When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me

I’m not “winning” in the way I used to think about it. There’s no race, no finish line, no endless striving anymore. Instead, I’m winning in quieter, more personal ways.After a life‑altering event in January 2025, I slowed down enough to notice the beauty in small things, sunrises, sunsets, butterflies, even the wind reminding me to breathe. Gratitude isn’t about big achievements anymore; it’s about presence, people, and tiny daily wins.Cooking my first rotisserie chicken, cleaning one drawer at a time, supporting Kira and Kitty’s triathlon dreams, starting new treatments, and training gently again, these are my victories.Winning isn’t about speed or trophies. It’s about living slower but fuller, grounded in gratitude, and hopeful for what’s ahead. 🌱✨🎧 Listen to the full story on ChangedOvernite Podcast:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Afripods | YouTube#ChangedOvernite #GratitudeJourney #SmallWinsBigImpact #HealingJourney #PresentMoment #DailyWins #Resilience #FindingJoy

💌 A letter to my daughters…You are my why, my pride, and my purpose. Every word I wrote to you—about love that never makes you small, courage that sometimes whispers instead of roars, and growth that feels uncomfortable before it feels empowering—is the roadmap I hope you carry into the journey ahead.Life will surprise you, stretch you, and sometimes break you, but you are stronger together than apart. Carry your South African identity with pride, nourish your body as your home, and remember: real love allows you to be fully yourself.No matter how far you travel, you are never alone. Home lives in your values, your courage, and the way you carry yourselves. Distance may shape you, but it will never disconnect you from where you belong. 🌍❤️🌐 Connect with me:Instagram: @jetaimeribbinkFacebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOvernite Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite #LetterToMyDaughters#LoveAndCourage #JourneyAhead #FamilyFirst#SouthAfricanStrength #ChangedOvernite #ResilientTogether#HealingJourney #PurposeDriven #UnstoppableSisters

✨ For 11 months I waited. I thought I’d bounce back, that life would resume as normal, that I’d wake up one day and everything would be okay again. But life had other plans.I’ve had to learn that being unfinished doesn’t mean unworthy. It means I’m still growing, still becoming, still alive. Every messy, imperfect day counts. Every struggle is part of my journey.I don’t need to be perfect to show up. I don’t need to be finished to matter. I am enough—unfinished and all.If my story makes even one person feel less alone, then this is exactly where I need to be.🌐 Connect with me:Instagram: @jetaimeribbinkFacebook: Jet’aime RibbinkX (Twitter): ChangedOverniteYouTube: ChangedOvernitePodcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — MeApple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOverniteSubstack & Medium: ChangedOvernite #UnfinishedAndEnough #RawAndReal #HealingJourney #EmptyNesterLife #ChangedOvernite #MessyButWorthy #AuthenticLiving #MentalHealthAwareness #GrowthInProgress #PerfectlyImperfect #LifeInTheBecoming #ShowUpAnyway

✨ You can try forever and never end up doing. People throw out the word try so easily, it looks like effort, but it’s really hesitation, a soft no disguised as action. From a distance, trying looks effortless, but it’s a stall, a holding pattern to doing nothing at all.Right now I live like I mean it. I move like it matters. Intentionally. Because I want to heal, I want a better life, I want to do. My daughters know I despise the sentence I’m trying. You need to risk, speak, and move without fear. Action. Intention. Presence.Trying feels safe. You can try forever and never change, evolve, or grow. I lived in “trying” mode for months, until I realized: if I didn’t fully commit, I had already lost. Fear disguised itself as flexibility. I’ll try was fear.So I chose doing. I chose to show up imperfect, vulnerable, unapologetically me, not the athlete, not the champion, but the woman rebuilding herself one intentional step at a time. I gave myself permission to fail, to struggle, to be seen. And I learned that small steps are sacred.Healing isn’t glamorous. It’s quiet, slow, sometimes unimpressive to others, but monumental to me. I don’t need to be perfect. I don’t need to be entirely organized. But I do have to show up. Every single day.🌐 Connect with me:Instagram: @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime RibbinkX (Twitter): ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernitePodcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOverniteSubstack & Medium: ChangedOvernite#HealingJourney #IntentionalLiving #DoNotTry #Resilience#Authenticity #LifeAfterLoss #ChangedOvernite#MentalHealthAwareness #StrengthInVulnerability#KeepShowingUp #Consistency #GrowthMindset#FearlessLiving #StudentAthleteMom #SouthAfrica#WomenWhoInspire #NeverGiveUphttps://open.substack.com/pub/changedovernight/p/you-can-try-forever-but-i-choose?r=6w1way&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

✨ Podcast #15: Enough — A Mother’s Story of Bullying, Judgment, and Choosing Courage ✨I’ve held onto this blog and podcast for a while, wondering if I should post it. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I know this story will mean something to someone out there.This is my journey: When the strongest person I knew was gone — Me.Bullying touches all of us. Sometimes it’s loud and obvious. Other times it’s subtle, hidden in whispers, favoritism, or quiet manipulation. For me, it has been a lived reality — as a child, as a mother, and as a woman.I stayed silent for years because silence felt safer. But silence is not safety — it is surrender.This episode is about resilience, about raising daughters who respect the process, about learning that real care listens and includes, while fake care excludes and controls. It’s about the courage to finally say: enough.💙 I share my journey to remind you: you are not alone. Vulnerability is strength. Courage begins when silence ends.🌐 Connect with me: Instagram: @jetaimeribbink Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOvernite Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite#Enough #StopBullying #BullyingAwareness #Resilience #Courage #MotherhoodJourney #HealingTogether #ChangedOvernite #StorytellingForChange #YouAreNotAlone #Integrity #StrengthInVulnerability #BullyingSurvivor #AthleteJourney #SouthAfricanVoices

Yesterday was one of those rare, quiet days. No treatments, no injections, no clinic visits. Just a slow walk with Pinky and the dogs, and by 3:30 I was back in my pajamas.My girls are scattered across the world, exhausted from exams and freezing in the snow. Kayla is at ‑8°C, Kitty at ‑1°C, and Kira at 8°C with snow predicted. It’s Kitty’s first time seeing snow, and she just cannot get warm.Today feels lighter — nails, occupational therapy, and the oxygen chamber. But underneath the small joys, there’s frustration. Memory gaps, forgetting words, stopping mid‑sentence to ask Shaun for help. Cutting food into tiny pieces because I’m scared I might choke. Living with these fears makes every day feel like a test.When I moved suburbs in 2019, it felt like my old friends let me go. The social loss hurt like physical pain. The Bluff was my first tribe — community, no judgment, belonging. But after trauma and two smash‑and‑grabs, we moved to Durban North. Life became safer, more convenient, but my tribe shifted.Instead of rebuilding, I poured myself into my daughters. Those early morning coffees after training became rituals of love and safety. No regrets. But now, with them overseas, the loneliness hits.I’ve been judged, excluded, called out for gym clothes and tattoos. But I learned: what you wear doesn’t define your value. Confidence is being true to yourself.Family has always been my anchor. They don’t judge. They don’t gossip. They just are.Even though the hurt of losing my old circle lingers, my focus now is reclaiming myself, reconnecting with Shaun, and cherishing those who have stood by me.Connection matters. Rituals anchor us. Family can be a tribe. Vulnerability is human. Love and loss often travel together.And when I look back, I don’t feel regret. I feel gratitude. 💙🌐 Connect with me: Instagram: @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): @ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me 🎧 Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOvernite Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite #MedicalAidMadness #InvisibleIllness #PatientVoices #ChangedOvernite #AdvocacyMatters #HealthcareShouldCare #RealStoriesMatter #ChronicLife #SouthAfricaHealthcare #JetaimeRibbink #PodcastLife #MediumWriter #SubstackStories #FamilyIsTribe #ResilienceJourney #HealingOutLoud #ConnectionMatters #GratitudeAlways

✨ Episode 13 is live! In this conversation, I open up about resilience, imperfect routines, and the reality of living through change. From crooked Christmas trees to time‑loop doctor visits, it’s raw, honest, and deeply human.🎙️ Listen to When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Afripods, YouTube, Substack & Medium.🌐 Connect with me: Instagram @jetaimeribbink | X ChangedOvernite | Facebook Jet’aime Ribbink | YouTube ChangedOvernite💙 Support the journey: paypal.me/my/profile#ChangedOvernite #PodcastJourney #ResilienceInRoutine #RediscoveringJoy #HealingThroughWriting #AuthenticVoices #LifeTransitions #MotherhoodUnfolded #EverydayResilience #ImperfectlyBeautiful

In today’s podcast you’ll hear the vacuum in the background, Inanda barking — real life, unfiltered.Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, a former Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. Someone recently reminded me I even did the Bear Grylls race in the UK — I had completely forgotten about that.I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes, now studying as student athletes in the USA. I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. Until my body and mind just unexpectedly decided to take a break. No warning. No time to prepare. And with it came life‑altering changes.🎙️ This is my 12th podcast: When the strongest person I knew was gone – Me: Collapse isn’t weakness. Don’t expect perfect words or perfect sentences. Don’t expect perfect at all. It’s imperfect, like my life.Yesterday’s treatment was brutal — targeted brain laser and drip. Twice I had to ask Kami to slow it down as my throat and chest tightened, nausea and heart palpitations hit, and extreme fatigue followed. By 2:45 p.m. I was in my pj’s, asleep before 8:30 p.m., waking three times through the night. At 1:30 a.m. I washed dishes, later neatened the lounge, and by 4:15 a.m. I was taking painkillers for a monster headache.Yet here I am, up and getting ready for the day. Today marks my last psychologist appointment of the year. As much as I resisted it, Dr. Kirsten has been a blessing — steady, insightful, and patient — helping me navigate my ever‑evolving, constantly changing life.💙 Collapse isn’t weakness. My body finally had permission to let go.🌐 Connect with me: Instagram: @jetaimeribbink Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X: ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: ChangedOvernite (Apple / Spotify / Afripods) Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite #ChangedOvernite #PodcastJourney #Resilience #HealingJourney #CollapseIsntWeakness #MentalHealthAwareness #Identity #GriefAndGrowth #LettingGo #Transformation #Authenticity #Storytelling

In this podcast I’m speaking softly so I don’t disturb other patients — you’ll hear the beep of the laser machine in the background. It’s a long one today with the drip.Hi, my name is Jetaime and this is my 11th podcast. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes, now studying as student athletes in the USA. I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control… until my body and mind unexpectedly decided to take a break.Don’t expect perfect words or perfect sentences. Don’t expect perfect at all. It’s imperfect, like my life. I’m still learning, still navigating. This is my story.🌐 Connect with me: Instagram: @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOvernite Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite  #ChangedOvernite #Resilience #FaithAndHealing #FamilyStrength #JoyNotJudgment #CarryingForward #HealingJourney #ImperfectButTrue

Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter. I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. Until my body and mind unexpectedly took a break — no warning, no time to prepare — and with it came life‑altering changes.This episode is imperfect, like my life. I share what it feels like to hear my daughters’ voices in the night, to sit overwhelmed in Shaun’s arms, to find resilience in small acts like makeup, Puppy’s loyalty, and music. My nervous system is shifting, my body reacts like a storm, but I’m still here — carrying forward with honesty and hope.💜 This is my truth, my resilience, and my love for family.🌐 Connect with me Instagram: @jetaimeribbink Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods: ChangedOvernite Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite🔗 Read more: Substack link #Resilience #HealingJourney #BrainHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #GriefAndHope #FamilyLove #CarryingForward #ChangedOvernite #LifeUnfiltered #HonestStorytelling

Once, I was an IFBB athlete, a Warrior Elite winner, an OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes, now studying as student‑athletes in the USA.My life thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. And then my body and mind just… stopped. No warning. No time to prepare. And with it came life‑altering changes.This podcast is imperfect — like my life. I’m still learning, still navigating. Some mornings are brutal, others bring small wins. Yesterday it was OT with Dr. Erin, and for once, I felt seen. She noticed the effort, the tiny victories. And that mattered.Today, I’m tired. The headaches are back. But Shaun’s steady voice, Pinky’s gentle care, and my parents’ words remind me: I am not alone. Progress, even painful progress, is still progress.Resilience isn’t about bouncing back. It’s about carrying forward — with love, gratitude, and courage. 💙🎧 Podcast 9: Morning Reflections — When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me🌐 Connect with me: Instagram: @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: ChangedOvernite (Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods) Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite💙 Support the journey: paypal.me/my/profile #ResilienceJourney #CarryingForward #HealingInProgress #StrengthThroughStruggle #FamilyFirst #MotherhoodAndStrength #CourageToContinue #WellnessAndRecovery #FindingHerAgain #ChangedOvernite #LoudLove #UnwaveringSupport

✨ Good morning ✨ Yesterday was a rare, chilled day — no treatments, no injections, no clinic visits, just a quiet walk with Pinky and the dogs before slipping back into pajamas by mid‑afternoon. My girls are scattered across the world, exhausted from exams and braving the cold: Kayla at ‑8°C, Kitty at ‑1°C seeing snow for the first time, and Kira at 8°C with snow predicted.As I watch their resilience, I reflect on my own journey — how illness changed everything overnight, how acceptance has often felt like surrender, and how I’ve fought to reclaim independence in small ways. Walking to appointments, holding onto my car as a symbol of freedom, lacing up my running shoes to feel the echo of strength and shared passion with my daughters — these rituals remind me that independence restores dignity, confidence, and hope. Healing isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, courage, and carrying forward with gratitude. 💙🎙️ Podcast 8: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me In this episode, I share how silence became my shield, how courage broke through, and how rituals of independence help me rebuild.🌐 Connect with me: Instagram @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: ChangedOvernite — Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Afripods Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite 🔗 https://changedovernight.substack.com💙 Support the journey: paypal.me/my/profile 🎥 TikTok: @jetaimeribbink#Resilience #LifeAfterLoss #HealingJourney #StrengthRedefined #Motherhood #Gratitude #RecoveryJourney #WhenItAllChanged #FindingMyTribe

Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes—now studying as student‑athletes in the USA.I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. Until my body and mind unexpectedly decided to take a break. No warning. No time to prepare. And with it came life‑altering changes.This episode is about identity, control, and learning to let go. It’s imperfect—like my life—but it’s real. From medical routines that feel like Groundhog Day, to collapsing into Shaun’s arms after NAD infusions, to the deeper struggle of redefining strength when control slips away.I share my story because I believe it might create new connections and remind others: you are not alone. Vulnerability is not weakness. Even small steps forward matter.🌐 Connect With Me Instagram: @jetaimeribbink | Facebook: Jet’aime Ribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite | YouTube: ChangedOvernite Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Apple Podcasts: ChangedOvernite | Spotify: ChangedOvernite Afripods: Finding Her Again | Substack & Medium: ChangedOvernite💙 Support the journey: paypal.me/my/profile#ResilienceJourney #CarryingForward #HealingInProgress #StrengthThroughStruggle #FamilyFirst #MotherhoodAndStrength #CourageToContinue #WellnessAndRecovery #LoudLove #UnwaveringSupport #FindingHerAgain #ChangedOvernite

As I prepare for this new type of race — life — my days are filled with searching. Doctor’s appointments, treatments, and endless research become small steps toward hope, even if it’s just a one percent improvement. I think of my daughters often, the bond we share shaping conversations that feel naturally understood, and reminding me why I keep trying. My husband is my anchor, steady in his own way, while I navigate the emotional terrain our girls bring to me. Healing is not a miracle cure but a puzzle of small acts: tea without caffeine, laser therapy, walks with the dogs, even quiet moments in the oxygen chamber. Each piece adds up, reminding me that while my body has changed, my determination hasn’t. I share my story not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real — proof that vulnerability is not weakness, and that even the smallest steps forward matter.🌐 Connect With Me Facebook: @jetaime.ribbink Instagram: @jetaimeribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Afripod & Spotify Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Substack: ChangedOvernite Medium: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me

There’s nothing worse than waking up feeling awful, reaching for medication, and starting the day in a negative state. My mornings now begin with small rituals — a cappuccino, opening the blinds, snuggling Nova, watching the clouds and trees sway. These moments remind me that even though my old life of constant motion is gone, passion and purpose still live within me. I’m learning to reimagine strength, to find meaning in small routines, and to accept that presence doesn’t always require physical closeness. This podcast is not polished perfection, but an authentic account of resilience, vulnerability, and courage.🌐 Connect With Me Facebook: @jetaime.ribbink Instagram: @jetaimeribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Afripod & Spotify Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me Substack: ChangedOvernite Medium: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me

Welcome back, dear listener. This is my fourth podcast, When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me. You may hear my puppy chewing on a hoof, the fan humming, or even a lawnmower outside — because this is real life, and I’m keeping it real.Each week I share a chapter of my journey — it is not polished perfection, but an authentic account of resilience, vulnerability, and courage.This episode is all about my daughter Kira, who just turned 22. From a fractured hip to competing at NCAA Nationals, she has shown fire, determination, and heart. Short in stature but never short on spirit, Kira embodies resilience and reminds me daily of the power of courage and connection.I share these reflections as part of my healing process — to honor love, rediscovery, and the small steps that carry us forward.🌐 Connect With MeFacebook: @jetaime.ribbinkInstagram: @jetaimeribbinkX (Twitter): ChangedOverniteYouTube: ChangedOverniteAfripod & Spotify Podcast: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — MeSubstack: ChangedOverniteMedium: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me

Life changed overnight. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter, I thrived on control, discipline, and being “the strong one.” But illness forced me to slow down, reshaping my identity and revealing the hidden anchors of love, family, and resilience.In this podcast, I share my journey of loss and gratitude — the sacrifices, the frustrations, and the unexpected gifts illness has brought: deeper connection with my husband, daily calls from my daughters, renewed bonds with my parents and in‑laws, joy through my niece, the healing presence of my dogs, and the steady support of Pinky, my domestic worker.This is not polished perfection. It is an authentic account of vulnerability, resilience, and rediscovery. Each episode is a chapter in how I continue to fight for strength and meaning in a world turned upside down.✨ If you’ve ever faced change, loss, or the weight of routine, I invite you to walk this journey with me. Together, we’ll explore how even in the darkest days, love and connection remain the most potent medicine.🌐 Connect with me: Facebook: @jetaime.ribbink Instagram: @jetaimeribbink X (Twitter): ChangedOvernite YouTube: ChangedOvernite Substack: ChangedOvernite Medium: When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me#HealingJourney #Resilience #Identity #ChangedOvernite #SharingMyStory #AuthenticVoice

In this episode, I invite you onto my Juliet balcony — a place I never imagined would become my refuge. Surrounded by the sounds of wind, trees, and even a glimpse of the ocean, I reflect on how life changed overnight. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter, I thrived on control, organization, and being “the strong one.” But when my body and mind unexpectedly broke down, everything shifted.I share the reality of treatments, routines that both comfort and suffocate, and the small rituals that help me hold onto pieces of myself. This is not a polished story — it’s an honest one. A reminder that vulnerability is not weakness, and that even small steps forward matter.✨ Sharing my journey of resilience and identity. 🎧 Podcast: Spotify 📺 YouTube: @ChangedOvernite 📸 Instagram: @jetaimeribbink 🌐 Facebook: jetaime.ribbink 🔗 linktr.ee/whenitallchanged#Substack #Medium #Resilience #Identity #HealingJourney #ChangedOvernite

This is my first podcast. It might not be perfect — I’m learning and experimenting, just as I am navigating my life. Thank you for listening and walking this path with me.When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me is a raw and honest journey through resilience, loss, and rediscovery. It begins with the sudden absence of my brother, whose promising career was cut short, and unfolds into my own story of identity, strength, and the moment everything changed overnight.I share who I was — an athlete, a mother, a planner, the strong one others relied on — and the turning point when illness stripped away my independence. My mornings, once filled with discipline and training, now begin in quiet reflection, accompanied by questions that never stop: Where to from here? What is my purpose? How do I move forward?Through vulnerability, I explore the challenges of living with neurological, processing, physical, and visual deficits. Some days are better than others, but each day is a search for healing, for meaning, for connection. I talk about the small but important steps forward — from decaffeinated tea to laser light therapy, from walks with my dogs to moments in the oxygen chamber — each piece of the puzzle reminding me that recovery is not a miracle cure, but a path made of small acts of care.Family anchors me. My husband and daughters are the reason I keep going, the reminder that even when control slips away, love and presence remain.I share my story because I believe honesty builds connection. Even if my words are imperfect, they carry the truth of my experience. My journey has been filled with challenges, but also with resilience, growth, and hope. By opening up, I hope to encourage others who may be facing their own struggles. I want people to know they are not alone, that vulnerability is not weakness, and that even small steps forward matter.This podcast is not medical advice. Everything I share is my own lived experience. Please take it as one person’s story — nothing more, nothing less.