At the end of last year I applied for the Fjallraven Polar. A super cool 300km dogsled experience in Northern Europe hosted by the outdoor brand Fjallraven. The application process was pretty simple, post three short videos on my Instagram based on different topics. Little did I know that there was a global field of 30,000 other souls keen for an adventure. To me that highlights the value of spending time in nature and trying something new. Unfortunately I wasn’t the lucky needle in the haystack. That’s life … we win a few we loose a few. And I’m ok with that. But I have’t given up … I would love to join the media team and capture the spirit of Fjallraven Polar in imagery. Something I do really well.

What the application has given me, was the value of pressing pause and look in the rearview mirror. What has passed in 48 years of living, traveling, exploring, learning, growing, stumbling and celebrating. A recap. I must admit I had a little whooohaaaa moment with all the goodness I’ve done. Putting the videos together made me go back to family albums and old shoeboxes with rolls of film and prints. Yes old school pre-digital stuff. From a 1997 winter Scotland hiking trip with my buddy Menno, a failed attempt to winter climb Mt Blanc and our truly epic family road trip driving from Dubai to Amsterdam. And so much more. YES I’m uber blessed with the memories and the lovely people I got to share it with.

Alongside the creative of putting the video’s together, it also made me reflect. So what is the essence of life? We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. Saying that … a meaningful life is not about massive amount of travel but living with intend and purpose. Living in the spirit of going somewhere new and stepping out of our daily bubble. Travel helps to broaden perspective and appreciate the life we’re living. But there is more … the legendary climber Hilaree Nelson RiP, shares it so well in the Rich Roll podcast. “It’s truly necessary to have a passion as compass in life.” Short and sweet, yet complex to answer. What I found over the years is that my focus and direction changes. Age, relocation, a young family all have a big influence on my way forward. In one of my doodle journaling books I found a scribble that may summarize my vision best (for now at least). To live adventures, to help people tell powerful stories and to get more people out in wild places. It resembles my photography & film work, the brands I wanna work with, my personal gigs and a new thing I’m building with culinary fires (more to come).

So thank you Fjallraven for prompting me to make the below videos. Little did I know how profound the outcome would be.

Wk.