LIFE IS A RISKY BUSINESS 🥳

YET WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO LIVE AND NOT JUST SURVIVE

We so easily forget…

But first things first. As this is my first post of the year, I wish all of you a happy, healthy, prosperous, and, most importantly, peaceful 2025. Some of these wishes might be more wishful thinking, yet I hope I am wrong. I have been absent for a while now, and I apologise, but sometimes, a break takes a little longer, and a lot is happening. I should also mention that I will not publish as often as I did last year, but when inspiration strikes. Thank you for your understanding and for staying with me.

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Not all that long ago, we lived in times with a virus that was claimed to be highly infectious and so deadly that absurd measures were taken, and people turned their heads to everything they knew and lost all common sense. Apparently, this disastrous development was only the beginning of making our lives more risky - and most certainly not due to some virus. It deeply upsets me and saddens me how people treated one another with the utmost disrespect I have ever encountered in my entire life and which I will never understand. During that time, I lost quite a few well, I thought they were friends for uttering or voicing an opinion and the concerns that I have about what this so-called plandemic is doing to people, including the massive collateral damage.

At a very early stage, I spoke about this collateral damage, which has been confirmed by studies and documents that had been withheld for too long, that the damage done by the measures imposed due to COVID-19 has been much worse than the virus itself. And many of the things I spoke about and wrote about, I was so hoping that I would be wrong, became a sad reality, and I’m terrified that we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. Living in Germany, I saw what other countries or people in other countries were doing, who were getting up and refusing to comply, but I suppose that most Germans are raised to be compliant. Due to our history, which keeps catching up with us, even if it’s generations ago, we are so terrified of stepping on anybody’s toes that we are almost paralysed, which is a tragedy. I am the first to say we must never forget our history to ensure that history does not repeat itself, but right now, it feels like this is exactly what is happening. I remember, for example, that Students at universities were being branded with bracelets showing if they had not been vaccinated. These and many more things we should NEVER dare forget.

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Life has always been a risky business, but the risk is significantly increasing today, especially if you dare to voice your personal opinions. The abolition of freedom of expression is on the rise everywhere.

I am guessing that other countries are just as affected as Germany, and as things are developing so quickly, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up. As Germany is my current country of residency, I follow what is happening here more intensely. I am guessing that after the talk between Elon Musk and the German chancellor candidate and party leader of the AFD (Alternative für Deutschland—Alternative for Germany) Alice Weidel on X, many more know what is happening in Germany or have possibly developed some interest.

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I must mention the German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser as an example of how far the madness has progressed in Germany.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser recently published a directive for federal police officers, according to which they must expect to be dismissed if they become members of the AfD. This measure aims to purge the federal police force of AfD members. Faeser emphasised that this was not for reasons of political neutrality, but because such membership could potentially be considered an official offence if the officers were actively involved in the party. However, it was also emphasised that this directive does not require general political neutrality, as the President of the Federal Police, Dieter Romann, is himself a member of the CDU.

Double Standards as usual. All inhibitions have fallen, and they now say everything openly, and the people still don't listen enough.

Just the fact that a democratic election in Romania was declared invalid by the EU and it was announced that the same would happen in Germany in February if the result was not favourable. But I will not dive deeper into this as I must recommend an absolutely brilliant stack at this point to everyone interested in the development of German politics - as he does it so much better than me - so please subscribe to this Substack:

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So the question is, how do we live and not just survive in these strange and challenging times? I do not have THE answer to that but perhaps something to begin with.

Who are the people in your life? Who are the ones you surround yourself with?

This has a great influence on your life and your life quality. But how do you find out if the people around you are the right ones for you?

Look at the people around you and at what they don’t show you. Often it is what they lack that will tell you so much about them and perhaps even all you need to know.

The most relevant is probably a lack of communication skills. In my experience when talking to someone they often start a topic and if you do not agree with them they will either tell you you are arguing, or they quickly cut you off when you start to bring (or at least try to bring) your arguments into the conversation. This usually sounds something like this: “Let’s not talk about this as we do not agree and obviously have different sources.” Unfortunately in many cases they do not even agree to disagree and it is not possible to have a respectful discussion or exchange of opinions, so any discussions are nipped in the bud.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” — George Bernard Shaw

You know when someone lacks empathy as they will more often than not dismiss your feelings. What often happens is that they become argumentative and don’t even listen to what you are saying or feeling. They either don’t care enough or empathy is not their strong suit.

“Human morality is unthinkable without empathy.” — Frans de Waal

If they also lack emotional intelligence they will dismiss you and declare you as overly sensitive. Emotional intelligence is crucial for any effective communication. Essentially emotional intelligence is the ability to put yourself into someone else’s shoes.

“Emotional intelligence is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.” — Travis Bradberry

A lack of self-awareness is another big issue. For many it is so simple to criticise everybody else around them and finding all their flaws. If they are incapable or lack the ability to self-reflect, a healthy relationship will be challenging to say the least. We all have our flaws and deficits and we can only change and evolve through self awareness as it is impossible to change what we don’t acknowledge.

“There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.” — Aldous Huxley

Accountability and the lack of the same is another big one. People that are not accountable for their actions or words will always shift the blame on others. We see the lack of willingness to be accountable rising significantly. We just need to look at our politicians…

“Accountability in friendship is the equivalent of love without strategy.” — Anita Brookner

This leads directly to people that lack honesty. Let’s face it, nobody is ever 100% honest and that is probably a good thing but that is a different topic for another time. I believe a great example for lack of honesty is what we see in the mainstream media - which is basically the extended arm of the government and of those who make handsome donations to it - they will always distort the truth to their own narrative.

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” — Thomas Jefferson

This brings me to the lack of integrity in people. To spot this you just have to look out for those who will constantly justify any wrongdoing, usually with ridiculous arguments and without showing any moral principals. They adapt to the external conditions at the price of throwing all values overboard.

“The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their professions.” — Junius

When you have people around you who belittle anybody, including you, to make themselves feel bigger and better, they most likely lack confidence. These people usually begrudge others nothing and are often driven by envy and, above all, resentment.

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” — Marie Curie

Often, when people lack boundaries, they will repeatedly overstep yours and make believe they’re not even there. It is simply put a lack of respect.

“Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures.” — Edwin Louis Cole

Only you can decide for yourself what kind of people you want in your life and of course it can't hurt to check yourself from time to time to see if there are any lack you can address.

Essentially do what feels good and right to you and enjoy every single day to the max! Having the right people in your life helps enormously.

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🎶My Song for you

I chose a song that I very recently discovered and that as become essential. It is Wayfaring Pilgrim by the exceptionally talented Roy Buchanan - play it loud!

For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!

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📚My Poem for you

Is sonnet by William Shakespeare (1564—1616)

Sonnet 26

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
       That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

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👀Impression

Not Lake Starnberg for once but Lake Geneva, enjoying a happy white Christmas with family❄️

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Let me know your thoughts in the comments, leave a ❤️ or send me a message. I always love hearing from you.

Wishing you a happy and peaceful weekend wherever you are.

Yours

Tanja 🤗

PS. You can now also find my podcast on Spotify

Change & Evolve and feel free to get in touch