I Got A Liebster Award

I got a Liebster Award! So nice to be nominated! I got it from Marjolein, from A Spoonful Of Dork. There is a short list of questions to go with it that Marjolein thought up and I’ll answer them below.

The “Rules”

1. Name the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the eleven questions the person nominating you thought up.
3. Nominate nine other bloggers with 200 followers or less.
4. Ask these bloggers eleven questions.
5. Notify the nominated bloggers.

Easy right?! And a lot of fun to fill out such a TAG. Well here we go;

Where do you stand for in life and why?
Wow, a deep question to start off with! In my life I stand for the protection and preservation of our planet, nature and all sentient beings. I believe we all are interconnected, not just us people but all sentient beings and all nature, we depend on each other and that’s why we should support and protect each other. When I see how we people treat the environment, and how some people treat animals, than we’re just savage beasts. More of our (rain)forests are disappearing and our oceans are being polluted as we speak, and if we don’t do something now it will continue until there is nothing left. What we seem to forget is we NEED those forests and oceans and everything living in it. And that’s what I stand for, to protect it all. I live as green as possible, I recycle and upcycle when I can and try to make others more aware at the same time. Besides that I also volunteer at an international organisation aiming to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects that positively impact our planet and its creatures.

What do you regret most?
That I didn’t stand up for myself when I was younger and lost myself along the way back then. When I was a little girl I already had my own (strange) ideas and style. Unfortunately that had another side; I was bullied because of it. And because I was too afraid to stand up and say something about it, it continued on longer than it should have. When I finally had the courage to stop it, I had already lost myself. For years I tried to make myself invisible, or tried to not stand out so it wouldn’t start over again. It took a long time to get back to being that girl that I was (and now am again) with her ideas and (life and mind)style. And there are still times I go back to trying to be that invisible girl; like when I go to a party where there are a lot of people I don’t really know. I honestly enjoy meeting new people but at the same time there is sometimes a side of me that wonders how people see me, if they think I’m weird. Strangely enough I’m not bothered by this at all during my travels to foreign countries and cities.I talk to locals and strangers without worrying about it at all, so why I go back to that sometimes I really don’t know.

Do you have a favourite activity? If so, what is it?
Yes! I actually have more than one, but you asked for my favourite one. Yoga. I love clearing my head and mentally empower myself through it while being physically active. Yoga is less physical than most people think; it’s mostly a mental activity, but you still have to do those exercises right of course, so it’s physical at the same time yet it’s foremost a mental thing. Doing a few yoga exercises every day, even if it’s a sun salutation keeps me going and energised every day.

How do you see yourself or your life in 5 years?
Of course it’s guessing what life will be like then, but I hope to be as happy as I am now with all the people around me that I love. I also hope to have travelled a lot to other (far away) countries and just still enjoy the small things in life.

What are your favourite memories?
I have a lot of memories. I remember (almost) anything, I could tell you what the house and interior looked like in the house I lived in until I was 4 years old. Not because of my childhood photos, but because I can just still see it in my head and describe it to you. There are a lot of good memories in the memory pile, picking my favourite one is very difficult. My sister’s wedding is a very good memory, as is my solo trip to Iceland. Or my backpack trip around Europe last year. That’s somehwhere at the top too. I really can’t choose. It’s not all big things, but also just being together with my family and friends make for very good memories. I can really enjoy the (small) things and all of them together make me very happy. So yeah, no favourite for me!

Are you a girly-girl or a tomboy, and why?
A tomboy! I love to be outdoors, walk around in the mud and getting dirty (climbing trees and catching bugs where part of my childhood activities too) When I go to work I try to dress up and be representable, a little bit of make up and stuff like that. But there are also days I walk out the door with little or no make up on, or run to the door in my (dirty) horse riding clothes. I don’t stand in front of the mirror for hours and my hair is usually in a ponytail or a messy bun, I’m a disaster with a curling iron, styling my hair or fancy make up.

What is the biggest reason you started blogging?
I’ve been blogging for over 10 years. The biggest reason to start blogging back in the day was just to keep an online journal. After years of blogging it went quiet but I eventually picked up blogging again. The biggest reason I started blogging again where my travels, I wanted to keep my family and friends up to date on my adventures, and that’s how She Travels started.

What would you want for 2014?
Most of all I want to stay happy and enjoy life, but secretly I want to make another (big) trip. I only got back from London about a month ago and I’m getting that travel itch already. To be honest I’ve already been looking around to see where I can go to for a couple of days soon.

What music do you prefer to listen to?
Hanson! I don’t even have to think about that. I’ve been a fan since 1997 and I’ve been able to meet them a few times already as well as interview them. I listen to a lot of music styles but Hanson remains my favourite.

What are you jealous of?
People that don’t give a fuck about what other people think (of them). As I said earlier I sometimes have issues with that, even though I try not to worry about how other peple see me. Usually I honestly don’t give a fuck, and I don’t feel the need to be liked by everyone. Yet sometimes I can’t help but think “what are they thinking of me” and other people who don’t have that, I’m a little jealous of that.

What tip do you want to give to your readers?
Enjoy life! Enjoy everything, big things but especially the small things in life. There are so many beautiful things in life, like the sun shining, the birds singing, a sweet message from a friend or family. So look around and enjoy it all, life is beautiful!

I nominate: Sara, This is not another blog – Caity, Caity.nu – Zij, Zij van Hem – Lotte, Chanen.nl – Tine, Fractions of the world – Laura, Schrijfmeisje.nl – Amanda, JingWen – Lauren, Marked by Grace – Anc, DarkNTwisty Nails

And here are your 11 questions:

1. What was your favourite toy as a child?
2. Coffee or Tea?
3. If your life would be made into a movie, who would play you in the lead?
4. What is your motto in life?
5. How do you see yourself or your life in 10 years?
6. What is your favourite book and why?
7. Why did you start blogging?
8. What is your legacy for the world?
9. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
10. What is the weirdest thing you ever did?
11. What life lesson would you give your readers?

I’m very much looking forward to your answers!