My name is Isa
the sister who always has your back.
I live on the beautiful island of Bali, where I’ve learned to wake up smiling again, not because life became easy, but because I changed how I see it.
Like everyone, I have lived through some hardships, or better said, processes that brought me where I am today. That actually was my first breakthrough: when I realized that if getting where I am today required all that I experienced, I would do it all again. So why be sad or angry about it?
When I knew I had to get out of that abusive relationship, I told myself to fall in love with another person. And that is what I did, and it gave me the courage to leave. By the way, that other person never knew; it was just for me to shift my focus.
That is what made me realize during my depression that I had to fall in love with life. And that is what I have done and practiced every day since.
My Early Years
I was born in 1965 in Hamburg, Germany. My mom is Dutch, my dad German. When I was three months old, we moved to a small Dutch village called Made, where I lived until I moved to Bali in 2019, though we moved several times within the town.
As a child, I was always surrounded by animals. You could almost call our home a mini zoo. We had everything, even a goat. When I found a sick or injured animal, I would bring it home to care for it. If it didn’t survive, I buried it lovingly in the backyard.
I had what I’d call a happy childhood. The biggest change came when my parents divorced when I was ten. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it made me decide that it would never happen to me. Life had other plans, though, and my youngest was exactly the same age when it finally did.
I was never one to follow the crowd. In primary school, I often preferred being alone over doing what others wanted. In middle school, the students were all new to me, and they unanimously voted me class president even though I hadn’t asked for it.
My Working Life
From the age of seven, I wanted to become a teacher. Almost two years into teacher training, I realized it wasn’t for me. Since I had no other plan, my mom encouraged me to go to secretarial school. I’m still grateful for that decision, as the skills I learned there continue to help me every day.
For many years, I worked as a temp secretary, a job I truly loved. When I became pregnant with my first daughter, I stopped working. I had always said that when I had children, either their father or I would stay home, since I was raised mainly by my grandmother. That wasn’t a bad thing at all, but in those days, I missed the connection with my mom. Thankfully, we found that connection later, when I had children myself.
A Mother and a Creator
I may sound old-fashioned, but I loved taking care of my family, even though I always did small jobs on the side. Over the years, I have explored many roles: direct sales, running a massage and reflexology salon, and working as a tour guide in the beautiful city of Rotterdam.
I’m the proud mother of three wonderful children, almost all grown-ups now. Two live with me in Bali, and my eldest lives in the Netherlands.
And today I can proudly add that I am a published author, having created and published the coloring storybook Chloe and the Alphabet of Feelings in 18 different versions.
Living Healthy and From the Heart
In 2016, I became a vegetarian out of compassion for animals. Two years later, that naturally evolved into veganism as I became more conscious of what my body needed to feel its best.
I have always been open to learning about the gifts of Mother Nature and how her natural products help our bodies stay healthy and strong. She truly gives us everything we need.
That’s also how I discovered the Golden Drops pure curcumin drops that make me feel 10 years younger than I did 10 years ago. And anyone who knows me knows that when I am enthusiastic about something, I can’t help but share it with others.
Why Simply Isa?
I see many women struggle after a major change in their lives. Whether it’s a divorce, an empty nest, menopause, or retirement, they somehow lose their sense of direction.
I know that feeling. I’ve been there. And I also know how it feels to find your way back.
That’s why I created Simply Isa, a place where you can explore gentle tools, inspiring words, and simple practices that helped me wake up smiling again. You can start exploring them for free, and I truly hope they will help you to wake up smiling again, too.
If you feel ready for more guidance or prefer to walk this path together, you can have a look at Soulwork and discover my programs.