My thoughts with the blog.

I thought that my first blog post would mostly be about me and thoughts about what I should write about in the future. You are very welcome to come up with suggestions for what you want me to write about, just get in touch with me. The easiest way to get in touch with me is via DM on Instagram, it´s also ok to send me an e-mail.

I think most of my followers know a lot about me, but the idea is that the blog will become more personal and will reflect my life and my thoughts. I will write my posts in English and Swedish, which means that it can sometimes take some weeks between each post. But I will try to make at least one post a month.

The blog will NEVER be about politics (which my Instagram is not either). When BLM started, I got a lot of angry DMs on Instagram about why I didn´t upload a black picture just like everyone else. The simple answer I gave everyone was that the idea with my Instagram is not to take any political position in anything. At the same time, I have received many DMs who think it is good to have an unpolitical zone.

I also want my readers on the blog to get a feeling when reading my posts. To reinforce this feeling, I will upload pictures that are unique and can explain my words better.

About me and some background.

Per Niklas Lundström is my full name, my middle name Per comes from my uncle. I have asked my mother many times why my name is Niklas and still have not received a proper answer. My brother was born in 1978 and I was born in 1983, the idea was that I would become a girl. But instead I became a boy. But I think my parents were quite happy anyway.

I grew up in a place called Höllviken which is located in Vellinge municipality which is located in southern Sweden. Today Höllviken has a population of about 16,000, in 1983 when I was born there lived about 6,000 in Höllviken. Vellinge municipality is one of Sweden's richest municipalities and is known for its beautiful beaches. But the most unique thing in my opinion in Vellinge municipality is that the same party has ruled the municipality since 1976 (Moderaterna). Moderaterna have received around / over 50% in each election for over 40 years.

As a child, I was a bit shy, even then I did not like large crowds and really just wanted to hang out with 2-3 friends at the same time. Which was quite complicated both in kindergarten and at school. I have never had any problems making friends and I have never been bullied. I have got the impression that I have always been considered social, even as a child. But many times it took on my energy to try to be social. Even as a child, I remember how tired I got from hanging out with too many people at the same time. I have been lucky that i´m easily taught, because most of my energy was spent just being in school. I got through high school without any problems with good grades. If I think back, my mental health was at its best in school. For many, it is no news that until June 2018 (35 years) I always locked in my feelings and never showed anything. I grew up during a time period in the 80s / 90s when boys never cried for anyone or showed feelings. Of course, this has shaped me as a person and contributed to my mental health. But I think this is something I will write more about in another post on my blog.

When I was 15, I started working extra as a caretaker, I had to take care of tennis courts, football fields, pools, etc. When I was 18 years old I trained as a powerlifting Instructor and also worked extra with this until I was 25 years old. I finished high school when I was 19 and was actually supposed to do military service, but it never happened because they disbanded large parts of the military during this time period. So instead I applied to Kriminalvården (Swedish Prison) in 2002 and two years later I got educated to a correctional officer. I still work as a correctional officer in prison and I enjoy it very much.

At the same time, I study for university credits in marine biology so that one day I will graduate as a marine biologist. I have always had a big interest in the ocean and everything that lives there. Most people have probably seen my saltwater aquarium. The aquarium has taught me a lot about how sensitive the ocean is to climate changes.

In 2016, I started my Instagram. The idea from the beginning was to save all my friends on Facebook from all my cat pictures. I started by uploading some mixed pictures e.g. training photos, nature and some on Cooper and Kira. I immediately noticed that as soon as I uploaded pictures of Cooper and Kira, the followers increased immediately. Which made me later realize that it was just as good to dedicate the account to the most important thing in my life, Cooper and Kira. By this time in 2016, one of my relationships had ended in a very sad way and I went down properly mentally. I do not intend to go into this in detail because there are a number of articles and interviews on my website about it.

But something that is not mention in the articles is that all of you followers help me every day with my mental health. All kind and caring comments / DM / emails etc. strengthen me as a person and gives me the courage to talk and write openly about mental illness. Without you and Cooper and Kira, 35 years of silence would have been 37 years today. So thank you for all the love!

Over and out, Niklas, Cooper and Kira. <3