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< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link How to Handle a Low Battery Your battery is running low?! How does it look and how to fix it! Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low… Your battery is running low… Your battery is running low……LISTEN PLEASE Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. HELLO?! ANYONE?! Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low…. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low………. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. IF YOU’LL NOT RESPOND YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. Your battery is running low……………………………………………………………………Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. Your battery is running low. YOUR BATTERY IS RUNNING LOW.. TRY MUNISA ELEPHANTI NEW MOON TO RELAX.. YOU NEED A BREAK!! Your battery is running low……………… - .. -.. - ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________YOUR BATTERY IS DEAD! RECHARDGE ASAP!!!_______________________ __________________________________..-..-_________________..-..-..-___________________________...-…..-…-…..-.-………_____________________....-….-…..-…..-___________________________________________________________________________________...-.- KEEP RECHARDGING YOUR DOING AMAZING! MUNISA ELEPHANTI BELIEVES IN YOU! …………….-…………………..-……………..-…………..-………..-……………………………………………………-…………………………………………….-…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Your battery is charging…… Your battery is charging…. Your Battery is charging………… ……………. Your battery is charging…… Your battery is charging……………...Your Battery is charging………… MUNISA ELEPHANTI is so proud of you! You’re back in the game. Remember life can give you several hints that you need a change! For instance, a moment to relax, a sound bowl healing, a meditation, a walk or surround yourself with people you love. If you don’t listen to the signals your battery will go out. Everybody’s battery will go out if you don’t listen to your inner voice. This battery is absolutely not judgmental, and it can happen to everyone. On MUNISA ELEPHANTI NEW MOON you can find easy and quick handles to continue with! If you have any questions about this article. Feel free to contact MUNISA ELEPHANTI with the contact form below. Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link MUNISA ELEPHANTI Gift Munisa Elephanti loves to give presents! Sharing is the best feeling in the world! Did you find a gift yet, or did Munisa Elephanti give it to you in person? It took Munisa Elephanti quite some time to figure out what would be the ideal present to give to people I meet. It needed to be safe to leave in nature as well to give to the people who don’t know Munisa Elephanti yet. Everybody needs a present from time to time. Even people you don’t know. Maybe even more, because unknown people can give you new perspectives in life. In the previous FULL MOON story, we talked about Saint Rosa de Lima Peru. How important she is for Munisa Elephanti’s hometown and all the traditions. Therefore, we knew it needed to have a bit of Peru. Munisa Elephanti is not just about story telling. It’s a way of life. How to balance yourself in body, mind, spirit and love. Living a life full of pain day in day out can be exhausting. To keep the mind clear meditation is a major key! It’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to say but not today! To help me get in that state of meditation (quick but guided) Palo Santo does that perfectly! Palo Santo cleans your body from negativities and cleans your room with positive love filled frequencies. Palo Santo from Peru is the gift. Munisa Elephanti is not from Peru. So how could we add some love from Sittard to you? When you loose control over your hands a lot of new perspectives occur in your mind. You realize how much stress you can let go by working with your hands. Writing, painting, crafting, making bracelets, crochet or embroidery. Munisa Elephanti loves it all. The paintings I make nowadays are body stamped paintings. We’ll tell you more about it soon. There’s one store called ‘Wollstreet’ in Sittard. Wollstreet is a big store where you can buy all types of yarn. The most amazing colors and materials all under one roof. I had a love and hate for this at the beginning. In the end love wins! I hated it because it confronted me with all the things I couldn’t do anymore. In time, the love of all the colors, possibilities of creating and crafting from scratch makes the pain of not being able less and less. I could sit there for hours looking at all the different kinds of yarn. Even looking at people using their hands gives a smile on my face. There’s no pain in enjoying people how they are enjoying themselves. Add the fact that the store is owned by al lovely lady Munisa Elephanti adds a piece of cotton yarn for you to make whatever you like. Last but not least, a gift from Munisa Elephanti wouldn’t be complete if We didn’t add the iconic Elephant butt. On a linen papier we give you a vision of a child, reality of an adult. Munisa Elephanti hopes you enjoy. Did you find it at a restaurant, meditation spot or store we would love to know! If you like to know how you can use palo santo, click on the related content button below. Dare to walk through the gate The MOON will be your light The SUN promises to rise again LOVE yourself LOVE all others You will find a bumpy road Filled with tickles and laughter Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Es Vedrá And Its Magnetic Attraction As promised in the previous FULL MOON story, I would come back to the name of my new assistance dog, "Vedrá". If you missed the previous article, click on the related article below. Let me begin with what Es Vedrá means to me. First, a few facts. It is a large rock located southwest of Ibiza, approximately 400 meters high, consisting mainly of limestone. It is the primary botanical area for the Balearic Islands, with high concentrations of minerals and metals, creating a significant magnetic field. Only the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole are said to be more magnetic. Next to Es Vedrá are Es Vedranell (also known as its sister) and Els Illiot de Pontent. The three rocks together are part of the natural reserve Cala d’Hort. Hundreds of people visit Es Vedrá daily to admire it. Could it be because of the magnetic field? The allure? Something rarely seen? The myths? I have met one of my best friends there, and he feels like family to me. Es Vedrá brought us together, or was it Atlantis? We enjoy the view, paint, laugh, make music, or simply sit in silence. Most visitors come only for a selfie, all from the same angle, the same bush, the same pose, you name it. The beautiful birds of prey are often entirely overlooked. Many visitors also leave behind trash, which we jokingly refer to as the 'new botanical garden,' picking it up on the way back for our coffee table. Is the beauty of Es Vedrá and its magnificent heart being exploited? What does Es Vedrá have to do with an assistance dog? When I met my trainer, she gave some tips on how to better function with your assistance dog. Not touching a assistance dog is, of course, number one (except for the user). You can slowly expand this indoors, but not too much. The name of an assistance dog is the most beautiful gift. The name means everything to the dog. It might trigger an action, like going outside, doing laundry, or having a meal. By not sharing the name, people cannot call her from a distance. This was not the case for my dear retired assistance dog, Louis. He was recognized so quickly that "hey Louis" would be shouted from 100 meters away, resulting in falls, etc. I know that if I'm in a room with you and I call her name, you'll know who she is. I hope that by explaining this, we can receive the respect so that we can continue to be a team for a long time. Vedrá and I know that assistance dogs have an attraction just like Es Vedrá. It is magnetic with love and light. Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link 12 Months of Summer The day starts as it goes and so does the weather. When I’m awake I need to lay down for at least an hour. There’s no control. I live by what is provided for me. MUNISA ELEPHANTI loves summer. It’s almost an addiction. The tempertures feels so much better on my body. I feel less pain and I am able to go outside more. Training outside in the water and seeing a blue sky is the best. That’s a millionaires life. People who only know me from the cold and wet weather are always shocked when they see me in good summer weather. It’s not that I don’t have bad days in summer, but its different if you take good care of yourself. So how do I manage that?! Over the years I’ve learned that it’s my body and my mind that make the dissision weather or not your able to join in in life. There’s no control. Let that go as fast as possible! I live by what is provided for me. Not in a way of people preparing food or anything for me, but what does the day give me. What can my body handle and how’s my mind feeling by that fact. Every morning when I wake up I forget that I have a disability. Yess people… every day I forget! But soon as I’m awake the body will let me know! Depending what I was hoping to do that day, my mind goes along. Regular appointments with people nearby you are a big difference to cancelling weddings, holidays, babyshowers, etc. However, it can blow up my mind and make me really sad. The day starts as it goes and so does the weather. When I’m awake I need to lay down for at least an hour. In summer time that’s my moment to lay in the sun and enjoy the sky, birds, butterfly or a tiny ants. I say my thanks for today. I’m grateful, no matter what. If you practice this long enough you’ll feel joy all over your body. I can’t stay to long in the sun if I want my skin to stay safe. It’s okay to go back inside or in the shade. With this time you helped your mind for at least an hour to be happy and calm. You’ll see the benefits when you need to cancel your events another time. If you’re going on a holiday this summer and you feel like you really need it this year, I invite to try to keep that happy feeling longer then last time. Keep summer in your heart and mind. It’s not only making pictures to show everybody where you have been. Make pictures of moments and places in your mind (mindpicture). So, when you’re feeling blue, or fed up with the bad weather, close you eyes and go back to your mindpicture. The big difference with a picture to show where you’ve been and a mindpicture is: a mindpicture has not only the visual of the place but (more importantly) the feeling, the sun on your skin, the wind in your hair, the food you ate, the people around you! So look around be thankfull be presend and make your mindpicture (click on the related content button below) to keep summer all year long! No closing picture this time. Let me describe a picture that only exists in my mind. There’s a slight breeze touching my skin and it blows my hair softly up and down. It’s warm outside so the breeze comforts me. The surface I’m walking on is rocky and it is easy to fall. My eyes concentrate on every step I take. My best friend holds my hand, so I won’t fall. I see beige, red and grey colors of stone. Green of threes and when I look up the sky is blue and there are falcons dancing in the sky. I hear people more and more as I walk closer to the end. Nobody saw the falcons but us. The sun is preparing to set so she shines her last colors of the day. The sky turns orange, yellow, purple and even a bit of pink. It disappears slowly behind a huge rock of love and makes her dive of the day into the sea. This is such a peaceful moment! I’ll will never forget this moment. This mind picture reminds me that I’m not alone and gives me 12 months of summer. The sun will set but she will also rise again tomorrow! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a happy summer filled with tickles and laughter! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Pink FULL MOON and we love Pink! Pink often symbolizes love, compassion, and femininity. This FULL MOON is named pink because of the wildflowers (phlox from North America) that blossoms in spring. But their various names are based on cultures and regions. The Pink moon represents renewal, growth, and the arrival of spring. At MUNISA ELEPHANTI we’re in desperate need of spring. The need for dry and sunny weather could help the body to feel much better. Let’s go south! As traveling isn’t always that easy to accomplish, I travel in my mind. This time to Mexico! My uncle came back from a trip to Mexico when I was around 9 years old. That had a huge impact on my life. Beside the funny foods and tequila, he was explaining to my dad, he told me for the first time about Frida Kahlo! I immediately fell in love. To hear about a woman with a disability who was wearing a same kind of casquet a I had just weeks before. She was a painter an artist and had her own thoughts of life and wasn’t afraid to share her mind. Actually, all her paintings are a view inside her mind. The way she captures the feeling of pain and being lost or trapped into a body that doesn’t matches your hopes, believes, and dreams is incredible. I hope I can one day visit her old house to give my absolute honor and respect I have for her. As she would say: “¡Viva la Vida!” If you can’t go to Mexico, you bring Mexico to you! Two years ago I was really lucky because the paintings of Frida Kahlo visited The Netherlands at the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen and an exposition at the Drenths Museum. At the latter I could finally see my all-time favorite painting ‘The broken Column”. The painting is symbolic of the physical and emotional pain she endured throughout her life. Seeing this painting was amazing! I had tears of joy and sadness at the same time. Frida made very explicit paintings with blood and death. I can understand it’s not for everybody. However, the broken column has no blood. The column represents her spine. The nails piercing her skin suggest her constant pain she experienced. The suffering expression on her face is one of strength and resilience. Even writing about this moment makes me so happy. There are multiple ways to experience other countries and we all love to do some shopping! Especially for my service dog Vedrá (click on the related content button below), buying for her always makes me happy. I found a dog brand from Mexico named Tulum. They joined the “Tzotzil” Indian community to mix modern design with ancient artisan techniques. The “Tzotzil” are an indigenous Maya people of the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Every sale provides a sustainable and local employment. They also support a rescued dog foundation with animal health care, buying food or whatever the rescued animals need. That’s why MUNISA ELEPHANTI loves a brand like this! But how did I get it here in The Netherlands?! Well, my local animal shop is the first one in The Netherlands where you can buy Tulum from Mexico! Doesn’t Vedrá look lovely in it?! So, to end my day in Mexico. I’m going to make myself a nice Mexican diner. I’ll put on a Mexican playlist and watch Frida Kahlo the movie. My mind was in Mexico even though I couldn’t go, I was there. MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a mind that travels from time to time for renewal, growth, and the arrival in you! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Throwback To My Birthday & My Marriage Proposal It is a sunny (22°) Sunday on March 8, 2015, as I turn 32, and Lola (my first service dog) turns 9. I decide to keep my birthday small, mostly because no one can make it. There's a presentation of the parade film, vacations are booked, all understandable but still disappointing. Nevertheless, I had seen this coming and planned my birthday in a way that I would have a super day. On Saturday evening, I went to dinner with Vanessa and Luc at the Greek restaurant Daphne on the market in Sittard. Fortunately, Leroy could join after work. We laughed and discussed that I would like to get married... This was because my dear godson had the idea that it was time and it might happen. Just to be clear, I know absolutely nothing. Sunday morning at half past ten, mom and dad pick us up to go to the market in Liège. We pick up Vanessa, Luc, and the kids and continue the journey. It had been so long since we, as a family, had done something like this together, and the weather only adds to the joyous faces. The audience hasn't changed much over the years, but the stalls have evolved with the times. We score a few cute kaftans and have a drink on a square. There, I unwrap the gift Vanessa made for me, a wooden "F" with various Frida Kahlo photos. I also receive a pair of beautiful Frida earrings, and I am overjoyed. My parents had bought me a beautiful pair of glasses, but they hadn't arrived yet. My mother found that unfortunate, so she bought a card with music. It was a cheerful card with an elephant in a hot air balloon (including balloon sound) that promised a day full of surprises... I was curious. Leroy starts acting a bit strangely, but I have no idea why. He suggests driving to Visé and having Belgian fries with mayo. Delicious, sitting in the sun on a curb. That was a long time ago! My birthday party comes to an end. Mom and dad take us to Maastricht, where we have an overnight stay at Hotel Derlon. Leroy had gifted this stay for my birthday, and I loved it! When we check-in at Hotel Derlon at 2:00 PM, the receptionist (intern) asks when we want the champagne breakfast in the room. Leroy answers, "That was a surprise, honey, but how about 9:30?" What a great idea! I thought, "I know the surprise!" After bringing our bags upstairs, we head straight to the lobby for a drink. We try to find a spot so that we can eventually find a place on the OLV square. But there's the hotel owner, Benoit Wesly, and he beckons us over. Hours pass, and many glasses of wine later, Benoit gets up to do "something." When he returns, he tells us that he found it so enjoyable, and to wish me a happy birthday, he had a bottle of champagne brought to the room. Fantastic! I'm thrilled, and Leroy is too, though with a forced smile. He tries to contact the receptionist now, but the message apparently doesn't get through. We decide to take a walk first and have a drink by the water at... the sun hasn't set yet, but with all our chatter, we've missed some of it. It doesn't dampen the spirits because, despite the pain I've been feeling today, we're fully enjoying ourselves. As the sun begins to set, we decide to walk back to the room, hoping for a bottle of champagne in the room, while Leroy hopes for something later. On the room, there it is, a beautiful cooler with champagne. Leroy asks if we want to wait until after dinner. But that seemed strange to me. You don't leave champagne to "warm up." He opens the bottle, asks me to sit down because he wants to give me something else. The first thing that comes to my mind is, "Darling, more? I've already been so spoiled." He opens the safe (again) and takes out a wrapped box. Like the average woman, I can tell from boxes what kind of jewelry might be inside. So, this box was in the category of 'earrings.' A realistic option since I had also asked for earrings. But to my surprise, this earring box is a box from Jeweler Van Sloun?!? So, as I say "Van Sloun?!?" and look up, Leroy is on one knee. He tells me how important I am to him and that he wants to grow old with me. I complete him. With tears in my eyes, I say yes, of course! As we hug and give each other a kiss, Leroy wants to toast! So, we toast to our engagement! I exclaim, "I have to call my mother. Yes, really." Let's be honest; in the end, I'm still that little girl who likes to share everything with her mom! I absolutely did not expect it! Despite having already filled in the surprises in a different way, Leroy managed to keep it well hidden. Leroy had wisely planned to ask me after dinner, considering my eating problems. After the proposal, we went to eat on Vrijthof. But unfortunately, after a slice of Margherita pizza, I had to make everything disappear through the sewer again. Despite these odd practices, we walked around like a couple of love-struck teenagers. I couldn't stop looking at my beautiful ring. How beautiful and romantic! He really made one of the most beautiful days of my life! The next morning, he woke me up with: "Good morning, fiancée!" I immediately started crying again! I thought, "Oh yes, it's true! He proposed to me yesterday!" Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link I Can Buy Myself Flowers My adventure with a new assistance dog begins at the start of the full moon. My third assistance dog. Let's call her "Vedra" (I will come back to this in a later FULL MOON story, click on the related content button below). Everything I need in the form of an assistance dog will now come to fruition. With gratitude, I entered this adventure. With gratitude, I let go of my dearest second service dog (Louis). Knowing that he has ended up in the most wonderful family in Sittard. They are important to both Leroy and me, and they can give him the role he deserves. Louis is the happiest 'pensionado' there is. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't miss him terribly and often feel sad. Truly loving someone also means knowing when to let go in love. This feels a thousand times better than with Lola, who could enjoy her retirement for such a short time. Slowly we enter a waning moon. A period that stands for relaxation, peace, acceptance, wisdom, sharing, and above all, "let it be." Exactly that is what Vedra and I are doing. Just getting to know each other. Who are you? What do you like? What do you dislike? Do you feel safe? No judgment, just being. My trainer comes weekly to help me. She knows Vedra better than I do and has more than 30 years of experience. This gives me support in every request for assistance. That brings peace. In the last quarter of the moon, it is important to face conflicts. Will you do everything the same, or have you learned from the previous period? Vedra and I are doing incredibly well. We are slowly climbing the mountain of love. She is eager to learn and work. I am the one who is damaged and the one who doubts. I walk outside with Vedra by my side. I walk as if she is about to pull a sled at any moment. However, she walks like an alpaca beside me. Louis, in the end, was like a sled dog for me! The ashen moon is perhaps one of my favorite phases of the moon. All intentions have been fulfilled. Let's say, "new rounds and therefore new opportunities"! Life always teaches, even in a cycle of 28 days (let alone a quarter)! As Vedra gains more and more confidence in herself, her trainer and I give her confidence back 100 times! It is time to look at what we need together to grow into a top team! Yes! Finally, a new moon! The moment to reflect and rest. Where do Vedra and I want to be at the next new moon? We love a "normal" retrieve. But grabbing slippers on command is 'next level' and super cool! By the way, did you know that she can also close a door? We were practicing, and it was going well. The next day, the trainer came to continue with opening the door... When the postman rang the doorbell, Vedra and I were in the middle of training. Enthusiastically, she showed that she could close it... But not open it... ;((( Nooooo!!! There I was in my hallway in my kaftan. Thank god my phone was in my hands so I could call someone. Luckily, my sister was able to open the door (shout out to Wommie!!). It was a drama then, now I find it hilarious! It's already a young crescent moon again. Time really goes much faster looking back than looking forward! So nice to reflect each time among all the positive and negative things we experience in our lives. The experience of time always seems faster in hindsight than in the moment! That's why it's now extra important to dream wonderfully! Explore what the possibilities are. Especially within the always ready-made "no" (which is obvious when you have a disability). Now think big and make it concrete where possible! The first quarter of the moon is perhaps one of the toughest... After dreaming nicely, doubt immediately sets in again. Can I do it? Am I asking too much? Am I worth it?! "Yes" to everything! Especially now! Trust yourself and trust each other. You are not just doing something. You are building! "They didn't build Rome in one day, they say!?" At this moment too, my environment and the trainer are essential! So, we booked a flight to Ibiza to fly for the first time with Vedra. While the waxing moon still lets you celebrate a bit in doubt, it's important to stay on course! Your endurance is being tested now! Yes, we can! We make our first journey, our first flight. We enjoy everything together for the first time! First time sun, sea, beach, cava, tapas, and more! The only thought we manifest during this trip is: gratitude. I am grateful for Vedra in my life. Grateful for my husband, family, friends, the trainer, and you. I see it again! I can buy myself flowers thanks to Vedrá! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Floral Dinner Feels Like Gucci We love dinner parties! Gathering with friends and family around a long decorated table with delicious dishes is simply delightful. It's almost Christmas, and we've been celebrating Boxing Day for 17 years now. It's wonderful to be together and reflect on the year, amazing every year! We have a different theme each year; we usually look at a few images to find a connection with that year and come up with a theme. This year, flowers! In Full Moon September, I wrote about Vedra and the freedom a service dog brings, do you remember the goat cheese lollipops from the New Moon?! (click on the related content button below). My husband has become even more enthusiastic about the Gucci brand through his work, and they happen to have the theme "Floral" this year. Clearly, this year's theme is flowers. Once the theme is decided, we look at the color palette. Then, the menu. Always considering our guests. Vegetarian, allergies, or alcohol-free, it's all there. Making everyone feel at home is top priority. We send out invitations and then create the menu and name cards. The table arrangement isn't meant to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, you always sit with your partner, no worries. It's important that conversations can flow well, but not everyone has a partner, and they should also feel comfortable mingling at the table. It's so lovely to push the dining table apart, grab extra chairs, set out the tablecloth, plates, knives, glasses, you name it. Slowly, the party becomes more visible. It becomes more and more flowery, both on the table and in the dishes. The delightful scents of herbs and flowers mix together. Thanking everyone for everything is great fun, but the result of the beautiful bouquet and the delightful dried flowers is epic! We've enjoyed it. What do you think of the result?! You can always send us Love. Hopefully, we've inspired you to organize a themed dinner, not because you have to, but because you can! MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you Happy Holidays! Related content Previous Next

This is the story of MUNISA ELEPHANTI and its founder, Denise Vanderbroeck, nicknamed Dennis, born in the 80s in the south of the Netherlands, in a small town called Sittard. LOVE ME A vision of a child, a reality of an adult Welcome through the gate! This is the story of MUNISA ELEPHANTI and its founder, Denise Vanderbroeck, nicknamed Dennis, born in the 80s in the south of the Netherlands, in a small town called Sittard. Life didn’t start as expected, as I decided to start life with my butt instead of my head. Which wasn’t the best birth my mother could have had, to say the least. Thankfully, she gave birth to my sister before this terrible experience… My parents are still together after 40 plus years of marriage. My dad was born and raised in Sittard, and my mom was born in Amsterdam. 80's For the first year and a half, my right arm didn’t function due to Erb’s paralysis. I was paralyzed and had to work my way back to hope or pray for movement in any kind of way. That’s why I had my swimming diplomas before I was four, and I hung on rings for 30 minutes each day, rowing, physiotherapy, and it went on and on. Until I was 7 years old and went to a spine doctor who was supposed to check my scoliosis. He saw that my right shoulder had been dislocated due to childbirth… So, all the exercises, everything I did in hopes of getting better, was lost. I ruined my own shoulder. It took a team of specialists a year to come up with a plan to fix this. This period of shoulder surgeries and insecurities at such a young age brought me to MUNISA ELEPHANTI; at this point, it’s just an elephant butt that I need to draw to get my hands to keep functioning. Little did I know this was going to be my biggest joy! 90's After all the surgeries, life started to improve when I discovered my passion for education and started retail and business in my hometown. Born into a family of entrepreneurs, it seemed so logical. But at the age of 19, my body gave its first stop sign—standing all day and using my hands was not going to be my profession. Having my own store became the first fairy tale to pop... 00's When your body is giving up on you, your mind is still there to be challenged. So that was my new strategy. I was going to finish a bachelor's degree in business economics and marketing at Hogeschool Rotterdam (formerly known as HES). This was one of the best decisions I ever made—moving to Rotterdam and exploring myself. I met a dean who was going to help me change a lot of things in my life. She became one of my best friends. I knew when I started my education I needed surgery after my first year. So, it was very important for me to succeed in my first year because surgery and rehabilitation are impossible to plan. Missing too much would mean no bachelor's degree for me. It felt unfair that having a disability would decide if I could finish. So, while rehabilitating, my dean and I came up with a plan to help students with disabilities. To let them know what they are entitled to. How they can improve. Where they need help. Creating workshops, giving readings, breaking down unnecessary walls for all students. Before we knew it, the plan became bigger and bigger. More people supported us, and even the board of Hogeschool Rotterdam was enthusiastic! We called it Power Platform to empower the students. Nowadays, twenty years later, the Power Platform still exists and is renamed Student Welfare (Student en Welzijn). Moving on my own wasn’t that easy. It took some time to find new doctors and physiotherapists. Although I still lived in the same country, it didn’t feel like it. Change is always difficult and knowing you’re not in control. The good thing about change is that it can give a new perspective. This new doctor definitely did! He discovered I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome , a connective tissue disorder that causes joint (sub)-luxations, neck instabilities, blood pressure, vascular risks, and many more annoying things. 10's Because of all the uncertainties in my life, I had a life coach teaching me breathing and meditation practices that helped me calm my mind when I felt overwhelmed because of pain, nausea, and spasms. This gave me my direction in life. Working from love, for yourself and all others. I also did several retreats to be as free in my body as I can be. In 2006, Dutch television showed the world's first beauty pageant (Mis(s) Verkiezing) for women with a disability. This was an opportunity I had to take. The winner would have a team for a year to make real changes, and you would have a meeting with the prime minister. I auditioned and was one of the 12 women on the live show. I learned so much from this experience. Not only how to present yourself but also about people's perceptions of having a disability. Why should you show yourself like that... Well, we show it because we are here! I came fourth, which was more than I could imagine. I was the only one with a so-called hidden disability. I started using walking aids later that year. I met amazing people with whom I’m still connected. There’s one foundation I would like to explain about. I met the director at an event from the beauty pageant. He introduced me to the founder of the foundation called Stichting Intermobiel . A foundation for people with disabilities who are mostly housebound, like the founder herself. In the beginning, I helped as a volunteer to raise money or bring awareness. Nowadays, I’m an ambassador and speak about sex with a disability, having children with a disability, write columns (Dutch only, sorry), and participate in a monthly Zoom where we speak about the good, the bad, and the ugly in our lives in a completely discreet zone and many more activities. Present Because of all these and many more amazing highs and lows in my life, I decided it was time to combine all the things I learned and love to share with you. With my hands almost non-functional, the Elephant butt is nowadays the only thing that I can draw. If I knew this as a child, I would have gone wild. But when life gives you an elephant butt, I turn it into MUNISA ELEPHANTI ! MUNISA ELEPHANTI is from me for you! Loving yourself, feeding yourself, inspiring, desiring everything for you. As I promised, the moon will be your light; you’ll find new moon lifestyle activities, for instance, meditation, recipes, or music. On the full moon, you’ll find more stories about me. My view on life or things I have experienced. For the sun will always rise, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer. Here you’ll find my sunrise, how I make my art, and the sunset with finished artwork. It will be a bumpy road. No doubt about that, but in the end, it will be filled with tickles and laughter! MUNISA ELEPHANTI thanks you for reading this! Meet the TEAM

Get inspired by the rising process and set art of MUNISA ELEPHANTI. SUN ART The SUN promises to rise again Coming soon...