Notes on self love, art & becoming

This is where I put things into words, about healing, self-love, and what it means to live with honesty. I don’t have all the answers. But I share the questions, the shifts, and the small truths that carry me. Maybe some of them will resonate with your path, too.

notes

Stacked pieces of white marble on a wooden shelf, suggesting hidden layers beneath a seemingly solid surface, echoing the blog’s metaphor of emotional layers.

the truth beneath the party smile

April 04, 2023

Ever felt one thing, then uncovered something entirely different underneath? This is what happened when I started peeling emotional layers.

A close-up photo of Maartje with hands partially covering her face, expressing a moment of emotional intensity. This image accompanies a personal story about chronic pain and emotional healing.

how emotional healing changed my relationship with chronic pain

March 15, 2023

The pain hit me out of nowhere. But I’ve learned by now, it’s rarely just physical. It led me somewhere deeper.

Don’t try to be nice, be real

March 15, 2023

“Don’t try to be nice, be real.” It was like hearing my whole life condensed into one sentence, from making myself small to stepping into my own voice.

Portrait of Maartje, calm and thoughtful under a soft winter sky. A quiet visual companion to her reflections on healing, creativity, and the stories we carry.

why I share my personal stories

December 10, 2022

This is why I share my stories, they are personal and they matter, because emotional healing is at the heart of all our lives.