Tell Us About Yourself?
I am Resi, I am married, mother of 2 beautiful daughters aged 33 and 31 and grandmother of 2 adorable grandsons. I was born in Schiedam as the youngest of a family with 3 children. My parents moved to Brabant when I was 6 months old. I enjoy living in Hilvarenbeek, a charming village in Brabant. I have always worked for a large telecom company until 2 years ago. 33 years ago it was not so common to continue working (full-time). My parents taught me to work for the things you want to achieve. If there was not a lot of money at home, I made sure I looked nice with creativity. I made my own clothes from a very young age and looked at the things that were in fashion. I am very grateful that my parents gave me the freedom to make my own choices.
Can you tell us about marriage and motherhood?
I have been happily married for 40 years. I was just 23 and we had already bought our first house. A decision that we still benefit from today. I think the success of a good marriage is that you respect each other as you are, you should not want to change each other but support each other and bring out the best in each other. I was 29 when my oldest daughter was born. After two and a half years I had my youngest daughter. I was and am very happy with my two girls. They now each have a sweet partner of their own and both have good careers.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I am creative and very visual. As a child I could already imagine how I could get things done, I already had the end result in my mind. That took me a long way later in my career. Even now I still have an attitude that things work out, obstacles are there to challenge yourself.
If You Had a Warning Label, What Would It Be?
That would be: Don’t make me do anything. If I think something is important, I do it on my own.
Any regrets?
I do not think so. There are always things you could have done differently or better. I feel very happy and that is the sum of all my experiences. Now also offers so many great opportunities, I remain very curious, I learn and I live.
Tell us about your (peri-) Menopause story?
My (peri-)menopause started when I was about 50. It started with a somewhat irregular cycle but no mood swings or other discomforts yet. When I was 54 I got breast cancer. Due to the chemotherapy I was immediately in the menopause. No more periods, a hot flash every 5 minutes, etc. I couldn’t really say that I felt bad because of the menopause. Rather, it was the effects of all treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation that lasted a year and a half. I was busy being sick… Luckily that’s over now. Now I notice the other annoying things about getting older. My hair has thinned, my skin has softened, things like that.
What is your fantasy version of your older self, let’s say 80 years old?
When I’m 80, that’s 17 years from now… Then I’ll be a woman who is in the middle of life, who looks good. I want to be able to understand what my grandsons are up to and be the coolest grandma there is!!
What Would You Tweet to Your Younger Self?
In all respects, pay at least as much attention to yourself as to others. Surround yourself with loving and fun people who motivate you, then everything will be fine! Live your dream and make sure you do a lot of things that are in your comfort zone, you’ll get out of it automatically. ?
What do you do to stay positive both mentally and physically?
I am very positive in everything I do. I live healthy, I walk every day. I love to cook and like to try new things. My family is usually the testing panel of my new tastings. I visit my grandsons regularly and watch them grow up with love. I like to make new plans and realize every day how nice it is that I am still there, that I can enjoy my family and friends. I don’t want to miss any of it! Carpe diem!
What is your age and how old do you feel?
I’m 63 but I feel 10 years younger. I still have a whole life ahead of me and I am sure that beautiful things will come my way!
