MÅNI Words - Henriette

Surf equality, life, and health

We had the chance to talk to Henriette, a woman who made an impression on us early on with her spontaneous nature and her zest for life. She teaches us that nothing is impossible. It may just turn out a little different compared to the original plan.

Name: Henriette B Holstad

Age: 36

Occupation: Consultant

Place: Lisbon, Portugal

Instagram: @henniebh

Who are you?

Normally (when I am not 37 weeks pregnant), I am full of energy and often cheerful, adventurous, and always a bit searching for the next thing/experience/challenge that needs to be overcome. I must admit that I can be quite impatient and restless. I am at my best when I can use my brain to solve complex problems while also combining that with creating new physical or digital environments or experiences.

If someone says that something is not possible or very difficult, like deciding to move to the USA or packing up and moving to Portugal 7.5 months pregnant without an expat contract, then that is usually the very thing I want to do the most.

What do you like most about yourself?

That I generally achieve what I have decided or set as a goal that I want to do. It may not always be according to the timeline I hoped for or exactly according to the initial plan, but 9 out of 10 times I reach the main goal I have set for myself.

Describe your favorite bath

My favorite swim takes place in the late morning at our country house in Norway during the holidays, just before a late and long breakfast. However, my favorite water activity happens on one of my many surfboards, preferably early in the morning either in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, or Oahu in Hawaii. I hope to add Fonte da Telha, 10 minutes from our new house in Portugal, to that favorites list as soon as the little girl joins us.

What do you fill your days and your life with?

I am somewhat of an all-or-nothing person. When I do something, I really get into it. When I'm not working, I spend a lot of time surfing, enjoying nature, and camping. The best is when I can combine a camping trip with surfing alongside my husband and our friends. There has been much more focus on local adventures over the past two years, both due to the pandemic and to protect the climate.

There is a lot of travel in my job in PwC’s Experience Consulting team, which is of course very exciting both professionally and because I get the opportunity to experience major cities like NYC, LA, Miami, and Chicago. However, the travel for work makes it feel important for my body, soul, and the climate to adventure locally in Northern California when I'm home. Now that we have moved 'back' to Europe, I hope that there will be more train travel for work once I finish my parental leave. I am incredibly excited to explore and adventure in Portugal.

What does your life look like today compared to five years ago?

So much has changed in five years! Five years ago, I had just realized my dream of moving back to San Francisco, working there, and living somewhere I could surf in my daily life and not just on vacation. I was a pretty terrible surfer back then... but there was something about the water, the waves, and the connection with nature that helped me find my true self again! Just before I moved, I met my husband in Bali while I was on a surf vacation with my girlfriends. So yes, I was a much more carefree, the-world-is-my-oyster kind of version of myself five years ago, although those aspects are definitely still there. Today, I’m probably a healthier, more stable, environmentally friendly version of myself.

What does health mean to you and what is your top advice for feeling good?

I surf, do yoga (mostly so I can surf more), and force myself and my husband to actually talk about feelings from time to time. For me, mental health is just as important as physical health, and it needs to be maintained in the same way as our physical bodies. It is so much easier to handle difficult things that naturally occur in life if mental health is also regularly maintained. Surfing gives me a lot both physically and mentally, but it is not always enough. During tougher periods, I have also sought help from a psychologist.

What is happiness to you?

When I feel creative, free, can be spontaneous, have an aha moment, and when I get to solve problems.

What do you want to share with other women?

Fuck the patriarchy - it may be cliché or considered unprofessional to be so direct, but I am so tired of the unrealistic demands placed on women, both explicitly and implicitly. This happens just as much in Sweden and Scandinavia as in other countries, even though it manifests in very different ways. It is completely unreasonable that we should juggle everything while being happy, accommodating, non-threatening beings but must 'toughen up' and take up space in professional contexts. It is time for women to be valued on equal terms with men for the qualities, perspectives, and different ways of thinking/solving problems that we deserve. So my message to all women is, know your personal strengths (who cares if it scared the wits out of a man or made another woman or person concerned at some point) use them and trust your intuition - fuck the rest! Finally, let us lift each other up, especially women or non-binary individuals who are not afforded the same space as yourself.

Tell us about a trip that made a big impression on you?

Travel is a bit of my life elixir, so it's hard to choose just one. I will go with my mini-life journey during my years in the USA. The USA is an incredibly exciting country in so many ways. Above all, because it is so much more diverse than, for example, Scandinavian countries. There is a much greater tolerance (setting aside the political shitshow that has unfolded over the last 50+ years in the US) for differences. That is, differences in culture, ways of living, what one likes, how one dresses, what education one has, and so on.

Personal preferences are central to American society. It has been very personally liberating not to have to tick the typical Scandinavian boxes for a while and to be completely free from the Law of Jante. At the same time, I cannot help but point out that the USA is a deeply dysfunctional society unless you are relatively affluent or have a good income. It has been enormously liberating for me personally to live in the USA, but it has also been a strong reminder of the things in Scandinavian society that work exceptionally well (healthcare, the political system, education, consumer laws, and legislation in general, as well as the vast majority of government agencies).

I consider myself a true Scandinavian (I am Norwegian but have lived many years in Sweden and have a great love for Stockholm) - I often say that I am most Norwegian when I am not living in Norway. This will probably always be largely true, and I feel fortunate to have the privilege of being able to choose to live abroad while having grown up with Scandinavian values, education, human perspectives, and viewpoints.

The time in the USA has truly helped me articulate what kind of society I want to be a part of, how we care for each other as fellow human beings, but it has also exposed me to a completely different diversity than what Scandinavia can offer.

What type of vacationer are you?

Sea + culture, it doesn't have to be big city culture, but it also can't just be resorts and beaches. That would be too boring. I want to eat local food, meet people you wouldn't normally meet, and then surf a bit on that. My latest favorite travel destination that ticks all these boxes is Oaxaca City + Puerto Escondido, Mexico.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Florence and the Machine - You’ve got the Love

Give us a book recommendation, what must we not miss reading?

Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld (the ultimate crossover of reality and fiction concerning the theme closest to my heart: feminism)

Which MÅNI garment do you like the most?

Shade Rashguard/sun protection shirt in green! There aren't many flattering rashguards for women on the market - but Shade ticks all the boxes for me. It stays in place throughout surfing, has really nice shoulders (my upper arms are quite muscular, and I love how the design showcases the muscles in a feminine way), and last but not least, the wax doesn't stick to the fabric.

Shade Solskyddströja Skog

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