Author: primality.eu

Footprints in the sand

Footprints in the sand

primality.eu

„Footprints in the sand“ (see below) resonates very much with me. David Bowie references the poem in his 2002 song „I would be your slave“

„I don’t sit and wait
I don’t give a damn
I don’t see the point at all
No footprints in the sand
I would give you all my love
Nothing else is free
Open up your heart to me
And I would be your slave“

One of my favourite and most intense David Bowie concert moments, when he threw this song into the red light of the sunset as if he was disputing God.

Thought the poem is addressed to God, for me this could as well be addressed to one’s parents, lover, friends, you name it. As well Bowie actually has always been ambiguous who „I would be your slave“ actually adresses to.

In which way ever one would like to interpret the poem, it’s gives much comfort to have someone who cares next to you when the times get rough. In these moments, however, the view is often so narrowed that we no longer even notice a supporter. One thing to consider from time to time. And on the flip side – if you are the one on the sunny side, then you might as well be the one who is carrying the other. So worth looking out for footprints …

„One night I had a dream… I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life
This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You would walk with me all the way;
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.“

#footprintsinthesand #friendship #support #neveralone #trust #love #breakingnewground #davidbowie #iwouldbeyourslave #heathen #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #negotiation #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #agility #motivation #mentalstrength #resilience #lessonsfrom #sports #tennis #music #lifelonglearning #lifelonglearner #musiclover #davidbowie #mathematicsgeek #africalover #nlppracticioner #lawyer #leadership #quotes

Be like water

Be like water

primality.eu

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. 

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” (Bruce Lee)

#mindfulness #flexibility #communication #floworcrash #brucelee #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #negotiation #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #agility #motivation #mentalstrength #resilience #lessonsfrom #sports #tennis #music #lifelonglearning #lifelonglearner #leadership #quotes

You never know who is watching

You never know who is watching

primality.eu

„You never know when or where that next great break or opportunity might come. That’s why consistently keeping a winner’s attitude, a positive energy and an optimistic mindset is the best thing you can do in life.“ (Allistair McCaw Page, „Winning Attitude & Mindset“)

I very much subscribe to the approach to learn from sports for life and business (and vice versa). Allistair McCaw (@bechampionminded) of course is a huge inspiration. His podcasts and books are highly recommended. So is his latest book „Winning Attitude & Mindset“. One chapter „You never know who is watching“ strongly resonates with me and without any doubt applies to my lifeline. From my experience, a carreer is never linear (even if sometimes it appears to be). So focussing your energy only in occasions you think it suppports your goal will make you miss so many opportunities. You never know if you are just meeting your next employer, your next customer, a mentor, a supporter, your future lover or future best friend. Or someone who knows such and is just waiting to introduce you to your next employer, next customer, mentor, supporter, future lover or future best friend. And this might not need to be the obvious gatekeepers, it might as well be the cleaner, the assistant, the garbage man or the homeless you are passing by. So one more reason the be the best self anytime, because you never know who is watching. 

#beyourbestself #championminded #increaselikelihood #increasechances #createopportunities #butterflyeffect #flapofabutterflyswing #youneverknow #allistairmccaw #developingawinningattitudeandmindset #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #mentaltraining #agility #motivation #negotiations #resilience #sports #tennisforlife #musicforlife

Life is today

Life is today

primality.eu

„Cherish yesterday, Dream tomorrow, Live today.“

(Richard Bach)

„There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry… Yesterday and Tomorrow.“

(Robert Jones Burdette)

„Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.“

(Mother Teresa)

#chooselife #carpediem #seizetheday #makeyourlivesextraordinary #mindfulness #achtsamkeit #letusbegin #dontworry #lifeistoday #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #mentaltraining #agility #motivation #negotiations #resilience #sports #tennis #music

Energy is never lost

Energy is never lost

primality.eu

#neverstop #nevergiveup #chancenintelligenz #increaselikelihood #increasechances #createopportunities #butterflyeffect #flapofabutterflyswing #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #negotiation #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #agility #motivation#mentalstrength #resilience #lessonsfrom #sports #tennis #music #lifelonglearning #lifelonglearner #leadership #quotes

Above the clouds

Above the clouds

primality.eu

#meditation #thingscanonlygetbetter #achtsamkeit #awareness #letthesunshinein #liquidsunlight #fuckcorona #alwaysfirststeps #primality #coaching #decisionmaking #negotiations #personaldevelopment #nlp #mentoring #mentaltraining #agility #motivation #resilience #lessonsfrom #sports #tennis #music

Why another Blog?

Why another Blog?

primality.eu

What to say when everything has already been said? – Answer is: I do not know (yet). For now – and you might want to stop reading at this moment – this is just for me. I feel that I got to a point in my life to take inventory – what (and who) has been important, what (and who) is still important, what has done me good (and what didn’t), where am I coming from and where do I want to go?

Now, it feels right to put it down in writing, in a way that someone else is going to read it, not only me. This should motivate me to be more concrete, not to leave too much between the lines. And to force me to become more concrete for myself, where it might be easier to stay vague. Then why not make it public …

First of all it is very likely that nobody will read this anyway. If one does – perhaps new insights and inspirations will result (–> Energy is never lost). Who knows… And yes, I will need to consider how open I am willing to be. Not sure yet. But what do I actually have to lose (–> You never know who is watching)?

Sossusvlei / Namibia

Where does “Primality” come from?

Where does “Primality” come from?

primality.eu

I had been thinking for a while about a name my blog could have. “Pacemaker”, “A life less ordinary”, “Sideman”, “Windschatten” or “Wingman” have been choices … some of them might give you an indication of my strengths and values. Maybe more on a later day.

Anyway – back in 2018 Herbert Grönemeyer released his new record “Tumult”. Grönemeyer is one of my favorite German musicians. Actually one of the few German language artists I really like. “Tumult” at that time was a kind of relief, Grönemeyer found the right words to express my feelings about reservations against foreigners or minorities and the need to stand up against the growing right-wing movement all over the world.

Wir teilen uns durch eins und uns selbst
Träume, seid ihr noch da?
Denn euer Nein hab’ ich schon
Ich brauche jetzt ein Ja

We divide ourselves by one and ourselves
Dreams, are you still around?
Cause I got your “No” already
Now I need a “Yes”.

Herbert Grönemeyer “Seid ihr noch da” taken from his CD “Tumult”. Translation by primality.eu

A number that divides only be one and itself … a prime number. I remember one day coming home from primary school and excitedly telling my parents that I had learned “real math” today. And by that I meant numbers with arithmetic signs, finally not just pictures anymore. The enthusiasm was to remain throughout my school days (an enthusiasm I would share with my dad), and I would do my A-levels with a focus on mathematics, physics and computer science.

Even though I had nothing to do with mathematics since my school days, I remained a number nerd. I love number series, I prefer numbers if they are square numbers, prime numbers or multiples of 3. So Grönemeyer’s line reminded me of something that sits very deep with me. “Prime” did not really work as a name, but “Primality” does. And I very much like the uniqueness of a prime number as much as I believe in the uniqueness of every human being and the ability to stand out and shine in a very unique way.