What would you like us to know about you?
My name is Mieke. I live in the city of Nijmegen with my soulmate and our two daughters aged 19 and 15. Having been brought up in a small village, I always knew that I would prefer the anonymity of city life. I wanted to broaden my horizons and have the opportunity to meet new people with differing points of view and experiences from those I had grown up with.
I am firmly committed to equal rights and a fair go for everyone, so I get annoyed at injustice. I am a free spirit and I’m raising my daughters to believe that they too can do whatever they set their minds to. In my view, life is not about how much you earn or the size of your house. It’s not about how many holidays abroad you can afford or the size and type of car you drive. True happiness lies within yourself, and only there.
Tell us about your career:
My father, and my grandfather before him, were both gentlemen tailors. They had a workshop at the family home and sold their wares from there to their clientele. Growing up, I used to go to the ‘World Fashion Centre’ in Amsterdam with my parents and also to what is nowadays referred to as the ‘Fashion Factory’ or in Dutch, ‘ModeFabriek.’ Everyone expected that I would follow in the family’s footsteps and have a career in fashion. I, on the other hand, had other plans.
I have always enjoyed being an unpredictable, independent thinker, so instead, I chose to spread my wings, go to the big city and study ‘Theatre Science’ at the University of Amsterdam. However, after a stint of working part-time at the clothing store ‘Mac&Maggie,’ I discovered that a passion for fashion really did run in my veins after all. I switched courses and began studying fashion at business school, acquiring jobs as a brand representative for various companies. It was an amazing period; lots of status, freedom, and adventure, but I felt unfulfilled on a personal level. I wanted to be engaged in something more meaningful, but what?
Last year it came to me. I’d had a restless sleep, tossing and turning for most of the night, unable to sleep really well, when I realized what it was that I truly wanted to invest in. I’d had a blog as a sideline for several years, and suddenly I understood that my true destiny lay in writing! So now I have a new career at www.miekedekok.wordpress.com, trying to earn some money. Best of all – it gives me so much pleasure.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Well, this is probably a bit predictable, but I would have to say, being a mother to my two beautiful daughters. Before having children, I honestly never gave much actual thought to the prospect of becoming a mother. But when it did happen…I loved it – and them, so much!
I’ve tried to raise my girls to be good, kind, and open-minded individuals. I certainly didn’t try to be ‘the perfect mom’, that’s absolutely not my style. For much the same reason, you wouldn’t have found me helping out at school or the sports club either. I do believe though that my slightly ‘hands off’ approach have proven very successful. My daughters have both grown up to be loving, kind, and self-aware young women. I am super proud of who they have become.
Another more recent achievement that I feel privileged to have been part of took place just last year. It all came about as the result of an idea that my partner came up with. Together with his colleagues from the festival scene, the involvement of many good friends, and of course my two girls, I helped him to establish a ‘pop-up’ campsite called ‘www.campingdewereld.nl.’ We had teepees, yurts, campervans, etc. for our guests and managed to create a proper festival atmosphere by including ‘artists in residence,’ a theatre, live music, and a silent disco. Everybody had a perfect time, we bonded as a community, made new friends, and the goodwill and sense of camaraderie that people developed were remarkable. My role as hostess was about attending to the campers’ needs, checking things were going smoothly, and ensuring that everyone fully enjoyed their stay. I absolutely thrived on the whole experience and loved the positive vibes it gave me. It was such a big success that we’re doing it all over again this year!
What’s the best and worst parts of getting older?
One of the best things about getting older is caring less about what other people think of me and being more comfortable in my own skin. I like the way I look, and I know who I am now as a person. I would also say I’m more at ease and relaxed and more accepting of myself and others than when I was younger.
Getting older has involved gradually learning to accept that I’m not as physically fit and energetic as I’d like to be. For example, running has become more challenging (think creaky knees!). I’ve gained some wrinkles along the way, and let’s not forget transitioning through every woman’s rite of passage, menopause. In general, though, I think I’m weathering it all pretty well, and I’m happy with my body and my health.
Tell us about your Instagram account and Mission:
When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be famous. I danced, sang, acted, and ran fashion shows. When I was on stage I could hide behind pretending to be someone else, because in real life I was actually quite shy and reserved, keeping people at arm’s length. On stage, I felt totally in my element, just like a fish in water. Nowadays my Instagram account is my stage. I get to decide for myself who I am, what I reveal of my true self, and what my personal boundaries are. I am proud of being my authentic self. Similarly in my writing, I now dare to reveal my inner world, my thoughts, my feelings, and my opinions. I now know my true purpose. I want everyone to know my name and to read what I write!
How do you stay healthy, both physically and mentally?
I often follow along with exercise videos on YouTube. Sometimes I’m totally committed and do them day in day out. But at other times I’ll hack off and decide to go outside for a walk instead. I live in the old downtown of Nijmegen, which unlike a lot of other cities in the Netherlands has many stairways to climb and interesting little hills to walk up…and then down. I usually track my progress using a couple of my favorite fitness apps. My aim is to consistently walk twice a day and make at least 10.000 steps, maybe more. Whether it’s discovering more about myself as a human being or developing qualities that I value highly, I won’t stop when it comes to my personal development. Getting to know and understand myself even better, is hugely important when it comes to living my best life.
What is the first thing you do in the morning to start your day in a positive way?
I’m a slow starter in the morning, so I begin with lots of coffee and no hurry. That’s it, folks.
What’s your fantasy version of your 80-year-old self?
I always imagine myself as a sort of ‘Golden Girl’, living with a few of my best friends. We’re like a bunch of old hippies, peace and love, flowers in our hair, and a glass of wine in our hands. Nothing like the grey-haired old ladies in the TV series of the same name. I see us endlessly laughing, talking, and dancing together. No age limit and sisterhood forever!
If you could turn back time, what would you do differently?
I don’t believe in regret. What happens, happens and the point is to learn from it all. And I have.
What’s your age and how old do you feel?
I am 51 years old. My thoughts are still those of a young, inquisitive, energetic, and open-minded woman. Come to think of it, I get to choose my own age.
