Freia’s Post

Maifest; a special tradition to welcome new life and sun 😊 This is the fourth post on my blog comparing life here in Bavaria to New Zealand (my homeland). Take a read!

Copenhagen, Oviedo and Ljubljiana are the cities in Europe where people are feeling safer walking alone at night, while Rome, Athens and Marseille are the ones in which the sense of safety at night is lower. The Report on the Quality of Life in European Cities 2023 highlights how smaller cities are perceived as better places at night. Great to see some of the partners of Cities After Dark, the URBACT network on night-time economy that I'm guiding as lead expert, with higher scores in terms of safety perception: 80% or more of the residents in Braga and Malaga feel safe in walking alone at night, a figure positively deviating from regional trends seeing cities in Southern Europe less safe than the ones in Northern Europe

Recently, I had a transformative experience in Barcelona, visiting the awe-inspiring mountain of Montserrat. The journey to the mountaintop was anything but easy. With an outside temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, a steep trail, no shade, and almost no water, the conditions were stacked against me. Yet, against all odds, I made it to the summit (thanks to Erika for being at my side🙏🏻). This climb got me thinking about the invisible barriers we often set for ourselves. It's like we've got this internal GPS that keeps rerouting us away from the road less traveled, cautioning us, "Turn back, it's too risky!" But what if, instead of listening to that cautionary voice, we gave ourselves a gentle push? The truth is, more often than not, we're the ones setting our limits. And guess what? We're also the ones who can dismantle them. Sometimes, all it takes is a small nudge, an internal pep talk, or even an external challenge to tip the scales from "I can't" to "Watch me!" Remember, limitations are often an illusion. They feel real until the moment they're not—until you push past what you thought was possible and find yourself standing on your metaphorical mountaintop, wondering why you ever doubted yourself to begin with. So, here's my question for you: What's your metaphorical 'Montserrat,' and what small push do you need to conquer it? We all have the capacity to do incredible things; sometimes, we just need to give ourselves permission to go the extra mile.   P.S.: I took the cog railway down the mountain ;-) #Limitations #Montserrat #OvercomingChallenges #BreakYourLimits

Heading to Barcelona for UN Ocean Decade Week ? There's still time to sign up for Water Break Sessions officially endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade! We're super excited to be collaborating with our friends Protect Blue & Finisterre to ensure your ocean conference actually has some ‘ocean’ in it. All too often we end up spending hours and hours in conference rooms with air-con, artificial lighting and way too much bad coffee. We’re all talking about the ocean but fundamentally disconnected from it. We know that working in the ocean space requires commitment and a crazy amount of hustle. Burnout is no joke. Research shows that spending time in nature (especially blue spaces!) makes us healthier, happier and more productive. Book in some water time with us or shift your meeting to an outdoor location. Join our SeaTrees team for much-needed Water Breaks officially endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade - We’ll be hosting free SUP sessions on Tues 9th & Wed 10th April. With central location close to the major satellite events, multiple sessions a day to suit your schedule and wetsuits (Yulex of course thanks to our faves Finisterre) & boards provided. 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/ee8sQEJD

The time of unity and reflection. The annual Christmas dinner in Helsinki shows one thing in particular: It is the unity that makes us strong and how we can overcome all challenges. Terranor Oy is expected to reach record revenues 2023 of more than 35 million Euros. Compared to when we started in 2020 with 14 million Euros, it is a remarkable growth rate. And we can only keep up the trajectory if we manage the progress carefully. We are grateful that so many have contributed to this development. How did Terranor Oy manage such steep growth? The driving force is our core value in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark: Together. Gemenskap. Yhdessä. We believe that we can overcome all challenges together. That is why Terranor does not stand with dividers, those who want to separate, but with those who want to unite. It is that time of the year when we can reflect and plan for the future. And I am so proud of Terranor Verte Oy for the relentless energy and drive to push our new Green Environment and Construction business forward. Because also here: We aim for the pole position: No. 1.

🌟 Good News: Finland's Still the Happiest Place on Earth for the Seventh Time Running! 🌟 🇫🇮 We have done it again – we're the happiest bunch on the planet for the seventh year straight, according to the latest scoop from CNN: https://lnkd.in/dP4kCp6Z Can you believe it? I sure can, because why wouldn't we be happy here in the land of a thousand lakes and saunas? What's our secret, you ask? The report looks at six key variables to help explain life evaluations: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption. We’re ranking high on all those metrics. The culture of generosity and inclusivity, where even newcomers find happiness, speaks volumes about Finland's welcoming spirit. Have to say that you might not believe it, when reading the newspapers. But, when going for a cup of coffee at your local cafe, for a swim and sauna in your local pool or meeting up with friends, it is easy to believe. And hey, let's give a shoutout to our Nordic buddies too – Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway – they're all up there with us, spreading happiness like confetti at a victory party. So, here's to Finland – the land of happiness, saunas, and endless summer nights. Let's keep those smiles shining bright, folks! 🇫🇮💫 #HappinessOverload #FinlandRocks #SisuSpirit Read more of the concept of happiness in this great country: https://lnkd.in/dDeU9Gq3

#Accessibility is one of the most important aspects of attractive public transport. While there are many approaches to achieve this, the city of Karlsruhe in south-west Germany has developed a world-unique method. How did they do it? To learn more about the Karlsruhe model, which serves a region of over 500,000 people, we spoke to the person in charge - Prof. Dr. Alexander Pischon, managing director of Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe GmbH and various other transport companies in southern Germany. 📚 This is just one of many interesting insights from the PTV Public Transport Playbook: Now FREE to download at https://lnkd.in/ec6JmRYF What is the Public Transport Playbook? We spoke to public transport experts from around the world about how to inspire people to use public transport. Their experiences, opinions, and practical tips are compiled in the Playbook. It's your ultimate guide to promoting sustainable travel! 🚉🚍 #MobilityforHumanity #publictransit #publictransport #publictransportation

Do you ever think about how you could be doing things differently? After spending some time in Denmark visiting a friend of mine recently it’s something that’s been on my mind a lot. So what was so different about Denmark? Denmark is a carbon-neutral country, deeply committed to being green and energy-efficient. People ride bicycles everywhere—bike rush hour is real and, honestly, a bit intimidating! We rented bikes and often found it quicker to cycle than to take public transport or a taxi. Walking was also a pleasure; the city is beautifully designed for it, making it possible to live a culture of togetherness and casual meetups over drinks. Contrasting sharply with American hustle culture, Denmark’s way of life emphasizes simplicity and connection. We attended a copper wedding anniversary, which was a community affair filled with warmth, songs, and a shared breakfast. It was an experience that felt both intimate and communal, rather than something that happens behind closed doors. . Danish homes are modest, focused on utility rather than excess. While we have huge homes and large lots of land, they have homes that require everything to be used instead of ‘stuff’ getting accumulated. It reminded me that simplicity can be incredibly fulfilling. So without going to Denmark or overseas all the time, how can you challenge your own perspective in this way? It’s all about diverse perspectives. Including women, and people of minorities in our conversations can lead to richer, more balanced lives and businesses. It can helps us create truly legendary client experiences and push us to do things differently. Amazing things lie behind asking “What if” instead of closing down conversations with, “It’s what we’ve always done.” This trip was a powerful reminder for me that sometimes a new perspective is all you need to gain momentum again. #businessowner #financeindustry #shiftperspectives