I grew up in Næstved, a small Danish provincial town in South Zealand, in a time-typical hard-working working-class family that struggled its way into the middle class. My parents left school after 7 years, because it was the work of the hand that paved the way for the material goods that were the guiding star of the time.
Independence, hard work and reliability were core values in the right-wing national environment I grew up in. There was also shut up, pace and direction with cash settlement when the rules were violated, but in addition there was great freedom to find one's own way. I learned early on that it was important to defend myself. Better to fight first than last was one of the mottos in the environment and it led to multiple fights with the other boys in school. It only stopped when I was 10 years old and found out it did not lead to friendships. Although I was given a stable and safe environment to grow up in, I never really found the security. I only remember that I was often scared and felt isolated and outside.