Who am I?

I am Caroline Ligthart and I was born in Amsterdam on 11 February 1972. I am the youngest member of our family consisting of my parents and two brothers.

As a little girl I already knew it was my dream to fly. Grown up under the Schiphol roaring lane in Amsterdam, I could almost touch the planes. That’s what I would become later; flight attendant. In 1993 it happened: I was hired at KLM. My dream came true!

Skiing accident

After seven great years, my dream burst through a skiing accident. Five shoulder operations followed, after which it became clear that my career as a flight attendant was over. Then the question arose: “What now?”

Since I had no idea which profession would suit me further, I bought a profession almanac. The hospital world had aroused my interest by the visits because of my shoulder. I liked medical programs and bloody conditions have never been a thing to me. My choice fell on the profession operation nurse.

At the OR, however, I missed a piece of freedom that I appreciated so much when I was still flying. A position as account manager at a medical company came on my path and this turned out to be a bull’s-eye. The combination of working at the OR and managing my own agenda turned out to be a great move. Sales and related relationship management were written on my body and after a few years I was asked if I wanted to become a country manager. This position, with unavoidable political aspects, suited me less and the question arose: do I want to continue to do this until I retire? The answer was no.

My dream life

What was my dream life then? After many conversations with friends, self-reflection and a national low in which old pain from the past, such as failed love and the death of my parents, came back like a boomerang, I knew I had to change my course.

Helping people and making them happy runs through my life, first as a stewardess and later during my work at the operating room. The “coach” course quickly emerged, but yes, there is a coach on every corner of the street. How could I distinguish myself from the rest? I enjoyed practicing Pilates in the gym and reiki caught my attention when I was detoxing on my own on Koh Samui in Thailand. The combination of these aspects proved to be the perfect recipe for my company: Rose’s Heart, which I founded in May 2016. I became a coach, reiki master and Pilates instructor and I now organize retreats with various themes.

I found out that I can help people understand their unique strength through honesty, respect, curiosity and intuition.

Puzzle piece

Something continued to gnaw, I felt that a piece of the puzzle was missing in that big puzzle of life. After another skiing accident in March 2018, I was glued to the bank. My heavy concussion, whiplash, bruised vertebrae and shifted pelvis needed rest. Again, the question arose: “What now?”

Little by little, also depending on the cooperation of my bruised brain, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to start my own Lodge. In a concept where everything comes together that I love so much and that gives me so much energy. My service skills in the form of hospitality, my love for life and beauty, my perseverance, my curiosity about people, my empathy, my entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. All this in a beautiful place where I can also give my retreats.

Where you get inspired so that new dreams and unforgettable memories can be created.

This magical place is in Austria. The country where my parents took me from an early age and where I have so many wonderful memories. From the age of 19, I fell in love with the mountains again, this time covered in all their grandeur under a thick layer of snow with magic crystals. Since then I have had the good fortune to be able to visit the country where I have pledged my heart and which inspires me many times. My dream has come to life here; Lodge Rose’s Heart.