Fortune Cookie

Yesterday evening I read the phrases in my wallet which I got in the last months from some fortune cookie.

Here the text in English if you can not read German:

You will go through a lot of changes before you retire.

A magic encounter is waiting for you.

Wow, so in one change I am really in at the moment, so fine I will life long :) and the magic encounter I really had already!

Is life a game or serious?

Well this morning I was swimming and in the locker room I just ask me this question. Well I remember in the last few weeks sometimes I told some people something like:

... this is just a game ... you just have to know the rules

So well it seems like in my mind I already had some thoughts about this topic. But lets see, what are requirements of a game (sorry I am engineer *smile*).

• Their are rules
• You usually play not alone - either you have other people or a simulated opponent (computer) or in some special cases you play for you own.
• It is usually a competition where you like to win
• FUN - very important for me :)

Did I forgot one? Mmm at least this are the major points.

So whats the different to life? Let's analyze ... :)

Rules

Well in life are rules too. Some of them somebody named "Law", other are cultural or some are just social (ever heard for a guy called Knigge?).

But all of them have something similar, your are free to respect them or not. Well in some cases you run into problems when you don't respect them. Depending of what you not respect you have to pay money, visit a nice building with bars at the window or lose in worst case you life. So yes sure their rules which are really serious!

But their are much more rules which everybody do not respect and this purposely!

e.g. one of the "Ten Commandments"

No. 9: "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor"* - or the version I learned in German school " Thou shalt not lie"( *I took Judaism version and I just realize, even this kind of rule set is very complicated! take a look on the wiki page) I took

lie because it is a very interesting topic and I will investigate more time on this in the future. But I already spend some time one this. So well, what is a lie? Their are several kind of lies but in a general view you can split them into black and white lies (bad and "good" one). But according the rule above, you shall not lie.

Well you may say know, are I am stupid and "I am not a liar!" - Well your are sure?
What do you usually say on this question?

How are you?

You usually may say something like:

Well, ok/fine/good and you.

You would never come say something like:

Well bad, this big fat blain on my nose, you see? .. killed my day.

Or would you? If yes, I am sorry! If no ... liar :)

So for many rules, and this was just one, we "play" and are not serious.

Play not alone

Well their is just one comment on this, If you are in your life alone. Change something in YOUR life and don't think it is the fault of the others.

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune."

Loneliness is something terrible,

I have my own experienced on that. But I started to change myself and this work very well!

Competition

Well at least spoken as a man (woman have a different view - read " Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Map") sure all life is about competition.

• Who is the best at school?
• Who's car is faster?
• Who earn more money?

And for many people on earth it is a competition about life or die. How can I get the food for my family and me? - This is really the serious part where other people play with.

Fun

I really have fun in my life, but just I the moment it is hard to enjoy because, my own word make me contemplative.

Well I personally think life is like a game because I like having fun and not take all to serious.

I have the luck to reach this level and maybe as an result I should do more, that other people reach this level too.

But this is one reason why I write this blog.

Happiness

Now .. after almost 16 years, I understood a song of a band which I heard very often as was young. In the years 1992 to 1996 I was at least four times on a PUR concert.

The song I understand now much better as in former times is " Geweint vor Glück". (Sorry the text is in German)

Now I usually listen different music, but from time to time you have some experiences where such memories will come up ...

... this morning I think the song "Prinzessin" almost fit perfect. (Thx for the beautiful weekend)

btw. Chocolate Muffins spend happiness too, but don't eat to much of them ;)

Merci

Today is the first of December and Christmas time is coming up....

So well is it not a good time to start with a very very simple exercise to feel good and let other people feel better?

That what you have to do is very simple, just say "Thanks", "Dankeschön", "Merci" or "¡ gracias!" to somebody who did something for you.

But take care, don't just say it! The situation should be real and you have really believe on that what you say. Otherwise I think it is wrong and usually other people will notice that you don't say the truth (especially woman *smile*).

You may think what a effort, just so say ALWAYS thanks for stuff.

Well, do you remember when you got your last honest thanks?

Do you remember how you felt at this moment?

Did you l like it?

Isn't is nice if you know, just a small word can change feelings.

What do you think, how people see other people who say honestly thanks?

Just few questions to think about...

I would say give it a try and see how people react, in some cases it is really great!

And I personally think it is worth do it ... you will get it back several times!!

PS: similar applies on "I am sorry" ... but more on this ... later on .. we learn step-by-step :)