Are you afraid of changes? I am, kind of. Although many people at work keep telling me that I have a pronounced sympathy for changes. Well, yes, but those office changes have been all within my comfort zone. I was sure about those decisions, about the benefits of them. I was confident that those changes will improve things. And most of the time they did.

But now I am going to do a change which is bigger, at least for me. I quit my job and start in a different company soon. This is a change I consider as big. Well, for many other countries this is rather normal and the way to be, but for my home country this is a big step, since it is not that common. It is rather unusual to quit a job which seems to fit well. People tend to stay their entire life within one company. For some reason there is a high loyalty regarding to this. Even more after so many years within the same company.

So for me it is a big step. But it is the right step and I feel good with my decision. I am looking forward to the new challenges. Yes, I am hell enthusiastic about it. Nonetheless I have respect and hope I can fulfill the expectations in me I raised. So this is a good combination and I am sure things will fall into place.

But I was curious why I feel the way I feel. There are two aspects in that. First I am leaving a job I loved and a company I was proud to work for. I have learned so much within that company and I’ve made so many friends in there. It was not easy to leave, especially the last days have been very emotional for me. So mixed feelings, lot’s of them.

And the second aspect is that I am leaving my comfort zone. I rarely did within the last few years. I was good in my job and I knew how to handle things, how to deal with certain situations. My decisions have been based on knowledge and experience and I was confident about the outcome. This here is different. Leaving the company and starting freshly is different. I do not have the knowledge nor experience how this will turn out. I am stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new. That’s why this is a big change for me. And actually the big change is not to quit nor to go to a new company, the big change is to break the pattern of decision making, to jump out of my comfort zone, far away from it. And it feels damn good 😉

When have you seen a sunset last time? I mean a real one. Theoretically there is one every day, and this shouldn’t be a surprise for you. But when did you actually take the time to sit and to watch it, consciously? Some time ago, right. But why don’t you do that regularly? Because it became normality? Or maybe because you are busy with something else in the evenings? What is your excuse?

Yeah, it became so normal and given that we take it for granted. But actually it is not. There are so many people who are not able to enjoy sunsets for various reason. But you are able to, and still do not value that gift. Yes, we are chasing schedules, plans, responsibilities, money, material things. We are so busy with those that we do not see the little pleasures of life. And even worse, we do not appreciate them anymore. When has been the last time you stopped to behold a blooming flower, to smell it, to appreciate it. You can’t even remember. You have been busy rushing through your life. When has been the last time you stopped at a creek to watch the water jumping over stones and roots, to marvel the reflections of the sun, to appreciate. Probably ages ago, when you have been a child. When have you smiled last time into the face of a stranger? You  might be surprised, the smile might be returned. But I forgot, you are too busy and focused on the little screen of your smartphone. You do not even recognize the people around you anymore, nor the beauty of nature.

But isn’t this what life makes beautiful? Aren’t the small things the ones which make you happy long-term? Isn’t it the beautiful rose in the neighbors garden or the rays of sunlight between the trees? Isn’t it the smell of the wood and the grass after a heavy rain? Isn’t it a sunset after a long day? Oh yes, the sunset, with all it’s colors and atmosphere. When the sun slowly sinks at the horizon, embedded in clouds in various shapes and colors. And the world slows down for a moment. Yes, this is it. This is life. This is happiness.

And now turn off the TV you are gazing at every evening. Move your lazy bum outside and watch the sunset. Watch it with full conscious and gratefulness. Life is beautiful, isn’t it?