About ruben
Creativity has always been my way of thinking, processing, and making sense of things.
Whether it’s an idea that shows up out of nowhere or something I’ve been sitting with for a while, I love the process of turning thoughts into something real. I’m not afraid to experiment, mess up, or start over that’s all part of it.
More Info
More Info
My name is Ruben, I’m 22 years old and from Norway.
I was born with cancer and had chemotherapy in the very first days of my life a rough start that shaped a lot of what came after. Even though I survived, it didn’t just “end” there like some people think. The truth is, it left lasting questions.
Studies show that 60% to 90% of childhood cancer survivors develop chronic health conditions, and around one in three (25–33%) experience serious or life-threatening complications. These can include organ damage, heart issues, or cognitive struggles that carry into adulthood often tied to the treatments like chemo or radiation.
I can’t say exactly how much of that applies to me, but I’ve definitely faced challenges especially with focus, learning, and mental clarity. Maybe it’s related. Maybe not. But it’s always been part of my life.
Growing up, school wasn’t easy. I didn’t get much classroom time or the kind of social experience most kids do. That made it harder to connect, harder to keep up, and harder to enjoy learning in general. So I had to find my own way forward taking small steps, making careful choices, and figuring out what path made the most sense for me.
Today, I’m healthy. I’m strong. And I’ve built a life that feels good.
I like to work out, stay focused on myself, and create things that bring me peace. Thanks to my ADHD yeah, that’s part of the story too my brain never really rests. But I’ve learned to see that as a strength. It pushes me to explore, to express, to make things that feel meaningful.
Life isn’t perfect. But it’s mine and I’ve learned to enjoy it exactly as it is.
My name is Ruben, I’m 22 years old and from Norway.
I was born with cancer and had chemotherapy in the very first days of my life a rough start that shaped a lot of what came after. Even though I survived, it didn’t just “end” there like some people think. The truth is, it left lasting questions.
Studies show that 60% to 90% of childhood cancer survivors develop chronic health conditions, and around one in three (25–33%) experience serious or life-threatening complications. These can include organ damage, heart issues, or cognitive struggles that carry into adulthood often tied to the treatments like chemo or radiation.
I can’t say exactly how much of that applies to me, but I’ve definitely faced challenges especially with focus, learning, and mental clarity. Maybe it’s related. Maybe not. But it’s always been part of my life.
Growing up, school wasn’t easy. I didn’t get much classroom time or the kind of social experience most kids do. That made it harder to connect, harder to keep up, and harder to enjoy learning in general. So I had to find my own way forward taking small steps, making careful choices, and figuring out what path made the most sense for me.
Today, I’m healthy. I’m strong. And I’ve built a life that feels good.
I like to work out, stay focused on myself, and create things that bring me peace. Thanks to my ADHD yeah, that’s part of the story too my brain never really rests. But I’ve learned to see that as a strength. It pushes me to explore, to express, to make things that feel meaningful.
Life isn’t perfect. But it’s mine and I’ve learned to enjoy it exactly as it is.
As I’ve Grown Older
As I’ve gotten older, things have started to make more sense. Not in a perfect, everything’s-sorted kind of way but in a way where I finally understand why I move the way I do, and what I actually need to thrive.
Being born with a life-threatening illness could’ve been the beginning and end of the story. It wasn’t. And even though I missed out on a lot of traditional education and structure, I started to figure things out by doing things my own way learning through trial, through failure, through testing what actually works for me.
I didn’t take the usual path, and I’m glad I didn’t.
I’ve had to rely on self-discipline, curiosity, and a bit of stubbornness. I chose to train my body, sharpen my mind, and build routines that give me space instead of pressure. That meant learning to enjoy things like working out, listening to deep podcasts, and diving into creative projects not because anyone told me to, but because they help me stay grounded.
These days, I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. Not perfect just more aware.
ADHD still follows me around, sure. Some days it’s loud. Other days it’s manageable. But it also gives me the creative fire that drives everything I do. When I’m in flow, I can build for hours, completely locked in. That’s not a weakness that’s a gift I’ve learned to use.
I don’t create for validation. I’m not here to be liked or go viral. I create because it’s part of who I am and because it keeps me moving in the right direction.
Right now, I’m focused on:
Strength – building consistency in body and mind
Curiosity – staying open through routines and exploration
Depth – feeding my brain with long-form, challenging ideas
Creation – making things that matter instead of endless consumption
Clarity – cutting through the noise to focus on what feels real
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this:
Nothing is impossible when you just keep showing up
As I’ve Grown Older
As I’ve gotten older, things have started to make more sense. Not in a perfect, everything’s-sorted kind of way but in a way where I finally understand why I move the way I do, and what I actually need to thrive.
Being born with a life-threatening illness could’ve been the beginning and end of the story. It wasn’t. And even though I missed out on a lot of traditional education and structure, I started to figure things out by doing things my own way learning through trial, through failure, through testing what actually works for me.
I didn’t take the usual path, and I’m glad I didn’t.
I’ve had to rely on self-discipline, curiosity, and a bit of stubbornness. I chose to train my body, sharpen my mind, and build routines that give me space instead of pressure. That meant learning to enjoy things like working out, listening to deep podcasts, and diving into creative projects not because anyone told me to, but because they help me stay grounded.
These days, I’m more focused than I’ve ever been. Not perfect just more aware.
ADHD still follows me around, sure. Some days it’s loud. Other days it’s manageable. But it also gives me the creative fire that drives everything I do. When I’m in flow, I can build for hours, completely locked in. That’s not a weakness that’s a gift I’ve learned to use.
I don’t create for validation. I’m not here to be liked or go viral. I create because it’s part of who I am and because it keeps me moving in the right direction.
Right now, I’m focused on:
Training at the gym
Exploring creative routines
Listening to deep-dive podcasts
Making instead of consuming
Living with clarity, not noise
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all of this:
Nothing is impossible when you just keep showing up
Appreciate you taking time to learn a bit about me.
Made by Ruben Baumgartner Ekre
Made by Ruben Baumgartner Ekre
Made by Ruben Baumgartner Ekre