Wondering Pondering

Do you ever wonder, why some people like to label you?

I think often about it, and I do not think I fit in any label. When you call me man, I think you mean hu-man instead, just like wo-man who is human as well.
If you want to label me for my religion, there are various ways to do so. I am baptised in the catholic church, so you may call me catholic. I visited a few years the Synagoge, so maybe I am more Jewish? I love the way of life of the Dalai Lama, does that make me a Buddhist? And if I say I am nothing of that all, am I an atheist?
Am I an anti christ when I belive in Allah?
Why am I not welcome, in your home, when I have a different skin colour, a different religion or come from another country?

When you label me, you take away a part of my freedom as human being, from the one who I am.
When labels are being used to judge how we might treat the people, we loose even more of our own identity.

I not need a label. I am free. Just like the water in the pond. Is it different then the water in anther pond?  Do not allow that your freedom is limited by a label.

Coffee!

It is official now.

Studies have given prove that coffee is not good for the health. It disorders the brain and may cause sleeping problems and what all not more.

No surprise to me. Everything that causes a kind of addiction, and what is taken in too large amounts, causes troubles, but who thinks and lives normal, should know that and consider it.
Now what to do?

There were times that I drank 20 cups of coffee, or more, each day. And yes, it gave me difficulties with sleeping (solved by more coffee to be awake), and it was not a healthy time at all.  I changed my coffee style, never drink it in the evening anymore, and the sleeping problems still are there.

Should I take the warning serious and stop drinking coffee?  Such as people should stop smoking, should stop drinking alcohol, should stop using plastic bags, and you can name the row by yourself.
I am pretty sure that it will not clear my chaotic behavior much as well. I do not feel like trying that out, because I feel comfortable with the way I live. Give me my coffee, especially in the morning, and you will have no problems with me.

Now, I have finished my coffee. I will go do my shopping, I feel much more clear in the head then when I woke up. Something is done good for me, I think.
I will not feel guilty by living unhealthy. As long as I don't hurt others with it. And you can say from coffee what you want, but other then alcohol, it makes you very much aware about what we are doing and what we are up to. 

Now, I hope I do not froget my shopping list, else I need to return later again. What is good for my condition, but not for my mood.

Free to go

When you are always treated friendly by your friend, you knew you could rely on him, and felt home where he lives.
When you walk out the door, to get some fresh air, and when you return, you suddenly  are not welcome anymore.
Nothing has changed, in fact. Your friends are the same, they love you as mch as you love them.
The problem is the bear, that stands in front of the door.

The bear is hired by people who hate people who are different.  The bear is told that you are dangerous, because you are different.
You can walk out, but when you do, you can not return to your friend anymore. A prisoner in a golden cachte.

 The bear has to follow the orders from his boss, else he get no food.
Will the bear still listen to his boss, when the boss tells him that his children are different, as well?

It's so easy

Nowadays it seems easy to blame others for things that go wrong.

When a boy steals an apple, it will not work to punish all boys. There might be a girl, that takes advantage and steals a bag of apples instead. Because you were focussed on bad boys.

When terrorists kill people, it will not work to eliminate people with a certain religion, or ban people from certain countries.  It will give people of who you not expected a  carte blanche.

We know from wars, what happens when people start with propaganda to hate people who are different, in religion, in skin colour, in language.
Can hate make peace? Did that ever happen in history?

A world in what we understand eachother, where we refuse to accept hate, racism, discrimination, is a world in what we can feel safe. And where we can warn eachother for people who have evil plans. Hating people is not a solution. It is a step into the direction of eliminating them.

Be smarter then the president. Smile to your neighbour. And when you know them better, then ask abot their skin color (yes, I know what I write there).  Ask, when you not understand eachother.
Dp not allowe violience, against your neighbour. Let's spent a bit more time for each other. And you will see that the world is not that bad. There are only a few people who make it bad. And they want you to believe that. Not for your sake, but for their (secret) goals

Flower power

Today I got flowers at work. 

I was surprised, did not expect it, and it made my (special) day.

Later that day, I talked with one of the ladies, who loves flowers and saw the bouquet. She smelled at it, she asked a picture of  it, she was so excited, for me, having such a bush of tulips.  I smiled, and made my plan.

I was allowed to leave work a bit earlier as usual, as another pressie. Before I left, I made sure that the lady was downstairs, watching the Friday afternoon movie.
I went up, and left the flowers at the table in her room.

I am sure that she smiles now, as much as I do

Neighbours

Imagine, you have a garden at your house, and you share that with your neighbour.

The neighbour likes cats and the cats use the mutual garden. You don't like cats, so you want the cats not in your garden and decide to build a fence.

Even before the fence is built, you tell your neighbour that he is going to pay for the fence, because it are HIS cats in your garden, and you don't want that.
The neighbours at the other side, look with frowned eyebrows to you, because such a fence will cost money, and they know that you not have that much money.
 
You see no problem, other then the cats.  You build the fence, and bring the bill to the neighbour. Who has told long ago already, that he will not pay, and secondly, just like you, does not have the money for it.

You need to pay the bill, anyway.  And guess what?  The cats found a way to get through the fence. They jump on it, they find small holes in it..  Your 'cat problem'  can not be solved, unless the neighbour moves out. And your friends, now without money as well, reconsider their friendship with you.
And since no one is going to pay for the fence, you can not afford to maintain it. The holes get bigger...The fence transforms into a horrible trash.

Power to the people

It are only a very few that are able to use the power that they are given in a proper way.

The mother with the 3 kids in the supermarket, who hits the eldest one, because she was teasing her younger brother. A hit, and the girl went on, now out of reach of the hands of her mother.
In school, where the teacher tells his pupil that he did behave bad and now need to make some extra work. He will be mad at the teacher in the end, and the issue remains unsolved.

In jobs, where chiefs scream to their employees, in order to get them more successful, instead of motivating and insirating them.

In politics, where more and more leaders create their own truth and no one is allowed to doubt about it.

Power or a loud voice, can not convince people from an opinion. Only when we are free to choose, with equal chances for every thought, we can decide where we stand for.

It is important to see the various sides of the meddle. Not that you always can get what you want, but when you understand both sides of the story, you can accept things as they are. And find a strategy to get your own goal realized. 

Alternative facts

New dictators introduce new words.

It is done to hide the real thing, because words like lies and censorship are heavy loaded.

To understand the full impact of those new words for the old censorship, you must think a bit. 

And if dictators want something NOT to happen, it is that people think and form an opinion, that might differ  with the ones of the regressor.

The more we use the language of the powers that put us down, the less we can escape from their horror.

It is why I prefer to name the truth the truth, and lies are to me just lies.

Keep your mind clear. 

Do not let it be brainwashed by alternatives. 

The price of freedom

I guess almost all of you, my darling readers, are at Facebook as well, at the time I write this.

I guess that a lot of you know about the policies of FaceBook.  It is free to use, but mr FaceBook decides what is allowed and what not.

Nudity is forbidden and FB is pretty strict in it. As with many other rules, they are following the american standards and do not give a --beep-  about the rest.

This way art, like photo's, poser, paintings and so more, is under strict watch. A bit too much nudity, a trace from a nipple, and BAM!  Facebook gives you the blues, bans you, first for a couple of days, later for a month, and then, all the sudden, your accountis gone.

How pleased are we with a clean FB?
And how clean is our FB, when people can still freely post hate posts,  ask their audience to laugh about distracted people, giving a platform for Racism, bigoty, homophobia and National Socialism?
Beautiful breassts are forbidden, but brutal war games are okay, because that brings FB the money, to keep the thing free for us.

With participating FB (and the others), we agree with their policy. We agree that we don't use art, nudity, and so more, while, at the same time, we agree with the fact that the social media show us bloody war scenes, hate propaganda and so on.

When you are complaining, about that FB is slow again, or not shoing your messsages, we forget easily that we agree with the way FB works.  Just like we agree with the way MicroSoft, Apple and Google  rule our tablets and telephones. 

We are free to use their services, as long as we follow their rules. 

Of course, we are as well free to give up our connection with FB, Twitter and Co. No one is forcing us to stay there.
hmmm... let me think about that!

The fairy teller

The fairy teller

He tells you that, what you see on tv, is not true.
He tells you, that in fact it was the other way around.  The empty streets on tv were overcrowded like never before, and the tv does not want to show that.

The fairy teller will confuse you. His wish is that you believe what he is telling. But how can we be sure that it is the truth, if he tells that what we see is not what it is?

Before the confusement gives me a headache, I switch off.

And all the sudden the fairy teller is gone, and I have to think by myself.

Was it a good decission, after all, to listen to the fairy teller? 

I slowly calm down.

And I realize that the fairy teller, and his friends, are simply dictators, who announced sensorship to come to us.

It is about time to try harder to think, and not to fell into the traps that this horrible fairy teller is planting.

Cut off the wires that transform your mind. Think!  It might not be easy, but in the end it gives you the freedom to decide by yourself where you believe in!

Hans, the bear

I give it a try again

Here is my favorite bear, with my name. He will guide me through my daily life, and I have the plan to make him part of my digital life.

Today I started and dumped Hans The Bear  at Facebook.  Let's see if I have time, and discipline, to let him irregular show up.

There is as well a link to my photosite, where some pictures might show up.

I can hear some people, saying, Ehm Hans, do you have too muich time?

Well, apart from that, I have a LOT of fantasy!
And.. I have Hans The Bear. Most essential.

Click  HERE for Hans The Bear at Facebook

The tunnel

Today, the world steps into a tunnel, in where it is dark. No one can see the end, and even for the racist who is the new president,  it is not clear what the end will be. 

Since, other then him, we DO care, we shall focus at the light.

No matter how dark the tunnel is, there is light at the end.
And with every day, we step closer to the end of the darknes, and closer to the light again.
Every day in the darknes is one day closer to the light.

And when the monsters scream loud, we should listen to the sound of the silence.
We should feel the warmth in the hands that we are holding. 
We put courage from the blood that pumps in our heart. 
No one can eliminate our love and our believe. 

We get forward.  The tiranny will be overwon in the end. And until then, we count. 
Every day we shall see wonderful moments. And when the countdown is done, we shall step into the light again. 
And we will know how important it has been, for us, for our beleved ones, that we never gave up.

Don't stop believing
We are the answer. Love is the answer!  Let the questions come, we know the answer is in us!

Imagine

Imagine

That someone horrible should be on tv

And no one should go to watch it

And that the press, uses its freedom to speech, to be silent

Imagine

When someone told you to hate muslims and mexicans

And no one should join the hate

Imagine

When someone forbids you to speak

And you do not hear it

And talk and laugh, as f nothing matters

Imagine

When there is a war

And no one is joining

Happy birthday

Birthdays

Do we love them, do we igore them?

Even when we not like them, now and then we  can not run away from the fun and then we have to enjoy it. If it is a good friend, a best friend, a partner, (grand)child, there are moments that the other appreciates your presence and then we are there. 

Nowadays it is not so easy to forget birhdays as in the past. Our social calendars remind me at 3 or 4 places that someone has a day to celebrate.  Not so long ago it was only Mom, or your wife (somehow especially females are good in remembering those days?), now it is FB, and other smart apps that tell you in time when you can send a message.

I have been told that there are even Apps that suggest you the wish that you should send, also it can't be made much more easy.  Copy, paste, send, done for another year!

I plan to send more personal wishes this year. Easy as well, I did not do any, last year, so my target might be reached easily. 
And I will take effort, and find myself a card. I not need an app or so. I shall think about the person, think about what he or she likes, then get it and add a few personal words to it.   Because I, myself, have absolutely no value for unpersonalized birthday wishes.
When, then good, and that is how I will try to do for some others as well.

When I am invited at birthdayparties, I will come with a (small) present.  Just like with cards, I will think about the person, I will look around and finally make my decission.  Add some personal words and .. tadaaammmm.. sounds so easy!  

When I think my friend is smoking too much, I shall not bring him cigarettes.  Why should I encourage that?  Nor shall I bring large bottles of wine to someone who easily drinks.  It is easy, of course, to do so, because you not need to think too much with it.

Wishing somone a happy birthday, long may (s)he live.
Friends do not give their friends things  with what they encourage bad habbits.   At least that is my idea of friendship.  I rather give nothing, then choosing the easy way to speed up the bad things to come.
Just saying.  

Hey Trump, look at this!

Ach so, almost President Trump... hier ein Bild von einen Chevrolet in Deutschland. Bitteschön!

Grüße aus Deutschland!

Falls Du uns mal besuchen möchtest, in Deinen (hoffentlich sehr kurze) Zeit als Führer in Amerika, dann kannst Du feststellen das es bei uns noch überall Platz gibt wo Asylanten herzlich wilkommen sind. Nicht Frau Merkel, aber Das Volk hat das auch auf die Mauern geschrieben (Bild 2). Übrigens, können wir Dir auch zeigen das man ein Land nur besser machen kann, wenn man die Mauern abbrichst. Kannste auch nachlesen in Geschichte Bücher, hier Ich lasse es mal hierbei, und bin dankbar und stolz darauf Europäer zu sein. Es gibt schlimmers, wie Du beweist! ---------------------- Hey, almost President Trump... Here is a picture of a Chevvy in Germany. You're very welcome, Regards from Germany!

By the way... In case you want to visit us, in your (hopefully very short) time as Ruler in America, then you can see with your own eyes that here are many places where Refugees are welcome.
Not Mrs Merkel, but the German people wrote that at the walls in our country (picture below). We can as well show yoiu, that the best way to make a country better, is when you tear down the walls. It is as well written in our history books.
I leave it with this, and I am grateful to be European. There are worse possibilites, as you prove!

Netiquette

Nettiquette

People who recognize that word, are longer then a few years at internet.

People who know what the word means, are even longer having internet access

The longest on line are the people who were there before the netiquette was made.

For who forgot what netiqette is, it is about how to behave at the internet.

When you chat, you use a small font. CAPSLOCK and large fonts are extremely disturbing and disrepect in a conversttion, and tells the other that you do not take them serious.

When you inform others about what you are up to, you add the name of the person included.  

Like, John, I want to visit you, tomorrow. Else you might expect the wrong person to react (or too many)

Later, netiquette was expanded. Use modest colours, if you want to share your message. 

Further, the ground messages for chatting and internet exchange were, that you kept private matters private. No on at the net needs to see how much you feel for someone, what you eat, how your hair is sitting today and worse.

Times has changed.  
The social network gave us friends, that are no friends at all.
The social network gave us screaming colours, to get attention.
The social network gave us huge fonts to comminicate with each other

The social network shows too many private conversations, that no one needs. 

And in fact, nothing has changed

We still can take the effort to take time for our messages.

We still can type, ask personally to people how they are, or if they can help.

We still not need to bother people with how many time we go to the toilet, or making funny pictures of it.

Yes, it costs time, to do that. 

There were times that it was normal to spend time for people, who you really care for.

No one can tell that they have no time to pay true attention, even digital.

That's all for now. 30 years of being on internet left its traces :) 

Free to speak

Sometimes it looks like everytihng in the world is upside down. 

People that you thought that you knew, all the sudden are turning out to be strangers and I wonder why I still like that person that posted a dead animal, what some had decorated with balloons, telling happy birthday.

I wonder why wonderful people, with a golden heart, choose for a homophobic, racist as president, and still are defending them.

I said my things about it, and the others simply refuse to understnd my point of view.

Okay, maybe I am wrong, but considering the reactions that people give me, I see that I am not the only one.

And that, exactly that, is encouraging me.

I will not stop saying my things. When a picture is NOT funny, when a joke is insulting or disrespectful.

I will find the will to carry on, with the people that are in the heart. Nearby, and a bit further away.

When I look at them, I see that the world is not as bad, as that others contineous arte trying to tell us.

How bad is life, when you have a shelter, something to eat, someone who listens to you? 

:)  I love life. It is worth to fight for. With love.

repost

http://www.thatsnonsense.com/repost-this-if-you-have-a-heart-emotional-extortion-on-facebook/

Give and ake

I hope this is the last time that I feel the need to write about it, but, if not, I shall do it again.

I wonder why some people can not handle a critical note.  When an upcoming President is not able to handle critical questions, that is far away, but when it happens with friends, then it feels much more painful.

I shall keep on asking 'why'  (as in, why do people support a racist?), and that is an honest why. When I see, like in the past days, that the answer to such questions is not getting further then, bad looser, give it a chance, don't attack me, then I wonder, if my question is wrong, or that 'the other' is not wanting to give a reply (either he can't or he is not willing to).

Why is it so difficult to tell me why you do certain things?  Why do you need so many words to say nothing, or to move the spotlight away from the question?

When we learn why we do things, we are also learning what the consequences are. When we are acting, just because, we do not oversee what happens and we do not know how much we hurt others. Or, if you are an upcoming president, you might have no idea about what catastrophe you are causing.

When people feel attacked by my questions, I again ask why. And if you can tell me why, I can discuss with you and even excuse myself. That only goes when we (learn to) listen to eachother.

We not need to censor, while some people in the spotlights do so.

It's a rat trap

It's a rat trap..  and if you don't take care, you've been caught before you know it.

We all know how things work. You get what you give. Give a smile, and you get one in return.

It counts as well for negativity. Often it is so disgusting what happens.
An upcoming president, that tells a reporter, you can not ask a question, you are against me..  What the f.ck???  That makes angry, yes!
Hold on.. stop...  Don't step into the trap!
Do not give him the chance to prove that he is right.  Prove that he iis wrong. Do not accept it, keep asking why, keep asking about how important democracy is.

It is soooo difficult to behave. I see the anger around me as well. And I tend to get frustrated and then react angry as well. But I should not!  I try not to, and I need you, to help me, with doing the same, so that I can see your positivity and be inspired with it.
And who knows

Maybe 'the other'  realizeses, when his agression is not answerred with agression, that there are other ways to get things done.

I will post sheep, regurarily, when there is such a trap in my sight.  When I am trapped, or when others try, or, when I succeed to reply my way. All we need.. is love. And sheep :)

Respect

A lot people talk about respect. It are good people. 

People who, for example, do not accept the horrible words of the upcoming US president.
People who stand up against racism and worse
People who refuse to label others

I love those people, unconditionally

But I get confused if I see those people posting jokes, that are attacking certain groups of people. 

Such as 'wall markt people', or mothers who buy cola and cigarettes.
All the sudden it seems that labels are not important. It is just a joke, they say.  Hmmm yes, maybe that is right.

Someone made jokes about disabled people, and when I protested against it, she said, it is only fun, she is seriously not having anything against them...
Twp months later she voted a president candidate, that tells the same, but seriously.

 I do not think that that is fair, to make jokes about people who can not defend themselves, not only if they are not able, but because the jokes are at places that they do not see it.

And yes.. I am guilty as well. I do that as well, because it is funny. Such as the person who I once asked, if he needs a window cleaner for his glass eye.  He laughed about it. He was sitting in front of me and he saw my face (with his other eye, lol).

I like to open discussions.

But I hate it to disrespect others.  I must be more careful with sharing those funny stuff, I think.

Or am I just a grumpy man?

Hope in our hearts

I am not sure how long this is going to stay available on line, but I took the easy way, to just post a link 

It is about the speech from Meryl Streep at the golden globes. In what she, in a most respectful way, counter attacked some of the misbehaviour of the upcoming president of the US. The attack at disabled persons touched Meryl Streep deep and her words were touching.

This shows wonderful that there is always a place for hope. There are always people who dare to stand up, realizing that they will get a bit of dirt over them.
The more that the upcoming president is bullying everyone who dares to say something against him, the scarier he becomes in his counter attacks.  It is scary, if you see how he uses twitter, to make emotional and disrespectful moves.

It were the Nazi's who said.. We are not violent to you, as long as you are with us. And that is what is happening with this upcoming president.  I count the days until he drops, deep and dirty. I do hope with all my heart that that time will come soon, so that he will not be able to hurt, disrespect and who knows what more, against people that say, hey, Don, we're not gonna take it!

I promised myself to not involve too much with all that negative publicity. THat's why I want to post this. The encouraging message of Meryl Streep. There is hope, my friends.  Let their violence not impress you. Tell what you feel, inspire others, show that love is the answer.

https://web.de/magazine/unterhaltung/tv-film/golden-globe-awards/golden-globes-2017-meryl-streep-wettert-donald-trump-32106426

A winter's tale

Let's talk about the weather
Like everyone is talking about the weather, always.

While the Aussies at the moment almost get roasted, and the bushfires are all around, big parts of the world are covered with cold. And cold means as well inconveniences.

We live at a relative calm part of the globe, in our part of Germany winters are wild,  the snowy days you can count at a hand.
Well, this week we had a snowy day. There was actually some snow for the ones who were early awake, because later at the day the stuff was already gone again.

But.. as soon as the word snow is mentioned, things change here. It seems cars panic, the number of car accidents is countless, the railway is becoming chaos and  other public services get unreliable as well.

And everyone seems to accept the excuse.  It is winter.. things happen then!

And I wonder.. how people survive in places where it is really cold. The Scandinavian countries, Canada, the eastern part of Europe, parts of America.  Where we see empty supermarkets, nothing in the shelves...  because people need a supply in case they can not get out of their houses for a bit.

Meanwhile, while the country suffers under winter, other people have no problems with it and make the most beautiful pictures.....

Welcome in winterwonderland in Nordrhein Westfalen :) 

the world we created

How is your world?

Is it like others want you to see it, or do you see it by yourself?

What is more important in your world, in your life
The fear and unhappy moments, or the cheer and happy moments?

We easily led ourselves being controlled by emotions. Often the negative things win easily, whilst we need to do more effort to remember and see the positive.  
It is worth practising.

No, the world will not change. The bad things, the sad things, are always there. And the positive things, the happy moments as well. 

I think that life can look much more sunny, when we try to keep the positive moments better. Not only for ourselves, but as well for the people around us.

Negative emotions generate negative emotions.  Positive emotions generate positive emotions. And we have both of them, even if it is sometimes diffeicult to see. Then we might need to look better, take more effort to see the bright side (again).

Try it. It might be worth it!

the sound of

That feeling .. when you ask something for a reply, and there comes no answer

A thing that not so often happens in real life, eye to eye, but a thing that is pretty normal in the social media.  

I can understand that you not always are on line, or are willing, or in the mood, to reply, of course, that's fine. The world is bigger then the digital lines and if it really matters there are other communicaation forms imagineable as well.

But, when  I get the feeling that I am ignored, for example (social media again) that I see the person posting and babbling, and not replying at my private message, then I get a bit itchy and insecure. Did I do something wrong? Did the message not arrive?
Well, as long as there is no reply, we do not know, don't we?

What to do?  Sending a message like.. did you see my message?  In fact useless, because we can see that the message is read.

So.. what to do? 

We all want our freedom. We all want to do what we think that is good. And if someone else is thinking that not replying is good, then we should respect that, even when we not like it.  The more we try, te stronger the barreer grows.

So, I choose the difficult way. I stay silent and wait.. and wait..   Until the moment that I can NOT wait anymore and ask, as written above.

With as result?  Silence... 

Argh!  There we go again!   Let go!  There is no need to hurt yourself by waiting on things that do not come.  We all know such moments. Don't wait ..  Carry on, carry on.. as if nothing really matters!

hello 2017

So, there we are

A brand new year is waiting for us, and I think we all have thought about what might come to us. 
And we as well all (should) know that we can't be sure that it all will come to us indeed.

Expectations, wishes, new years resolutions, there are many ways to face the new year.
I decided to face the new year with open arms.
Living day by day
Not that I not care or think about what will come. I will do my best to be MORE to the point, to be MORE there for who really cares. 
I do not want my day to be spoiled by the thought of what tomorrow might possibly bring. 
I will not run away for responsibilities, I will stand for them when they come and when they are needed.
Every day again I shall try to smile and give a smile
Even when the tears might be strong
The year is long, and has a lot to offer. And how we face it, is in our own hands. When we can find some faith, even in difficult situations, then it might be more bearable as well.

I want to be good.  I want to be as imperfect as I am, with more Hans'  moments then ever before. 
I want to give good.  Give a smile, every day, to the one who are the closest in my heart, but as well to people that I do not know so well (or maybe to someone that I do not know at all).

And when I fail, those days will come most definitely as well, then I will try harder, next day.

I know the people that I must look for, who give me the power. And that are the persons who are the most close to me, who I see every day, and of who I think, and care.  They are worth the smile, and faith.

I think I have to reread this a couple of times, the coming weeks!!!!