I was tired of living in Sweden and my monotonous life. Having just turned 50, divorced, and utterly fed up with the life I was leading, I needed a change. For the past 15 years, I had worked as a project manager, building and developing various socially sustainable projects. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was my area of expertise. I was employed by municipalities and various organizations. Indeed, I had achieved success; I was respected and earned a good income as an author, speaker, and professional. I owned a beautiful house by the sea, a tropical garden with two terraces, a sleek sports car, and an outdoor jacuzzi in the forest, where deer would peer into my windows in the morning. For many, this would be considered a successful life, a testament to good living, and I was often thought of as a lucky man.
However, I was not happy. My stress levels had increased over the years; with success came responsibilities and expectations. Living under constant pressure is the norm when you're raised to believe achievement is a measure of your worth as a person. The quality of life cannot be measured by money or possessions; material things cannot bring true happiness. My days were long, starting before sunrise and ending late after I had made dinner, relaxed in my jacuzzi, and gone to sleep, only to repeat the same routine every day.
Money cannot buy more time. On weekends—Saturdays and Sundays—I was busy visiting my mother, meeting friends, and spending time with my children, always trying to please everyone around me. Occasionally, I would go out to socialize, get drunk, and try to find companionship. I was sick and tired of my life, the monotony, and the rigid schedules. I decided to make a drastic change. I sold everything, booked a ticket to Thailand, and in March, I arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport early in the morning. /Anders