Meet Charlotte Beerkens | Founder of Getting Real with Elisabeth Be

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlotte Beerkens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlotte, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The reason why I started my mental health blog is because I wanted to start a platform where womxn feel understood but also can learn from professionals. I have personally struggled with finding myself and becoming who I want to be. I found, taking time to reflect, and learning from others was really valuable. Living in such a fast paced world, we hardly have time to connect to ourselves, reflect or bloom into who we are. Instead of living in the now, we’re living in the future, forgetting to enjoy the present and the smaller joys of life. At a young age I got the opportunity to step out of my bubble; I went hiking for 6 months and studied abroad. It was the disconnection what connected me to myself. Being alone, being in nature and trying to maneuver through unknown cities on my own gave me perspective on myself, my purpose, and my value. It forced me to face myself and get to know who I was. The uncomfortable made me comfortable. That self awareness is something that I aim to bring to each day, and help others to find. Beyond my inner journey I also found that listening to the experience of womxn, their stories, their knowledge, their theories, was incredibly impactful. However, I could not find a platform where such stories and knowledge come together. I craved a community where I could find peace and maybe bring peace to others. And so Getting Real with Elisabeth Be was born. At GRW Elisabeth Be we focus on womxn’s lived experience as well as expert knowledge, with the hope of creating an inclusive and safe community. We aim to make our teachings of self love more tangible in the future.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am proud because I feel I have created a space where people feel accepted and loved. I am humbled by the fact that many amazing womxn are willing to share their stories and knowledge to help others. I’m excited for what the future holds for GRW Elisabeth Be, we will launch video interviews very soon and I can already feel that we are growing into a real community. All of this has happened during a global pandemic, which has presented me with a fair number of hurdles. However, surprisingly, corona has also been a key catalyst in getting me to where I am now, professionally. I had to put other goals and dreams on hold but I didn’t want to sit still. I noticed that in these trying times, we are all in need of mental health support, now more than ever. So with the goal of giving others a virtual hug and sharing the insights of inspirational women, I set out to launch GRW Elisabeth Be. I hope people feel the warmth and understand that the main goal of GRW Elisabeth Be is to spread love and create a safe space for all.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I ever would have to show my friend around Miami I would take him/her to my top 3 museums: Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and the Perez Art Museum. I would take him/her on a classic walk through the Art Deco Historic District and if we were feeling a bit adventurous a little boat tour through Everglades National Park. As for grub, we would absolutely go to Mandolin Aegean Bistro, I’m a sucker for Greek food and the courtyard is just too cute.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my loving family. There hasn’t been a day I haven’t felt loved or supported by them. Their belief in me has got me to where I am today. I would also like to thank the womxn who have taken the time to speak to me, share their stories and knowledge. GRW Elisabeth Be would be nothing without their vulnerability, introspection and wisdom.

Website: https://elisabethbe.com

Instagram: grw.elisabethbe

Image Credits
Personal picture: Mark Candari