Stronger Together
A while ago, I came across an invitation from Tanja Bouwhuis – a personal branding specialist with a passion for photography – to join her new online community, Stronger Together. After reading the article about it in our local newspaper, I immediately felt drawn to the idea. I sent Tanja an email saying I’d love to become a member. She replied with a warm message and a few thoughtful questions. Based on my answers, she wanted to see whether my personal goals aligned with the purpose of the community. Fair enough!
Social Media
Of course, I also had a question for her. I’ve worked hard to cut back on social media, and I wasn’t eager to dive back in just to join another online group. But Tanja had cleverly chosen Slack as the platform for her community. I’d heard of Slack before, but never really used it myself — so my curiosity was immediately piqued.
Walking Alone
The inspiration behind Stronger Together came when Tanja’s gym had to close. Since then, she’s struggled to find her rhythm in sports again — partly because she’s easily overstimulated. Ideally, she’d like to do different types of exercise on her own schedule or move outdoors in a small group. That last part really resonated with me.
For years, I’ve gone for a long daily walk — anywhere between 5 and 10 kilometers. It’s wonderful, but walking alone can get a little lonely. How nice would it be to have a few like-minded people to walk with from time to time? During those walks, we could talk about all aspects of a healthy lifestyle — eating, moving, sleeping, reducing stress, social connection, and finding meaning.
Online Community
The Stronger Together community is all about motivating each other, sharing tips, and offering a listening ear. I’ve already joined, but this new initiative could definitely use a few more members. So if you — or someone you know — would like to be part of a welcoming, low-threshold community that helps you take steps toward a healthier life, just send Tanja an email at tanja@tanjabouwhuis.nl
Personal Motivation
Now, I’d like to take a moment to share why I personally decided to join Stronger Together.
Anyone who’s been following my blog won’t be surprised to hear that I care deeply about my health. But it’s not just my own health that matters to me — I’m passionate about helping others take care of theirs as well. We live in an increasingly toxic world, and looking after yourself has become far more challenging than it should be.
I’m originally trained as a nurse and later studied Health Sciences, so my education has always centered around promoting and maintaining health. A few years ago, I also completed an online training course in Lifestyle Coaching. I read and listen a lot about health and preventive care — it’s a subject that continues to fascinate me.
My knowledge has benefited both myself and my family immensely. But I want to share it more widely — to help others improve their health, and at the same time to build more connection in my own life. When I was still working in paid employment, I interacted with a lot of people outside my personal circle. I miss that. By joining Stronger Together, I hope to reconnect — to bring myself and others closer through shared goals and values.
Social Connection
Overall, I’d rate my own health a solid 8 out of 10, and the effort I put into staying healthy a 9. But when it comes to social connection, I’d give myself no more than a 6. There’s definitely room for growth there. I’ve been doing volunteer work for years, but I haven’t yet found the deeper sense of connection I’m looking for. Building that is high on my to-do list — and I’m hopeful that being part of Stronger Together will help me take steps in that direction.
So, would you also like to connect with others while working on your health?
Then consider joining Stronger Together. Because while going alone might get you there faster — together, you’ll go further.