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< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Winter is coming, but in my heart, it's summer! My favorite destination is undoubtedly Ibiza. So cliché, but the relaxation I experience there is so intense. I want to particularly talk about the last week of a vacation. My husband left a week earlier than me due to work. I had long wanted to turn my stay into a mindfulness/retreat/silence week, and this was my chance... It resulted in some very special experiences. For several years, I've been focused on conscious living, something that makes my limitations bearable in difficult times. I've taken mindfulness courses, been on a retreat, attended yoga classes, and much more. (Click on the related content button below, if you like to get more inspiration) Hence, I didn't really choose a name for this week, so I'd like to mention the mix for you. I combined everything I've learned throughout my life to get closer to myself during the last week in Ibiza. Lots of meditation, 'walking' (getting dropped off at a place but mentally walking, weird huh, but yes, it really works!), eating healthy, living with the sun not the clock, no phone, no social media, no conversations with people from home. In short, if you feel lonely, don't call home but find it there. In some cases, stepping out of your comfort zone. A storm is approaching, and my body starts sounding the alarm like a weatherwoman. It's something I've had my whole life. As soon as there's a storm, thunder, or something similar approaching, my right shoulder starts to tense up, and before you know it, my whole body. Normally, this is a moment when I'd lie in bed and entertain myself with TV and social media. But yes, I had agreed not to do that. So, I didn't. But I noticed that, for example, Facebook gives me a feeling of being 'in the know'. So, if I don't look, am I not in the know? And all those people I can't congratulate!! That's really not fun! Of course, celebrating every day that you're alive is best, but your birthday is special. What many people don't know is that it takes a lot of hand function to make this possible. Even the standard 'congratulations' under my phone's copy button I rarely did because even that costs too much energy. So, I quickly realized how ridiculous this actually was. So much energy to congratulate on Facebook! There's no better place than Ibiza to accept this. There are just things in life that many people often do constantly but due to my limitations are simply not possible. Even though nowadays you can dictate a lot more, one must consider that you still need a hand function level for that. For example, I can't always dictate on WhatsApp because my voice is getting harder to understand...! But okay, back to accepting. I'm so in the Ibiza flow that not using social media is pretty easy. I'm sitting in the most beautiful places with my assistance dog by my side (so safe). I smell the sea, feel the wind through my hair, and everyone radiates. It'll be much harder at home where all I know is 'Winter is coming'..! The difference is we're not there now, so stay in the now. I have to laugh at myself as I write this, but seriously... Stay in the now!! I go to my favorite spot in Ibiza for the last time to imprint the moment in my mind so that I can return to this place from anywhere in the world. I meditate for a long time. I try to store everything I see in my mind. The birds flying past me as if I were one of them. The wind blowing over my face. In complete tranquility, we see a boat approaching. Very far away. As it gets closer, I burst out laughing! It's obviously a boat, not a little boat (I'm not very good at estimating). They sail peacefully along the coast out of my sight. More and more people come to stand beside me to see what I'm looking at. It doesn't annoy me; it even brings peace. It's too beautiful not to share. Some people don't see it; others sit down next to me and quietly watch. The sun slowly sets; it's time to go. Back home. 'Winter is coming' but in my heart, it's summer! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Celebrating Carnival in a wheelchair, that's doable! Carnival, or as I prefer to call it, 'Vastelaovend', is originally a Roman Catholic festival that takes place in the three days preceding the forty days before Eastern. Beyond the fact that I cannot deny that there is a lot of drinking and eating during this period, Vastelaovend means much more to me than that. Vastelaovend is the moment to dress up as your favorite idol, animal, or something you find hilarious. But you can also dress up to portray something. Political jokes, clichés, puns, or stereotypes are often used for that. In Sittard (Zitterd), we call it 'laammaekerie', which translates to ‘roasting’. I find it one of the most enjoyable things there is. Just not taking everything seriously and letting go, and sometimes maybe being a bit serious without anyone realizing it. Apart from that, I love the music! Click on the related content button below, to dive in! Sittard celebrates Vastelaovend for a full six days! On Thursday evening, the women attend the 'auw wieverbal', dressed unrecognizably to play pranks on the men. Think of a group of women dressed as Rembrandt who happen to have some leftover makeup. Friday is for the schoolchildren and students. Saturday is the 'kanon van het balkon' (cannon from the balcony), where at 11:11 PM, the key handover takes place between the mayor and the prince of that year. On Sunday (the original first day of carnival), we have a big parade. Various groups and floats parade through the city center. Monday is the 'Tröötekonkoer' (Trumpet Contest). Various bands and orchestras play in the cafes and on the market. On Tuesday afternoon, it's the 'appelesiene sjmiete' (orange throwing), where oranges are actually thrown to children if they shout 'APPELESIENE' loud enough. In the evening, the mask is buried, and the real die-hards even shed a tear with the prince. In short, how do I participate in such a schedule? It seems impossible, but believe me, with making choices, more is possible than you think. In recent years, I have celebrated Vastelaovend mostly in a wheelchair. Because my illness is quite variable, it can be difficult for others to assess exactly where we stand (or sit). The crutches are for indoors, the walker for short walks and the possibility to sit, and the wheelchair (now electric) is safest for me and my surroundings. I noticed that sometimes, the environment finds it more challenging than you do, or let me put it this way: you have gone through this process much earlier than your environment. By talking openly and accepting that it can sometimes be a challenge for everyone, you prevent people from feeling unhappy or you are feeling unhappy. Do you celebrate Vastelaovend outdoors or indoors? Is there a public toilet or do you have to go to a café? How crowded is it there, and what route is best for me to take? These are all things to consider. Wherever possible, try to take the surroundings into account. If you have never celebrated Vastelaovend or you are new to a city, don't let that scare you off. Even I, who has been walking or sitting around Sittard for many years, have heard both the most beautiful and ugliest words thrown at me. Actually, this experience is no different from attending a festival or any event where many people come together. Some find it brilliant that you dare to go out, and others find it scandalous that you take up so much space in such a crowd. I noticed that younger people were much more open to me, the wheelchair, and my group of friends than the older revelers. There, it was mainly: 'Wouldn't you be better off staying home?' In this way, I would also like to sit in a wheelchair... There are more contradictions. Where there was no public wheelchair-accessible toilet, I always get help from my family and friends. I don't think you can plan everything in that regard. Everyone has fun, maybe drinks a bit too much sometimes, joins in the polonaise a bit too enthusiastically, and experiences 'oops, this is not a passage', but you, from whatever position you are in, go along just as eagerly. I got really angry once because someone was being so mean to both me and my surroundings because I was taking up too much space. But otherwise, I really didn't, because it doesn't make any sense. It only makes it harder for yourself. In all honesty, the electric wheelchair is not the most comfortable tool for me yet. I can't do it alone. Not even with just my assistance dog; it's simply inaccessible. I hope that this really changes and is taken into account with new renovations. An accessible restroom would already be wonderful. But if you focus on what you're doing, namely, having fun, then you won't have time for that. MUNISA ELEPHANTI wishes you a joyful Vastelaovend! Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Saint Rosa Pray for Us In Sittard we honour Saint Rosa de Lima from Peru with a beautiful chapel on top of the hill and a procession for 355 years. The Procession is the last Sunday of august and one of the last processions of the Netherlands. Saint Rosa from Lima was born on 20 April 1586 as Isabella de Flores de Olivia. She was a daughter of a Spanish couple. She lived a sober life with prayer and fasting. She showed an extraordinary calmness and self-control. In 1606 she became a member of the third Order of Saint Dominicus. Her characteristic were penance and spiritual life. Besides this she also was known for her embroidery work and her knowledge of flower growing. Some people called her a mystic. In the second half of the 17th century, Sittard and its surroundings were plagued by a dysentery epidemic, which resulted in many deaths. The Dominican fathers who had settled in Sittard in 1626 ran a flourishing educational institution. They were also active in Peru in South America. Therefore, they were familiar with this first non-European blessed and later Saint Rosa. They advised the people of Sittard to call on Rosa as an advocate against the deadly treat of this epidemic. The city council accepted this advice and promised – if the epidemic would subside – to declare Rosa the city patroness saint. They also promised to build a chapel in honour of St. Rosa on the highest point of Sittard – on the Kollenberg – and to hold an annual procession. The dysentery epidemic passed the city by and the people of Sittard fulfilled the promise made! 355 years later and the people of Sittard honour her every year. Munisa Elephanti loves the tradition. It’s the connection to a higher goal in life. It’s a heavy walk-up hill. Especially, because you walk a procession pass. That’s slow and step by step. On top of the hill the chapel always shines. Munisa Elephanti loves to meditate here or just enjoy the view. The procession starts at ‘de Markt’ where harmonies, scouting, sisters, acolytes, relics, the bishop and the faithful pray their way up. Once you arrive at the beautiful chapel service will take place. It’s that time where you can reflect on life. Since we all know what a pandemic is. It’s even more important to live your life with gratitude and grace. Once the procession walks back to ‘Markt’ it ends with a service in the St. Michael’s church. After the service the relics will be returned to their safe places and we enjoy a retro fair, drinks and food. St. Rosa is an inspiration to Munisa Elephanti. She dedicated her life to inform people how to take care of themselves. How to be hygienic in this time of the epidemic. Unfortunately, she died at the age of only 31. After a fateful 15 years of long and painful illness full of desolation, insults and reproaches. We can never know when it is our time to leave the planet. That’s for sure. However, we can make a decision what we do with the time we have here on earth. Munisa Elephanti just like Rosa loves flowers and embroidery and some call me mystic too. A saint we’re definitely not! Hihihi! Munisa Elephanti is sure about that. So, mark in your agenda every last Sunday of August you need to be in Sittard. To enjoy and experience a procession that’s 355 years old. Nowadays you would call it a retreat or mindful walk. The procession to honour St. Rosa is much deeper that you can ever experience. Even Ibiza can’t top this 😉. Click on the link below to learn more about St. Rosa from the St. Rosa Committee. Related content Previous Next

< Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Celebrate PRIDE, Be PRIDE I grew up taking pride for granted because I thought it was “normal” and generally accepted. Pride can have multiple meanings depending on the context. MUNISA ELEPHANTI relates pride to a positive sense of self-worth, achievement, or belonging, and pride as in group identity of the LHBTIQ+ community. Pride in the LHBTIQ+ community has historical roots in activism and resistance against societal discrimination and oppression. The term “Pride” itself originated from the stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City, a pivotal event in the LHBTIQ+ rights movement. In 2001 The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, reflecting its progressive stance on LHBTIQ+ rights. I was 17 years old with my naïve perception of the world. If The Netherlands is the first of the world it must be safe forever. Unfortunate to see that it seems we’re going backwards. We still celebrate pride and is still very much needed. Nowadays the most known pride event in the Netherlands is the “Canal Parade” in Amsterdam (July 27th till August 4th, 2024). It’s really crowded with a lot of people but has an amazing vibe. If your unable to visit you can even watch it live on television! Love it!! MUNISA ELEPHANTI isn’t always capable to actually be at a location or venue. Having the ability to watch the Canal Parade means you’re a part of it and especially if more people from the LHBTIQ+ community feel unsafe they can start low key from their home. Pride is celebrated in June in most countries such as U.S.A, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom. Last year Munisa Elephanti was at SOHO, London. Don’t you love how the street is decorated. All the colors make you happy even if it’s a rainy day! As a young girl my parents allowed me to be me in every way I wanted to be. My dad even gave me my nickname Dennis (as mentioned on the about me link) because of my (sometimes) masculine look. Click on the related content button below, if you like to know more about ME. No surprise with such parents that I took pride for granted. With my parents being so supportive that doesn’t mean everyone had the same thoughts about it. I’ve been judged and bullied for my nickname a lot. People even tried to push me in being a lesbian for you must make a discission. Making a choice was a trigger for me throughout my life in various ways. Picking the right shoe color could take hours back then. In therapy I learned that I’m aloud to love in any kind of way. I don’t have to make a choice to help someone understand! Making a choice only has the right value if it benefits yourself! So, I fell in love with women and men in my live. I don’t know if bisexual is the right word anymore. Now knowing more about the differences and possibilities I just fall in love with people because of their inner light that shines through my inner light and when it meets it goes “KaBoem”! Or there’s nothing happening at all. My light doesn’t judge on gender in any way! This year MUNISA ELEPHANTI will celebrate pride on Ibiza. Ibiza pride (10th already!) will be filled with color, tolerance, and diversity. It’s a 9-day event from June 7th to June 15th, 2024. There so many activities it’s hard to choose. Off course IF you can visit, then you can go for everything from, parades, galas, young and proud activities, speakers, musical, and many more! Let MUNISA ELEPHANTI know if you go and were. Maybe we can meet up. Just send LOVE via the contact form below for questions or anything else. If you can’t make to Ibiza pride this year no worries. There are amazing parties and venues throughout the season. One of my favorite parties is La Troya in Club Chinois every Monday (opening June 3th). La Troya is one of the most provocative LHBTIQ+ parties. Or maybe you’ll like a few cocktails and meet new people. Go to Mona Lisa in Ibiza town. Lovely staff and funny decorations. I love the Barbie vitrine. If you know you know! MUNISA ELEPHANTI has to wait 15 days for Ibiza Pride X! Hope to see you there! Related content Previous Next

< 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

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 new places, art and body & soul activities. Read about my view on life and my experiences. MOON MEMOIRS The MOON will be your light NEW LIFESTYLE Get inspired by new places, art and body & soul activities. FULL STORIES My view on life and my experiences.