The Happiness Challenge Talks
Urban nomad & roller skater Dounya Vandamme
Always curious and looking for eternal adventure: 25-year-old Dounya Vandamme will not avoid any challenge. She shows her latest tricks in our The Happiness Challenge video, is currently a studio model at the Royal Academy and can't wait to travel the world by bike again. We asked urban nomad Dounya about her little luck and got a glimpse into her life during lockdown.
HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?
My day always starts differently, especially during lockdown. I put a lot of time in a good breakfast! So I could get up an hour earlier, just to bake pancakes and enjoy them to the fullest. Normally I used to go to the gym in the morning, but instead I went skating every day. It's especially important that I don't stay in bed too long, or scroll on social media for too long, because then my day has already started badly. HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?
My day always starts differently, especially during lockdown. I put a lot of time in a good breakfast! So I could get up an hour earlier, just to bake pancakes and enjoy them to the fullest. Normally I used to go to the gym in the morning, but instead I went skating every day. It's especially important that I don't stay in bed too long, or scroll on social media for too long, because then my day has already started badly.
My day always starts differently, especially during lockdown. I put a lot of time in a good breakfast! So I could get up an hour earlier, just to bake pancakes and enjoy them to the fullest. Normally I used to go to the gym in the morning, but instead I went skating every day. It's especially important that I don't stay in bed too long, or scroll on social media for too long, because then my day has already started badly. HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY?
My day always starts differently, especially during lockdown. I put a lot of time in a good breakfast! So I could get up an hour earlier, just to bake pancakes and enjoy them to the fullest. Normally I used to go to the gym in the morning, but instead I went skating every day. It's especially important that I don't stay in bed too long, or scroll on social media for too long, because then my day has already started badly.
WHAT IS YOUR HIDDEN TALENT?
I'm quite good at drawing and painting, but I'm still a bit too insecure and not yet ready to really do anything with this. It is my dream to sell my work. Thanks to the past period I started painting intensively again, and I honestly think that this might be the year where I can make my dream come true. WHAT IS YOUR HIDDEN TALENT?
I'm quite good at drawing and painting, but I'm still a bit too insecure and not yet ready to really do anything with this. It is my dream to sell my work. Thanks to the past period I started painting intensively again, and I honestly think that this might be the year where I can make my dream come true.
I'm quite good at drawing and painting, but I'm still a bit too insecure and not yet ready to really do anything with this. It is my dream to sell my work. Thanks to the past period I started painting intensively again, and I honestly think that this might be the year where I can make my dream come true. WHAT IS YOUR HIDDEN TALENT?
I'm quite good at drawing and painting, but I'm still a bit too insecure and not yet ready to really do anything with this. It is my dream to sell my work. Thanks to the past period I started painting intensively again, and I honestly think that this might be the year where I can make my dream come true.
WHAT WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO LEARN?
I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey. So many things happen and you get to know so many special locals that no doubt interesting things result. People often have the wrong image of some places, and sharing my experience could broaden their image. WHAT WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO LEARN?
I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey. So many things happen and you get to know so many special locals that no doubt interesting things result. People often have the wrong image of some places, and sharing my experience could broaden their image.
I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey. So many things happen and you get to know so many special locals that no doubt interesting things result. People often have the wrong image of some places, and sharing my experience could broaden their image. WHAT WOULD YOU EVER WANT TO LEARN?
I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey. So many things happen and you get to know so many special locals that no doubt interesting things result. People often have the wrong image of some places, and sharing my experience could broaden their image.
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY THESE DAYS?
The last few months have been fantastic for me. I was working too much, and I was a little under the weather. The day the lockdown was announced, I cycled home whistling. I was able to skate every day, was creative and even strengthened connections. I discovered that creativity keeps me enormously balanced and that movement is necessary. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY THESE DAYS?
The last few months have been fantastic for me. I was working too much, and I was a little under the weather. The day the lockdown was announced, I cycled home whistling. I was able to skate every day, was creative and even strengthened connections. I discovered that creativity keeps me enormously balanced and that movement is necessary.
The last few months have been fantastic for me. I was working too much, and I was a little under the weather. The day the lockdown was announced, I cycled home whistling. I was able to skate every day, was creative and even strengthened connections. I discovered that creativity keeps me enormously balanced and that movement is necessary. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY THESE DAYS?
The last few months have been fantastic for me. I was working too much, and I was a little under the weather. The day the lockdown was announced, I cycled home whistling. I was able to skate every day, was creative and even strengthened connections. I discovered that creativity keeps me enormously balanced and that movement is necessary.
"Thanks to the past period, I've started painting intensively again, and I honestly think this might be the year where I can make my dream come true."
"Thanks to the past period, I've started painting intensively again, and I honestly think this might be the year where I can make my dream come true."
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED DURING THIS PERIOD?
I started roller-skating a lot. I did this every day anyway, but because the skateparks were empty every morning, I could learn new tricks at ease. Overcoming your fears and finally unlocking a new trick is really a wonderful feeling. You see yourself growing and that's a huge boost for your self-confidence. By roller-skating I also feel free, it can make up for a bad day. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED DURING THIS PERIOD?
I started roller-skating a lot. I did this every day anyway, but because the skateparks were empty every morning, I could learn new tricks at ease. Overcoming your fears and finally unlocking a new trick is really a wonderful feeling. You see yourself growing and that's a huge boost for your self-confidence. By roller-skating I also feel free, it can make up for a bad day.
I started roller-skating a lot. I did this every day anyway, but because the skateparks were empty every morning, I could learn new tricks at ease. Overcoming your fears and finally unlocking a new trick is really a wonderful feeling. You see yourself growing and that's a huge boost for your self-confidence. By roller-skating I also feel free, it can make up for a bad day. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED DURING THIS PERIOD?
I started roller-skating a lot. I did this every day anyway, but because the skateparks were empty every morning, I could learn new tricks at ease. Overcoming your fears and finally unlocking a new trick is really a wonderful feeling. You see yourself growing and that's a huge boost for your self-confidence. By roller-skating I also feel free, it can make up for a bad day.
WHICH SMALL THINGS MAKE YOU HAPPY?
Food, anytime! Being surrounded by self-assured, happy people. Dancing with friends in the living room, like no one is watching. The drive from the airport to the hostel in a new country, after years of visiting a place you have beautiful memories of, lying in the grass, wild camping, thunderstorms, rain while it is tropically warm, looking at the stars with someone and pretending to know something about it, sunset with loved ones. WHICH SMALL THINGS MAKE YOU HAPPY?
Food, anytime! Being surrounded by self-assured, happy people. Dancing with friends in the living room, like no one is watching. The drive from the airport to the hostel in a new country, after years of visiting a place you have beautiful memories of, lying in the grass, wild camping, thunderstorms, rain while it is tropically warm, looking at the stars with someone and pretending to know something about it, sunset with loved ones.
Food, anytime! Being surrounded by self-assured, happy people. Dancing with friends in the living room, like no one is watching. The drive from the airport to the hostel in a new country, after years of visiting a place you have beautiful memories of, lying in the grass, wild camping, thunderstorms, rain while it is tropically warm, looking at the stars with someone and pretending to know something about it, sunset with loved ones. WHICH SMALL THINGS MAKE YOU HAPPY?
Food, anytime! Being surrounded by self-assured, happy people. Dancing with friends in the living room, like no one is watching. The drive from the airport to the hostel in a new country, after years of visiting a place you have beautiful memories of, lying in the grass, wild camping, thunderstorms, rain while it is tropically warm, looking at the stars with someone and pretending to know something about it, sunset with loved ones.
"I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey"
"I would love to learn how to make documentaries. It would be great to capture the stories on a journey"
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE MAKE OTHERS HAPPY?
With unexpected little gifts! Preferably something I made myself, fruit from my garden, or by cooking. There are for people who are close to me, and let them know that they can count on me. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE MAKE OTHERS HAPPY?
With unexpected little gifts! Preferably something I made myself, fruit from my garden, or by cooking. There are for people who are close to me, and let them know that they can count on me.
With unexpected little gifts! Preferably something I made myself, fruit from my garden, or by cooking. There are for people who are close to me, and let them know that they can count on me. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE MAKE OTHERS HAPPY?
With unexpected little gifts! Preferably something I made myself, fruit from my garden, or by cooking. There are for people who are close to me, and let them know that they can count on me.
WHAT CAN MAKE YOUR DAY BETTER?
All social media out and the music very loud! WHAT CAN MAKE YOUR DAY BETTER?
All social media out and the music very loud!
All social media out and the music very loud! WHAT CAN MAKE YOUR DAY BETTER?
All social media out and the music very loud!
"I've discovered that creativity keeps me tremendously balanced and that movement is necessary. You see yourself growing and that's an enormous boost for your self-confidence. "
"I've discovered that creativity keeps me tremendously balanced and that movement is necessary. You see yourself growing and that's an enormous boost for your self-confidence. "
WHAT IS YOUR HAPPY COLOUR?
Yellow! Absolutely the best color ever! It radiates so much energy and it makes me instantly happy. When I made a drawing as a child and wasn't satisfied with it, I just put a yellow dot in the middle and it was beautiful again in my eyes. For me, yellow stands for happiness, positive vibes and carefreeness. WHAT IS YOUR HAPPY COLOUR?
Yellow! Absolutely the best color ever! It radiates so much energy and it makes me instantly happy. When I made a drawing as a child and wasn't satisfied with it, I just put a yellow dot in the middle and it was beautiful again in my eyes. For me, yellow stands for happiness, positive vibes and carefreeness.
Yellow! Absolutely the best color ever! It radiates so much energy and it makes me instantly happy. When I made a drawing as a child and wasn't satisfied with it, I just put a yellow dot in the middle and it was beautiful again in my eyes. For me, yellow stands for happiness, positive vibes and carefreeness. WHAT IS YOUR HAPPY COLOUR?
Yellow! Absolutely the best color ever! It radiates so much energy and it makes me instantly happy. When I made a drawing as a child and wasn't satisfied with it, I just put a yellow dot in the middle and it was beautiful again in my eyes. For me, yellow stands for happiness, positive vibes and carefreeness.
IMAGINE WE DIVE INTO YOUR GARDEROBE, WHICH COLOURS WOULD WE FIND?
Lots of different colors, not super many motifs but mostly all kinds of colors. When I'm with a group of friends, I'm often the only one who doesn't wear black. The more colour, the better. Also quite a lot of yellow in my closet now that I look at it this way, and blue. Even my roller skates are bright yellow! IMAGINE WE DIVE INTO YOUR GARDEROBE, WHICH COLOURS WOULD WE FIND?
Lots of different colors, not super many motifs but mostly all kinds of colors. When I'm with a group of friends, I'm often the only one who doesn't wear black. The more colour, the better. Also quite a lot of yellow in my closet now that I look at it this way, and blue. Even my roller skates are bright yellow!
Lots of different colors, not super many motifs but mostly all kinds of colors. When I'm with a group of friends, I'm often the only one who doesn't wear black. The more colour, the better. Also quite a lot of yellow in my closet now that I look at it this way, and blue. Even my roller skates are bright yellow! IMAGINE WE DIVE INTO YOUR GARDEROBE, WHICH COLOURS WOULD WE FIND?
Lots of different colors, not super many motifs but mostly all kinds of colors. When I'm with a group of friends, I'm often the only one who doesn't wear black. The more colour, the better. Also quite a lot of yellow in my closet now that I look at it this way, and blue. Even my roller skates are bright yellow!
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