Sometimes life is funny: we're travelling through Switzerland and Germany, visiting friends and relatives, falling in love with a project that - if the gods of the building authorities and others in charge have their way - will be our home from 2026, and then we think to ourselves: well, while we're here, we might as well work a bit more.
Thought, wished, done: and learnt once again that you have to wish precisely, not just say "a lot", but perhaps formulate it a little more precisely. Because a lot can quickly become too much. But the good thing about having too much, or too much for my liking, is that we enjoy our work and realise how blessed we are with our career choice and projects.
A small disadvantage: a lot of things remain undone. For example, writing our diary here, knitting lots of ideas that initially only exist in our heads. And the wool that goes with it, bought a long time ago of course, is also left lying around, serving as insulation in the wardrobe on cold autumn days.
But now that we're here in freezing cold Brandenburg, I'm taking the time again to put a few (travelling) thoughts on paper or digitally. Because especially in intense moments, it's important to listen to yourself. To create short but beautiful moments.
And it goes like this: We all know many things, actions and moments that do us good, that make us feel really good. They let us calm down, let us rest within ourselves. A few examples?
A cosy morning coffee with a view of "our front garden world" from the motorhome. Or knitting a few rows (the best meditation for me). Or writing a diary. Writing or talking on the phone with travelling friends. Having long conversations with our children. Gerd also likes to read jokes to me (they're usually not that funny, but we laugh anyway). Listening to two or three favourite songs out loud and dancing to them. And, and, and ...
One idea is to "do" things that feel good at least a few times a day, i.e. to get into a contented, perhaps even happy state at least a few times a day, even in hectic, restless, cold, uncertain times. And to learn that we are always responsible for how we feel. We won't be able to change the world out there any time soon, but whether I'm annoyed by it, whether I'm scared or happy about the little things is entirely up to me.
And now to the bucket list
First of all, what is this ominous bucket list? It's a list of things you want to have done before you kick the bucket. It's a list you've made for yourself that tells you what you still have to experience in this life so that you can die with peace of mind and fulfilment. The only problem is that we rush from one item to the next, tick it off dutifully and then move on to the next item on our "I want to see this before I leave this world" list. Happiness, contentment and all the things we might want cannot be ticked off like fruit and vegetables on a shopping list.
Many bucket lists are full of places that, once visited, leave a superficial flavour. Perhaps even too commercial. Some lists read more like compulsion or pressure to perform. The trend seems to be towards an accumulation of spectacular events. Is that what we really want?
But what does that actually mean? Do we live in the now? Or continuously in the future? Yes, of course, we're travelling to Morocco in January, we're looking forward to it, anticipation is good. And in 2026, we'll clear out our crammed basement and move the furniture we barely remember into a new flat. We plan the kitchen, flooring and wall colour. But do we only want to live in the future?
We take time for ourselves, day after day. The morning coffee, the rows of knitting, the mediocre jokes followed by gales of laughter. The short dance in the wobbly Felix to songs from the 60s, 70s or 80s, the podcast in our ears or the good book. The nature around us or time with the family. Now is so much nicer than yesterday or tomorrow.
Of course, we don't always manage to do this, not often in fact. But we do succeed. Every now and then. And then there are those moments when we enjoy the first snow in the mountains with our friend for her birthday, when we snack on freshly picked apples from the Vinschgau Valley, when we spontaneously travel to the Humboldt Forum in Berlin to see an exhibition and then spend an hour or two pottering around with our daughter: These are the moments that you can't put on a bucket list. These are the moments that make us happy. These are the moments that stay in our hearts without being ticked off.
Maybe we'll make a reverse bucket list: A list of gratitude. All the wonderful encounters, the marvellous nature, the gifts in our lives, the time together - we are infinitely grateful for all of this. And the energy of gratitude is a wonderful way to live. Even if we have to kick the bucket, or perhaps precisely because of this.
Oh yes, we also have wishes. No question about it. For example, we would like to travel to Morocco. And if it works out, we'll be grateful. But if it doesn't work out, we can still say that we've had a wonderful, happy and beautiful life so far. Without a bucket list.
PS: The wonderful trip to South Tyrol with my girlfriend is just waiting to be written down here. Just like my client is waiting for me to finalise her InDesign templates for production. I'll probably be managing priorities until the end of the year. As I always do.
PPS: If you have any tips on Morocco, we would be delighted!
Merci for "travelling with us
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Date: 24 November 2024 4 pm (doors open at 3 pm)
Location: Germany, Landgasthof zum Mühlenteich 15345 Eggersdorf near Berlin
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Thank you for your wonderful travel blog, which I have only known for a few days. Very nice reports and the photos are unique.
It's nice to calm down at this time of year, with biscuits and tea to create a special atmosphere in the afternoon when the sun goes down.
Kind regards
from Uffing am Staffelsee