Encouraging messages from the district administrator: The special in the ordinary
The coronavirus is currently omnipresent - and dominates almost every area of life on a daily basis. To encourage the people of Waldeck-Frankenberg in these difficult times, District Administrator Dr. Reinhard Kubat started the "Lichtblicke" series of articles at the beginning of the year with a total of four messages to encourage people. The second part is now about the small joys - seeing the special in the everyday.
Dear fellow citizens,
The response to my first "ray of hope", my brief mental eye-opening for the often hidden beauties of life, was beneficial. I was very pleased to receive so many approving feedbacks from you and also one or two thanks. I especially liked the many, many wonderful "light" pictures on Facebook, each one a little treasure in itself.
This resonance not only shows me that my journey of thoughts is being noticed. It also encourages me to share further indications of the beauty around us with you. Even the question in a comment on the first "Lichtblick" whether I had gone among the preachers makes one thing clear: we obviously need such encouragement in these difficult times. For what is a sermon but a theological message of encouragement? And so, in the second "ray of hope," I would like to acquaint you with the little joys, the peculiarities that are so readily hidden in everyday life.
Shortly after Candlemas, we probably all thought that spring would actually arrive in Waldeck-Frankenberg. Mild temperatures with glorious sunshine on February 4 led to veritable migrations of people on the footpaths, despite the partly quite muddy, waterlogged ground. Three days later, the winter showed its dominance with power, sending snow masses and arctic cold to us. Not exactly common, but also nothing unusual in the white season. And also in this winter everyday life let us find something special.
Surely you have grumbled about the snow, dear fellow citizens, got upset about supposedly poorly cleared streets and sidewalks, snorted with exertion while pushing snow or scraping windshields. But in all the fretting about the "onset of winter in winter," haven't you forgotten one thing? Have you stopped and marveled at the delicate, unique structure of a snowflake, the artful, transparent structure of an icicle? Or about the different states of aggregation in which water, our everyday commodity, can occur? Did you enjoy the countless opportunities for sledding with the children, the diamond glitter of ice crystals in the sun? If you were able to recognize these little joys, surely all the trouble wasn't so big anymore.
The ability to harness small pleasures to evoke a very personal feeling of happiness also plays a major role in "hygge". At the latest since the term appeared in Disney's "Ice Queen" and thus became known worldwide, more and more people are adopting its philosophy. In its original meaning, the Danish hygge is solely about nurturing and spreading well-being - or in other words: a deep coziness, celebrating life, making this life as pleasant and beautiful as possible. Enjoying the moment, leaving negativity behind, doing good for oneself and others... all of this implies a hyggelige attitude. And the art of seeing something special in everyday things is an essential part of hygge coziness.
That's why you, dear fellow citizens, are enjoying the prospect of suddenly being able to immerse yourself in fantastic worlds - something very special - thanks to the ability to read that most of us take for granted in our everyday lives. Enjoy the prospect of soon being able to reunite with our widely scattered extended family or friends, as we were accustomed to doing on a daily basis before the pandemic taught us what was so special about taking such things for granted. Rediscover the satisfaction of keeping physically fit in a group of like-minded people, once your favorite sport is once again allowed to be practiced together, once again part of everyday life. Or experience the very special gratitude in the club community to meet again in person instead of on a digital conference platform, to resume everyday club life after contact has been restricted. Personally, I can't wait to start gardening again very soon. Digging in the fragrant earth, sowing and planting, towards spring....
In short, dear fellow citizens, are you not one of those of whom the writer Pearl S. Buck speaks in her insight: "Many people miss the small happiness because they wait in vain for the big one." So instead of cold flakes causing annoying snow removal, see the white splendor of the sky's kisses and winter's butterflies. Wander through your everyday life with open eyes, consciously perceive the small joys it has to offer, and thus go through life a bit lighter and more contented.
Dr. Reinhard Kubat
District Administrator