You Are Your Future!

My dearest readers,

after recently meeting Dr. Auma Obama at a conference I see it as a moral obligation to share the inspirational agenda of her work and venture, not because I told her I would so but because it is perfectly matching the heart and core of this blog. It is, in that sense, not only about getting momentum and pushing yourself and your life forward but further about the awareness of being able to do so, where you believe and eventually know about the opportunities given to you and how you can turn them into greatness; for in the end it is exactly how she phrased and put it: you are your future!

What does it mean to be one’s future? You may go back to the March 2014 post on how we control a big part of our happiness, where our personal strivings are less dependent on circumstances but, in fact, more dependent on what we hold in our hands, on what we hold dear, and how we manage to turn that into something valuable we can benefit from. What is it you hold in your hands? What is it you hold dear? There is no one to answer those questions, no one but you, for there is no one to look inside your heart in order to expose what the values in your life are. It is up to you to discover those values, because you only are able to spur your future, were living in and for the moment is not just a stable entity but one to ignite your future. It is no responsibility for the ones around you, no; but it shall be yours and your priority. It is your life, and your future. You hold it. It is in your hands.

Once you found your “self” and what it holds for you, is it then not up to you to turn it into something valuable? Is it not your duty, your mission to seize and take what is yours? Ask yourself what is vital to your life; moreover, ask yourself: what is in for me? “Use what you have to get what you need” (Auma Obama). Opportunities? They will be given to you, but it is in your hands to grow above yourself and to what is demanded and turn them into greatness, which is nothing less than the reward for your values and what you are capable of; and that starts with believing in your “self,” knowing what you have, who you are, and what you are capable of when it comes to forging your future.

Everybody has something to offer, look at what you have to offer, and have your “self” be(come) the gift that keeps on giving. Appreciate your resources and use them, not only opportunities, but first and foremost your capabilities. Both are assets, assets that can turn your future into greatness. Test yourself, pull yourself up, build yourself up, and don’t wait for someone else to do that for you. There are no peers or companions who hold your future in their hands, they are occupied with holding their own; but there is someone whose hands are perfectly shaped for holding and carrying along a future of abundance, prosperity, and greatness…

You are your future! The crystal ball and all it contains is in your hands. Let those hands be the hands of a working (wo)man with no hesitance to step up, make an effort, and shape and scheme the future (s)he demands. What you demand is what you deserve. Therefore, get up and out there, and use what you have to get what you need. Let your hands be the ones to carry your future, and let your heart make sure there is a future. Your future is calling…ring…ring. Are you going to answer?

...on sharing the wonderful!

My dearest readers,

not too long after the first of (hopefully) many UW reunions (though I am sure there will be plenty), and similar to the previous post on leadership, I caught myself revisiting the past another time. This time, however, it was less about the past but more about the here and now, where the past was present, underneath, but it was there, and it became a manifest of the present I found myself in. It felt almost as though the one can’t exist without the other—and truly both can’t. They coexist; and therefore I want to dedicate this discourse to coexisting, i.e. sharing, where one is to find the ideational value of and in our lives.

This reunion weekend has shown me bluntly, how the past (A) and the present (B) coexist; but further it has shown me, how the A and B laid open a wide room in between. Bearing in mind my UW experience I came to visualize that what once started as a great undertaking and challenge and a significant endeavor and mission I had to take on in my life was no longer something I needed to have in sight. As stated at an earlier point: I did my time and it is done; it had been taken care of. And sitting there with my fellow friends and former classmates I came to realize that the lone wolf people labeled me and the lone wolf I once were no longer existed as such. Something had happened when crossing over from A to B, and that something was sharing, moreover a shared experience we were all part of. Now that I got to spend time with others who once shared the same dream there was no longer something we all had to dream of and work for, because now that we can talk about the past and reminisce about great times, in fact now that we can have a reunion, all the great times we relived and talked about were times that by now are in the books: they are history. And they were great times we shared. There was no longer an individual; there was only a collective, a collective that was part of an experience larger than any of us.

Where we were once striving and following our dreams by ourselves there are now others who at some point were doing the same. What was formerly restricted to ourselves had suddenly evolved, evolved into a collective experience that can and eventually will weld the many together to a figurative band of brothers and sisters who pull(ed) on the same string. Not just “e pluribus unum” but “ut omnes unum sint” as well, for all we shared something and based on that shared experience, the past, we became a collective in the present. And isn’t that what one can call the ideational value of and in our lives? Isn’t this union based on a shared experience something sublime, sacred, and priceless?

To exemplify and solidify just keep asking yourself: what is the biggest bullion, if the ideational opulence we hold in our hearts (not just for ourselves but for others) out-weights and out-values it in a heartbeat? What is an infinite savings account, when yet we miss to save some many pages in the diary of our hearts (of life that is) for the many experiences we can write together with our loved ones, the ones that are part of an experience with us that is larger than life? While so many in our age seek economic wealth, is it not the riches of the past, the shared experiences we carry along with us that make this life worth living? Are not those riches what truly matters, for it eventually made and/or makes us become who we are?

Once you answered all those questions go ahead and reflect, look back to your past, relive and revisit it. Look back to the hard work that once laid the foundation for you to eventually live to see today, but from a different angle, just as the past once laid the foundation for any of us to finally have a reunion and see (life in) the present from a different angle. And have the space between A and B demonstrate, how the steady toil one is willing to put in is eventually going to be rewarded—and as that had been the case for me it will be the same for you: you get what you (are willing to) give. We all gave, and we all got, received, not just I, but the collective, we! If thou didn’t give in the past, what will thou receive in the present?...but bear in mind that tomorrow the present (i.e. today) will have become past, in that sense it is not too late to affect and shape your future. And despite my concluding #foreverforward let us open our eyes to the value and treasure that lies in the past, a past and in the end a shared experience that came out of it, one that we can relive and revisit day in day out, over and over again, for it is written in our history. It's in our books. And no one will ever take that away from us! Like finishing it is not temporary, but lasts forever.

The Victorian artist John Ruskin once said that “[t]he highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” And once we let the past define ourselves and determine our present, then there will indeed be something to share, something wonderful that turns even the last lone wolf into just another part of a collective bond. And in this sharing and shared experience we eventually come to see what it means to actually “live” life! And in that sense I just want to let you know about life: I live mine…how about you?!?

#sharethewonderful …and here it is: #foreverforward

Momentum to Go

My dearest readers,

after recently helping out at the local Tough Mudder I was mind traveling back to the past, to last year when I caught myself running and crawling through the mud. A year later, however, a year after I finished the run I stood there at one of the obstacles, cheering at the new runners, encouraging them to endure and finish as well. Standing there I could pass on the inspiration and motivation I had back then to a new generation of runners that were doing it long after I had done it; and I found myself in a position where I was not concerned with my own accomplishments but with those of others, in a position where I could inspire, and serve, and figuratively lead.

A couple of years ago I wrote a post on being heroic, where selflessly we can step into servitude to support and help others. I also talked about how others will observe your deeds and (may) get inspired to do what you were/are doing as well. Once we get an opportunity to step into servitude we should not step back, because we are given not only the privilege to serve and lead but an obligation to forward what we so long carried deep inside our hearts: endurance and a relentless will to succeed and finish. When we see others struggle with what we have already accomplished, what better inspiration can one have than encouraging words and support of a finisher? How much more authentic can encouragement be when spoken through the lips of someone who was once in the same or a similar position? If you take this call and chance and time to step in and kindle an inspirational fire, then you cannot only encourage others but also revisit your own accomplishments.

Former U.S. president George W. Bush once said: “Use power to help people. For we are given power not to advance on our own purposes nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power and it is to serve people.” If you are a finisher, and a winner, then you have this power, for being in a position to help, serve, and support others is indeed an expression of power, a time to shine for yourself and a time to help others shine. You cannot only tell people how to endure, but they may just look at you and endure, knowing that there was a time you were in their position. And without realizing you ultimately serve and lead in a discipline, where your own accomplishments resurrect and manifest themselves in the momentum you get to pass on, the momentum you get to forward. Then your own accomplishments of the past become indeed a momentum to go and go hard, a momentum others can grab and take with them; and in that sense one thing is to be said: they will never forget your selfless support, the power you have to lead, and the ways you served them to make an effort and succeed.

You’re a finisher, a winner. You are a leader, and the ones struggling are more than happy to follow your lead. Show them, how it’s done. Serve them, and lead! Be the one in Newton’s cradle to incite momentum! Be the bringer of movement; for what you have in your heart is a treasure others don’t have and need. It is you who can give it to them. And it is you who must give it to them. If not you, then there will be no one; but you can make this difference, not only for yourself but for others who are striving to get a heart of encouragement and relentless will. Lead them the right way; don’t lead them on…and serve them on a platter what we all need: momentum to go! #foreverforward

...on being a world champion!

My dearest readers,

I have not quite anticipated this particular post, but after the World Cup ended not only for me but for an entire great nation in a historic win, it became apparent to eventually present a discourse exclusively on winning. After frustrating years of several second and third places, of being good, yet not good enough, always being placed in a position to win but repeatedly missing the mark, the big shot, the time for a great team had finally come to be, where not a good but a great team belongs: on top of the world. This is on winning, for winners, and for winners only!

In times of winning joy and pride, satisfaction, and gratitude are conspicuous and—as appears—all there is; rain and storms dispersed, and all that is left is the everlasting sunshine of the one who remains on top. After Germany won the World Cup it appeared that everlasting sunshine was indeed all there was; however, in times of victory we often forget that this victory, this ‘being on top’ is not something we can take for granted, for winning is not natural at/after all. When you go back in time and see the many setbacks Germany had to take in the past years, the derision, the doubt, over and over again having to accept that they were quite good but not good enough to be all the way on top, then we come to realize that there were much rain and many storms on the way to ‘everlasting’ sunshine that can now, after all those years, shake and move an entire nation.

But “[w]hat does it take to be a champion? Desire, dedication, determination, concentration and the will to win” (Patty Berg); and bearing in mind these attributes even in times of winning, attributes that were necessary, that are mandatory, that a phenomenal victory demands, that is what makes a win…a win. What is a victory without the desire, the dedication, the determination, the concentration, and the will to win? What is a victory you didn’t have to earn? What is a victory you didn’t have to fight for? “What is joy without sorrow? What is success without failure? What is a win without a loss? […] You have to experience each, if you are to appreciate the other” (Mark Twain).

Winning is special, just because it is not merely the moment you get to present a giant trophy. Winning is special, because eventually all the hard work you put in and the blood and sweat you spilled got you far and made you endure beyond the endurance of others, of anyone else, where in the end there was only one being the last one standing, where there were others that were good but not good enough—but there was you who lasted until the very end eventually claiming your hard-earned and well-deserved new spot on the mountain peak, the spot reserved for the few and the proud who are willing to endure where others drown out: the winners!

Just note that it was not the trophy itself that made Germany the world champions…nor were it the many celebrations and festivities to follow. Note that it was the relentless desire, the years of hard work, the dedication, the belief, the determination, and—most importantly—the never-fading will to win that made Germany what they became and finally are: the champions of the world. And if you have this relentless will to win deep down in your heart, then God knows it is just a matter of time until you get your time to shine, until you get to hold up a big trophy that ultimately and undoubtedly declares you what you really and at last are: a winner! #allinornothing …and that is all I’ve got to say!

Change the World!

My beloved readers,

after experiencing a time of prosperity and abundance abroad, after the last grain in my hourglass of dreams had dropped—I must say—it took me a while to fathom that I had returned to where I came from after reaching out into the world, returned after a life-changing adventure, after which I eventually found myself in that very place where my leap had once begun: at home! And I knew that a new old life would await me, newness in an old realm, a transition winding like a labyrinth, new chaos in an old order; thrilling, comforting, yet frightening it felt, a time of change was hanging from the ceiling, just above my head, descending toward a spirit that seemed so steadfast, invincible, so firm. But all of a sudden I realized that time had passed, faded, and change was waiting for me, for a man who would have never anticipated how prodigious change can be…a thing to fear? Apparently, as the American novelist Stephen Chbosky writes: “[T]hings change. And friends leave. Life doesn’t stop for anybody.”

Time does not stop, and things will change; but doesn’t ‘change’ also imply that something new lies ahead? Doesn’t ‘change’ mean that something old has vanished and departed for something new to arise, to take over? Isn’t ‘change’ also an opportunity in which we can grow and bundle up all our experiences, all we have learned in order to kindle a new passionate fire not only in our lives but especially in those of others? As frightening as change can be in our lives, bear in mind that it also holds the power to lead oneself and his or her surroundings into a new realm, a new era, a new life in which changes are not only the cause but also the effect, an opportunity in which you can be a leader and lead to change. Moreover, change can be an opportunity for us to grow within ourselves, have us grow out of our past experiences, our past lives up to new heights, to a new peak, for there are other mountains to climb, other goals in sight, and higher rewards to achieve. Things change…walk upright, and change things!

In the previous post I talked about dreaming and believing, two components that form and strengthen your spirit, but once you are strong in mind and spirit you can persist where others perish, where others lower their heads you ascend your eyes to the heavens, no…where others bow down you rise, not only in times of change, not only in your life, but out of yourself where you can throw yourself out into the tidal waves of a new life, a new path and time in your life, in which your true self can be exposed, the strength that hold together an invincible, steadfast, and firm spirit that indeed no one and nothing can force to stumble, fall, or drown in the malice of our lives. Change is the momentum of life, an inevitable force that keeps our world spinning…and life does neither stop for you, nor for me or anyone else who buries his or her head in the sand. The thing in life, however, we can stop is the reverent and effusive way we bring forth when approaching change with fear…and once we are able to stop this anxiety we can expose our true selves and grow out of ourselves as those who can and will rise, whenever, wherever, anywhere…and any time.

“The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself” (C. JoyBell C.). The ‘open’ is the, is our world out there, which is not necessarily the one from where I returned, neither is it necessarily the one where you came from…but the ‘open’ is the world we find ourselves in every day, where we are present every single day to not observe and accept but implement changes.

When things change walk upright, grow out of yourself where you can eventually expose what dreaming and believing has done to your spirit…rise, and shine…and change things while things change, and never yield, for it is in your hands to bring order out of chaos…and it is in your heart to lead and change the world. Bring changes, because if you won’t do it there may be no one else!

I Did My Time

My beloved readers,

it is my distinct pleasure to present this particular post to you, as my time, a mind-blowing and life-changing year at the University of Wisconsin is slowly coming to an end. In these last days I could retrospect so many and multiple times about what I’ve done, experienced, and accomplished here, which was—after all—nothing but a highly earned award and reward for the many hours of sleep I had to give up in order to optimize my work ethics, the passion and everlasting perseverance that manifested itself in the hard work I would bring forth every single day to eventually wrap everything up and finish strong. A, no, the story of my life, from the day when here I were, the story of closing circles and coming to realize that, in fact, finishing does last forever, for I have done one thing: I did my time.

As I opened the first post this year with the adventure laying ahead, I can now look back to an adventure laying in the past, where now I reached the peak of what I had so long dreamed of and worked for. And there is no better depiction of success than the dichotomy of before and after, where it becomes crystal clear what you have put in and what was the outcome. In that sense, I must say, everything I achieved here was, however, merely the result of two attributes I brought to the table, two concepts that ultimately made all of it happen: a dream and the belief to make it come true.

Whenever asked about “how,” I can lean and turn toward a little piece of paper, more a note I once received that stated: “Everything is possible, if you believe.” Was there ever more to it? No! Not at all, it was always just a little dream that never faded in all the past years; and it was the belief that it would come true some day. It was a little dream that I pursued relentlessly; and it was the belief that I could and would stay on it in order to make it happen. It was a dream that taught me patience, discipline, passion, and perseverance; and eventually it was the belief that, at some point, the wait would be over, and the time had come, the time for this little dream to become reality. If you have the belief to move mountains, what dream is then too big for you to dream? What dream is too tall of an order when nothing in the world has the ability and power to bring you down and quake and shake what you have on your mind, and in your heart? What mountain is too high to climb when you have the belief to not just climb but fly up to its peak and be on top of the world?

Nothing, and by ‘nothing’ I mean ‘nothing.’ If you have your dreams in your scope all the time, if you have your hand on the game all the time, and if your heart bears the belief that you’re ready for this challenge all of time, no matter how hard it is or may be or what lies ahead, up, or beneath, then all rocky paths and obstacles become pale and plain with you hovering over the ground toward what you have dreamed with no one to ever hold you back. Got a belief to move mountains? Then it is now your duty and moral obligation to dream big, to take it out into the world and to the sky, to make a difference, to make things happen, to be self-made and shine brighter than the sun, within your heart and from your heart to the outside for everyone else to see it.

“When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life” (Greg Anderson). This is completion, this is a dream that becomes reality, this is the proof that you can do anything you put your mind to; and eventually this is when textually, generally, and figuratively speaking Korn meets Jesus, when it is finished and I did my time—for then you did everything right and can look forward to abundance and prosperity that transcends beyond.

I did my time, for I have dreamed and believed; and with the sincerest gratitude and utmost contentment and pleasure I bear in my heart I want to encourage you to do likewise. I did my time, now it's time to do yours!

...on being alive!

My dearest readers,

before my journey to Wisconsin a good friend gave me a book about being balanced in a chaotic world, which I considered a satirical allusion to the rush I experience and the fast life I certainly live every day—which she, more than most of my friends, is overtly aware of. After skimming through the pages the section on “Living in the Moment” immediately caught my eye, because it is not only a great method of balancing one’s life when reaching for the stars and making dreams come true but further a great enhancement of the way I opened the 2014 discourse: as an adventure.

An adventure is a great example of a situation in which you are caught in the moment, the ‘now’ aside from a before or after, because an adventure happens in its present and is experienced within the here and now. Jim Ballard writes: “People spend much of their lives futurizing, and thereby rob themselves of their native aliveness, self-expression, and joy.” As the previous post suggested, do we actively control a big part of our happiness, which is control, authority, and agency we can easily give up as soon as we place our self-expression and enjoyment, our happiness in the past or the future. Therefore, remain in control and own this experience, your adventure, and live it to the fullest, because there is only one person to control and own this adventure of life: you!

In earlier posts I dealt multiple times with the past, especially taking heart from past accomplishments and rewards and ultimately carrying this new-found encouragement and self-consciousness you drew out of it into the future where—with foresight—you are tackling new challenges. Those, in fact, are great methods to stay motivated and keep the focus on your achievements, when doing so, however, do not get caught up in the past or the future if it diminishes the moment, because you only live in the present. And you are to enjoy the present, the now, and live in the moment, and for the moment, because happiness can only be perceived and experienced in the present. There is happiness you can remember from early days, and there may be, or in fact is happiness you anticipate and work for in the future, but experiencing happiness you can only do when it is present, in the now, when you live in the moment.

In the tempest of time, where past and future pull you in all kind of directions, do not drown in the torrents of time at your own expense. Keep a balance not only in your life with whatever you do but also maintain a balance of experience, where you do draw inspiration from the past and keep an eye on the future, but be present and alive and happy in the present, now, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now, in the moment, the moment in which you are to live. Your life then, ultimately, becomes an adventure in which you are free from thinking about what may come next, but grab whatever is coming next by the horns and live it, experience it, and live it in the moment. This moment? You own it!

Let life be an adventure, let it be your adventure…or nothing, for that will determine whether you are dead or live in the moment, for the moment, live your life here, and now; and it will make you eventually feel what so many people fail to feel and to be: alive!