New Zealand Weekly Update #60

Last updated on Dezember 17, 2023

11th of December until 17th of December 2023

Approximate reading time: 10 minutes

Lets get it started

Good morning folks! What a morning. It is raining outside, it is cozy inside, my muscles are sore. I am tired as and was sleeping quite long. It has been a qhile since I got out of bed at 10AM. The last few weeks have been busy as. Lots of outdoor activities. Lots of sports. Lots of new adventures and experiences and I knew I have to slow down and just sleep. Relax. Slow down. So today is the day. Couch. Coffee. Cozy music. And reconsider. Relax. Refill. This weekend was supposed to be full of adventures. My plan was to drive all the way down to Bluff to see a friend at Stewart Island. So I went for grocerie shopping friday evening. Grabbed my stuff. Fueled up the car and was almost ready. And then I spottet some wet spots underneath my car. Coolant leaking again! Yikes! End of the story? No Bluff, no Stewart Island. Repair them leaks first, I dont want to be stuck in the middle of the island. And so I went for a hike with some friends yesterday. Since Tony is about to leave Wanaka for one month it was quite a nice change of my schedule. So we would start at 7AM early in the morning to drive all the way to Makarora area to go for a full day hike – Mt Shrimpton. Considered to be challenging, steep, long – but with an amzing rewarding view at the top. First two hours in the forrest up to the bushline. Partly steep, fresh and without high chances of getting sunburned. Afterwards, exposed, windy and with amazing virws to Makarora area. Several short stops, some food and water and all the way up to the top. Like a mountain goat. Like a monkey. Climbing them rocks. And folks! What a reward! Snow on the other side, blue water, silence, peace and some naps, lunch and just the salutary nature around us! Time to enjoy!

The way back, steep, some sore muscles, but still fun. Pizza and drinks afterwards at Hook Wanaka, a fishing area in Albert Town, quite hidden but very beautiful. And some movies and beers for the rest of the day (what was left after an eight hour hike though).

What are you grateful for?

Every day at work, we would huddle. Talking about the day, about the upcoming appointments, the plans for the day and about our tasks. Sometimes about some short private stories if there is time left. And each and every day, we would end the huddle with the question, what we are grateful for. Everyone would tell the others what he or she is grateful for today. Sometimes it is just the weather. Sometimes it is the team. Sometimes it is a story or happening from the evening before. And sometimes it is just an upcoming event or meeting. But each and every day we would think about something, that we are grateful for. And in the very beginning, it sometimes took me a while to „find“ something that I am really grateful for. Because sometimes I would forget about all those things, all those people, all those experiences and emotions, I could and should be grateful for – it happens to all of us. Especially when we are too busy. When we are distracted by so many things from the outside that we are not able to think and feel about all those great things that we have in our lifes. ANd I am not talking about big houses, expensive cars, a bank account filled up with money. I am talking about the important things. Memories. Adventures. People. And sometimes, I am thinking about all those little and big thinks, that I am honestly grateful for, from the inside of my heart.

What I am grateful for – Part One – My Past

Often we think about what we would love to change in our past. What we would have done differently. What went wrong. What has been said, what has been done and how much we struggled. And we end up in this endless circle of self-pity. Of judging. Of suffering. About things that can not be undone. That can not be unsaid. That can not be changed. But what can be done, what can be changed is our behaviour and our way of thinking. Our focus. And our way of dealing with the past. That is our decision – that is our freedom – it is our choice.
And it took me a long time, to understand the power if this decision and behaviour. To understand the power of dealing with the past in another way rather than self-pitty, judging and struggeling. A couple of months ago, there was this very moment, up in the mountains. Being alone and surrounded by stunning nature. Peaceful silence. No disctractions. No cell service. Just me, my mind and this salutary nature around me. And I went into a state of honest gratitude. Of inner peace and silence. And I became aware of the fact, that I would not be here in this very moment without all those things that have happend in the past. All the things that went wrong. All the people that rejected me. That gave me a hard time. All their mistakes, all my mistakes. All the suffering. And all the self-doubt, lack of self-conficence and happiness. I became aware of the fact that without all of those things I would not be here. I would have not have the chance to change. To refocus. To reconsider. To rethink. And in this very moment I became so very grateful for all those things. Since they helped me to change. They showed me the way I have to go. They have showed me what I need and hence, what I want. Of course I still had to make the decision to go that way alone. To pave the wa on my own. And to go it. Step by step. But I became aware of without all of those things that have happend, I would not be here right now. And I am so very grateful for this. Deep and honestly grateful.

What I am grateful for – Part Two – My Presence

And here I am. In New Zealand. Back with energy, joy, happiness and gratitude. Surrounded by this indescribable energy of this very place. Being able to stay, being able to live a life full of adventures, full of nature and full of unique and special moments. Surrounded by so many special and wonderful people. By people, I would have never met without the past. By people that support me, challenge me, accept me. And help me to become a better version of myself each and every day.
I am able to stay in New Zealand because I get sponsored by a local optician company. And I might be able soon to apply for residency and to stay here in New Zealand. I am grateful for this crazy change. Back in Germany, I would never go back to work as an optician, because it was never a real passion of mine. It was just an apprenticeship since I was never really able to figure out what I want to do with my life. It was just an option. An apprenticeship. And I never really realized (until now) how important this decision has been for my future. The same applies to my qualification as a Master of Sciene. It was just something I did because I did not know better. I just did it, without a real passion or plan. And now, this might be as well an option to stay here. All those things seem to make sense. The big picture is revealing itself step by step. I am not there yet, but it is getting less foggy, more clear. And I am so very grateful for all those changes, for all those people I have here in New Zealand, all the support, all the motivation, the daily hugs, talks and drinks. And I am so very grateful for all my friends and family back in Germany. Even though I can not see them in person, I would talk to them from time to time. I would tell them how much I miss them, how much I love them and how hard is it from time to time to be without them each and every day. To miss all their adventures, their daily live, their special events, their smiles and hugs. And sometimes I would love to beam myself just to see them for a couple of minutes. For a drink. A talk. A hug. Whatever. But I am very grateful that they are still an important part of my live and that I have them with me each and every day. Hiking. Biking. Running. I have them with me each and every day as soon as I would think about them and our time together.

What I am grateful for – Part Three – My Future

Well, this is probably the most interesting part since we will never know what could happen. What will happen. And what we will do. We can think about our future. We can visualize how we want to live. Where we want to live. And what we want to do with our time. And we can decide who we want to be. What we want to share. And life will surprise us each and every day. Life will challenge us again and again. And even though I am not able to know what will be in one week, in one month, in one year, I am very grateful for all those upcoming moments. All the upcoming challenges. The upcoming struggles. The upcoming good and bad. The sad moments. The sleepless nights. I am grateful for all the people I will meet. And I am also grateful for all those who will leave me. Since every single person in our live is with us for a reason. For a learning. For a lesson. And even they might leave us again, we can be very grateful that we have been with them for a certain time. I am very aware of that not all of my friends and family will be with me till the end of time. Till the end of my life. Everything changes. Everything goes on. And sometimes in different directions. This is just the way of life. But it does not mean, that we can not be grateful for the time we have spent together. For the memories. For the learnings. For the fact, that we might inspired each other and helped each other to grow. To move on. To become a better version of ourselves. So here we go, I am very grateful for this exciting, unplannable and suprising future will all those ups and downs. May it be for the good.

What else to say?

Time to rest and reconsider. To refill the energy and to be grateful for all the things that we have in our lives. That are with us. That have been with us. That will be with us. Gratitude is powerful and full of positive energy. I have no doubt of it. And as soon as you realise and feel it, honest and deep, it can not be undone. It will remain positive and powerful.
Have a great 3rd Advent back in Germany, Christmas is ahead folks!

Your DingyInternational
Felix