When I booked my trip to Frankfurt I on purpose only planned on staying a couple of days. One reason was that I do need the time to fly in the 100 hours to be able to convert my licence back home. On the other hand I selfishly figured each day I would stay longer I would end up running around like a crazy chicken trying to please everyone with a visit. So I turned it around and decided to do one family breakfast and an afternoon/evening for my friends.
I decided to go flying myself in the morning before getting into the passenger seat for the first time in almost 70h of flying in the pilot seat… ? On the way to the airport I spotted the Lufthansa 747 which would fly me to Germany a few hours later.
Entering a Lufthansa plane for the first time as a real guest was weird. I still felt like being part of it – somehow. And what can I say – Economy is different to Business and First. Yes. Definitely. But it’s actually not as bad as expected. Welcome to my new life… 😎
First stop after my arrival in Frankfurt was a quick visit at my dentist just around the corner from my old house. Very weird to be back. On the way back to the train station I strolled through the town and it was a weird feeling. I looked at the houses and streets and couldn’t stop asking myself if this was really worth coming back… An open question but still striking that this was the dominant feeling and question. I didn’t go to have a look at my old house. Didn’t feel like going for some reason.
I had a great evening with my brother catching up! Thanks for hooking me up with a couch and everything I needed. It’s great to have you, bro! You rock 🤘
Next morning I caught up with my family at a great breakfast my uncle Christian organised: Oktoberfest Breakfast! Thank you so much. Enjoyed all the stuff I missed out on this year since I couldn’t go to the real Oktoberfest.
Also had a chance to check on speed of growth of my nephew.
And then it was time to catch up with a lot of friends. I put out an open invitation to everyone to meet me in one of the famous Äbbelwoi-Kneipen, the Gemalte Haus, in the afternoon and evening. What can I say: It was great to see all of you again. Thanks for making the effort and even coming down from Amsterdam, Zosch!
Unfortunately I missed out on taking pictures with everybody… But I know you where there ?
First takeaway: Even if you are gone for a long time. Friends will always be friends! And it doesn’t take more than a simple occasion to reconnect as if you have seen each other only yesterday. And maybe the one or other Äppler… ?
Of course – there was not enough time to really have an intensive chat with everyone. But it was still great to see all of you. And of course I ended up telling the same things over and over again – never finishing a single story since there was always someone who just arrived or was about to leave and got my attention for that. I hope you still had as much fun as I had.
But telling thins over and over again you also realise what is actually worth telling and what might have become normal for you and is awkward for others. Many little things…
Experiencing is way more important than owning.
For example the meaning of material goods. Some asked me what I will do with my Corvette when I leave Canada. Of course, I will just sell it.
After leaving everything behind and freeing myself almost all my material belongings I realised how free it made me. Not owning anything – or maybe better whatever you don’t own – liberates you. Why? Because you are not afraid of losing it anymore. And by this it gives you a feeling of security. It sounds awkward but this is how it feels to me. Having a job, a house, a garden, a car and all other material goods always mean you have to maintain them, take care of them and at the end being afraid of breaking or losing them. Once they are gone – nothing can happen anymore. So my relation to material goods has changed a lot. The example of the Corvette is probably good. I enjoy the time the two of us have. It’s great to drive around in it, listen to the sound and looking at the curved hood. But does it give me pleasure to own it. Not at all. It is not about owning, it is about enjoying what you can do with it. I will not cry a single tear when I give “her” to someone else. I will keep the memories of great times and rides – but not the ballast.
Definitely a change to last year.
Not having a job can give you more security for the future.
In the same context also not having a job can give you security. I know it sounds weird but that’s what happened to me. Once in a permanent contract you have the feeling you do have something to lose. A what we call “Festanstellung” in German is actually more than just a job. It is also the symbol for stability, security, an organised life and something worth to keep and hold on to. But also here – as soon as you don’t have it anymore you – you don’t have to be afraid of losing it anymore.
I have always admired my buddy Zosch who never had a permanent employment. He never seemed to have any of my earlier concerns of losing my job or making a mistake and by this risking it. He always explored opportunities left and right his current focus and even during failures or rather less successful times he was never really worried. Why? Because he had realised early enough that things will work out somehow. Or like my beloved Kiwis would say: “She’ll be right!”.
The same – luckily – happened to me during the last month. As long as you are in the corset of a “Festanstellung” it is very difficult to realise it since you are always afraid of losing the status quo. But after I quit, cut the safety rope by not going for a sabbatical but just leaving without any obligations I learned a very valuable lesson: The chances to starve or die are extremely limited! And with this certainty some things in life become easier. Especially the worries about the future and jobs become incredibly small. What’s the worst case the can happen? You might have to crash on a friends couch for a while and maybe start earning money with something that is rather simple and paid badly. But will you starve or die. No, you won’t.
And is it worth taking what looks like a risk in a first place. Yes it is! Because it is actually not really a risk but a chance to grow, experience and by this gaining and having more than before. Suddenly you are more aware for opportunities along the way and jobs are being offered to you. I am not worried anymore at all. But I am now looking into the future with excitement of what will happen – without knowing what actually will happen. Not knowing liberates and makes it so much fun. Probably because I realised that no matter what happens: “She’ll be right!”
Next stop – not Frankfurt…
Last but not least: my “vacation” has been extended for an undefined time now. I will not come back end of the year as originally intended. It’s just too much fun and there is just too much more to explore. The journey continues for a while. Next stop: ?
AGT!
Gibt echt wenige Dinger die geiler sind zu sehen als, erstens dich als guten Freund wohl auf zu sehen, und dann dass sich bei dir so viel getan hat und dass du dabei bist dein Leben in deine Hände zu nehmen und es zu gestalten wie es dir gefällt!