Emptying out our wellness escape in Surinam

I’m writing this from Suriname, where we’ve been working on our future wellness escape over the past few weeks. A project that means a great deal to me. Last year, we renewed the foundation and painted the exterior of the house. It was a beautiful first step. This year, something very different was on the agenda:

Clearing out the house.

A few days ago, I walked through every room for the first time in four years. Not to see what needed to be built or renovated, but to sort through what was still there. And there was more than I expected.

Old mirrors. An alarm clock. Mugs. Drawings. Cabinets full of things I had completely forgotten about.

Some of those items had probably been sitting there for years without anyone really paying attention to them.

As I walked through the house, I realized that last year we had mainly focused on the outside. The foundation. The walls. The paint. But now it was time for something different. Making space.

So we began.Bag by bag. Drawer by drawer. Corner by corner. Some items brought back memories. Others could go without hesitation. But most of all, it made me think. How often do we hold on to things simply because they’ve always been there?

I didn’t feel particularly attached to many of the things we came across. Honestly, most of it just felt... in the way. But it got me thinking. Not only about physical belongings, but also about the things we carry in other ways. Sometimes holding on to possessions, beliefs, or habits is really a way of holding on to control. But in order to grow and heal, we need to learn to loosen our grip and embrace uncertainty and discomfort.

Some days the clearing out felt overwhelming. Other days it felt freeing. And as the clutter disappeared, it felt as though the house could breathe again. And in a way, so could I.

Through this process, I’ve learned that letting go is not only about clearing out old belongings. It’s also about making space in our minds and hearts. As I walked through each room, sorting and letting things go, I began to notice what I was carrying emotionally as well. Old habits. Outdated thought patterns. Beliefs that once protected me but may now be holding me back. I realized how easy it is to hold on to routines or ideas simply because they are familiar. Even when they feel heavy. Even when they keep us stuck.

It takes courage to admit that something needs to change. Not only around us, but within us as well.

And that kind of inner clearing is quiet, slow work. But it is powerful. Part of that process, for me, has also meant learning to let go of control. I’ve learned that I cannot micromanage growth. Not the growth of the house, not the garden, and not myself.Things take root when they are ready. Progress often comes in waves, not according to a perfect schedule.

Sometimes that feels uncomfortable. But there is something beautiful in it too. Trusting that something is growing, even when you cannot fully see it yet. Every drawer I emptied and every decision to let something go gave me a little more clarity. A little more peace. It reminded me that transformation is not only about what we build. It is also about what we release. Letting go creates space. For new thoughts. New energy.

New ways of being and doing.

In the meantime, we have also taken some meaningful steps in the development of our wellness escape this year. We brought new cuttings from The Green Garden Netherlands, including lavender, calamondin, lemon balm, and sage, to enrich our garden in Suriname. It has been wonderful to watch them slowly take root in new soil. We have also cared for the existing plants and trees in the garden: papaya trees, banana trees, guava trees, marva plants, and many others. Small reminders that life continues and continually renews itself.

We also installed an air conditioner in one of the bedrooms and requested quotations for a new roof and a polished concrete floor. These may not seem like major steps on their own.But together, they bring us closer to the place we envision. Because this project has become much more than a renovation. By giving it a greater purpose, it is slowly growing into a place of restoration. A place where people can exhale.

Where caregivers, care professionals, and others carrying heavy responsibilities can find rest.

But also a place where professionals can stay and share their knowledge and experience with the local community through workshops, courses, and guest lectures.

We are not there yet. And perhaps that is the challenge of this renovation. It is slow. Sometimes uncomfortable. And it often requires more patience than you expect. But at the same time, it makes way for something real. Something lasting.This journey reminds me of something I wrote about before:

"Starting again, but not from scratch." Because that is exactly what this feels like. We are not just renovating a house. We are also rebuilding the way we live. Letting go of what no longer fits. Whether it is old thought patterns, routines, or spaces we have outgrown.

That is not always easy. But it often brings us closer to a life that is more aligned with who we are today.

Letting go will probably never be easy. Especially when it means giving up control. But the more I let go, the clearer I see what truly matters.And slowly, I am learning to trust that the space we create, both in this house and in our hearts, is not empty. It is space for something new.

P.S. If you would like to support this meaningful project or collaborate with us, we would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to get in touch.