‘Pre-retirement’
Inspiration shot September 2024
A unique time is approaching; from December to June, I have nothing planned—except for my last writing week in Mallorca and, of course, my theater show! The first few months of 2025 feel like a kind of ‘pre-retirement’, where I can truly explore where I want to be and what I want to do, instead of following my usual (self-made) hectic travel schedule.
Until then it seems like I am busier than ever. In the coming months, I will travel to Thailand, within Europe, and Peru, from conferences to retreats. And in between I will visit my father in Miami.
Every month, I’ll be hosting one of my online workshops for the very last time. These moments can be quite emotional when participants share why they follow me or talk about how long they’ve been my fans. I know I will really miss this.
Still, my decision is firm. This month, I will write someone’s book in just one week for the first time with my new exclusive ‘Rapid Ghostwriting’ offer. From 2025 onward, this will be my sole focus.
In this inspiration shot, I’m sharing some useful and inspiring insights I’ve come across, which you might find helpful—whether you’re planning for retirement or still in full action mode.
Exploring other worlds
Beyond traveling between countries, it often feels like I’m exploring entirely different worlds. For instance, I recently attended ‘Sexibility’, a tantra festival in Sweden, and it was quite an eye-opener! Curious about what it’s like at such a festival? You can read my ‘travel report’ with plenty of personal insights through the link above!
Sometimes, the journey inward takes us to unexpected places. What began as a quest to balance my masculine and feminine energies led me to deep, sometimes darker parts of myself. My second therapeutic MDMA session became a profound journey into the heart of femininity.
Peace and quiet
At my TinyTrullo in Puglia, I always find peace. The pace of life slows down immediately, and living like a local in harmony with nature can be surprisingly productive.
I’m currently working on an exciting new real estate project. I recently bought a beautiful old apartment in the heart of my favorite village and have completely renovated it. Now, I just need to furnish it with a mix of antique and modern pieces I’ve collected over the past few months, and then it will be ready for sale. If you know anyone looking for a 2-bedroom apartment, either for themselves or as a holiday rental, let me know!
Would you like to spend a month in my trullo this winter? October, November, and December are my favorite months: the weather is still wonderful, there’s plenty of ripe fruit to harvest, and the pool is yours to enjoy. Whether you want to write a book, work remotely, or simply relax, my trullo could be the perfect retreat. With two bedrooms and two separate workspaces, it’s also ideal for sharing. Check out my Airbnb photos and reviews.
The autumn holidays are still available, so you might even experience the olive harvest while you’re here!
Will AI replace me?
Many people worry that Artificial Intelligence will take over their jobs or tasks. I prefer to see it differently and focus on the opportunities rather than the threats. ChatGPT is currently my most valuable productivity tool, and I discover something new about it every day. I’ve even trained two AIs to think like me and uploaded all my knowledge about writing books and being a Digital Nomad. Now, you can get free book advice or free digital nomad advice from Esther AI!
Would you like to chat with me and other writers about your book in person? Sign up for the very last live online book workshops on September 12th or November 6th.
While Esther AI knows a lot, it’s important to remember that you can’t always trust AI 100% for critical decisions. Want to make sure you’re taking the right step? Then join my very last live online Digital Nomad workshop on September 18th.
Interested in learning more about chatGPT? My final Digital Delegation workshop is on October 16th.
As soon as you register for one of the live online workshops, you will receive a series of videos that you can dive into right away. During the live online workshop, I will answer any remaining questions and help each participant to take a step further.
Workshop alert
Are you considering a location-independent lifestyle?
Are you already on the road, or preparing to leave your home country behind?
During my very last live online Digital Nomad workshop you’ll get answers to all your questions about remote work, registration, and international company setup.
You’ll meet like-minded people, get inspired by their stories, and get concrete tips to live your dream life.
This workshop could be the start of your new life!
Inspiration bites
UNIQUE ADVERTISING
Who would have thought that Mercedes would be represented by… a chicken?
Yet, a chicken has unique qualities that Mercedes wants to be associated with…
I can only imagine the discussion at the advertising agency when they pitched this idea. Would you have dared?
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
The Guardian’s ‘points of view’ advert (from 1986!) is extra relevant in this day and age. It shows how we often form opinions based on incomplete information. Even if that information seems correct and complete, because ‘we saw it with our own eyes’….
CONGRATULATIONS!
My coaching clients regularly send me photos of their books. Marie Nellens wrote ‘Getekend’, true therapeutic stories, illustrated by herself.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Willy Prins self-published a children’s book, with which she gives away cute dolls and homemade bookmarks. Her edition is almost sold out.
Did you know...?
…that I go tango dancing at Zandvoort Beach every Monday night in the summer? ‘Happy Monday Beach tango’ is my favorite Monday. At ‘Meijer aan Zee’ I always find like-minded people, with a DJ and sometimes live music, and usually a beautiful sunset. This is one of the reasons why I spend the summer in Amsterdam (and the spring-like summer weather of course, in contrast to the high temperatures in Southern Europe).
Where is Esther?
I just arrived in Puglia. It is wonderful to see my TinyTrullo estate and all the local friends in the village again. The first few days I went from one (decaf) espresso to the next with all the acquaintances I met on the street. I have also experienced my first challenges here with huge thunderstorms, hailstones, and power outages…
Spending the summer in Amsterdam was super fun, and I saw a lot of friends and went to some parties, like an ‘Acda & de Munnik’ concert (Dutch singing duo) on the beach, but the difference in pace with the south of Italy is immediately noticeable.
Unfortunately, I am only here for a short time because my travel schedule is quite overwhelming. See my FB post about packing and logistics.
In two weeks I will go to my father in Miami (unfortunately only 3 days) because I had the feeling that he suddenly deteriorated a bit and I do not want to wait a few more months before I can visit again. Then on to Greece with my University friends and next month back to Thailand for the Dynamite Circle conference and my last writing retreat on Koh Phangan island.
Inspiration in your inbox
Join 14,ooo people in 42 countries and receive inspiration and surprises every month. You can sign up for my free ‘inspiration shots’ in the footer of my website.