Tell Us About Yourself?
My name is Ellie; I have two daughters and am the grandmother of five grandchildren. I am an author; I have written travel guides and also wrote magazine articles. My first published work was in 2001, ‘52 zondagen wandelen & lunchen’ (52 Sunday walks & places to lunch) sold 100,000 copies, can you imagine? It had spin-offs and new editions for the next ten years. Last year a rewrite of my guide got published, and I have just finished writing my latest book, which will be available in the spring of 2022. The incredible thing is that eight years ago, I won 2nd prize in a beauty contest for women over 50 in a national newspaper. This was the fantastic start of my modeling career as a 60+ grey-haired model. I love working with all the people in the creative industry.
What is your superpower?
I love to travel for my work and stay in hotels on my own. I have covered many kilometers visiting beautiful villages and cities in The Netherlands and Belgium for research. Many years ago, I had panic attacks driving on highways and through tunnels. These panic attacks started after the birth of my second daughter, but finally, I have overcome this. I am super happy that I got my confidence back.
If you could tweet something to your younger self, what would you say?
Don’t worry, in the end, dreams will come true!
What’s the one thing you most hope for personally in the coming year?
I hope I stay as happy and healthy as I feel now and the same for my children, grandchildren, and friends.
Can you tell us about aging? What is the best, and what is the worst about getting older?
The best thing about getting older is that I am more confident than I used to be in my twenties. For example, I do not mind walking in front of a full terrace or going on my own to a party anymore like I dreaded when I was younger. The worst of getting older is the loss of family and friends.
Last great book you read?
I am rereading “Salt on my skin” written by Benoîte Groult. I also am a fan of the French author Francoise Sagan. When my 16-year-old granddaughter had to read one of her books for school, she could borrow “Bonjour Tristesse” as well as the movie on DVD I own.
What do you do to keep healthy, both physically and emotionally?
Healthy: In the 1980’s I started following the Fit for Life Diet. I still love this concept of proper food combinations. I drink lots of water, I never smoked, and I hardly use alcohol. I sleep 8 hours a day. Physically: I live very close to the beach and love walking and cycling to the sea; my daily goal is to do at least 10.000 steps a day.
Emotionally: I see my children, grandchildren, and friends as much as possible. Covid-19 brought a lot of stress and anxiety, but now I feel relieved that all my beloved ones have had their vaccination.
What makes you happy?
The love of my daughters and my grandchildren. I am very proud of all of them, and we try to see each other as much as possible. Even my 19-year-old grandson loves having lunch with me.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
The hardest thing was the funeral of my beloved parents. My father died at the age of 76, and my mother at the age of 90. I had a very happy childhood with birthdays and Christmas parties with family and friends. We saw each other regularly, also later on in life during my marriage. I still miss them terribly.
What is your age, and how old do you feel?
I am 77 years old, but I feel no more aged than 50. Of course, when I look in the mirror, I see wrinkles and grey hair, but I do not mind at all. I have had several severe operations, and I am very grateful that I survived and feel as healthy as I do today.
