MS patient Hans van Hezewijk from Zoetermeer wrote a book about being happy with limitations. On April 22, he came to City Hall to hand it over to Alderman Ingeborg ter Laak. The e-book is available for free at www.genietenmetbeperkingen.nl. Hezewijk: "I have often been helped by people in Zoetermeer. In this way I want to give something back."

As an MS patient, Hans is dealing with loss of functions of his body. Currently, he still has strength in one arm. His attitude is not to sit by, but to come up with creative solutions. "This is often not even that difficult," he says, and he gives several examples of this in his book. He also pays close attention to his health (especially his weight) and is good at keeping things in perspective. "After all, you only live once." According to the author, his book can also help healthy people put a positive spin on their lives.

Alderman Ingeborg ter Laak: "Hans' story is a great example of 'positive health,' something we are paying a lot of attention to these days. With positive health we shift the emphasis from illness and disability to the ability to adapt and take control of your own life. Without denying that limitations are also just really annoying and that people sometimes need professional help."