If you’re having a great time please value in and cherish it. If you’re somewhere in the middle, be present and feel whatever it is you’re feeling.

My wish to you is that you try to do the following, not because I have done it or currently do it (I’ll explain) but precisely because I didn’t do it as much as I should and that, my friends, is journaling. I don’t mean documenting your life on social media because that is a whole different thing and very fine line to walk as a musican/artist and (yuck) content creator… btw that’s not a dig against content creators on other spaces. I meant that as musicians we should be striving to be something different, but that’s another topic for another day.

If there is one thing that I regret in my life, specially as a touring musician is that I didn’t journal as much as I should’ve. I did it for my first big tour all over Europe in 2009, playing drums with Richie Kotzen . The first few shows were in Lithuania, Lativa and Estonia. Talk about a beatiful experience… Incredible venues, the crowd and I love that I can read those entries and feel close to what I felt those days.

But I didn’t do it again. Not really really. And this is a major regret and I truly wish that you don’t experience this. Not saying that it’s “bad” but my memories could be much more vivid and “real” had I kept journaling up.

And this is NOT about having cool experiences. I regret not journaling during my toughest times, during the pandemic, my house burning, tours not happening, deaths of family members and so many things.

One of the most surreal experiences of my life was attending the Euros last summer, specifically the Oranjeleeuwinnen vs Lionesses match. Not only was it insane because of the result, how close to the pitch I was, my friends that were there but also because of who was on the pitch itself. I got to see basically all of my favorites. I sat next to Malin Gut and Beth England and England played a stellar match, whereas the Dutch, MY DUTCH, well… quite the opposite. So there I was, having to celebrate 5-0 or 4-0, whatever it was, from a team I love against MY TEAM and THE team Iove, love.

It was insane. And I truly wish I would’ve written it all down. I saw so many people from the online woso world. And honestly this is probably what you all feel like if you go to match days. I envy that in the most beautiful, pure and positive of ways. I love that for you. I love that this is your normal. I only get to do it once a couple of years.

So, please, go buy a cool notebook and pen… And just start…. it doesn’t have to be an amazing experience or a tragic one. Whatever it is you’re doing, feeling or wanting to do, or feel, etc etc etc. Idk, make it football related.

As a matter of fact, a lot of the journaling I have done prior to re catching the physical journaling bug, was football journaling which is this essentially… with the difference that my entries are not secret at all BUT I do have to thank you for reading because without you I wouldn’t have started this and I wouldn’t be currently journaling.

If I say “journaling” once again you’re gonna not do it just because I piss you off, so I’m just gonna go say goodbye for now.

Much love

❤

d