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Peru en Bolivia (1997)

Peru en Bolivia

Een explosie van kleur

In 2004 I visited Peru en Bolivia. Read about my adventures in Dutch.

Esther Jacobs2026-05-15T23:04:41+02:00

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🎤 Speaker, author (30 books)
📚 VIP ghostwriter, book writing coach
🌎 Digital nomad, 112/195 countries
🚫 No Excuses!
🌳 @tinytrullo: Puglia adventures🇮🇹

COLLECTING MOMENTS My father has had Alzheimer’s

COLLECTING MOMENTS

My father has had Alzheimer’s for 10 years now.

And yes, there is a lot that is gone.

But somewhere along the way I also started noticing what is still there.

His smile in the sun.
His hand under mine.
His sense of humor.
The softness in his eyes.
The way we can still enjoy a beautiful day together.

Maybe that is the challenge.
Not to constantly compare today with the past.
Not to focus only on what disappeared.
But to become very present with what is still here.

Because if you only look at the loss, you miss the moment itself.

And moments like these have become incredibly precious to me.

I think life keeps asking us the same question in different forms:
Can you still see the beauty of what remains?

TEN ITEMS. SIXTY-FOUR OUTFITS. I’ve always travel

TEN ITEMS. SIXTY-FOUR OUTFITS.

I’ve always traveled light.
But lately I’ve become much more intentional about it.

Nowadays you often even have to pay for a carry-on, so more and more I travel with only a small personal item.

I could not resist buying a complete #capsulewardrobe:

* 1 short
* 1 long pants
* 2 sports tops
* 2 t-shirts
* 1 hoodie
* slippers
* shoes
* 1 cap

Everything combines with everything.

Result?
64 different outfit combinations from just 10 items.

That’s the power of smart choices.
Not more stuff, but better combinations.

I also invest in good quality brands, like @lululemon clothes and On Cloud shoes, because they last longer, keep their shape, travel well, and stay comfortable.

Simple doesn’t have to mean boring.
I usually choose neutral colors that combine easily, but I also love fabrics with a special texture or subtle detail, so even a minimalist wardrobe can still feel luxurious and different.

I love creating a wardrobe where everything:

* matches and layers
* is comfortable
* works for travel, business, casual and workouts
* fits in one small bag
* works in different climates

Plus nothing needs to be ironed, ever…

For me, this is freedom: less luggage, less friction, less wasted energy, and still feeling completely like myself.

What choices do you make when you travel?
Do you prefer lots of options, or fewer pieces that work together effortlessly? And in daily life?

THOUGHTS ON PAPER 💭 Translating thoughts into wor

THOUGHTS ON PAPER 💭

Translating thoughts into words and putting these on paper is a powerful tool for gaining clarity. No matter the challenges you face, remember that your perspective is unique.

When you see your thoughts and main insights, black on white, you can review your actions. What do you want to do differently in life? What do you want to put more time into? What do you value? ✨

For me, writing is a way to digest and to process. It allows me to take a step back, gaining a helicopter view of my experiences, and I notice things that might be beneficial for others too.

How do you experience this very personal writing? 🖋

⏤

📖 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩? I’ll guide you from idea to bestseller. Link in bio.

#writingtherapy #noexcuses #bookwritingcoach #freedomwriters #reversewriting #writingcoach #writingadvice #writingtips

WRONG WAY According to whom? Some of the best th

WRONG WAY

According to whom?

Some of the best things in my life started exactly where other people said:

“You can’t do that.”
“That’s irresponsible.”
“That’s not how life works.”
“You should be more realistic.”

Collecting €16 million for charity.
Living without being officially registered anywhere.
Traveling the world alone.
Surviving on an uninhabited island for a reality TV show.
Writing 30 books.
Creating my own theater show at 55.
Following my heart to Puglia.
Building a life outside the standard script.

Maybe “the wrong way” is simply the road that was never meant for everyone.

And maybe that’s exactly why it feels so right.

What’s one “wrong way” you secretly know might actually be right for you?

There was a very cautious man Who never laughed or

There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.

And when he one day passed away,
His insurance was denied,
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never really died.

Few things in our society are so fear-based as insurance. Ads and commercials constantly remind us of dangers and possible harm. They pretend we will only be safe and feel comfortable when we buy their insurance; legal, home, medical, dental, accident, travel, liability, funeral insurance, pet cover; you name it, they make it sound like you really need it.

Life is full of risks. How do you deal with this? Are you creating a feeling of ‘false security’ by trying to cover everything? Even the most comprehensive coverage does not mean you’ll never have an accident, get sick or die. Some people want maximum insurance, just to ‘play it safe’. Others don’t take any insurance at all and “will deal with it when the occasion rises”. The best strategy is to insure only the bare essentials and keep a small buffer for unexpected issues.

Imagine the worst thing that could happen. If you have enough savings to cover an emergency like this, then you do not need additional insurance. Instead of paying premiums to an insurance company, you just create your own buffer for emergencies.

However annoying it may be, most of us would financially survive a stolen laptop. The biggest risk (apart from being sued and court cases) lies probably in healthcare and particularly a serious accident or sickness. If you’re not wealthy enough to cover a major disease treatment, hospitalization abroad or repatriation to pay out of pocket, then take out insurance with the highest possible deductible. For a relatively low fee you’ll be covered for emergencies and you can live the rest of the time as if you have no insurance.

#insurance #travel #digitalnomad #digitalnomadtips

JUST BREATHE Breathing is one of our most powerfu

JUST BREATHE

Breathing is one of our most powerful tools. It happens automatically, and we always 'have it with us'. But becoming more mindful of it can unlock incredible benefits for your health, bring calm, and even influence your emotions.

Shallow chest breathing is often a response to stress, while deep, slow breathing from the abdomen sends a signal to your body to relax.

Whether you're navigating a stressful situation or just looking to boost your overall well-being, taking a few moments to focus on your breath can help you regain control and find balance. 🙏🏼

Do you incorporate mindful breathing into your daily routine?

P.S. ‘The Art of Living’ offers great breathing courses if you want to explore this further.

#breathe #powerful #tool #health #calmness #emotions #stress #relax

AI RELATIONSHIP STATUS 😂 This morning at breakfas

AI RELATIONSHIP STATUS 😂

This morning at breakfast with some friends from the Dynamite Circle conference, I had one of the most surprising, hilarious and weirdly insightful conversations about AI.

We realized that the way people interact with AI tools often mirrors how they behave in actual relationships.

And once we saw it… we couldn’t unsee it anymore.

One friend said:
“I optimize for different emotional needs. Every morning I wake up and ask myself what I need today.
Deep conversations? Claude.
Strategy? ChatGPT.
Research? Gemini.
Chaos and entertainment? Grok.”

Basically AI polyamory.

Another person admitted:
“I keep downloading new AI apps at 2am just to see if this one finally understands me.”

Classic avoidant behavior.

Then there are the serial daters:
“Oh I tried ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini, Perplexity, Cursor, Manus, Lovable, Replit…
I’m still exploring my options.”

Translation:
Fear of commitment.

One woman said:
“I’m monogamous. I use Claude and I’m very happy with Claude.
…although recently I’ve been in a situationship with Codex.”

And then someone else casually dropped:
“I do everything inside Claude Code.
But ChatGPT is kind of my side piece.”

😂

There was also:
“I know it hallucinates and crashes constantly… but I’ve invested so much time already.”

The toxic relationship category.

Me personally?
I’m actually pretty monogamous.

I work mostly with ChatGPT and Codex and stay within that ecosystem.

Maybe that says something about my actual view on relationships too.

I don’t want endless choices and constant comparison, wondering if something better is out there every five minutes.

I’d rather go deeper with what already works and build trust, rhythm and understanding over time.

Never thought AI would accidentally become relationship therapy at a business conference, but here we are.

DILEMMA: TO BE REGISTERED OR NOT? Although we are

DILEMMA: TO BE REGISTERED OR NOT?

Although we are led to believe the opposite, you don’t have to be registered anywhere to live, work, and play. Many people find this a scary thought, but I can tell from experience that the sun still rises and sets every day, whether you are officially registered or not. That said, it does make life a lot easier to be registered as a resident in some place.

Advantages of residence:
• No hassle at airports and with officials in general.
• Registration makes many things easier: insurance, obtaining passports and other papers, bank accounts, phone plans, renting houses, schooling your kids, buying a car, etc.
• In some countries you have a right to social security, pension, and other benefits.
• If anything happens to you, ‘the system’ takes care of you (depending on where you are registered).

Disadvantages of residence:
• Registration means administration, filling out forms, giving information to authorities, and often also obligates you to pay taxes in that country.
• You have to live by the rules of the country you are registered. Laws might even limit the number of months you are ‘allowed’ to travel.
• You are traceable, expected to reply to letters from officials, and are liable to fines if you don’t.

Want practical advice on becoming a location-independent entrepreneur? My Digital Nomad Workshop series covers everything you need to know (link in bio).

#digitalnomad #locationindependent #remotework #tips

NOT ALL COMPLIMENTS ARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO The las

NOT ALL COMPLIMENTS ARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO

The last few days, people have said things to me like:

“You light up every room you walk into.”
“You show your love by sharing.”
“I feel pulled to you.”
“You have such a light around you.”
“Our conversation helped me so much.”

I’m much more used to compliments about what I DO.

The projects.
The achievements.
The workshops.
People telling me they finally started writing their book because of me.

So hearing so many beautiful words about who I AM, in just a few days has been surprisingly emotional and humbling.

Because it also made me realize something:
It’s much harder to receive a compliment when you didn’t “earn” it through hard work.

When it’s simply about your presence.
Your energy.
Your way of being.

For most of my life, my value was connected to doing.
Producing.
Achieving.
Creating results.

Now I’m slowly learning that simply being can already have an impact.

And realizing that I can positively influence people’s lives and work just by being who I am, makes me want to show up even more.

📸 @ellenvanbennekom

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