The best year of my life, was the year I spent working at Walt Disney World in 1995/96. I landed in Orlando on september 10th as an innocent 21 year old, not quite knowing what to expect and ready for new adventures… I was fortunate enough to be one of six Norwegians to be part of the Fellowship Ambassador Program at EPCOT, a year that gave me many different experiences and also provided me with knowledge I still use to this day. Being around so many people from all over the world, gave me a new outlook on life and forever changed my view and respect for diversity. I worked at the Norway Pavilion, had internships and represented both Norway and Walt Disney World at several events. I was able to visit the parks whenever I wanted and there was fireworks every night at closing. Basically, it was the perfect place to be!!

Like all dreams, it came to an end… For me it was a brutal end! I went back to Norway and wanted nothing more than to return to Florida. I felt like I had left a big piece of my heart behind and would try my best to find a way to return. I applied for the Green Card Lottery a few times after returning to Norway, but was never the lucky winner… As the years went by, I had several different jobs within the service/travel industry at home. However, I always had this longing to return to Disney and could never settle down like I wanted to. Whenever my life was tough, I would dream away once more and Walt Disney World became my escape.

As part of a downward spiral, I experienced what most people would call a mid-life crisis. At age 37 I was a conductor with the Norwegian Railroad and had been for a few years. I had a good job and I was good at it, but I wasn’t feeling so good… July 2012 was the summer that changed my life completely and was the start of a long healing process. It took me a couple of years and involved therapy, frustration, regret for dreams that was never realized. But most importantly, I was able to find the strength and courage within myself to get back up! As a result, I went back to university in August last year to finish a degree that had been 20 years in the making. And having gone to therapy every week for six months last year, I was able to change something important in my head: escape from problems is never a good solution, because the problems will always be there when you return…

So what about that escape? Instead of living in broken dreams of the past, I try to utilize my experience from the past into something good here and now. Life needs to be lived in the present, where all opportunities are open to those who look for them. Walt Disney World is still the symbol of the single best year in my life and always will be. But I have learned how to deal with my problems and I no longer need to escape when life is difficult!

Internet as we know it today is celebrating 20 years in 2015! The history of Internet began in the 1950s, with the development of the computer. Different versions of Internet existed in closed arenas from early on, but it came to the public knowledge and usage in 1995. In the 20 years since the common man got access to Internet, it has become a staple in every household and has developed to become a massive universe where you can achieve anything you want! It makes your day easier, since you have the ability to organize your life via the computer. Every business who wants to stay on top of things, have their own website and you can do all your banking in the comfort of your own home. Basically, you can organize yourself in such a way that you don’t really have to leave home as long as you have an Internet connection. But is being connected to Internet 24/7 and having everything available, always positive?

Being born in 1973, I can relate to a time when cellphones and computers were totally unknown. Instead of spending a lot of time with Nintendo and Playstation 1, 2, 3 & 4, I grew up interacting with people and developing my social skills. These days, kids grow up being computer literate almost from their time of birth. And it’s no doubt something that will prove valuable when they grow up, but are they also missing out on important things?

With the introduction of smartphones and tablets, everything has become available all the time. However, there seems to be a difference in usage that depends on what generation you belong to. Those who were born without Internet available seem to log on fewer times during a day and spend more time online when they’re logged on. Where as the younger generations log on numerous times throughout the day and spend little time online for each session.

The question that comes to mind is this: Has Internet made life better?

In my opinion, the Internet and it’s availability (on numerous platforms) has not made life better. Easier, no doubt!! But not better! I find that people are slowly becoming more selfish, more obsessed with being perfect and losing the ability to interact properly with other human beings! The need to check Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other applications at all times, is a constant interruption and disturbance in socializing with others. Not to mention that it can be perceived as bad manners and a waste of someone’s valuable time.

I think we’re ready for a revolution! It’s only a matter of time before it will be deemed exclusive to have real-time conversations and spend time socializing with each other, instead of always being updated on numerous applications! I have deleted Facebook and messenger on my iPhone, so as to not have the opportunity to check in, check messages and be occupied with social media while I’m spending time socializing with people! Are you ready for that?

If you’re like me, you probably have accounts with several social media applications like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc etc… But have you ever thought about why you have those accounts and what they do for you… or better yet, to you?  Did it ever occur to you that you might be addicted?

My best friend gave me a challenge a while back and it was very simple – to stay away from Facebook for 48 hours and then blog about the result (which I did in Norwegian back in February). He’s not on Facebook and prefers to spend his time in «the real world», while I constantly argue that Facebook is very practical when it comes to keeping in touch with friends around the world! Needless to say, he didn’t think I wouldn’t make it and I wasn’t that sure myself… The moment he left my apartment, the first thing on my mind was to check Facebook to see what was new. Instead, I went to settings on my iPhone and removed all notifications for Facebook and started my quest!

I have to admit that it was tough that first day, since checking social media has become a habit when I’m not busy… The next morning, I managed to stay away from Facebook as I went to my kitchen to make breakfast and my ability to stay away got stronger as the day progressed. By the time I went to bed that day, it wasn’t even an issue… At the end of the two day challenge, I discovered that I had no problem staying away from Facebook when needed! An added bonus was that my focus on other social media applications, such as Instagram and Snapchat, had diminished as well…

So what was the consequence of that experiment? I’m still on Facebook, but I have a much stronger focus on why I’m still there… I have decided to use Facebook, instead of being used. In addition I have also removed Facebook and Messenger from my iPhone, as I no longer see the need to be reachable at all times! It has reminded me that people are more important than random updates on Facebook, so I check Facebook when I’m alone…  Socializing is much more fun when people actually talk to each other in person, rather than via social media when sitting in the same room!

Still not sure if you’re addicted? If checking Facebook is the first and last thing on your mind every day, I’d say you have reasons to get worried….