Life has a way of pushing us toward unexpected paths. For Wendy, a severe brain injury became the catalyst for a journey of transformation—one that led her from darkness to a life of surfing, meditation, and self-discovery.

A Life-Altering Event

Ten years ago, Wendy suffered a traumatic brain injury due to an abusive relationship. The resulting bleeding in her brain left her bedridden for months, uncertain of what the future held. But amidst the pain, a glimmer of inspiration emerged—surfing. Watching surf films became her escape, a window to freedom, though she never imagined she would one day be out on the waves herself.

The First Steps Toward Healing

After a long recovery, Wendy took her first trip post-injury, choosing a destination based on her dream of surfing. Though she arrived at the wrong season for waves, fate had other plans. A surf school led her to a beach where she caught her first wave—and from that moment, she was hooked.

Returning home to the Netherlands, she discovered a surf therapy program designed for individuals with brain injuries. It was here that she truly began to heal, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. She also trained as a yoga teacher, a practice that helped her reconnect with her body after years of trauma.

Facing Fear Head-On

Despite her progress, Wendy struggled with severe PTSD and social anxiety. The simplest social interactions, like introducing herself in a group, triggered overwhelming fear. But rather than letting fear control her, she made a choice: to face it. She forced herself to speak in group settings, no matter how shaky her voice. Slowly, the fear lost its grip on her.

The Power of Meditation and Travel

Meditation became another turning point in her healing journey. Though initially unable to sit in silence for even five minutes, Wendy gradually built up to 45-minute daily meditations. She credits Yin Yoga for teaching her how to be present with discomfort, ultimately allowing her to deepen her meditation practice.

Seeking a change, Wendy traveled to the Canary Islands, where she discovered a profound connection between her symptoms and her environment. The more time she spent in nature—surfing, breathing in the ocean air—the more her symptoms faded. She realized she didn’t need to live the life she once thought she should. She could choose a different path.

Embracing Van Life and Finding Home in Morocco

Wendy returned to Amsterdam, only to feel trapped in the very life she had worked so hard to rebuild. She saw her apartment as a prison, not a home. Inspired by travelers she had met in the Canary Islands, she bought a van and drove away, embracing a nomadic lifestyle.

With no set destination, she let intuition guide her. Originally planning to return to the Canary Islands, life instead led her to Morocco. Though warned about traveling alone as a woman, she found the opposite to be true—Morocco welcomed her with warmth and community. Surfing in Morocco felt different. The water was filled with respect and camaraderie, a stark contrast to the territorial surf culture she had experienced elsewhere. It didn’t take long for her to realize: she had found home.

A New Chapter: Writing and Teaching

With her van parked by the ocean, Wendy found herself writing—pouring her journey onto the page. What started as journaling transformed into a book, The Little Girl and the Big Blue, a poetic meditation on surfing and life. She is now working on a second book focused on deprogramming the mind, exploring the inner freedom she has found.

She also teaches yoga and meditation, sharing the practices that saved her. Looking ahead, she dreams of hosting retreats that combine surfing, yoga, and mindfulness—not for competition, but for the pure joy of riding waves.

Trusting the Flow of Life

Wendy’s story is a testament to resilience and trust. She chose not to be defined by her past but instead used it as fuel to create a life of freedom and adventure. From a traumatic injury to a life on the road, her journey serves as a reminder that even after the darkest storms, we can find our way back to the light—sometimes on a surfboard, riding the waves.