My greatest strength is also my most significant weakness: my wide range of interests. I love to explore life in all its aspects, and even though this has brought me a wealth of experiences, at times it has induced states of paralyzed indecision as well.
The last couple of years I have learned to embrace my sometimes fragmented but rich mind, and navigate the capricious river of life with an open gaze.
Although I am a lone wolf and need time by myself to recharge, I deeply cherish genuine connections with people, even if it's simply an authentic smile from the cashier in a supermarket.
Nature is my deity. Ever since I can remember, I have marveled at all that the natural world encompasses: insects, mammals, sea creatures, plants and trees, stars and galaxies. Whenever I behold its wonders, it never fails to awe me, and I feel a strong responsibility towards it.
HOW DO YOU EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND/OR UNCONVENTIONALITY?
My entire life I have fought against generalizations and stereotypes. Although at first this dislike of categorization was mostly focused on the female / male dichotomy, I feel a similar aversion towards any assumption that's not based on real life evidence. I don't like statistics. Every person has their own unique ways, every body has it's own rhythm, and I think you can only truly get to know someone if you refrain from making judgments based on suppositions regarding sex, race, age, status or any other socially determined category.
The friends I have come from different cultural and financial backgrounds and this has enriched my life enormously. Both my two daughters can boast an international and culturally diverse friend group.
HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY?
Mostly through writing, but I also love to sing and dance. Although I haven't done any acting for years, I used to be a professional actress. If I would have more time, I would probably take up playing the piano again, and perhaps start painting.
Furthermore, I try to use my creativity for life in general, when finding solutions or encountering difficult situations, and in raising my two teenage daughters.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY? WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN AND COULD GIVE ADVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ON?
First of all, I am a writer and journalist, so I could provide texts where needed. I speak Dutch, English, Spanish, German, and some French, so translations are something I could help out in as well.
However, since this is such a new and beautiful platform, with so much promise, I would very much like to join in any Thinktank-like activities. Thinktanks are not rare, but I can imagine that one made up of women only does not exist. At least not on this scale and globality.
The world is changing and I think it's really exciting to try to find new ways in how humans relate to each other, especially when it comes to money, property and borders of countries. I think we can find better and more fair and sustainable ways, and I would love to offer my brain power to create them.
SHARE A VERY VALUABLE INSIGHT YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD: