All of you, who have been following me for a while, know that this blog is not about me, but about the person who visits it. The origin of this blog is my book “I’m Free”. That was even the starting point of my social media presence in general. So my breakthrough experience wrapped in a book led me here. You can read about it here if you like and on my about page. I’m happy to have this blog as a platform to spread inspiration and hopefully some awareness as much as I can. Visitors to my blog are not interested in what I did or did not have for breakfast or how often my tortoise burps. Neither do I feel the need to know every small detail about other people’s private lives. Social media is flooded with this kind of stuff already anyway. So, I won’t ever bother you with that kind of information – promised! Still, I thought it was time to share a little bit about my life aside from blogging.
Some personal facts: I am 52 years old and was born in Vienna, Austria. When I was nine years, my parents moved with my sisters and me to the Principality of Liechtenstein, where I still live. I am a vegetarian (again), have had a tortoise (burping or not) for almost 40 years, and love nature. I have been married for 29 years, and we have three wonderful grown-up children (one girl and two boys) who are all standing firmly on their own two feet. What more could a parent wish for? They have taught me more than any adult ever could. It was only because of them and for them that I took the necessary steps to work on myself, which eventually led to running this blog. In 1998/99, we lived in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY, for a little over a year. Our second child was born there, which made the experience even more exciting. I still think back to it as the most wonderful time in my life.
From early childhood, music accompanied me on a deep level. I have never been without it and can’t imagine ever being without it. I learned to play the clarinet, and at the age of 16, I added lessons in classical singing. The clarinet is still with me but in a box in the basement. On the other hand, singing is who I am. I sang a lot in concerts and got engagements for events of several kinds. I have sung in churches for special occasions like Christmas, Easter, and other festivities. I participated in two singing contests and made first place in both. I was part of a formation with which I toured through the area. Our biggest event was a revue written for us. Both of our performances were sold out. Meanwhile, I sing everything from classic to pop/rock and adapt the singing technique to fit the style. I’ve been writing and recording my own songs for more than ten years. Last year in summer was one of the occasions to present three of them to the public. I shared this here. Unfortunately, I have too little time to put my songs on a CD and promote them. Also, I was offered the other day to sing in a band…
For almost 15 years, I am running a therapy practice. I offer energetic and physical treatments, meditations, and one-to-one sessions. The foundation for this is various educations and training for example in Aromatherapy, Emmett Technique, Spiritual Healing, Phytotherapy, medical training, Tarot card readings, and Matrix Transformation,… only to mention a few). As a consequence of my knowledge of essential oils and phytotherapy, I took another step and started producing natural cosmetics like soaps, creams, lotion bars, and balms. The idea behind it is bringing well-being and healing with respect to the environment. I use recycled and recyclable boxes or such of sustainable sources and try to avoid plastic where possible. I don’t use any chemical supplements in my products. I have been digging into it for the past 4 years and joined additional training. So, today, I have quite a lot of products I am offering, a few sale spots, and, as you know, recently an online shop. Everything is done by myself: from the first idea, over developing a product, to bringing it on the counter. There is the administrative part, delivering, developing new products, marketing, and all the little details that go along with the organization. Once a product is ready for sale, it needs to be calculated, labels have to be created and printed, it needs a fitting and nice wrapping, texts have to be written and photos taken so that it can be put on the website. Lately, my main supplier has raised the prices. Can you imagine what that meant? I had to re-calculate the price of every single ingredient and from there each product anew.
Also, I am working for a company that’s running a business center and offers compliance and risk management for asset managers in the delegation. What is Compliance? The compliance function ensures that regulatory and legal requirements are adhered to. It also works together with the clients to implement advanced processes, checks on conflicts of interest, makes sure the internal manuals are up to date and mirror their business concepts according to the law, and much more. For about five years, I am part of the management board too.
So, what about writing books? Unfortunately, that has become a privilege. However, there are three in my pipeline. I am working on one on and off for almost two years, and I hope I can make it happen within the coming six months to publish it.
Of course, that was it in a nutshell. If someone would like to know more, I have no problem telling you. I just don’t feel like forcing anyone to be happy with my private stuff. As I said, my blog is not about me, but you are entitled to know something about the person behind it.
In Love and Light
Erika, I always knew you were gifted and talented. What a privilege it is to know you. Rock On! 🎶
LikeLiked by 1 person
My, so sweet of you to say, Gail! You are one of those sunshines that I am looking forward to meeting daily here on WordPress. Thank you 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s mutual. 💜🍃
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖🙏💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Erika, you’re a beautiful soul, in and out! We share similar loves…including the tortoise 🐢! Keep being you~it’s refreshing! Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for sharing with us! 💛
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you so much for stopping by, dear. So, you have a tortoise too? How cool is that? What is his/her name and how old is he or she?
Thank you for your lovely words and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving week.💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re so welcome! I don’t have one as a pet, but a large box turtle that lives by my house. I call him Timmy. Lol. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too! 💚💚💚
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awh, how sweet is that 💖
Thank you, when even this is not a holiday over here but we can never be too thankful, can we? 💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen, Erika! 🥰🤗💛💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖🤗💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah dear lady, your achievements have blossomed your heart so well. Especially that music, it ever shares what you are. Words are very powerful in their love and I can feel it each time I have heard you.
And what a photograph of you being crowned by a rainbow, that is amazing. Are you friends with someone you haven’t mentioned yet? 🤣
And you are looking great, it is easy to see with that smile in your eyes. So you must be enjoying all that you do. And especially your family, a greater love cannot be found in that sharing that you all bring. Even the burping Hercules is an important journey within it, after so long he must be the wisdom of the family to ground you all 😀
Thank you for the post Erika, it is great to ‘feel’ an open heart you have shared with us here. And in that, I hope all keeps going well in life, love and most certainly that future it creates. Go team Kind! 😀❤️🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, Mark, I love your refreshing way.😃 You had me smiling all the way reading your comment. Thank you for all the lovely words. Yes, I am very happy with my life and where I am in my life. Even more since there were some tough years not so long ago. I think we need those in order to enjoy and appreciate even more everything after we are through. And s Abraham says: The better it gets, the better it gets.
Once, I left fear behind me, my journey to live began.
Thank you so much again, dear Mark. You know, I appreciate your presence very much 😊💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thank you for the personal share Erika. And yes, it is only when we go through so much that we truly understand that heart beating within us and appreciate what we have found in that journey. A big hug my friend, you now give out that very love you have become 😀❤️🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope I do, because I am so thankful for all the love I received over the years and often I was not even aware… today I am 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very much so dear lady 😀❤️🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely post, Erika. You have a full and interesting life, don’t you! Happy to have ‘met’ you, albeit recently – it seems I have a lot to catch up on!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi, Clive, thanks for stopping by. Let’s say, I don’t remember when there was the last boring moment in my life 😂 but that’s totally ok. I am happy how everything developed 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good to know 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to learn even more about you! Carry on with sharing and caring about love, for it is truly that which unites us all at our core. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I refuse to ever stop it. I love it and that is why I love being here with you and the others 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this, Sis!
It’s like getting to know you all over again!
💙
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awh, thank you! So much has changed since we met in London. It is like having a completely different life and boy, what was inbetween… I am happy to be where I am today and it feels like the perfect place for a constant walk upwards but with less detours… at least I hope so… haha💖
LikeLike
I know… A few years makes a huge difference! 🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!! Look where we both are today… hehe.
LikeLike
🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a special treat this morning, learning a bit about my new friend!!! You have a tortoise!!! I love it … but where is his picture??? You have a beautiful family, my friend, and you work so hard that I don’t know when you find time to sleep! Thanks for sharing a bit about you and your life! 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s lovely that you said that, Jill. I thought it was time to share a little bit about the current times. It is a while ago and so much happened.

It is not always easy to get everything done but I learned to set priorities and have a strict structure. That helps when unexpected things squeeze in… lol
And you are right, a photo of Hercules is missing. I try to add it to this comment. Let’s see if it works 😊💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really did enjoy reading a bit about you and your family, and was so surprised to learn that you live in Lichtenstein, for I had thought you were in the UK! The picture of Hercules is beautiful!!! I love turtles, and my good friend Herb gave me the nickname ‘Tortuga’, which is Spanish for ‘turtle’. We used to go hiking together and I was always much slower (and older) than him, hence the nickname! 🐢
LikeLiked by 2 people
So, nice to meet you tortuga 😄but I am sure she meant it regarding your experience and wisdom 😉
So, it seems my English is not too bad, if you had put me in the UK. That’s cool!
Now, you know one of 38’000 inhabintants of one of the smallest countries in the world 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha … no, he meant it regarding the fact that he would walk at his pace, then pick a spot to wait for me to catch up. One time he waited over 1/2 hour and was not a happy camper!!! We don’t hike together anymore! Actually, since my heart problems started a year ago, I think my hiking days are over anyway.
Your English is darn near perfect, Erika! And yes, you are the first person I’ve ever known from Lichtenstein! Only 38,000 inhabitants? Wow … Chicago, one city, has 2.7 million people and New York City has a population of 8.5 million! I think I would enjoy living in your country!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see, hiking is not the best way to spend time together… but for sure, there are other things you two have in common… hehe.
Yes, it is a bit more quiet here than in the big US cities… lol!! I have been to NYC three times and twice to Chicago, and I loved it but the older I grow the more I appreciate it to live at the place I do live already. I love big cities in general (as you saw, Vienna is my hometown). I enjoy visiting my roots but other than years ago, I don’t want to live there anymore.
Thank you, Jill 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha … no, we’re just friends, and not even as close as we once were, though we still chat online from time to time.
Part of my childhood was lived in New York, the other part in San Francisco, and I love both of them, but wouldn’t want to live in them. I was once a city girl, but now I’d dearly love to find a cabin somewhere in the Smokey Mountains and life among the wildlife and nature, venturing into town once a week or so for food and supplies. That, to me, would be idyllic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, sounds like we are pretty similar in that. Visiting the vivid city life but then going back to the peace of the mountains and nature. It is interesting how we both developed into that direction.
Next year, my husband and I will visit San Francisco (plus traveling though the country for three weeks). I have been to California countless times but have never been to San Francisco yet. I am so looking forward to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, while I live just 20 miles outside of a big city, I almost never visit the city … I hate driving in traffic and feel closed in by the buildings and the people, cars, fumes, buses, etc.
What fun you’ll have!!! I haven’t been back to San Francisco since 1972 or so, and I understand it’s changed a lot, but it used to be a beautiful and fun city. I hope it still is and that you have a marvelous time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am very excited to get there. Once we flew to Santa Rosa and saw the city from above. Also, I am so looking forward to being in my beloved SoCal again too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never cared much for Southern California … too … too busy and commercial for me, I think. San Francisco, though, at least back in the day, was eclectic, artistic. Of course, that was in the 60s, the time of “Peace & Love” and Haight-Ashbury … ahhhh, the good ol’ days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, long ago… I don’t know what it is about SoCal. There is some particular energy that caught my heart. I can sit there gazing at the ocean for hours and every single time I fly back, I have at least one big insight in my suitcase.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I hope that you and your husband have an absolutely wonderful three weeks … I presume you’ll post pictures to you blog when you return?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You bet, Jill 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Erika! Nice to meet you. You certainly have a gift that transmits through your blog. Congratulations with your products and your online shop 🎉 There are definitely more blessings in store for you 💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is a very lovely thing of you to say, Sylvester. It means a lot to me that you see it this way. I thought, I need to share a bit of the developments of the past years in my life… hehe 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so very welcome and thank you for sharing. It is always inspiring 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am humbled, thank you. But you know that is mutual. Definitely one of the reasons we have been following each other for so many years 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is great to be on the same wavelength and draw inspiration from one another 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t agree more 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! You are looking wonderful, Erika! Congratulations! What a wonderful family, and don’t forgot you are bringing a new blood line to Liechtenstein. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is one of the bonus points of the country… fresh blood… lol
LikeLike
Wonderful to read something about you here, Erika! There’s always a reassuring feeling whenever someone you follow is an actual human, not just some commercial entity.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I am glad you say that, Monch. That is exactly my intention for this post. Blogging doesn’t work when you stay anonymous. People are entitled to know something about the blogger – as you say, a real person with a real life. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts, Moch. Glad to be connected 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
1 2 Newer Comments ›