About

marlinda

rudolph

About

My Story

I want to invite you into the life of me, Marlinda.

Life with Marlinda is a little bit of everything.

And let’s get real… Marlinda’s life is a world where nothing is necessarily perfect. Actually it’s mostly messy, to be honest. But that’s just a life thing.

My life, in many ways, is just an ordinary life. Yet I’ve come to find it beautiful and, in so many ways, even extraordinary in its own right! Because there is beauty in an ordinary life when you actually choose to notice it and own it.

There will be pretty pictures, moments I’m proud of and days when I feel I’ve got this life thing nailed. Some days I’ll have the motivation, the discipline, the workout, the good hair and the feeling that I’m absolutely smashing it.

And then there will also be the other days.

Those days when things don’t go according to plan, I question myself, get it wrong, change my mind or simply don’t have my stuff together and cry over something random like dropping a glass jar with organic peanut butter.

Let’s just say…those are what we’ll call the character building days.

You’ll get to see those too.

I’m not here to present a perfect life. I’m here to share a real one. The things I love, what I’m learning, what challenges me and, yes, the things I often also get utterly and spectacularly wrong!

Some of it will be honest, raw, vulnerable and from the heart.

Some of it will be cheeky, tongue-in-cheek and probably a little ridiculous.

Because life is far too short not to have fun and laugh a lot.

I don’t believe that life is about having everything figured out. I think it’s about being willing to keep living, staying curious, learning, laughing, growing and becoming.

I’m still becoming.

I’m still learning who I am, what I want, what matters to me and what I’m prepared to leave behind. And I think that’s one of the best things about life – we’re never really finished.

There’s something liberating about getting older and realising you don’t have to become less of yourself. If anything, maybe this is the time to become more of yourself.

That’s a big part of what I hope to share here. My journey of learning to truly own each day, to live more authentically and unapologetically as myself, and to find my own unique sparkle.

Let’s just say… I do ME, so you can be inspired to do YOU.

Not every day feels fabulous.

There are things we learn the hard way. Things we change our minds about. Things we cry about. Things we need to talk about honestly, openly and without sugar-coating them.

There is the good, the bad, the ugly, but also the beautiful.

There are the absolutely ordinary days. The quiet, everyday ones that might not seem particularly exciting, but still hold their own kind of beauty.

And then there are those exciting, extraordinary days that remind us just how incredible life can be.

Because life is meant to be lived.

I’m not here to tell you how to live your life.

You get to decide that for yourself.

I’m inviting you into mine.

And maybe this space will remind you that you don’t need permission to be exactly who you are. You don’t need to fit neatly into anyone else’s idea of what a woman should look like, act like or want.

Hopefully, somewhere along the way, you’ll find some inspiration here. Perhaps something you see, read or learn will make you view yourself and your own life a little differently. Maybe you’ll notice more beauty in the everyday life you’re already living, or feel encouraged to embrace a life that is authentically and unapologetically yours and become excited to make it your own, enjoy it and live it a little more fully.

Because…

Let’s get real…

It’s a life thing.

Who is Marlinda?

I’m Marlinda Rudolph — a proudly South African wife living in the UAE with my husband, Riaan, and our wonderfully chaotic multiple-dog household.

And speaking of Riaan… we’ve known each other for 3 decades and we’ve been married for 22 years. Riaan’s my best friend, biggest supporter and cheerleader when it comes all my fun and crazy ventures and, in my completely unbiased opinion, a ridiculously handsome guy. He flies helicopters for a living and he obviously shares my love for animals! I genuinely like doing life with him.

I love to laugh, have fun and be playful. I get ridiculously excited about the things I love — so much so that I can talk you to death about them. I believe we’re never too old to be silly, enthusiastic and curious about the things that light us up.

I’m a lifelong learner who believes life is meant to be lived fully — experienced, enjoyed and embraced in all its beautiful, messy and unexpected detail. I’m fascinated by what makes people tick: what makes us think, feel and behave the way we do, and how our mindset shapes our habits, actions and lives.

I’m a lifelong learner, and my curiosity has taken me down some wonderfully random paths over the years. My background includes theology, pastoral therapy and counseling, dealing with complex trauma, life and motivational coaching, public and motivational speaking, health, wellness and nutritional coaching, fitness, animal behaviour and training, and animal assisted intervention.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag – but somehow it all connects to my endless curiosity about people, animals, behaviour, wellbeing and what makes us tick.

That curiosity is also what draws me to health, wellness, nutrition, fitness, personal growth and transformation. I love looking after my body, getting stronger, challenging myself and learning more about the person I’m becoming.

I don’t believe life becomes less exciting because you reach a certain age. If anything, I think there’s always more to experience, understand and enjoy.

I do my best to look after my body because I get to live my life in it. For me, it’s not about being perfect — it’s about feeling strong and appreciating the body that carries me through this life.

You’ll probably find me in workout clothes most days, but that doesn’t mean I’m prepared to sacrifice looking cute. I still like my gym gear to match, coordinate and have a little personality.

That’s also why I’ve developed a passion for pole fitness. I love the strength, the challenge, the femininity, the confidence and the satisfaction of learning something my body couldn’t do before.

And I have an unhealthy appreciation for beautiful shoes, so naturally I had to find a form of exercise where wearing gorgeous heels is actually part of the deal.

I’m passionate about personal development and the process of becoming more comfortable in your own skin. I love seeing women find their confidence and grow into themselves — not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve been through my own shares of loss, trauma and difficult seasons myself, and I’m still learning and growing through it all.

And then there’s the woman I am within all of that.

I’m a girly girl who loves lashes, nails, pretty things and getting completely glammed up. I love a stunning outfit, ridiculous heels and enough luxurious-smelling perfume to announce my arrival before I do.

I want to look like I’m on my way to a red-carpet awards show for the film adaptation of my own life.

I firmly believe you can never be overdressed for any occasion. Life is too short not to wear the outfit and the shoes, add a little sparkle and make an entrance — even if the destination is only the supermarket.

But I’m equally happy with no make-up, messy hair and bare feet in the sand. I enjoy getting dirty in the garden, walking through the bush or over the desert dunes and spending time in nature.

I don’t mind being covered in dog slobber, smelling like horses, coming home with dirt under my nails or looking like I’m auditioning for the role of someone who lives somewhere under a bridge.

I love strength and softness. Glamour and simplicity. Heels and bare feet. A beautiful restaurant and sitting somewhere in nature with nothing particularly fancy going on.

Nature gives me peace and perspective. It reminds me to slow down, breathe and appreciate where I am.

I think that’s one of the things I love most about being a woman — we don’t have to choose one version of ourselves. We can be strong and grounded, adventurous and soft, completely put together one day and wonderfully messy the next.

Relationships are a huge part of my life. I love my marriage, my friendships and having people around me. I love hosting people and opening my home to create a space where people can relax, laugh, talk nonsense, eat, just be themselves and feel loved.

There’s always room for one more.

Animals are another huge part of my life. I’m deeply connected to them and fascinated by what they can teach us about trust, communication, behaviour and presence.

Dogs, especially rescue dogs, have a huge place in my heart. I love their stories, their individuality and the unique ways they connect with us. They have a way of reminding us to be honest, observant and fully present.

I’m also interested in a whole lot of other random things — cars, motorbikes, gardening, shopping, beautiful shoes and all the funny moments in between.

I like that life can be meaningful and ridiculous at the same time.

Oh, and I’m pretty sure my birthstone might just be a coffee bean. I love coffee an entirely unreasonable amount.

And then there’s pink.

Pink isn’t just my favourite colour — I think pink is an attitude. Especially the unapologetically loud, in-your-face kind of hot pink.

It’s feminine, playful, confident and a little extra, which probably explains a lot about me.

But pink doesn’t stand alone. I have a serious love for black too. Black brings the edge, the attitude and a little bit of badassery.

Add some sparkle to the mix and, well… now we’re talking.

I don’t have life figured out, and I’m not here to present a perfect version of it.

I’m sharing what I love, what I’m learning, what challenges me and the woman I’m becoming — with honesty, humour, curiosity and a healthy appreciation for a little extra.

And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.