This is me. I am a psychologist. It has taken me a long time to identify with my profession, but now I feel that psychology is a part of me.
I was way too young when I started studying psychology, and many times I felt that my studies interfered with my trying to find out how to live my life as a young adult. When I finally got my degree, I took a long break. I lived in a commune and quit my job in order to go to India and sit with a spiritual master. For two years I studied fine arts at a Folk high school and I considered becoming an artist, but I found out that the job is too lonely for me.
I traveled a lot, I have hitchhiked from Utrecht to Lillehammer, Berlin, Basel and Split, to name a few. Finally I studied Swedish for a couple of months, put three changes of clothing and a toothbrush in a rucksack, and left my home country to start afresh in Sweden.
I have lived more than half of my life now. I have understood that it is too late for some aspirations. I'm very interested in neuropsychology, but I won't specialize into this field, even though I did complete a specialist course in clinical neuropsychology a couple of years ago.
But apart from these few things that have disappeared, so much more has been added to my life.
The greatest one of all, I found love. I share my life with the most wonderful man in the cosmos and beyond. He has brought his children and grandchildren into my life, all ten of them.
I have a job I enjoy. Previously I worked as a schoolpsychologist in an immigrant area close to Stockholm. My main task was assessment, but I was blessed to have the time and the freedom to do whatever I thought was needed to help a child and its family. Now I work in child psychiatry. I am touched by many of the children I meet, and my colleagues are just the best.
After work, I bikehome. Halfway, my husband joins me. We have sold our car. A car is a primitive, stinking and obsolete means of transport, which has not developed in a hundred years.
Over the years, areas of interest have come and gone. As a teenager, I could not be bothered with chemistry or science, but lately I have studied both. To me, it is the greatest mystery of all that everything is mostly nothing. All this space in the atom, between electrons and the nucleus, filled with nothing, nothing at all!
One of the pleasures of science is that you can illustrate with nice pictures. Here is my favourite neuropics site. I especially like the "learning pictures", with and without labels.
And then there is Wikipedia. I am a true generalist, and even though I keep sadly removing pages from my watchlist, I cannot get it down to less than 3000. Oh well.
To me, contributing to Wikipedia is a beautiful exercise in getting involved and letting go immediately. And yes, the best of the internet is free!
Bling bling! All of them very much appreciated
The Psychology Barnstar
Awarded in recognition of your great work fighting vandalism
For your comment here. There's at least three barnstars that apply to what you said, but I just thought this one fit best. Great argument. Lightheadþ 06:29, 8 September 2012 (UTC)
The Barnstar of Integrity
You receive a lot of appreciation, many "Thank you!"s I admire your diligence in responding to other Wikipedians. Joshua Jonathan (talk) 19:45, 28 November 2012 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
For your great kindness and encouragements. Thanks a lot. ···Vanischenu「m/Talk」 10:04, 13 January 2013 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
For going above and beyond the call of duty to encourage new Wikipedians. Thank you! Firecatalta (talk) 01:08, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
Keep up the good work!! Gwhodge (talk) 16:32, 14 March 2013 (UTC)
The Original Barnstar
For your excellent work on psychology related articles. This is one of the most difficult subjects to work one thus my extra appreciation. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) (if I write on your page reply on mine) 15:16, 2 April 2013 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
Your page (life) is inspiring... saw that you've edited
the motor neuron page a lot recently...
So wondering... are these typos?:
Motor neurones are neurones that carry signals from the spinal Wikicello (talk) 05:06, 5 July 2013 (UTC)
The Editor's Barnstar
I rarely come across a psychology-related article (psychology being my primary interest) where you have not made important contributions. You not only have composed cogent, erudite original content for many articles, but you also refine, spruce up, and inevitably improve every article I have encountered with your name in the list of editors. Thank you. Mark D Worthen PsyD 01:59, 11 October 2013 (UTC)