Hope: Fighting darkness

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Hope is something valuable, something that tends to slip away as soon as you grab it and then returns in full bloom and glory. The minute you’re celebrating it, it disappears without leaving the smallest hint of having existed.

When hope is leaving, it immediately takes away your breath, you feel like you’re drowning and suffocating at the same time. It feels like something is stuck right throuh your heart but you cannot get rid of it and stay alive at the same time. No way out, just caught in the situation and 100 % sure that hope will never ever return. You got it all wrong once again and you’ll get no chance to get it right. Actually you never had – and you never will. You will not be able to change this situation which means the world and universe to you in this moment. You simply have no clue how to be able to live on with this; no chance to turn thoughts away as this will haunt you forever. And still without any chance to change it and no way to escape it. And the very worst part is: You’re so close to the perfect thing – whatever or whoever this is in your case. You’re one step away but you will never ever be able to reach your aim, no way. Never.

What helps me to survive those horrible minutes is to lie down on the floor, preferably outside on the grass. In those moments, it’s solely about surviving, to be able to cope with this situation that I know will pass by. Just to breathe and not getting my heart ripped apart from the pain I feel. The support from the ground is what I need in these moments, to know that it will not let me fall –  at least as long as the earth exists. And this is how I can stand it, the only way. Just lay on the ground, surviving, waiting until it has passed by. And it will.

And finally, after crying my non-ripped-apart heart out, I get up on my feet again because I have to. I have no other choice, I simply cannot afford to cry forever – life is too short for doing that. If I had several lifes, I could have chosen one solely to cry. But after all I know, this might not be the case. So I survived this attack, I am still here, I can live on and this is why I will live on. I have to live on.

To be strong in the hardest times, to be able to smile when standing one step away from the darkest abyss you’ve known, to have the mental stamina to fight the darkness, makes a really strong person in my opinion. I know so well that this is challenging, and I can tell a lot about fighting darknesses risen by diseases that influence one’s whole life, by realizing one’s own mortality or simply by somebody one is so madly in love with. We have probably all felt this way to a certain extent and here comes the pleasant part of aging and collecting experiences – to learn that those moments will surely pass by and you just have to survive a tiny bit longer.

And after it passed by, let the hope come back, full of sound and so bright and shining. Let it transform this devastating heartbreaking situation into the most irrelavant thing on earth leading you to wonder why you ever felt grief about it. Embrace it. Save the power it brings. Because the next darkness is just about to knock on your door, but a bit lighter than before. And while you’re better, let go of those thoughts that focus you on what you will never be able to reach. Turn the thoughts off and train your brain to think of something else. It might be hard upfront but it gets easier everyday, especially when travelling because there is so much new to do and to see. Spatial distance is life-saving and can help to build up the emotional distance that you’re not able to feel at the moment.

Just hold on. Just breathe. Just survive. And let go.

And shine in the brightest light again like you’re supposed to do. Preferably on travels.

 

 

 

 

Hoffnung ist etwas Wertvolles, etwas, was dazu neigt sich zu verflüchtigen, sobald man es fassen kann um dann größer und schöner denn je zurückzukehren. Sobald man sie feiert, verschwindet sie ohne die leiseste Spur von ihrer Existenz zu hinterlassen.

Wenn die Hoffnung geht, nimmt sie deinen Atem mit, es fühlt sich an als ertrinkst du und erstickst du zur selben Zeit. Es fühlt sich an, als sei irgendetwas direkt durch dein Herz gerammt worden, was du aber nicht los wirst wenn du gleichzeitig weiter leben willst. Kein Ausweg sondern gefangen in der Situation und zu 100% sicher, dass die Hoffnung niemals zurückkehrt. Du hast es schon wieder falsch gemacht und keine Chance, es richtig zu machen. Diese Chance hast du eigentlich niemals gehabt und wirst sie auch niemals bekommen. Du bist nicht in der Lage, diese Situation zu ändern, was die Welt und das komplette Universum in diesem Moment für dich bedeutet. Du hast einfach keine Ahnung wie du weiterleben sollst und auch keine Ahnung, wie du diese Gedanken abstellen kannst, denn die jagen dich für immer. Und immer noch ohne die leiseste Chance, es zu ändern oder davor zu fliehen. Und das Schlimmste daran ist: Du bist so verdammt nah dran – was oder wer auch immer das in diesem Fall ist. Du bist nur einen Schritt davon entfernt, aber wirst dein Ziel nie erreichen. Niemals.

Was mir hilft, diese schlimmsten Momente zu überleben, ist mich auf den Boden zu legen, vorzugsweise auf eine Sommerwiese. In diesen Minuten geht es nur ums Überleben, darum in der Lage zu sein, irgendwie mit dieser vergänglichen Situation klar zu kommen. Einfach nur atmen und verhindern, dass mein Herz von dem Schmerz, den ich fühle, auseinander gerissen wird. Den Boden brauche ich in diesen Momenten, zu wissen, dass ich nicht falle – zumindest solange die Erde nicht untergeht. Und so kann ich das aushalten, der einzige Weg. Einfach nur auf dem Boden liegen, überleben, warten bis es vorbei geht. Und das wird es.

Und endlich, nachdem ich mein nicht-zerfetztes Herz genug habe weinen lassen, stehe ich wieder auf, weil ich es muss. Ich habe keine andere Wahl, ich kann es mir einfach nicht leisten, für immer zu weinen – das Leben ist schließlich viel zu kurz, um sich so zu verhalten. Wenn ich mehrere Leben hätte, könnte ich vielleicht eins davon dafür nutzen, nur zu weinen. Aber nach allem was ich weiß, ist das womöglich nicht der Fall. Also überlebe ich diese Attacke, ich bin immer noch da, ich kann weiterleben und deshalb tue ich das. Ich muss weiterleben.

Stark zu sein in den schlimmsten Zeiten, in der Lage sein zu lächeln wenn du einen Schritt entfernt von dem dunkelsten Abgrund stehst, den du je gesehen hast; die mentale Kraft zu haben, gegen die Dunkelheit zu kämpfen, macht meiner Meinung nach einen wirklich starken Menschen aus. Ich weiß so gut, dass das eine Herausforderung ist und ich könnte eine Menge darüber erzählen, Dunkelheit zu bekämpfen, die durch Krankheiten, das Bewusstsein der eigenen Sterblichkeit oder einfach durch jemanden entsteht, in den man wahnsinnig verliebt ist. Wir haben das wahrscheinlich alle mal zu einem gewissen Grad gefühlt und damit kommt der schöne Teil des Alterns und der Erfahrungen – zu lernen, dass diese Momente definitiv vorbei gehen und man einfach nur einen winzigen Moment länger überleben muss.

Und nachdem der Moment überstanden ist, lass die Hoffnung zurückkehren, mit viel Krach und Licht und alles in den Schatten stellend. Wandle diese verzweifelte herzensbrechende Situation in die irrelevanteste Tatsache um, die es jemals gab, was dich dazu führt, dich zu fragen, weswegen du jemals darunter gelitten hast. Merke es dir, speichere ab, wie es sich anfühlt. Weil die nächste Dunkelheit schon vor deiner Tür wartet, die allerdings nicht ganz so dunkel ist, wie davor. Und während es dir besser geht, lass die Gedanken los, die dich daran erinnern, was du niemals erreichen wirst. Schalte die Gedanken aus und bringe deinem Kopf bei, an etwas anderes zu denken. Vielleicht ist das im ersten Moment schwierig, aber es wird jeden Tag einfacher, insbesondere wenn man auf Reisen ist, weil es so viel Neues zu sehen und zu tun gibt. Räumliche Distanz ist lebensrettend und kann dir helfen, die emotionale Distanz aufzubauen, die du sonst nicht auf die Reihe bekommst.

Halte einfach durch. Atme. Überlebe. Und lass los.

Um dann wieder im hellsten Licht zu strahlen, so wie du es tun solltest. Idealerweise auf Reisen.

 

 

 

 

… just make it a good one, eh?

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„Someday, we will all die, Snoopy.“ „True, but on all the other days, we will not.“

[quote obviously by Snoopy / Peanuts]

You can plan a lot in life. You can plan on your career, you can plan extensively on where to travel, what type of person to marry, to have children and if to buy a house… could go on forever. But, as we all know, these are just plans. There is this level of uncertainty that makes life utterly amazing but quite challenging at times.

Therefore, I learned not to take anything for granted. Not my health of course, but also the house I live in, the job I have and especially the people that I am lucky enough to be surrounded by. Because the second I take anything or anyone for granted, it will be gone and I am left in shock, not able to do anything to change that. As someone I admire a lot once told me „Sarah, it is all about the people“, I finally realized that she was right. And for this part, I think communication is crucial. What a better world would this be if people just told others what they mean to them in time. And this is not necessarily restricted to long-lasting friendships, this can also apply to people I just met last year, at work for example. Just imagine how life or even work would be with only annoying people or human beings that are unappreciative which you had to fight any day? The feeling to belong somewhere, to be sure that you can rely one certain people, to fight for something and win or go down together is another thing that I am not trying to take for granted.

We never know what happens tomorrow or next week or next year. We don’t know if the world leaders decide to give 3rd world war a go. We don’t know if we will see each other another hundred times in future or if we will meet for the very last time in our lifes. There will come the day for each and everyone of us when all that we got left is one more night. And we probably will not know that beforehand. I know this is really terrifying but it led me to important questions:

As my time is limited, how do I want to spend my life?

Do I always have to take the „right“ decision, even when taking the other turn makes me ridiculously happy?

How can I allow even one day to pass by without enjoying it to the very fullest?

I found my answers to those questions. This is why I kind of like the idea to be able to look back, not caring about what happened after, thinking „That was a great night / moment / minute. That was worth it. I was happy.“

I personally try to enjoy every second I have to the fullest. I sincerely hope you will join me in doing that. Just remember:

„We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?“

[Doctor Who quote]

 

 

 

„Eines Tages werden wir alle sterben, Snoopy.“ „Ja, aber an allen anderen Tagen nicht.“

[Zitat von Snoopy / Peanuts]

Man kann eine Menge im Leben planen. Die Karriere, Reiseziele, den Typ Mensch, den man heiraten möchte, Kinder haben oder ein Haus zu kaufen… da könnte ich ewig weiter aufzählen. Aber, wie wir alle wissen, sind das nur Pläne. Die Unsicherheit macht das Leben wahnsinnig toll aber manchmal auch extrem herausfordernd.

Deswegen habe ich gelernt, nichts als selbstverständlich anzusehen. Nicht meine Gesundheit, nicht das Haus, in dem ich lebe, nicht den Job, den ich habe und insbesondere nicht die Menschen, von denen ich umgeben bin. In der Sekunde, in der ich irgendetwas oder irgendjemanden als selbstverständlich nehme, wird es fort sein und ich, starr vor Schock, nicht in der Lage, dies zu ändern. Jemand, den ich sehr bewundere, sagte mir einmal „Sarah, es geht nur um die Menschen“ – und mittlerweile sehe ich ein, dass sie recht hatte. Und ich denke, es ist wichtig, das auch zu sagen. Unsere Welt wäre so viel besser, wenn Menschen sich einfach sagen würden, was sie sich gegenseitig bedeuten und zwar rechtzeitig. Und das muss sich nicht immer auf lange Freundschaften beziehen sondern kann auch Menschen betreffen, die man noch nicht so lange kennt, beispielsweise gerade letztes Jahr bei der Arbeit kennen gelernt hat. Man mag sich gar nicht vorstellen, wie das Leben wäre, wenn man nur von langweiligen Personen oder Menschen umgeben ist, gegen die man tagtäglich kämpfen muss. Das Gefühl dazuzugehören, sich auf jemanden verlassen zu können, zusammen für etwas einzustehen ist nichts, was ich als selbstverständlich ansehe.

Wir wissen niemals, was morgen passieren oder nächste Woche, nächstes Jahr. Wir wissen nicht, ob die mächtigsten Männer der Welt den 3. Weltkrieg entfesseln. Wir haben keine Ahnung, ob wir uns noch hundert Mal sehen oder niemals wieder. Es kommt der Tag für jeden von uns, wenn alles was wir haben, nur noch ein einziger Abend ist. Und wir wissen wahrscheinlich nicht, wann das der Fall sein wird. Ich weiß, dass das echt unheimlich ist, aber es brachte mich dazu, mir wichtige Fragen zu stellen:

Da meine Zeit begrenzt ist, mit was möchte ich sie verbringen?

Muss ich immer die „richtige“ Entscheidung treffen, auch wenn der andere Weg mich wahnsinnig glücklich macht?

Wie kann ich auch nur einen Tag vergehen lassen, ohne das Leben bis zuletzt zu genießen?

Ich habe meine Antworten auf diese Fragen gefunden. Deswegen bin ich ein großer Fan davon, zurückzuschauen, egal was am nächsten Tag passierte, und mir zu denken „Das war eine tolle Nacht, ein toller Moment, eine tolle Minute. Das war es wert, ich war glücklich.“

Ich persönlich versuche jede Sekunde, die ich habe, zu genießen. Ich hoffe, ihr macht mit. Denn, immer dran denken:

„Am Ende sind wir alle nur Geschichten. Sieh‘ zu, dass deine gut wird, ja?“

[Doctor Who Zitat]

4 West Coast Impressions

So it’s been almost 10 years now that I’ve been to California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona for the first time. As I failed to collect and save pictures at this time, I can only give you a few impressions here. But at least those are the few pictures that I really care about.

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#1 Ultimate California view – Orange County. Beautiful as hell and waves were amazing.

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#2 Bryce Canyon dressed to impress to make it for Utah. Just WOW.

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#3 Somewhere on the „road“ to Death Valley. I don’t really have words for this one. Nobody dares to restrict the US to only superficial, shining cities after this.

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#4 Death Valley. Be prepared for the heat of your lifetime and turn off the air con in your car so the engine will survive (been there in July!)

It might take some time until I come back to this area. Next US stops are more likely to be Hawaii tour or Alaska.

Florida fever

September 2013 – another trip due to the USA, this time: Florida. Cheaper flights than to California and going to the same part of such a huge country for the 3rd time seems a bit … limited. So yay let’s go for a tropical climate this time. Just without mosquitos.

So let’s start with a few absolute cliché pictures about Miami and what you see when you drive around in your over-sized SUV.

 

Driving north of Miami, first stop was Cocoa Beach. Oh and if you visit in September, make sure to be prepared for the tropical afternoon rain (not comparable to anything you can experience in Europe!! Umbrella not needed as no use…)

Made our way to Cape Caneveral to see the space shuttle, rockets of all kinds and to get into the spacy stuff which was way more interesting than I expected tbh. American history 😉

Next stop in line were Springfield and Hogwards / Hogsmeade in Universal Studios / Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Though the absolut tourist-magnet, I strongly recommend it, especially if you are the European traveller. What the US guys are capable of when it comes to those kinds of leisure park, is beyond compare to any European standards. Do go to Europapark (in Germany) definitly before coming here!!

Off to west coast next – beautiful beaches, whiter sand than at the Atlantic coast and much warmer water. Looks a bit like the Baltic Sea cost in my opionion (see my Germany posts).

Next: Crocodile farm. These lovely guys came to be fed. As far as I could see, the conditions they’re kept in are okay. All that they do for entertainment is to feed a few times a day with giant dead rats.

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We made all our way down to Key West after this. I can so much recommend going there, the drive is really extraordinary (make sure you like lots, lots of water). And welcome the little visitors that join you at the pool ❤

Also of course we took the opportunity to get this photo before emerging in the lovely orchid gardens. At night, Key West old quarter is pretty. If you look for the right place, insert Hard Rock Café Key West in your navi and it will take you to the street you were probably looking for.

Overall: Florida is a really nice place if you look for some vibrant cities (Miami), nice beaches (Cocoa beach and west coast), one or two days pure touristy fun (Universal Studios Orlando), a funny animal encounter (Alligator farm near Tamiami trail) and a smooth chilly athmosphere (Key West). This is why I like the US very much for vacation as you can get to enjoy so many different things.

 

Gratitude / Dankbarkeit

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„Gratitude

… is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.“

It’s so fascinating how this wise say by Marcus Tullius Cicero is still valid after so many years passing by. Especially when it comes to travelling, I’m trying to remember this from time to time. To be able to travel at all I consider myself very fortunate. Yes, I could tell myself that I work very hard to make this happen: I work a lot (fortunately I love my job but still it takes a lot of my waking hours), I did take on the challenge of studying and I am really trying to be a good human being everyday. So I could be of the opinion that I just deserve this.

But I don’t think that this is true at all. In fact, I was just lucky.

Lucky to have all the abilities that I do so I was able to find a job I love and to earn reasonable money with it which I can spend on my travels. Lucky to be mostly healthy and in fact to be alive until now. This world certainly does not play fair so all one achieves is – in my opionion – mostly based on luck. So by my age of 27, I haven’t really made it to the whole world, I am not engaged or (beware!) married and I’m not the beauty out of the beauty and the beast. Also I am not a billionaire and never will be. So, no real achievements, huh?

Still, I am thankful and full of gratitude.

I am utterly amazed by the life I can live. Yes, I do have my challenges, had them in my past and have them everyday. Surely enough, they’re waiting for me in future as well.

But by my age of 27 I established a life that I love. I love waking up and going to work. I love all the precious moments that I share with the magnificent people I am lucky enough to be sourrounded by. I enjoy very much the company of just myself equally. I follow my dreams to live my passion to travel and to have great relationships who are supporting me and who make me a better human being. Also I finally managed to get rid of toxic relationships that brought me down for so long. I manage to see the beauty of life in little moments. I can go to wherever I want on my own because I’m not scared anymore. I learned to deal with my own mortality and if I died tonight, I would not regret much.

Yes, I am thankful.

So – when was the last time you were thankful?

 

 

 

„Dankbarkeit

… ist nicht nur die größte aller Tugenden, sondern auch die Mutter aller.“

Es ist so faszinierend, wie dieses Zitat von Marcus Tullius Cicero nach so vielen Jahren immer noch gilt. Insbesondere wenn es um das Reisen geht, versuche ich mich daran zu erinnern. In der Lage sein, überhaupt auf Reisen zu gehen, ist etwas, für das ich mich sehr glücklich schätze. Ich könnte mir auch sagen, dass ich hart dafür arbeite, mir das selbst zu ermöglichen: Ich arbeite viel (glücklicherweise liebe ich meinen Job, der allerdings viel meiner wachen Zeit in Anspruch nimmt), ich habe die Herausforderung angenommen nebenbei zu studieren und ich versuche wirklich, jeden Tag ein guter Mensch zu sein. Also könnte ich denken, dass ich das einfach verdiene.

Aber das glaube ich eben nicht. Ehrlicherweise hatte ich bloß Glück.

Glück, dass ich alle die Fähigkeiten habe, sodass ich einen Job gefunden habe, den ich liebe und damit vernünftiges Geld zu verdienen, was ich wiederum für meine Reisen nutzen kann. Glück, dass ich größtenteils gesund bin und bis heute überlebt habe. Diese Welt ist sicherlich alles andere als fair, deshalb ist alles, was man erreicht – jedenfalls meiner Meinung nach – Glückssache. Mit 27 habe ich noch nicht die ganze Welt gesehen, ich bin nicht verlobt oder gar verheiratet und ich sehe nicht aus wie eine Disney-Prinzessin. Außerdem bin ich kein Millionär und werde es auch nie sein. Also, eigentlich nicht wirklich etwas erreicht, oder?

Trotzdem bin ich voller Dankbarkeit.

Ich bin unglaublich erstaunt über das Leben, was ich leben kann. Natürlich habe ich meine Herausforderungen, in der Vergangenheit und jeden Tag und sie warten bestimmt auch in der Zukunft auf mich.

Aber mit 27 habe ich mir ein Leben aufgebaut, was ich liebe. Ich liebe es, morgens aufzuwachen und zur Arbeit zu gehen. Ich liebe all die kleinen wertvollen Momente die ich mit den wunderbaren Menschen um mich herum teilen darf. Ich genieße es auch sehr, alleine zu sein. Ich folge meinem Traum, zu Reisen und gesunde Beziehungen zu haben, die mich zu einem besseren Menschen machen. Und endlich habe ich es geschafft, schädliche Beziehungen zu beenden, die mich so lange fertiggemacht haben. Ich bin der Lage, die Schönheit des Lebens in den kleinen Momenten zu sehen. Ich kann überall alleine hingehen, wo ich will, weil ich keine Angst mehr habe. Ich habe gelernt, mit meiner eigenen Sterblichkeit umzugehen und wenn ich heute Nacht sterben würde, wäre da nicht so viel, was ich bereue.

Ja, ich bin dankbar.

Und wann warst du zum letzten Mal dankbar?

 

Summertime Sydney

When I write this now, I still cannot believe that I did it: I HAVE BEEN TO AUSTRALIA!! I know lots of people have been but in my mind, this country was so so so far away and almost impossible to ever go there. I made it and if I get enough time from the universe, I will surely enough go there again. So this time, it was just a quick city trip to Sydney.

And yes, the opera does really exists. I was fortunate enough to see a great performance of „La Bohème“ in this crazy building. Enjoying life to the fullest.

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I can really recommend to take the ferry and to go to Manly Beach. Such a sweet area with lovely white sand (pics: beach and ferry to it).

Without getting too political: Je suis Charlie – toujours.

Opera at night with full moon – I know I should work on my photo quality but this is in process. Until then I enjoy the blurry moon picture, the overview over the fantastic city and parrots in parks.

Highlights NZ Tour

Back from 2015.

Amazing what…? Yes, Aotearoa. This is Maori and means „country of the long white cloud.“ As you probably have figured, this is New Zealand. Quick background: For reasons I do not understand myself, this has been my ultimative travel goal for years. I imagined this country as sort of paradise which it turned out to be! but a bit different from what a naive German girl expected.

Hence, I totally fell in love. And yes, in Dec 2017 I will travel there again because you cannot see all this astonishing beauty in only 3 weeks time. For my next trip, I planned 6 weeks and even that is actually much too few time. But yeah make the best of it. So here you see a few impressions that was able to gain from a 3 weeks fast travel.

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Okay I see it – partly it is still middle earth and will always be. Don’t skip this touri thing, it’s so much more than you see in this picture.

A few clichée pictures for this country. Yes, it is all true. And then you have to stop the car because sheeps rule the streets, not humans. Love it!

Cathedral cove / coromandel. I wasn’t aware that such beauty exists. Now I am and I cannot wait to go back and see it again.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing and sourroundings. Astonishing as long as you bring good shoes (it’s not called Alpine because they recommend to walk in flipflops.)

This country is destined for horseback riding! This pretty stallion is called Rio and he is fantastic, especially without using a saddle.

Abel Tasman National Park. The 3 days we spent there were beyond compare and captured on these photos is only a tiny part of the colorful beaches.

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Also don’t skip the helicopter glacier hike (either Franz Josef or Fox – this was on Fox glacier).

And then… there was Milford Sound. Where the traveller realizes his own tiny small place and meaning in the great logic of all the universe. Even when I remember this after 3 years, I feel tears in my eyes. Take a overnight boat trip for an amazing sunset and sunrise.

The lakes on South Island – lake Pukaki and Tekapo. Will return definitly soon.

Last but not least – crazy intelligent ad & Sarah in Cadbury-paradise.

Please realize this is only a very very small part of this great country. This trip was truely life-changing to me. Just one word: GO!

Hong Kong rocks!

My first glimpse of Asia in December 2014. Whereas I was told multiple times that this is not the real Asia, just a „light“ version.

Well yeah no matter what, this city was really stunning in so many ways! A fairly new dimension for the European traveller and fascinating to see!

Recommendations:

1. Victoria Peak for sure – even with a taxi or bus instead of the crowded train

2. Go into a local restaurant BUT make sure you get your meat without bones (I was told to do that for whole Asia except of when you order Beijing Duck or dumplings).

3. Lights on the other side – look from Kowloon to HK island – or via the ferry in 4:

4. Take the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong island or vice versa. Impressive views and really easy to do.

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5. Plan some time to spend in one of the parks – as a former British colony they are really good in gardening! If you have time, consider going to Chi Lin Nunnery (close to a tram stop) and to Nan Lian Garden right next to it. Amazing views!

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As I am writing this 3 years later, let me focus primarily on pictures instead of text.

The good camera pt. 1 – top 10

In October, I finally convinced myself to get a decent camera instead of carrying out everything with my iPhone. So I am a proud owner of a Nikon D3300 just to see if this works out regarding handling, joy in fotography and resulting pics.

I hope you enjoy taking a look like I enjoyed taking those pics.

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#1 – Gate at Rosenhöhe, Darmstadt, October 2016

 

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#2: -Cute pineapples for sale at Colombia Flower Market, London, UK, November 2016

 

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#3: Dawn of a day in the Odenwald, Germany, October 2016

 

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#4: Fountain at Trafalgar Square at night, London, UK, November 2016

 

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#5: Boats at Oberwaldhaus, Darmstadt, Germany, October 2016

 

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#6: Street Art near Brick Lane / Shoreditch, London, UK, November 2016

 

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#7: Glimpse of sun in Black Forest, Germany, December 2016

 

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#8: Houses of Parliament and the sun, London, UK in November 2016

 

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#9: Light in the Odenwald, Germany, October 2016

 

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#10: Flowers enlighted at Soho Square, London, UK, November 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just pizza. And so much more.

Once upon a time, there was a girl. Who obviously loves pizza. But what is not that obvious on the picture is something else. She wandered around in her hometown for weeks, wondering over and over again if she could dare and how she would feel if she was able to finally do it.

It took her quite a while to convince herself, to pick a restaurant that would suit and would not be that hard to do what she intended to. Fearing weird looks or to get lost a bit in loneliness, she postponed that day on and on, somehow caught in a fight with herself. But one day, the time was right.

So she just left work on one evening, jumped onto the tram to the city center and entered the restaurant. Picked up this going-to-be-delicious pizza, took a photo of it (there we are, obvious again), sat down and ate it up even without being in a hurry.

She noted that it took her 26 years of her life to not only dare herself to do that, but – and this was far more important to her – to have that wish to be able to. This experience she gained in March 2016 was so great that she consequently repeated it whenever she fancied.

And yes, she earned weird looks, sometimes puzzled staff as well as other people just coming by and picking up their food in order to avoid what she finally managed to accomplish: To experience the huge difference between loneliness and solitude which lead to do what she did –

To just go and enjoy dinner in a restaurant all by herself.

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