About Me
Hey there, lovely souls! I'm Marieke!
Usually, you'd find me buzzing with optimism, chasing adventures, juggling roles as a marketing manager, illustrator, creative enthusiast, and an all-around do-gooder. Oh, and let's not forget, I'm a happy dreamer through and through!
But then, life threw me a curveball. Picture this: It was the summer of 2015, and I was living the dream Down Under with my beloved husband, reveling in my dream job. But suddenly, it felt like the sky turned gray, and I found myself engulfed in a swirling mix of anxiety, fear, and panic.
It was like someone hit the pause button on my life's soundtrack. We made the tough call to pack our bags and head back to the Netherlands, hoping to find solace amidst the familiar.
There I was, grappling with anxiety, battling deep depression, or whatever label you'd like to slap on it, feeling utterly lost with no glimmer of hope in sight. I was convinced I'd never find my way back to the light. Was this the end of my adventure? The end of Marieke as I knew her? Or perhaps, just maybe, it was the start of something new?
Spoiler alert: it was indeed a new beginning! Through a series of small steps and little victories, I began to stitch myself back together. And when I finally felt whole again, I knew I had to pay it forward.
That's when I created this book – my beacon of light in the darkest of nights. It was my lifeline, my roadmap to navigate through stormy seas. And after seeing the positive impact it had on others, I knew I had to share it with the world.
Together with Lars, we poured our hearts into publishing this book, just as it was created – with love and sincerity. Sure, it was a risk, but it was a risk worth taking. After all, as Pippi Longstocking once said, "I've never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that."
With heaps of love and endless optimism,
Marieke
