I have done this so many times, and still, it`s not as easy as I want it to be. That thought is what motivates me the most. I actually thought that this post should be a piece of cake for me, but still I feel a bit unsure and that bothers me! OK, so I made my point, but this is one of the hundreds points that motivates me to do stuff in my life. So now when I have made this ice breaking kind off start on this letter, I can start writing down the basics about myself. My name is Anders Stenhammar. Stenhammar means “stone hammer” and I got it from my wife. I like it because it reminds me of my strong wife and the stone hammer is for me a symbol for plain hard work and craftsmanship. My mother and father gave me the name Anders. My parents are divorced, but they did actually agree on this one. They probably see themselves as simple workers and like to keep things simple, that’s why my only name is Anders, and nothing else…

During different courses that I have attended at the military officer academy, I got to do a lot of different presentations… Even though I have practised this several times and I have this strange urge to fight my stage fright, I can never decide what part to tell about me and my life. Everything is so integrated and nothing is so plain simple as my parents wanted things to be. I still have to decide what parts to be told, and accept that I won’t be able to make you understand who I am in this letter. That´s if you don’t want to pay me to write an autobiography…

You should know one thing though, I am born in June. The sign of Gemini is thought to be very adaptable and flexible, sometimes to the point of “being” two different personalities.  Anyway, I hope you will enjoy reading this “mess of words” that I composite here for you.  Yes, I do use autospell when writing, sorry, but I´m an automatic engineer student!

So let’s go back to the basics again. Born in Norway, moved a lot during my years as a kid (undefined amount of years) and kept moving around until now. Now I just want to settle down and enjoy my life with my wife and hopefully with some kids in the future. I do not dislike the fact that I have been brought up in a moving family, I actually have a lot to be grateful because of that. My sister thinks the opposite, and she has not had the fortune to realize that all our experience in life do make us stronger, if we use it right.

The sky’s the limit! That´s what one of my mentors told me once. I like having mentors, they make me feel great and I really respect that. The feeling when I grow in their eyes and make them proud. I guess that´s one of the reasons why I like to be a mentor myself. My first teaching job was when I was 15 years old and worked for free as a R/C pilot instructor (Radio Controlled). My patience became my strength and also my curse. I`m been teaching since… Still trying to teach people how to fly…

Working as a  aircraft technician officer in the Air Force did develop my teaching skills. I loved that, and still do. I am a teacher and a learner and I like the military leadership. All to often the Air Force educate their soldiers to become strong and smart so when they demand more of their soldiers, they are surprised to learn that the soldiers suddenly expects more of them as an employer. I get that, unfortunately too bad for the Swedish Air Force. .

Being on my own is something that has never bothered me. I do like people and when I’m around them I’m very social, but I do get by very well by my own. I have my workshop at home, where I can run away and just be by myself and do the things I like to do. I really love to work on my microlight airplanes and all the other projects I have. Recently I became a member of Blekinge Uppfinnarverkstad, which is a club for inventors and innovative people.

Sometimes my father don’t see the problems when he`s getting into new projects. Sometimes he never see them, not even when they appear! I guess I have some of that in me. Problems is not a problem, its an issue to solve! At the same time I`m not able to settle on one thing for too long, except from my wife. My wife Catarina ak. Cata is the one steady point in my life and it seems like we have found our spot on this planet. For 14 years we have been together, and I can’t imagine a life without her.

So why am I an automatic engineering student right now and why am I doing this right now? My friends and family members have asked me that so many times. I don’t have any straight answer on that one! I guess I am in this phase in my life where I want more of myself and my life. Working in the aircraft industry slowly hurted my passion for aircraft and invention. I needed something to develope and put my name on. I need to feel some growing pain during my career. I know I am capable of more, and I need to try, never quit trying. So why shouldn’t I?

I can`t have enough of this life, so I want to keep learning new stuff and live this life even more deeply. I love knowledge and I love hard work. My passion is my drivetrain and my goals keep me going. A true Stenhammar never quits.

It`s just that simple!

Anders