“The only constant in life is change,” it says. So life means change. Standstill is death. Walking zombies on our beautiful planet as far as the eye can see. To what extent I have stripped my zombie existence, I am just wondering.
It’s starting to feel like a joke. With one foot (well, basically, with both feet!) I was already on the sailboat towards the Bahamas. I am ready for the change that this experience brings. But obviously life requires me to stop. Well. Then that’s how it’s supposed to happen.
In the meantime I’m the 14th day in Tunisia. A lot has changed compared to my first visit. The people I met in December are more familiar to me. Of course, the mentality, the places and the coexistence are now also more familiar to me.
I am now served a tea. In the restaurant. From the staff. Just because. As a nice gesture, since I am still sitting at the table while everyone else has left. Compared to my first stay in Tunisia, this is a huge change. Otherwise I was paid no attention there. Not even when I thanked politely. At this point it should be mentioned that only men serve in this restaurant.
It is now clear to me that it can be restrictive to make comparisons. Nothing is the way it was yesterday. Nobody spoons the same soup every day. Except zombies. The comparison makes sense if the change is recognized and thus a development. Be it your own or that of society. A development, whether positive or negative, takes place. A development, even if they are just tiny steps. A development of what was involved.
A thought experiment: I switch to autopilot. Zombie mode. When it comes to making decisions, I always go the same way. Or even better: don’t make a decision. Hand over the reins and let life decide. When I am in contact with people, I react according to my established pattern. If, for example, someone annoys me, he deserves it when I annoy him back. I also see people as I remember them. Like back then. Familiarity arises. A habit. A supposed security. What I expected was true. OK then. The result is always the same. Very nice. Since I’m always the same. Quite nice. I turn in a circle. To venture into something new means to make an unfamiliar decision and to leave my comfort zone. Letting go of what I know? Not with me. I stick to what I know. I know it’s nice. And when something has changed, it shakes me up for a brief moment. I am annoyed when the change is negative: “Oh, everything used to be better.”, “Back then … (insert the name of a person you don’t like anymore) has always been so nice.” It amazes me when something has turned positive: “Well, I wouldn’t have thought that possible.”, “How did … (insert a name, from a person you think has had a surprising success)?” done that?”. Banish change from your own life. And if it is right in front of me, then fear arises. I withdraw. Into my world. Still nice. Just known. That’s where the coffee tastes. If only very nicely. Always nice for that. That’s great. I know what to expect and, at best, when. Then I have the same conversations every day and venture far out the window to talk about the change in the weather. That is the only change that I allow. But that’s also the most stressful point in my life. That’s why I keep talking about it. Sometimes it’s too cold. Sometimes too warm. And it’s worst in April anyway. Of course I am open to everything as long as everything stays as it is. Of course, refugees can come if they don’t change anything. Of course I do yoga as it says in the textbook. It’s supposed to be nice. However, do not bring a surprising change. Of course I go on vacation in foreign countries. Three star hotel. All inclusive. With German speaking staff. With a swimming pool and the sea in front of you. I prefer the pool. And “What a farmer does not know, he does not eat” has certainly saved me from many bad experiences. So that I am informed, I naturally watch the news regularly. And then I get upset about it. There it is again, the familiar feeling. This excitement. Kind. When I feel a little less good, I just talk to someone about the news. I don’t feel any better about it. But it’s nice. The familiar feeling. I am also happy about the path my parents have prepared for me. I just need to go straight. Follow my parents’ footsteps. Too many left and right dangers lurk that bring new influences. Because my parents know what is good for me. After all, you know me from an early age. One day I decided to live life the way I live it. Either I was particularly smart that day, or particularly stupid. Or especially nice to me? My autopilot prevents me from getting to the bottom of this.
Dear travelers, ha! Caught! You too are traveling. Be it through this thought experiment, this blog, through your everyday life, your own world of thoughts or actually through the world. You travel. You are open to change. Change without evaluation. Change as the symbol of life. Change takes time. Only nobody tells you what time means in this context. It can ‘click’ within seconds and a person has changed. Out of nowhere. Very wonderfule! Or the development is slow. As can often be seen in society. We should just be patient. It is important that it goes ahead. Small or big steps. It does not matter. So is the change in us. With us. In the best case: self-determined. Free. Joyful. Go with your flow. I feel the change that the trip brings. Change. Even if it is so tiny. I am now served a tea. Hey guys, if you knew what was going on there. A tea! I pause. Recognize which development took place, harvest the ripe fruits and continue in my ‘flow’.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
