About me

Here's a little bit about me...

I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, but immigrated to Portugal almost 3 years ago. I live in the beautiful and vibrant coastal town of Ericeira, with my husband and two young children (make that 3, with our furry Australian Shepherd included). My travels started the month after I finished high school and continued for the next 7 years. I remember the adults in my life saying how I should enjoy school because they will be some of the best years of my life and even though I did not have a hard time at school, I quietly disagreed as each year since I matriculated in 2010 has just got better!

I have always enjoyed writing and reading; I’ve kept a journal for most of my life and wrote out movie scripts, poems and songs in my spare time. I decided I wanted to be a script writer and after assisting a film company as a ‘runner’, I was lucky enough to be offered an internship to attend the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. I had an unforgettable experience amongst the rich and the famous and even walked the Red Carpet four times! I worked hard and was recognised as having one of the best social media reaches during the festival, but even still, I realised that the film industry just wasn’t for me. I had no idea at the time but this experience would lead me to the next great chapter of my life, which was the yachting industry.

With three days left to spare before my flight back home to South Africa, I met up with a friend who was near Cannes at the time and he told me about his experience working on Superyachts. I was hooked and knew this was exactly what I wanted to do for the foreseeable future. Upon returning home I worked as a waitress to save up enough money to do my yachting courses and return to the French Riviera the following year. I learned many things about myself whilst working in the yachting industry, but the most interesting thing I noticed is how much I enjoyed observing the habits and routines of the wealthy, the rich, and the famous and to figure out how these habits helped them get to where they are today.

Sometimes I still wonder if Samuel L. Jackson has stuck to the the same morning routine as he did when he was a guest on one of the yachts I worked on. Upon waking, Samuel L. Jackson would grab a few pieces of freshly chopped fruit and read his Kindle while he waited for his black coffee to be served. This is possibly just his ‘holiday mode’ routine and perhaps one day I’ll be able to confirm.

I would describe myself as a positive and level-headed person and it takes a lot for me to get triggered. I don’t know why I’m like this and sometimes I wonder if it’s a bad thing and if I should be more emotional. Recently, a friend asked me how I never get angry and I replied honestly “I don’t know”. I don’t think I have ever seen myself angry either.

I have also been described as a person who “lands their bum in the butter” and I can see why they say this, however, it certainly takes a lot of hard work to get to the “butter”. What I can say is that my interest in self-improvement and wellness, teamed with my positive attitude and not being afraid to work hard is probably what got me to live the life I do.

Writing, in general, and learning self-improvement strategies have been my two most consistent hobbies throughout my life and I’m thrilled to have a blog to put these two passions together.

Hey, I'm Courtney!

Hey, I'm Courtney.

I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, but immigrated to Portugal almost 3 years ago. I live in the beautiful and vibrant coastal town of Ericeira, with my husband and two young children (make that 3, with our furry Australian Shepherd included). My travels started the month after I finished high school and continued for the next 7 years. I remember the adults in my life saying how I should enjoy school because they will be some of the best years of my life and even though I did not have a hard time at school, I quietly disagreed as each year since I matriculated in 2010 has just got better!

I have always enjoyed writing and reading; I’ve kept a journal for most of my life and wrote out movie scripts, poems and songs in my spare time. I decided I wanted to be a script writer and after assisting a film company as a ‘runner’, I was lucky enough to be offered an internship to attend the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. I had an unforgettable experience amongst the rich and the famous and even walked the Red Carpet four times! I worked hard and was recognised as having one of the best social media reaches during the festival, but even still, I realised that the film industry just wasn’t for me. I had no idea at the time but this experience would lead me to the next great chapter of my life, which was the yachting industry.

With three days left to spare before my flight back home to South Africa, I met up with a friend who was near Cannes at the time and he told me about his experience working on Superyachts. I was hooked and knew this was exactly what I wanted to do for the foreseeable future. Upon returning home I worked as a waitress to save up enough money to do my yachting courses and return to the French Riviera the following year. I learned many things about myself whilst working in the yachting industry, but the most interesting thing I noticed is how much I enjoyed observing the habits and routines of the wealthy, the rich, and the famous and to figure out how these habits helped them get to where they are today.

Sometimes I still wonder if Samuel L. Jackson has stuck to the the same morning routine as he did when he was a guest on one of the yachts I worked on. Upon waking, Samuel L. Jackson would grab a few pieces of freshly chopped fruit and read his Kindle while he waited for his black coffee to be served. This is possibly just his ‘holiday mode’ routine and perhaps one day I’ll be able to confirm.

I would describe myself as a positive and level-headed person and it takes a lot for me to get triggered. I don’t know why I’m like this and sometimes I wonder if it’s a bad thing and if I should be more emotional. Recently, a friend asked me how I never get angry and I replied honestly “I don’t know”. I don’t think I have ever seen myself angry either.

I have also been described as a person who “lands their bum in the butter” and I can see why they say this, however, it certainly takes a lot of hard work to get to the “butter”. What I can say is that my interest in self-improvement and wellness, teamed with my positive attitude and not being afraid to work hard is probably what got me to live the life I do.

Writing, in general, and learning self-improvement strategies have been my two most consistent hobbies throughout my life and I’m thrilled to have a blog to put these two passions together.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

She has hit the nail on its head, well done Courtney!

Jackie Munns

I loved reading Courtney’s writing. She is a gifted blogger- I feel as though I am sitting across the table from her having a chat. I most certainly wish that I had someone like this around when my children were young to remind me to take care of myself too!

Belinda Becker