When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

7 years ago we had just moved to Norway but my husband had to go back to sell our house & pack up our belongings.

I was left by myself for 4 months, where I had to pay the rent & manage my own money. It was very stressful in the beginning.

I also had full responsibility for the four legged creature. Who immediately began stress puking at night after my husband left.

The sun had just returned up North so that was a plus. But being on my own was hard. I’d go visit my grandmother whenever I could. I also made friends with her friends & they began checking in on me. That made loneliness much easier to bear.

I’m proud of myself as I managed to do it & it really made me feel like a grown up for the first time in my life.

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

For me growing up in a turbulent & unsafe house made me drawn to bad men. Narcissists, emotional abusers & of course control freaks.

I swore at the end of my 20’s that I’d stop dating men that hurt me emotionally & physically. The hardest part was Not dating at all.

I remember feeling really lonely around my 30’s because the only men I trusted were the ones I was friends with & had no sexual component with. I trusted my local barista more than some random in the café.

Choosing for the first time myself. It was hard but worth it as my now husband is also my best friend. He’s kind & patient & sweet. Yes, we have disagreements but we solve them together. The hardest goal I set for myself was in my late 20’s. Now, I’m in a boundary respecting relationship where we both have say.

Who are your favorite artists?

If it’s art, then I’ve a few such as Matisse & Munch & others. If it’s music, I have a broad spectrum of what I listen to so too many to mention.

When it comes to writers, I have many. Just not sci-fi that I’m not into. But I like the classics such as David Foster Wallace, Brontë sisters.

Artist is such a broad term, who inspires you?