<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When\nI was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas.\nAs El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife\nand take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a\nlocal bus that would get me from the Southern to the Northern airport I hoped\nthat this journey would soon be over so that I could get a rest. The weather\nturned from sunny to cloudy and a storm was coming up. When I entered the\nNorthern Airport to catch my \u201csmall\u201d flight, I still had to wait for 3 hours\nuntil it would be announced over the loudspeakers and monitors. I tried to take\na nap but the constant announcements in English, Spanish and French kept me\nawake. When finally \u201cmy flight\u201d appeared on the screen it said that it was\n\u201cdelayed\u201d. I was annoyed but still had my hopes high that soon, I could get\nsome sleep in the apartment that my father had rented in El Hierro. Another two\nhours later I read that the flight was \u201ccancelled\u201d. Although a true storm was\nraging outside the airport and the people waiting for my flight were nearly the\nonly ones left in the building I could not understand that the plane simply\nwouldn\u2019t come to \u201cpick me up\u201d. I was cold, exhausted and had no idea what to do\nnext. The airport began to close down and I learned that we were not allowed to\nsleep there. In my head I was \u2013against all odds-still hoping that I could get\nto \u201cmy father\u2019s island\u201d by ferry. I talked to some tourists but they assured me\nthat they had just come from the harbour and that the ferry wasn\u2019t leaving\nbecause of the storm. We got together in a taxi and found a hotel nearby. The\nnext morning, when we arrived at the airport our flight to El Hierro was\ndelayed again. As if it could \u201cspeed\u201d things up, my thoughts were circling\naround the plane that I \u201cwanted to draw by\u201d. I was fighting an inner \u201cwar\u201d\nbecause I wanted to get out of this frustrating situation. When we saw our\nplane landing, I was full of joy. This however, didn\u2019t take long. We got on the\nplane and it took finally off. However, the strong winds were still going on\npushing our plane from \u201cbehind\u201d. The plane lingered and I was caught by fear. I\nwas totally tense and this time I understood that we could actually die trying\nto \u201cfight the storm\u201d. Next to me sat some Spanish teenagers from the local\nfootball team. They saw my anxiety and said encouragingly: \u201c\ua71fTranquila! El\navion sale\u201d (=\u201cCalm down! The plane will arrive safely.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\nwas surprised how cheerful everybody around me still was. While I seemed to\n\u201cfight\u201d against the circumstances, they gradually accepted them- going along\nwith \u201cthe flow of life\u201d. The flight\nhowever, became a trip out of \u201cups\u201d and \u201cdowns\u201d because the plane \u201cfell\u201d a few\nmeters down every now and then. When we finally arrived on the small airport of\nEl Hierro I was relieved but also totally stressed out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why\nam I telling you all this? Because I believe that I still \u201cwaste\u201d a lot of\nenergy and time in not accepting how \u201clife goes\u201d. Like with 16 I still try to\n\u201cchange\u201d everything by \u201cfighting\u201d it \u2013in my head. But \u2013as I have learned only\nrecently- this is as impossible as it is to change another person. I seem to\nhave high expectations of my life and everyone else around me. It is only lately\nthat I begin to understand that the only reasonable thing to do is to \u201clet it\ngo\u201d. I can\u2019t help it, if things don\u2019t go \u201cmy way\u201d, can\u2019t help it if people see\nthings differently. But there is the possibility of an \u201cinch of freedom\u201d: By\ndeciding which \u201cway\u201d I am going to take: The one battling against everybody and\neverything or the one accepting that this is just so and that I can take a deep\nbreath and take my dog for a walk. And this is what I wanted to share with you,\ndear readers, that sometimes we have a choice to \u201cbe happy\u201d or \u201cfollow the old\npaths\u201d. Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Renate\nWeber<\/p>\n\n\n\n
| <!– \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536858881 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} –> Cancelled When I was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas. As El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife and take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a local bus that would get me from the Southern to the Northern airport I hoped that this journey would soon be over so that I could get a rest. The weather turned from sunny to cloudy and a storm was coming up. When I entered the Northern Airport to catch my \u201csmall\u201d flight, I still had to wait for 3 hours until it would be announced over the loudspeakers and monitors. I tried to take a nap but the constant announcements in English, Spanish and French kept me awake. When finally \u201cmy flight\u201d appeared on the screen it said that it was \u201cdelayed\u201d. I was annoyed but still had my hopes high that soon, I could get some sleep in the apartment that my father had rented in El Hierro. Another two hours later I read that the flight was \u201ccancelled\u201d. Although a true storm was raging outside the airport and the people waiting for my flight were nearly the only ones left in the building I could not understand that the plane simply wouldn\u2019t come to \u201cpick me up\u201d. I was cold, exhausted and had no idea what to do next. The airport began to close down and I learned that we were not allowed to sleep there. In my head I was \u2013against all odds-still hoping that I could get to \u201cmy father\u2019s island\u201d by ferry. I talked to some tourists but they assured me that they had just come from the harbour and that the ferry wasn\u2019t leaving because of the storm. We got together in a taxi and found a hotel nearby. The next morning, when we arrived at the airport our flight to El Hierro was delayed again. As if it could \u201cspeed\u201d things up, my thoughts were circling around the plane that I \u201cwanted to draw by\u201d. I was fighting an inner \u201cwar\u201d because I wanted to get out of this frustrating situation. When we saw our plane landing, I was full of joy. This however, didn\u2019t take long. We got on the plane and it took finally off. However, the strong winds were still going on pushing our plane from \u201cbehind\u201d. The plane lingered and I was caught by fear. I was totally tense and this time I understood that we could actually die trying to \u201cfight the storm\u201d. Next to me sat some Spanish teenagers from the local football team. They saw my anxiety and said encouragingly: \u201c\ua71fTranquila! El avion sale\u201d (=\u201cCalm down! The plane will arrive safely.\u201d) I was surprised how cheerful everybody around me still was. While I seemed to \u201cfight\u201d against the circumstances, they gradually accepted them- going along with \u201cthe flow of life\u201d. The flight however, became a trip out of \u201cups\u201d and \u201cdowns\u201d because the plane \u201cfell\u201d a few meters down every now and then. When we finally arrived on the small airport of El Hierro I was relieved but also totally stressed out. Why am I telling you all this? Because I believe that I still \u201cwaste\u201d a lot of energy and time in not accepting how \u201clife goes\u201d. Like with 16 I still try to \u201cchange\u201d everything by \u201cfighting\u201d it \u2013in my head. But \u2013as I have learned only recently- this is as impossible as it is to change another person. I seem to have high expectations of my life and everyone else around me. It is only lately that I begin to understand that the only reasonable thing to do is to \u201clet it go\u201d. I can\u2019t help it, if things don\u2019t go \u201cmy way\u201d, can\u2019t help it if people see things differently. But there is the possibility of an \u201cinch of freedom\u201d: By deciding which \u201cway\u201d I am going to take: The one battling against everybody and everything or the one accepting that this is just so and that I can take a deep breath and take my dog for a walk. And this is what I wanted to share with you, dear readers, that sometimes we have a choice to \u201cbe happy\u201d or \u201cfollow the old paths\u201d. Love Renate Weber <!– \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536858881 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} –> Cancelled When I was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas. As El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife and take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a local bus that would get me from the Southern to the Northern airport I hoped that this journey would soon be over so that I could get a rest. The weather turned from sunny to cloudy and a storm was coming up. When I entered the Northern Airport to catch my \u201csmall\u201d flight, I still had to wait for 3 hours until it would be announced over the loudspeakers and monitors. I tried to take a nap but the constant announcements in English, Spanish and French kept me awake. When finally \u201cmy flight\u201d appeared on the screen it said that it was \u201cdelayed\u201d. I was annoyed but still had my hopes high that soon, I could get some sleep in the apartment that my father had rented in El Hierro. Another two hours later I read that the flight was \u201ccancelled\u201d. Although a true storm was raging outside the airport and the people waiting for my flight were nearly the only ones left in the building I could not understand that the plane simply wouldn\u2019t come to \u201cpick me up\u201d. I was cold, exhausted and had no idea what to do next. The airport began to close down and I learned that we were not allowed to sleep there. In my head I was \u2013against all odds-still hoping that I could get to \u201cmy father\u2019s island\u201d by ferry. I talked to some tourists but they assured me that they had just come from the harbour and that the ferry wasn\u2019t leaving because of the storm. We got together in a taxi and found a hotel nearby. The next morning, when we arrived at the airport our flight to El Hierro was delayed again. As if it could \u201cspeed\u201d things up, my thoughts were circling around the plane that I \u201cwanted to draw by\u201d. I was fighting an inner \u201cwar\u201d because I wanted to get out of this frustrating situation. When we saw our plane landing, I was full of joy. This however, didn\u2019t take long. We got on the plane and it took finally off. However, the strong winds were still going on pushing our plane from \u201cbehind\u201d. The plane lingered and I was caught by fear. I was totally tense and this time I understood that we could actually die trying to \u201cfight the storm\u201d. Next to me sat some Spanish teenagers from the local football team. They saw my anxiety and said encouragingly: \u201c\ua71fTranquila! El avion sale\u201d (=\u201cCalm down! The plane will arrive safely.\u201d) I was surprised how cheerful everybody around me still was. While I seemed to \u201cfight\u201d against the circumstances, they gradually accepted them- going along with \u201cthe flow of life\u201d. The flight however, became a trip out of \u201cups\u201d and \u201cdowns\u201d because the plane \u201cfell\u201d a few meters down every now and then. When we finally arrived on the small airport of El Hierro I was relieved but also totally stressed out. Why am I telling you all this? Because I believe that I still \u201cwaste\u201d a lot of energy and time in not accepting how \u201clife goes\u201d. Like with 16 I still try to \u201cchange\u201d everything by \u201cfighting\u201d it \u2013in my head. But \u2013as I have learned only recently- this is as impossible as it is to change another person. I seem to have high expectations of my life and everyone else around me. It is only lately that I begin to understand that the only reasonable thing to do is to \u201clet it go\u201d. I can\u2019t help it, if things don\u2019t go \u201cmy way\u201d, can\u2019t help it if people see things differently. But there is the possibility of an \u201cinch of freedom\u201d: By deciding which \u201cway\u201d I am going to take: The one battling against everybody and everything or the one accepting that this is just so and that I can take a deep breath and take my dog for a walk. And this is what I wanted to share with you, dear readers, that sometimes we have a choice to \u201cbe happy\u201d or \u201cfollow the old paths\u201d. Love Renate Weber <!– \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536858881 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} –> Cancelled When I was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas. As El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife and take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a local bus that would get me from the Southern to the Northern airport I hoped that this journey would soon be over so that I could get a rest. The weather turned from sunny to cloudy and a storm was coming up. When I entered the Northern Airport to catch my \u201csmall\u201d flight, I still had to wait for 3 hours until it would be announced over the loudspeakers and monitors. I tried to take a nap but the constant announcements in English, Spanish and French kept me awake. When finally \u201cmy flight\u201d appeared on the screen it said that it was \u201cdelayed\u201d. I was annoyed but still had my hopes high that soon, I could get some sleep in the apartment that my father had rented in El Hierro. Another two hours later I read that the flight was \u201ccancelled\u201d. Although a true storm was raging outside the airport and the people waiting for my flight were nearly the only ones left in the building I could not understand that the plane simply wouldn\u2019t come to \u201cpick me up\u201d. I was cold, exhausted and had no idea what to do next. The airport began to close down and I learned that we were not allowed to sleep there. In my head I was \u2013against all odds-still hoping that I could get to \u201cmy father\u2019s island\u201d by ferry. I talked to some tourists but they assured me that they had just come from the harbour and that the ferry wasn\u2019t leaving because of the storm. We got together in a taxi and found a hotel nearby. The next morning, when we arrived at the airport our flight to El Hierro was delayed again. As if it could \u201cspeed\u201d things up, my thoughts were circling around the plane that I \u201cwanted to draw by\u201d. I was fighting an inner \u201cwar\u201d because I wanted to get out of this frustrating situation. When we saw our plane landing, I was full of joy. This however, didn\u2019t take long. We got on the plane and it took finally off. However, the strong winds were still going on pushing our plane from \u201cbehind\u201d. The plane lingered and I was caught by fear. I was totally tense and this time I understood that we could actually die trying to \u201cfight the storm\u201d. Next to me sat some Spanish teenagers from the local football team. They saw my anxiety and said encouragingly: \u201c\ua71fTranquila! El avion sale\u201d (=\u201cCalm down! The plane will arrive safely.\u201d) I was surprised how cheerful everybody around me still was. While I seemed to \u201cfight\u201d against the circumstances, they gradually accepted them- going along with \u201cthe flow of life\u201d. The flight however, became a trip out of \u201cups\u201d and \u201cdowns\u201d because the plane \u201cfell\u201d a few meters down every now and then. When we finally arrived on the small airport of El Hierro I was relieved but also totally stressed out. Why am I telling you all this? Because I believe that I still \u201cwaste\u201d a lot of energy and time in not accepting how \u201clife goes\u201d. Like with 16 I still try to \u201cchange\u201d everything by \u201cfighting\u201d it \u2013in my head. But \u2013as I have learned only recently- this is as impossible as it is to change another person. I seem to have high expectations of my life and everyone else around me. It is only lately that I begin to understand that the only reasonable thing to do is to \u201clet it go\u201d. I can\u2019t help it, if things don\u2019t go \u201cmy way\u201d, can\u2019t help it if people see things differently. But there is the possibility of an \u201cinch of freedom\u201d: By deciding which \u201cway\u201d I am going to take: The one battling against everybody and everything or the one accepting that this is just so and that I can take a deep breath and take my dog for a walk. And this is what I wanted to share with you, dear readers, that sometimes we have a choice to \u201cbe happy\u201d or \u201cfollow the old paths\u201d. Love Renate Weber <!– \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536858881 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:””; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} –> Cancelled When I was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas. As El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife and take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a local bus that would get me from the Southern to the Northern airport I hoped that this journey would soon be over so that I could get a rest. The weather turned from sunny to cloudy and a storm was coming up. When I entered the Northern Airport to catch my \u201csmall\u201d flight, I still had to wait for 3 hours until it would be announced over the loudspeakers and monitors. I tried to take a nap but the constant announcements in English, Spanish and French kept me awake. When finally \u201cmy flight\u201d appeared on the screen it said that it was \u201cdelayed\u201d. I was annoyed but still had my hopes high that soon, I could get some sleep in the apartment that my father had rented in El Hierro. Another two hours later I read that the flight was \u201ccancelled\u201d. Although a true storm was raging outside the airport and the people waiting for my flight were nearly the only ones left in the building I could not understand that the plane simply wouldn\u2019t come to \u201cpick me up\u201d. I was cold, exhausted and had no idea what to do next. The airport began to close down and I learned that we were not allowed to sleep there. In my head I was \u2013against all odds-still hoping that I could get to \u201cmy father\u2019s island\u201d by ferry. I talked to some tourists but they assured me that they had just come from the harbour and that the ferry wasn\u2019t leaving because of the storm. We got together in a taxi and found a hotel nearby. The next morning, when we arrived at the airport our flight to El Hierro was delayed again. As if it could \u201cspeed\u201d things up, my thoughts were circling around the plane that I \u201cwanted to draw by\u201d. I was fighting an inner \u201cwar\u201d because I wanted to get out of this frustrating situation. When we saw our plane landing, I was full of joy. This however, didn\u2019t take long. We got on the plane and it took finally off. However, the strong winds were still going on pushing our plane from \u201cbehind\u201d. The plane lingered and I was caught by fear. I was totally tense and this time I understood that we could actually die trying to \u201cfight the storm\u201d. Next to me sat some Spanish teenagers from the local football team. They saw my anxiety and said encouragingly: \u201c\ua71fTranquila! El avion sale\u201d (=\u201cCalm down! The plane will arrive safely.\u201d) I was surprised how cheerful everybody around me still was. While I seemed to \u201cfight\u201d against the circumstances, they gradually accepted them- going along with \u201cthe flow of life\u201d. The flight however, became a trip out of \u201cups\u201d and \u201cdowns\u201d because the plane \u201cfell\u201d a few meters down every now and then. When we finally arrived on the small airport of El Hierro I was relieved but also totally stressed out. Why am I telling you all this? Because I believe that I still \u201cwaste\u201d a lot of energy and time in not accepting how \u201clife goes\u201d. Like with 16 I still try to \u201cchange\u201d everything by \u201cfighting\u201d it \u2013in my head. But \u2013as I have learned only recently- this is as impossible as it is to change another person. I seem to have high expectations of my life and everyone else around me. It is only lately that I begin to understand that the only reasonable thing to do is to \u201clet it go\u201d. I can\u2019t help it, if things don\u2019t go \u201cmy way\u201d, can\u2019t help it if people see things differently. But there is the possibility of an \u201cinch of freedom\u201d: By deciding which \u201cway\u201d I am going to take: The one battling against everybody and everything or the one accepting that this is just so and that I can take a deep breath and take my dog for a walk. And this is what I wanted to share with you, dear readers, that sometimes we have a choice to \u201cbe happy\u201d or \u201cfollow the old paths\u201d. Love Renate Weber <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I was 16 I wanted to fly to El Hierro, to visit my father there over Christmas. As El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands, I had to fly to Tenerife and take a small plane from there to El Hierro. I was tired and when I got on a local bus […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[18,17,7,10,16],"class_list":["post-7405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein","tag-accepting-what-is","tag-letting-go-of-fear","tag-overcome-burnout","tag-overcome-depression","tag-overcome-trauma"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7405"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7410,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7405\/revisions\/7410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wiedergeborene.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} |