Cycling.

I just came back from a short trip on my bicycle. Half way I stopped to take a few pictures to show you some of the landscape I rode through.

Living in the area called the Homeland of the Viking Kings it wasn't a surprise meeting this guy.  

Mental illness, professional and private.

During my professional life I've been working at different kinds of psychiatric units and community based halfway houses. I've also experienced mental illness in my family through my life.
Still I can't stop wondering how different the experiences are between the two (professional and private life).
As years go by I experience that more and more people with mental disorders are reporting to have a good quality of life. Still I get concerned and worried when members of my family are struggling with mental illness. I even try to convince them what they are going through are normal struggles in life and not psychiatry when I should know better.
One of the important factors to experience a good life, in general, but especially for people experiencing mental illness is the feeling of being in control. When a member of my family is telling me about his or hers mental illness and I tell them it's something else I deprive them from being in control.
I should have known better and will try to change starting today. I will make an effort being more supportive to the members of my family struggling with mental illness.

Yesterdays morning walk.

When I have the opportunity I will go for a morning walk.  The walk gives me the opportunity to clear my head before starting the day at work. Some mornings the walk is short others I do have time for a longer walk. Out walking I let the world around me inspire and give me new energy.

Walking in a scenery like this gives me inspiration and energy.

I'm lucky living in  a area with beautiful and dramatic nature. We have mountains, forests and the sea close to us. I'm happy to live in this Wonderful World.

Sunset.

Friday, when I was driving home, I saw this beautiful sunset.

The traffic in front of me stood still and I was able to take this picture. When I kept on driving I realized that a car had hit a wall next to the road was causing the stop in the traffic. I found out later that the driver of the car wasn't injured but I can't stop wondering if the beautiful sunset distracted him. But these days it's probably a more plausible explanation that he was distracted by his phone.

A quiet morning.

I'm still in the process of quitting my old job. There are some people I will miss when I've finished as well as the landscape I drive through every morning.

During the day at work I've realized I will bring some of these people into my new chapters in my life.

Time will tell if we will be colleagues, coworkers or the relationships will continue as friendships. 

I wish you all a fantastic weekend, where ever you are and what ever your plans for the weekend are.

Young explorer.

One of my favorite activities on a Sunday is to go on an expedition with my 7 year old son. Trying to see this wonderful world through his eyes. In our neighborhood there are lots of beautiful and mysterious places which I would never see or experience without his help.

Yesterday our expedition brought us to this new destination, unknown to me, just a few hundred meters from our house.

Two days of fun.

Thursday and Friday we spent the day in Kongeparken just outside our old hometown Sandnes.

The two oldest kids stayed home while the youngest enjoyed have his parents on his own.

High fives to Brumle, one of the mascots in the park.

Driving gocart is great fun.

Kongeparken is getting ready for Halloween 

Day two and Frede is getting tougher.

After a week of vacation from school and work we are ready for the life of everyday waiting for Christmas vacation in snowy Ørsta in Sunnmøre.

It's been more than 20 years.

A week ago I experienced that one of my new colleagues was an old friend and former colleague who I've met only once, very briefly, the last 20 years. Our first meeting last week was also very short. Yesterday that changed. We where working together for almost eight hours.
It was interesting, but not surprising, realizing I was not aware it had been more than 20 years ago the last time we spent time together. It felt like we had been apart barely a day or so. It makes me happy realizing that my wonderful world and life is blessed with new and old people who bring out the best in me and make the good feelings grow. It is easy making changes when I get rewards like this.

Nobel peace prize.

Today the Norwegian Nobel committee made their announcement. This years winner of the Nobel peace prize is the president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos. But the prize is also a salute to the people of Colombia and all those who has been killed in the conflict who has been tormenting the country for more than 50 years.
The fact that the people votet no for the peace agreement tells us this is not the end of the conflict but hopefully the beginning of the end. Let's hope the Nobel peace prize will help the people of Colombia in their quest for peace as soon as possible.

It's been hard.

I still haven't left behind some of the things I've planned to leave behind. Parts of my family are skeptical about some of my changes. My decisions will affect my wife and children, not only me. One positive thing will be a more happy me. One of the negative is probably less money. 

For me personally it's easy. My wellbeing is way more important than money.

Being happy, will probably give me extra energy. Extra energy will enable me to do what's needed to get back to the level of previous pay checks. All I need to do is to stick to the plan and convince my closest family that I've made the right choices.

Making me proud.

I just came home after watching my 16 years old daughter playing a handball match. It was a senior match, meaning that some of her opponents where 10 years older than her.
That didn't stop her. Her team lost 16 - 30 to a better team. But my daughter played a very good match scoring 6 goals and got to penalties for her team from her position as a winger. As always she was also defending very well. She might have received a broken nose without complaining.
She's probably the toughest girl I know. Physically and mentally strong. No wonder I'm proud of my girl.