Out of the Dark … into the Light

Heya, I’m Marie, here to delight you verbally & visually.

And maybe drop hints on how you, too, can overcome the shizzle that is keeping you from living life to the fullest!

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Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

hello

Cos yeah, I know how it is when you feel stuck’n’sticky. Entangled in ever-growing to-do lists that just never get done. And sad at night that another day has been wasted.

ANOTHER DAY OF YOUR PRECIOUS LIFETIME!!

Another day you could have enjoyed by traveling instead of watching others’ travels on Insta.

Another day of seeing how others live their dreams – while you haven’t even pinned a single pic onto that vision-board-to-be you so enthusiastically dragged home from the DIY store.

Another day of waking up feeling as if an armada of trucks ran over you repeatedly during the night, draining you of all energy to tackle the day.

Another day of longing to pull that blanket over your head and namastay in bed for at least 14 days.

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hello

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Been there, done that. But most importantly: learned to overcome it.

And I invite you to come along with me on that journey so hey, presto! you can get inspired to overcome it, too.

Awesome sauce!

From heavy to happy

I was depressive for almost two decades.

Trauma, childhood, genetics: whatever led to it, I never lived the life I was dreaming of – that of a travel writer and photographer exploring the world, learning about new cultures, sponging up the beauty of our planet.

Instead I was stuck in a life of (self-created) misery: doing jobs I deeply disliked, constantly struggling around the financial zero line, caught in overwhelming existential fears, unerringly ruining all my relationships… to just give a short list.

There was just no way I could see myself becoming happy. Whatever I touched, it ended in the same black slump.

It took me a lot of self-work to find out that it had to do with old beliefs – most of all that I was not good enough and not worthy of being happy.

So I worked with all kinds of healers. Did all kinds of therapy. Went on shamanic journeys. Meditated like a maniac. You name it, I did it.

It certainly helped me getting out there step by step. But it was not sustainable yet.

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hello

When I turned 45 my health got worse. My knees were severely damaged, I had to bury my freshly started dream of learning to surf. Was that already all there was to life? A false diagnosis of glaucoma did the rest.

This put me under pressure – only about three decades left, with God knows what other ailments in the pipeline, and I had not seen the world? That defo had to change!

Then I finally made the mindset shift that led to my liberation. Cancelled the job I hated. Cut the contact with my ex. Got rid of backstabbin’ friends who didn’t do me any good. And just booked a flight and went to Portugal as a digital nomad.

Lo and behold, it worked out! It was possible to live alone in another country and survive. Who knew.

So in Feb 2017 I finally took the big leap – and booked a one way ticket to Bangkok, at almost 46. Since then I have been traveling, doing what most others do in their late 20s and early 30s.

I might not be thoroughly happy yet. But I did it. I got up. I got out. Baby steps. I became more resilient. And learned so many things that I want to share with you.

If you can relate and are in your middle ages, I truly want to motivate, encourage and inspire you to

GET UP from slouching on that couch you have so comfily settled on

GET OUT – even if that means going to a part of your city you haven’t been to

GET HAPPY!!

Because believe me – in the end, it is so ob-no-xious-ly easy.

Follow me on my still bumpy and rugged road, ask me questions, say hello. But most important of all, take that tiny first step and literally get up from wherever you are. If I can do it, you so can do it, too.

And don’t forget to have fun on the way – because even if all goes wrong, there is always a good laugh in everything.

xx

Marie

Gone Surfing

On my way to happiness

Hello

Hello