Riding the waves of change: From a summer vacation to a life that feels as good as it looks
Looking back, my years at Maastricht University's School of Business and Economics were foundational, not just academically, but personally. It’s where I first stepped into a global, curious, and ambitious environment that shaped how I see the world and my place in it. It planted the seeds of exploration, critical thinking, and questioning what success really means. Little did I know then how those early experiences would continue to ripple out into the life I live today.
In early 2016, in the midst of my first job after completing my university degree, I was planning my first real holiday and quickly began to wonder how I actually wanted to spend my time. And out of nowhere, the idea of surfing popped into my mind. I had never touched a surfboard and I didn't grow up near the ocean, but something inside me said: Why not?
That spontaneous "yes" led me to a surf camp in Portugal and initiated a period of change and transition in my life. Standing wobbly and laughing on that surfboard in the white water, I experienced a feeling I hadn’t had in years: a pure, almost childlike joy. It wasn't the satisfaction of ticking things off a to-do list, but a deep, soul-level joy and contentment. It made me realise how disconnected I had become from myself in everyday life. On paper, everything looked good, but inside, something was still missing.
Initially, I tried to solve the problem rationally by taking on more responsibilities, new roles and fresh challenges. But nothing really changed. Eventually, I took a leap of faith: I left my job and set off on a solo trip around the world to reconnect with what truly matters.
That journey led me to further redefine what success means to me personally. Today, I have built my life around five key pillars: self-care and health; social relationships; meaningful work; financial freedom and stability; and place and environment. I have found myself in unexpected corners of the world, from quiet mornings on the beach in Sierra Leone after a night of camping, to world-class surf breaks and an online further education programme in systemic coaching in Portugal. Most recently, I took a spontaneous holiday to southwest Cornwall right after a work trip to London.
Surfing evolved from a holiday activity to a metaphor. It's a reminder that we don't always need a full plan. Sometimes, we just need to follow that quiet nudge, trust the wave and see where it takes us.
That is how I came to study at Maastricht University in 2009 and that same energy informs my coaching work, I have been leaping into most recently. Today, I help others to reconnect with themselves, create space for joy and design lives that feel truly alive and meaningful, not just efficient.
And it all started with a hunch… and a surfboard.
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