I was waking up to constant rain which did not come unexpected. However packing up in the rain is never great fun.
I attempted to dry my tent and followed the invitation of Sabine for a yummy breakfast in a dry place.
Then I headed off into the rain for the remaining little stretch to the peace farm (“Friedenshof”) in Niedernstöcken. If you want to learn more about this community: http://www.friedenshof.org
I know this place since 30 years and have spent a lot of time up here over the years. Even if it was a significant detour of 150km it would have felt wrong not to come by.
I arrived around noon and immersed myself instantaneously into the calm, mindful and caring atmosphere of this place. The garden is so beautiful and rich with herbs and flowers and it is great to see the advancements of the revamping of the barn.
Bärbel & Karsten as well as Monika & Jan have become friends and acquaintances over the many years and it was good to have a bit of time for catching up.
About 30 years ago, two zis scholarships helped me to broaden my horizon, expand my understanding of what is possible, and develop more self-confidence. zis is a non-profit organization that has been awarding scholarships for study trips to young people between the ages of 16 and 20 for more than 60 years. Today, the word we use for tenacity and grit is resilience - and I've made it my profession, to help managers around the world to develop more of this inner power.
In retrospect, the experiences I've had on these trips to Scotland and Iceland have been priceless for my development. After having had a childhood with some challenges, I learned that I could cycle 1,700km on my own and get wet every day without despairing. I have learned that I was able to get along with only 300 € for 4 weeks and still had a good time. I have learned what it's like to be threatened with deportation and how to get an interview with the President from such a crisis. I have understood that limitations are primarily constructs in our heads, and I want to make these insights available to as many adolescents as possible.
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