In July 2008 I was in a car accident. Today it feels like something that happened a long time ago, and in many ways it is. In July it will be 14 years ago. The accident happened on Sunday 6 July 2008. I think it’s one of those things that one think about from time to time.

A friend and I had been to a wedding, and were on our way home. It had been raining heavily, and on our way home we had to drive through several tunnels. Right outside of Drammen, we drove through a tunnel, and suddenly the car windows fogged up. We quickly rolled down the side windows, but all of a sudden we could feel the car spinning. Another car had somehow gotten into our lane, probably due to the same problem, and crashed into my friend’s car. I remember someone asking me if I was OK, and I answered “No!” Next thing I remember is waking up, laying on the ground inside the tunnel, with people standing around me. Right then in that moment, I thought I had a nightmare, and tried to wake up…

I was so scared, but there were people by my side comforting me. Strangers, how showed nothing but kindness. My friend was also there. It didn’t take to long, though, before the ambulance arrived and we were brought to the hospital.

At the hospital I was surrounded by staff who did a lot of tests, and I was brought to do a CT scan. I had to wait outside the CT scan room, as someone else needed it more urgently. With me was a medicine student who was very sweet and really helped me feel safe. When it was my turn, I got an IV inserted contrast agent. It was really unpleasant!

Fortunately, I had no serve physical injuries, but I was in a lot of pain. It was a big relief when I got to go home in the evening, and could sleep in my own bed.

Something I’ve thought about later, is the fact there was never an offer of psychological help after the accident. Never a question if I needed to talk to someone. Even though I’m fine today, that might not have been the case.

If there’s something I’ve learnt from this, it’s that life is precious. You never know what tomorrow brings, and you should never let an opportunity pass just because you’re scared of what you don’t know. The future is uncertain, take chances! Follow your dreams, don’t let your fear stop you.

After almost three weeks inside with Covid-19, I went outside for the first time today. Last time I was outside it was still winter and February. Now we’re well into March, and spring has happened while I was couped up inside. I was only outside for a couple of small errands, so it wasn’t exactly an expedition.

The sun was shining, and I decided on getting a take-away coffee. It was so nice to feel the warm weather, enjoying the warm oat latte, and walk slowly home.

“Morning person” is not something I want to call myself. But most day I have to get up early, like most other people. If possible, I don’t like to rush it. And the days I have time, I make myself a cup of coffee, and sit down with a book.

It is those mornings I like the most. The slow ones, where I can enjoy the black gold and a good story.

Like so many others, I am the sort of person who get my energy drained by being social, and I can find crowds of people especially tiring. But I am also a city person, so it’s hard to avoid people when you’re out and about.

A few years ago I bought a pair of noise cancelling headphones. The main reason for getting them was to close out noise when I travel by plane (I have done a lot of flying the last few years), but it didn’t take long to discover that they do wonders other times as well. I don’t even need to put the actual noise cancelling on most of the time!

Putting my headphones on, and putting on some fitting music (yoga music is especially calming), and in that way just close out the world, reduces my stress level so much! I love it!

What is your life hack to stress down when you’re out and about and around people?

When I was younger, I used to have a lot of spoons (if you have no idea what the number of spoons symbolise, you can read the Wikipedia article about the theory). I seemed to be able to be active and do whatever I wanted to do. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to have much energy left over when I am done at work.

Before you wonder, I will have to say that I love my job. I am a librarian, and I feel like I am on the right shelf in life. Helping others feela right, and I get to things I feel passionate about. I am so lucky.

I don’t know when my energy level fell drastically. Most probably it was a combination of things, but I know that I can’t use all my spoons on things that doesn’t make it feel worth it. I have to prioritise. I am in my mid fourties, and the “king in my own life”, as a former colleague used to say. I should decide what’s important to me. Therefore I have decided that the main activities for me outside of work will be writing and working out. A combination of things that I know I will enjoy.

Which activities outside of work or school is important to you? Are you good at finding time for them?