"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." (Henry David Thoreau)
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." (Henry David Thoreau)
That's how I feel, every time I've been in the forest. Ever since I was a child, my parents would take me to the forest to collect mushrooms, to learn about the different trees and herbs, or to observe animals.
When I moved to Brussels at the age of 26, the city park had to replace the forest for a while until we as a family moved to Brussels' "Green Belt" with beautiful expansive forests in 2016, which significantly improved our quality of life.
I knew very early on that I would never be a city child. But it was only gradually that I realized how much I needed the forest as a refuge, a place of peace, and as a balance to my very intense professional life.
After more than 17 years with enriching positions in the European Parliament, in a parliamentary network committed to protecting and strengthening women's and girls' health and rights, and at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), changes became necessary. The combination of full-time professional challenges, two small children and, ultimately, the Corona pandemic had depleted my energy reserves. A longer career break provided me with the necessary distance from the hamster wheel and the time to re-orient myself. I felt the need to work more flexibly and to do something of my own.
Being outside, taking walks in the Fôret de Soignes in tranquility were crucial elements for my re-orientation. Here, I was able to mull things over, to uncover my core. New ideas emerged, I was able to see things from a different perspective and to make necessary decisions. Including the one to train as a certified forest bathing guide.
What I took away from this time of re-orientation is the importance of taking regular breaks and allowing yourself to do so. This also means recognizing your own needs and listening to them. I realized how much time I spent in autopilot and functioning mode over the last years and how negatively this affected my health and personal well-being.
Drawing from this experience, it is important to me to offer my participants a break from the busy everyday life with my courses and to invite them to interact with this natural environment with all their senses, mindfully and without haste. Immersing ourselves in nature fosters our health and well-being, can help to (re)connect to oneself, to regenerate and to gain new energy.
Try it out! I would be happy to welcome you in one of my courses.
That's how I feel, every time I've been in the forest. Ever since I was a child, my parents would take me to the forest to collect mushrooms, to learn about the different trees and herbs, or to observe animals.
When I moved to Brussels at the age of 26, the city park had to replace the forest for a while until we as a family moved to Brussels' "Green Belt" with beautiful expansive forests in 2016, which significantly improved our quality of life.
I knew very early on that I would never be a city child. But it was only gradually that I realized how much I needed the forest as a refuge, a place of peace, and as a balance to my very intense professional life.
After more than 17 years with enriching positions in the European Parliament, in a parliamentary network committed to protecting and strengthening women's and girls' health and rights, and at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), changes became necessary. The combination of full-time professional challenges, two small children and, ultimately, the Corona pandemic had depleted my energy reserves. A longer career break provided me with the necessary distance from the hamster wheel and the time to re-orient myself. I felt the need to work more flexibly and to do something of my own.
Being outside, taking walks in the Fôret de Soignes in tranquility were crucial elements for my re-orientation. Here, I was able to mull things over, to uncover my core. New ideas emerged, I was able to see things from a different perspective and to make necessary decisions. Including the one to train as a certified forest bathing guide at the end of 2023. In October 2024, this was complemented by the certification as a forest bathing guide for children and teenagers. Since May 2025, I am also a certified Resilience-in-Nature Trainer®.
What I took away from this time of re-orientation is the importance of taking regular breaks and allowing yourself to do so. This also means recognizing your own needs and listening to them. I realized how much time I spent in autopilot and functioning mode over the last years and how negatively this affected my health and personal well-being.
Drawing from this experience, it is important to me to offer my participants a break from the busy everyday life with my courses and to invite them to interact with this natural environment with all their senses, mindfully and without haste. Immersing ourselves in nature fosters our health and well-being, can help to (re)connect to oneself, to regenerate and to gain new energy.
Try it out! I would be happy to welcome you in one of my courses.
