In two months, I will start my mandatory military service. Although “mandatory” isn’t entirely accurate since, as a woman in Denmark, I can volunteer for it. Still, I’m very excited. It feels nerve-wracking and super cool at the same time. I hope to learn a lot about myself, others, and where my limits are. I’m trying not to worry too much about how it will go. The worst thing that could happen is that I decide to stop if it doesn’t feel right for me.
Right now, I’m planning my work/holiday trip to New Zealand. My visa got approved, so now I’m about to book a flight. I’ve planned to go in June, straight after my military service, and just in time for the start of the ski season in NZ. The plan is to work at a ski resort in Wanaka—work, ski, and hopefully meet some amazing people. For the job, I need to write a CV to apply to the ski resort, and if I’m lucky, I’ll get a job there. If not, I’ll just go anyway and ask at local cafes and shops if they need any help.
The past few months have been great. I’ve had so much time to think about who I am and what I want. I’ve learned so much about myself and life in general. Through that, I’ve gained confidence and an inner motivation to pursue my dreams. I’ve never felt so free—I can really do whatever I want when I want, and that’s such a relief. Of course, nothing comes without effort. Anyone who wants to accomplish something needs to make a plan and work for it, and I’m so ready to do that. I think the reason I feel ready is that I have a clear purpose. I know why I want to do the things I do, and that gives me the strength to work toward my dreams at any moment. My “why” is big enough.
So, what is my dream? In general, I just want to live my life fully. My life is shaped by how I live it—my habits, my decisions, my relationships, my work, and my beliefs. My dream is to always follow my gut, listen to how I’m feeling, and take action based on that. The truth is, I’m already living my dream. I’m listening to myself and taking action accordingly, and that’s not easy. It takes a lot of work and discipline. But I’d rather take control of my life than let others control it for me.
We can’t control everything that happens in life, but we can control how we react to it. Learning to react in alignment with ourselves requires self-knowledge, which builds confidence. It also requires calmness and time. Like everything else, this is something we can learn. What we don’t change, we’re choosing. That might sound a little harsh, but I believe the alternative is twice as hard. So, now it’s time to choose your hard. Make your decisions and do what feels right for you. And this can be totally different from what feels right for your family, friends, or society. It just needs to be right for you. At the same time, don’t forget to stay open. One of the most courageous things you can do is admit when you’re wrong and change course.
So, what feels right for me? For me, it feels right to pursue knowledge, get closer to the truth, and help the world become a better place for every single human, animal, plant… the whole universe. I want to be a researcher. I want to gain knowledge and share it with the world.
Besides that, I love being active and playing sports. I love spending time with people I care about and who care about me. I love music, cooking, and going on adventures. I love watching a great movie, reading a book, or staring at the stars, sunrises, and sunsets. I grew up by the sea, so I can’t imagine not living near it in the future. I love surfing and skiing in the mountains. I love challenges. I want to complete an Ironman, run a marathon, and take part in lots of adventure competitions.
That is the life I want to pursue.
