What is happiness and how will it ever go forward?

It always will go forward!

How do you know you might ask and my answer will be factual, because it always has. Some of you will though argue but know-body gives of fuck as how I feel. Well, that is not true at all. Many care and why? Because you matter in many ways.  We are all a piece of the puzzle. Forget about the big political spectacle, what matter is the daily stuff of engagement and learning. Who has it worse in the world? The individual that has not eaten for the last ten days? The individual who just lost his/her first born child because there was no clean water available? Think about it. I hope this brings motivation to read below the pic. 

 

Life in its ups and downs, full of great gray shades (nothing bad with gray, even if its is fog coming in), and reflections. 

“What is the meaning of life” is a big question which I have found nobody really can answer. It is soiled by religion, the regional culture, your family culture and upbringing with many more influences which the individual can’t get away with. I’d rather like to switch the words a bit and rather concentrate on having “Meaning in Life”. 
Being currently in China I had the opportunity to talk to many during the dinner time in which we all let loose from the business bla-bla and coming to learn to know each other better. We talked about the monthly and annual Zodiac signs, learning about the individual character traits as well who believed in its predicted outcomes. Many said yes they believed but do not drive their live decisions by it. Which drove the discussion to what actually drives you individually. Many said they want happiness. One said God, where then many of the others said yes and trying to support the lone person that the belief in God also drives towards happiness. I found that interesting and wanted to know more. So what is happiness for you? The majority then contemplated a bit more detailed saying family, some other said money. But what about your work, any sports, work, hobbies? That was when some got really excited and exchanged their thoughts and real desires. 

What is happiness for me? Happiness is an emotion, I though first and foremost think of it more as a state of being. It is the culmination of many things in the daily life which I share. It is also within the awareness of what I do that brings value to my life but also requires to some part doing things that have no real value to me but will bring value to others which then in return brings value. What do I value? Definitely my family. Their individual growth and struggles while witnessing how they one by one overcome them and gain to their own happiness. Work, as I receive money and can support my family. Work because finding, defining and implementing technical solutions and traveling meeting other people, cultures and views is  f?$&!ing fun and fulfilling.

Overall the state of being happy is the sharing of thought and work. While life is average, we can not always win and any loosing streak will fortunately have its end. The work we put in to overcome small or big struggles is providing the satisfaction. Receiving the confirmation that the work has provided positive values therefore have meaning resulting in happiness!

As we can not be happy all the time it shall not deter to strive for it daily. Trust the process. Acknowledge what you know and what you do not know. Learn the methods to gain knowledge. Work towards the things that have value to you and share with others. 

If you believe you can be happy without sharing and being alone, her a fact: No, nobody can be happy alone. You are just walking away from the struggles and not putting in the work to overcome. Yes, I wrote this in a hotel room alone. I like being alone once in a while but I know I am not alone as I share every day. There is nothing against a few minutes of peace and silence, but total loneliness and self-pity is not fulfilling as the vision to the others is restricted. Only in the collective you will be able to see the opportunities. Pit-falls though are free and grow to other opportunities. A fungus with many paths you can choose. 

 

I will, if all goes well turn 60 this year. Surviving mid-life crisis which was a new beginning I am moving towards the next new beginning. I am not scared personally about it but I am uncertain if my environment is ready to understand what this means and what they will do to compensate for that? I have had a life with a lot of exiting stuff and some totally boring that is not even worth to carry in my brain. A lot though has been accomplished in these years. A lot of unexpected but we endured. Even uncomfortable stuff has been dealt with and it was not even really hard, shocker. What has motivated me? I always was motivated to show what I am capable of, see the capabilities of others and tickle it out of them for them to succeed. Feeling a self worth and putting meaning into life that touch me directly.

 

 

Even if it sometimes felt tough and unbearable it has always turned out good and provided new opportunities for all participants.

Sure, I also enjoy a laugh and mid day nap.      

another month has passed and wow

 ...how crazy it has become. 3 weeks ago the USA has started to bombard Iran and taking out the Supreme Leader with some of his team. Sure Iran selected its next Supreme Leader, the son of the previous. After 4 days the President claimed victory while Iran retaliated by bombarding USA sites of interest in the Arab world and closing the Straits of Hormuz, the Oil shipment vein to the World. It does not seem to end soon while the Ukraine War which was started by Russia (Putin) celebrated its 4 year anniversary on 24.February. More to come as what this all means in the mid and long term. In the short term it has increased the fuel prices here in Ojai from $4.19 to $5.79 per gallon. Soon the grocery prices will follow. Stock indexes declined 1.2-1.6% weekly. 

On a private note I will be traveling to Suzhou, China for business tomorrow with a short stint being in Shenzhen. I am excited to see many of my colleagues and companies I work with over the years. Every individual has their story to tell and view of what has been and currently is going on in the world. The ambitious dream of mine, while being in my teens, that my own kids do not need to experience war has burst early on. Frustration that a couple of few can break everything but still have not lost my hope that the majority can fix and make things better. We all will see. In regard to the current US President the majority was able to see the writing on the wall but they have been blinded by rhetoric and forgot to look into the details. Well Americans are not the best in history or world views. News degraded to opinion pieces and podcasts that take one item and shred it to its demise. No coherent discussion on how does the world works, economies drive each other into chaos or prosperity. No coherent discussion what education actually means and its biggest contribution to growth and innovation. This though not only applies to the USA, the best known knowledgeable Western world is unfortunately also moving into a similar direction. 

Packing my stuff now, see ya later.      

Folgerichtig 2.0, a new beginning

Folgerichtig is a German adjective and translates to consequential, logically consistent. During the time Kugelfisch and I met and fell in love with each other we talked a lot about the meaningfulness, significance, sense of purpose of all what we are doing (Sinnhaftigkeit). I at the time was done with my marriage and needed a split and Kugelfisch also coming from a long relationship formed a sort of unwritten agreement to be logical consistent and meaningful in our actions supporting each others dreams and goals while establishing another family tree branch. The initial Folgerichtig blog started that way in trying to express emotions while getting divorced and trying to keep my father role established. Living the majority of my life in Berlin we decided to move to the USA starting in Virginia Beach and growing as a family. The journey then brought us to Ojai the place we now live and encountered the CoVid pandemic. The time were everyone and everything somehow went thru a reset. I stopped my photography and blog writing as we all maneuvered threw the new normal. With Folgerichtig 2.0 I want to revamp my creative side. 

So where are we now in life? Ojai is beautiful and full of opportunities. 

    Kugelfisch has been a Soccer Coach for our kids QI, IQ and FS and still coaches FS. She moved up the ranks to Coach Admin at AYSO 147 and learned a lot about the diversity of parents and eager coaches. Momentarily she tries to establish the possibility of a home grown Ojai Soccer Club Team which is not easy as AYSO currently does not have a program for that. On the other side IQ has had the opportunity to join a Club team driven by a team mates father who saw the boys playing and wanted to support their need to play more competitive, more to that later in IQ section of this blog. Lets hope for the Ojai youth that she will succeed as we all see what good it does to the community and then hopefully in the High School programs. 

    QI has a finally graduated from high school and is now visiting Ventura College and pursuing his artistic side of things in graphics and photography. He has girlfriend for while now and therefore we only see him when he chooses to see us for ...  

    IQ is a vivid athlete. Successful in Track&Field sprinting and jumping, Football receiver, kicker, safety and Soccer (real football) as a striker or Winger. IQ joined the Ojai United club team 3 years ago as the youngest and this weekend they won the U19 Las Vegas International Showcase Tournament. To note IQ just turned 16 and he has shown the defense whose turf it actually is. Regardless if they are double in size, weight it does not matter.  

    FS will finish Elementary School this summer and move to Middle School. FS plays also soccer and made the All-Stars 3 times in a row. A fast girl but sometimes lazy to charge in fear to hurt the other. Well, her brother went thru the same at one point.

    I still work for the same vice company and had just recently two projects which were very successful and also brought me back into traveling to China and Vietnam. As I have known China for a while now I was eager to learn more about Vietnam and I must say I like Vietnam a lot. 

All in all everything is good and the kids are doing their thing to make something out of themselves. We all had to learn and adapt to the new Post-CoVid reality and its bi-polar political landscape. We all are making the best out of life as time passes by.