Dream big, believe in yourself and do it your way!

I love bears and I feel proud when people call me one.

It is a bit crazy how these things grow on you if you remember where it came from. After playing a match someone said I fought like a bear. And yep, it stuck!

My supporters started calling me "De beer van Wiemesmeer" which in english means "The BEAR from Wiemesmeer", which is the town I live in. 

Over the years the comparison kinda led its own life. From being strong to cuddly... people seem to have their own versions ;-)

For me it is good either way. I have gotten used to it and even changed how I look at myself because of it.

Who knows, maybe it is more than a nickname. Maybe it is my totem? Like in Disney's "Brother Bear". Where the Great Spirits carve a bear into the totem for Kenai, At first, he sees it as weak because it represents love but then learns it makes him strong, it is what makes him a man. I don't know about you but I surely can relate to that.

I started playing when I was 8 years old. I was too shy to go alone so my dad joined me. We had fun and I actually believed I was doing a good job. Competition however came to me as a cold shower. Yes, I sucked! 

As much as I loved to play, I hated getting my ass kicked every time so I started training fully focused. I gave it my best and quickly started improving. That felt amazing.

One day we took a trip to watch the pro's play. I was flabbergasted! 

When I got home, I started  watching the world championships trailer, over and over again. I started dreaming of playing there myself but to be honest, I didn't have the courage to see it possible and was afraid of being laughed at.

My dad did not agree and told me not to let these thoughts stop me from trying to do what I love. When he relapsed from cancer my head went in overdrive.

Dreaming about table tennis did not seem important to me anymore, my only dream now was for him to get better. 

I felt lost but after a while my sport gave me a way to cope. In a way, it saved me and at least for a part... it also saved my dad. His strength and drive to live empowered me and through my sport I did the same for him.

At that time I started winning against players I had never beaten. Players who were actually better than me.  That is when I learned a valuable lesson. 

Your greatest power in life, is your spirit!