About love

Last week, I underwent back surgery and spent a couple of days in the hospital. It was quite an emotional week—I felt immense pain, fear that I might never fully recover, disappointment at how long healing was taking, frustration, and sadness. But I wonder… do we need to experience darkness to truly appreciate the light? Because despite everything, there was a bright side—so bright that I want to share it with you today.

The day before my surgery, I was placed in a large, empty hospital room. One by one, two other patients joined me. We were three very different people: Katarina, a kind and optimistic 65-year-old Greek-German woman; Rose, a good-hearted but very ill 65-year-old German woman (who only spoke a dialect I could barely understand); and me, the “youngster” of the group. My roommates had undergone major surgeries, were unable to move from their beds, and were experiencing intense pain, discomfort, and, at times, overwhelming fear.

The first moment of warmth came when Katarina’s loving sister visited her after surgery. Katarina was in excruciating pain and couldn’t stop vomiting. There was little anyone could do, but her sister sat by her bedside and softly sang a traditional Greek song. As I watched Katarina slowly relax, I was captivated—it was love in its purest form.

Over the next few days, the three of us bonded. We took care of each other: I called for help when they needed it, acted as their voice when they struggled to communicate with the (very kind but very busy) hospital staff, and they, in turn, watched out for me. Whenever I took too long in the bathroom, they would call my name to make sure I was okay. We shared our life stories, encouraged each other, and dreamed about a future filled with sunshine and health—just like in the final duet of La Traviata, “Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo.”

As Rose’s next surgery approached, her fear grew. The nights were long, and at one point, she had a very distressing nightmare. “Go away! No, don’t take me with you! Leave Katarina!” she cried out. Remembering Katarina’s sister, I got up, sat beside her, gently took her hand, and sang a lullaby I used to sing to my children. Rose asked me to stay, and I promised I would. I held her hand and sang until she calmed down, then continued singing softly to make sure she could sleep peacefully.

Now that I’m home, I call them every day to check in and offer encouragement. We are all healing, slowly but surely. And despite the pain and fear, I feel profoundly grateful for this experience. What I wrote above was only part of it—I also felt the extraordinary love of my husband, my family, my friends, and the incredible hospital staff.

This journey was healing and enlightening. I guess that somehow, tough times remind us of how fragile our lives can be and reveal the strong bonds of love holding everything together.

So, back to our question—what is love, after all?

To me, love is taking care of each other, feeling compassion and gratitude, holding on through the toughest times, offering a glimpse of hope and lightness, seeing the good inside and calling it out.

Love is the courage to expose yourself for others.

Love is a healing light.

Love is the rope to hold on to when everything falls.

“Kraft entsteht aus Zusammenhalt”

Kraft entsteht aus Zusammenhalt. Strength arises from unity—from standing together and from countless small acts of solidarity that, piece by piece, create something greater than ourselves. This was the central theme of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s inspiring 2025 New Year’s speech. His call for unity and collaboration holds immense value not only in society but also within professional environments, such as company teams.

Human beings are inherently social creatures. Socialization—whether at home, in school, or at work—provides us with the foundational values, skills, and roles that shape our identity. But healthy socialization is more than just fitting in with a group. As psychologist Jordan B. Peterson points out, effective socialization is about learning to cooperate with others while maintaining individuality. It’s about balancing personal goals with the needs of a larger community, fostering mutual respect, and working toward shared objectives. Chancellor Scholz’s message of unity mirrors this idea: collective success depends on recognizing and valuing each individual’s contributions rather than suppressing their differences. In the workplace, this translates into creating environments where collaboration flourishes without sacrificing the uniqueness of team members.

Cohesion, as highlighted in Scholz’s speech, is a cornerstone of high-performing teams. It stems from trust, mutual respect, and a shared sense of purpose. It’s a value worth cultivating, and organizations can foster it through actionable strategies like these:

• Encourage Open Communication: Create platforms where team members feel safe sharing their thoughts and concerns without fear of judgment.

• Invest in Team-Building: Regular activities that promote collaboration and understanding can strengthen relationships and build trust.

• Prioritize Empathy: Train leaders and employees in active listening and empathy to transform workplace dynamics, deepen connections, and reduce conflict.

• Celebrate Achievements Together: Whether it’s meeting a project deadline or supporting a colleague, shared celebrations reinforce a sense of togetherness.

Chancellor Scholz’s speech is a poignant reminder that unity and connection are not just abstract ideals—they are practical necessities for overcoming challenges. For organizations, this means creating environments where collaboration thrives, relationships deepen, and resilience grows.

As we move into the new year, let’s draw inspiration from this message of cohesion. By prioritizing relationships—both personal and professional—we can build teams and communities that are not only productive but also supportive and fulfilling. After all, as the Chancellor eloquently said, “All great successes begin with togetherness.”

Project 2025: find your true, unapologetic happiness

For some, the word HAPPINESS stirs up contradictory feelings. While happiness is, by definition, a feel-good emotion, it can sometimes come across a bit artificial. Perhaps because, in social settings, we tend to hide our more complex emotions to only show our brighter, shinier side. Or maybe because we are occasionally expected to feel happy, even when we don’t. Perhaps we feel stuck in a negative loop, or maybe, the concept of happiness is so deeply personal, that it just does not always align with others’ expectations or definitions.

Whatever the case may be, gaining a deeper understanding of what happiness means to YOU—and how it might manifest in your own life—can be comforting and even guiding, helping you navigate toward a path that feels genuinely good.

That is why, I want to share two tools with you, each offering a unique journey through the beauty of YOUR LIFE. The Time Capsule invites you to revisit and appreciate the often-overlooked good moments of your past, while The Perfect Day allows you to envision your ideal, self-designed future My hope is that, no matter what phase of life you are in, what unique perspectives and needs shape your journey, or which method resonates with you, you make it a priority to seek joy, meaning, and love in your life—because these are the foundations upon which everything else is built.

THE PERFECT DAY

Originally proposed by Martha Beck, “The Perfect Day” exercise offers a chance to reflect on your true self and discover how your very own ideal life materializes in your day. This way, you can uncover what truly matters to you and open yourself to the possibility of creating more of those moments in your everyday life.

Here is how it works:

Set aside time and space. Find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed for at least 20-30 minutes. Have a pen and paper or a notebook to write down your thoughts.

Imagine your ideal day. Close your eyes for a moment and picture this—if you were living your ideal life, at any point in the near or distant future, what would a perfect day look like? Let your imagination flow freely and walk yourself through this day in as much detail as possible. Include the little things: what you eat for breakfast, the conversations you have, or the activities that bring you joy.

Start from the moment you wake up. How do you feel? Where are you? Who is with you? What do you see, hear, or smell? Perhaps you hear someone snoring, or maybe the birds singing. Do you smell freshly brewed coffee and toasted bread? Or perhaps there is a faint scent of lavender and citrus in the air?   

Move through your day hour by hour. What’s in your closet?  What do you see reflected on the mirror? Who do you find in the kitchen? What activities fill your day? Notice the pace; does it feel busy and exciting, or calm and peaceful? Pay attention to how you feel throughout the day. What brings you joy, fulfillment, or a sense of purpose?

Reflect on your experience. Write down what stands out to you. What surprised you? Which values or desires did this vision reveal? Are there small elements of your perfect day that you could start incorporating into your life right now?’

Take inspired action. Use the insights from this exercise to guide small, meaningful changes in your daily life.

Remember, your perfect day is entirely your own—it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It reflects your unique preferences, values, and dreams. Revisit this exercise regularly, as your vision of a perfect day may evolve as you grow and change. This is a gift of self-discovery, so take your time, enjoy the process, and let it guide you toward what truly makes you happy.

THE TIME CAPSULE

The simple moments in daily life often hold a quiet beauty that we only come to fully appreciate in hindsight. This exercise helps you capture those small, everyday snapshots for your future self to rediscover and cherish.

Here’s how to create your Time Capsule:

Choose Your Medium: Decide where you’ll document your moments—a notebook, an app, or even a jar with little notes. The format doesn’t matter, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy using.

Capture Snapshots of Everyday Life: Write about 3-5 small, meaningful experiences from your week. Keep it simple, there is no need to over-documenting.

Focus on What Resonates With You: Include sensory details (the smell of your morning coffee as sunlight streams through the window, the cozy comfort of your favorite sweater on a chilly day, or the taste of a delicious meal). Add moments of connection (a shared laugh during a quick chat with a friend, or an unspoken understanding through eye contact), lightness (a shared joke or a sudden shift in perspective), and meaning (an act of generosity, a display of courage, or an unexpected leadership moment). You could also include something you learned, a song you enjoyed, a book you read, or something you felt proud of.

Save and Forget: Store your time capsule in a safe spot (digitally or physically) and set a reminder for three months. Resist the temptation to peek!

Rediscover: When the time comes to open your time capsule, approach it with curiosity and a constructive mindset rather than pure nostalgia. These moments are uniquely yours—they form the tapestry of your life and remain a part of you. Reflect on their significance: How can you invite more of these experiences into your life? Did the act of noticing and appreciating these moments shift your overall perspective or mood?

Life is made up of fleeting moments, each carrying its own unique beauty. The "Time Capsule" exercise allows you to treasure these experiences—not just to reflect on them, but to carry forward their lessons and joy. It’s a way to fight emptiness and truly declare, as Pablo Neruda wrote: “I confess that I have lived.”