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Foreword.
They say that if your work is your passion, you’ll never have to work again.
But what happens when that passion begins to consume you? When your job, once fulfilling, becomes all-encompassing, leaving little room for anything, or anyone, else? What if, somewhere along the way, you realize that your marriage is no longer as strong as it once was, strained by the relentless demands of your career? And what if, in an attempt to escape, you throw yourself into a hobby, only to find that it, too, devours what little free time you have left? Work and passion, both once sources of joy, slowly taking over until…
January 4, 2022. A new year had begun, filled with promise, with success as the guiding theme. The atmosphere at the office was upbeat, filled with optimism. And then, something happened…
What exactly? I don’t remember. All I know is that, in a single moment, everything inside me short-circuited. I grabbed my bag and walked away. Away from the office. Away from home. Away from everything.
Years of pushing forward, of ignoring the warning signs, had finally caught up with me. Every suppressed signal, every dismissed fatigue, had led to this breaking point, a point I had never imagined reaching. Burnout. I had lost myself, and I had no idea where to begin searching for the person I used to be. I felt like I was drowning, completely alone, unable to grasp control over my own life. But I wasn’t alone. I was surrounded by incredible people, my children, my business partners, my friends, my family. Step by step, they helped me breathe again. They reminded me to pause, to reflect, and ultimately, to start anew.
The year 2022 became a year of transformation, a year of change. And within that change, a long-buried dream finally took shape. A plan, set in motion for 2024: my journey along the S:t Olavsleden, a pilgrimage that would change me in ways I could never have foreseen.
But this dream wasn’t born overnight. For years, I had harboured the desire to embark on a long-distance hike, but the well-trodden Camino de Santiago never quite called to me. The heat, the crowds, it wasn’t what I was looking for. I needed something else. Something quieter. Something deeper.
Taking a step back from my professional life gave me the space to truly listen, to myself, to my aspirations, to the fleeting nature of time itself. My business partners and I watched people around us fall ill, some even passing away. People our age. People younger than us. And it struck us: we are not immortal. We could keep working, keep grinding, keep telling ourselves that someday, after retirement, we would finally live our dreams.
But what if “someday” never comes?
Together, we made a decision. A radical one. We chose to do things differently. Instead of postponing our dreams, we would make space for them now. We agreed to give each other three-month sabbaticals, one by one, to pursue what truly mattered to us. For me, this was my chance, my opportunity to turn a long-held dream into reality.
How beautiful life can be when you give yourself the time to reflect, to grow, to simply be. My pilgrimage along the S:t Olavsleden became something far greater than just a physical journey. It was a journey inward. A journey to rediscovering myself. I learned the profound power of silence, the beauty of simplicity, and the liberation that comes with letting go. And along the way, I realized something: standing still is not the same as being stuck. In fact, sometimes, standing still is the only way to truly move forward.
To everyone who helped me prepare for this journey, thank you. I won’t name names, for fear of overlooking someone, but know this: I am endlessly grateful for your advice, your encouragement, and your unwavering support. You made this experience unforgettable.
Looking back now, I see that this journey was not just a gift to myself. It was a gift to my future. It taught me the importance of stepping away, of making time to truly live, of rekindling my energy and passion. And though I don’t know what the future holds, I do know this: I am ready for it.
And if life and body allow, I will do this again.