Our life in the Netherlands was marked by busyness and a fair amount of chaos. Screaming kids, packed schedules, and irregular shifts—just your typical young family life. On a good day, you might call it “dynamic,” “surprising,” and “energizing.” On a bad day, it feels like “utter chaos,” “who is this even fun for?” and “where is my me-time??!”

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But whenever I managed to step away for a weekend in the mountains or the forest, a deep sense of calm would wash over me. There’s something about a beautiful view or a misty heath that invites reflection. Once I’m in nature, my sense of contentment grows so much, and my worries seem to shrink.

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Back in the Netherlands, I worked with great pleasure as a general practitioner in the Haarlem region. It was engaging and challenging work, but also demanding and full of (organizational) pitfalls. Shortly after we moved to Haugesund, I traded my doctor’s bag for a white uniform and started working in the Emergency Department.

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And when I’m not practicing medicine? I load up the Toyota and head out as much as possible with Marijn and the kids—sometimes with friends or like-minded people—into the woods and onto the trails. Walking, skiing, cycling, and simply letting my mind wander.