Life Beyond the Sight: About possession, happiness and human encounters

There are people who at first glance give the impression of having everything in life. They appear like the epitome of what one could call “perfect”: wealth, power, beauty and success seem to flow to them effortlessly. If “everything” means being able to afford everything your heart desires at any time, then the woman I describe below would beBecome someone who really had everything. But this very consideration falls short. Because if you constantly shape your life to the highest standards and with the most exclusive things, you don’t automatically lead a more fulfilling or meaningful life.

Possession is not a guarantee of happiness

Surrounding yourself with the most valuable thing doesn’t make a person more important or happier. Holding the exclusive maximum in your hand or being able to buy it is not a boundless carte buff for a fulfilling life. Rather, it is a privilege that falls to you but has no significance about the inner satisfaction or the actual value of a person.It is an illusion to believe that possession and external shine automatically lead to inner fulfillment. On the contrary: The accumulation of material goods can become a deceptive shield over time, which is difficult to penetrate. It’s easy to step up with empty heads, and even easier when the bags are full – but this surface appearanceoften deceives.

Memories and the power of music

Many years have passed since the woman I am talking about entered my life. Memories of such encounters are often difficult to grasp because they are deeply rooted in consciousness. Some experiences are so formative that they always pull us back into the past – sometimes with anger, sometimes with joy. especially the positive memories of loved ones, of voices,Scents, tastes and photos from times long past are almost magical. For me, music is the most powerful medium that touches our soul. A song that has moved us deeply remains anchored in our memory forever. It is amazing how certain sound images can still touch us deep inside after years and connect to past moments andmaintain feelings.

The suppression and forgetting

Over time, even the most painful memories fade, but never completely. Man is a master of repression – a protective mechanism to deal with sometimes unbearable realities. We hide unpleasant experiences in the drawers of our memory, hoping that they will no longer burden us. but often is the key to these hidden onesmemories were lost and they lose importance. They become shadows that only pull away from us without really touching us. The ability to forget painful experiences is a gift that is not equally given to everyone. Some people can still reconstruct what they once hurt, while others have long forgottenWhich once so offended her.

The fragility of human relationships

In the course of our lives we meet countless people. Many come and go, but only a few remain permanently in our lives. We often desperately try to bind them to us, to invest our affection and time. But it is precisely those whom we give our love and trust that sometimes turn out to be the greatest disappointments. The feeling of loss hurtsDeep, whether it’s the best friend who disappears with the swarm, or a long-time confidant who sits lonely in her four walls when he is old. For most people, the lack of affection is hard to bear. The deepest disappointments of my life always arose when I realized that I was wrong about people. The saying says:”We have bet on the wrong horse.” But isn’t that part of life? Experience means not only what we have experienced, but above all what we learn from it and how we deal with it.

A personal story: of fashion, expectations and disappointment

What happened when a lady stepped into my life and ordered an evening dress? I greeted you warmly, because that was my task. She had come into my life like a storm and I knew I had to be careful. Should I have called “Stop!” right away? It was the time of my young career as a fashion designer, and rejections were rare. Fashion is an industry where only the bestIdeas and the highest quality promise success, and I was proud of my good reputation. My success was based on my ability to create exclusive fashion and treat my customers with respect – that was my capital. One afternoon, a customer introduced me to another lady who is said to be “so important”. But from the start I felt that I didn’t like her. a feelingA clue – and at the same time a lesson: I had to learn to set boundaries. But in order not to disappoint my customer’s expectations, I met this woman in her hotel on the same day. She lived in a large suite and seemed lost in this huge room. She tried to hide her weaknesses through arrogance and arrogance. When greeted she was like thatIt’s arrogant that I would have preferred to go. But the customer is king – even if this queen hardly showed any manners.

Evening dress at the opera

She had seen an evening dress at the opera and sought contact with me through my customer – a recommendation that benefited my reputation. I was standing in front of her door on a Monday evening. The lady was small, shoulder-length hair, lots of makeup and always raised her head up. With each of her whispering sentences, she pushed her head even further back, which seemed very bizarre. herWanted a black couture dress, tailor-made and richly embroidered with black crystals. I took her measurements, but immediately felt that everyone of my words could be sensitive. In such power relations, it is difficult to react openly – whoever can pay is in charge.

Support in my studio

She asked about the price, but I answered only vaguely, knowing money wasn’t a problem for her. Nevertheless, the quality of the work was important to me: Every production takes time and resources. She waved it off and said, “Don’t worry.” But when I agreed on Friday, I was skeptical. When I explained the process, she doubled the price and said:”Your employees can work overtime for the additional money.” I immediately organized support in my studio and we worked late into the night to finish the dress on time. The first fitting took place on Wednesday. The dress fit perfectly, but the work was not finished yet. We worked until the early hours of the morning to complete everything. on theA call came on Thursday morning: The dress should not be delivered to Munich, but to Switzerland. The costs should be put on my account. The customs regulations and high taxes on such shipments are known, but the lady was indifferent. Everything including express surcharge should be paid for. The organization was in full swing and around 10 a.m. on Friday morningthe dress should be picked up.

Course service costs

But the lady changed the delivery address again – this time to Paris. The cost of the courier service increased significantly, but she didn’t care. She commented succinctly: “Put it on the bill.” The dress was finally sent to the new address by courier. On the Monday after that, our answering machine was full of insolent insults. The dress was on time in Parissubmitted, but apparently only placed on one bed. Instead of our careful wrapping in tissue paper and a noble cloth bag, it was sent in a simple brown cardboard box. When the lady saw this, she reacted indignantly and insulted us. Shopping was a sensual pleasure for her, but she could never wear the dress because she never again the “dirty” packaging materialwould be forgotten. She asked for the dress to pick up in Paris at her own expense and threatened to ruin us should she receive a bill. A friend picked up the dress and sent it back. After two days it was back in the studio, but it had become unusable for the sale – the small size fit no one else. the cost of the dress, which is actually oneInvestment in my young brand had been a big financial burden on me. The experience remained like a memorial in my camp. I tried to understand what makes a person act so arrogant and twisted – but I will probably never be able to fully understand it.

Life goes on

Life is an ongoing lesson. Disappointments and painful experiences leave traces, but they can also be instructive. Whether actual gain or loss depends on our ability to learn from it. When life goes well, you sometimes even see each other twice – sometimes even three times. That’s how it happened for me: years later I met the woman again.My reputation grew, my success became visible, doors opened wide, where I used to be careful. Success is a strange vehicle: It changes the perception of others and makes things a lot easier. But I myself remained the same – unimpressed by external splendor, always looking for new challenges.

The value of ambition and humanity

In my environment, I meet many people today who have fought their way hard. For me it is not reprehensible to build something up, on the contrary. Without those who have conquered their place in the world through effort, many successes would be unthinkable. It is an illusion to believe that nouveau riche are automatically selfish or superficial. On the contrary: many of these peoplehave fought for their lives through hard work and deserve respect. I was recently invited to a wedding where I was able to celebrate the success of a long-standing customer. She has become a close friend by now, and I’ve known her daughters since I was a child. For me it is a special pleasure to tailor the wedding dress for the youngest today. I remember doing thatI remembered many moments from my career – and also to the woman, who was my first big project back then.

An unexpected reunion

At the festival, I met a small, petite lady who turned her head backwards while gesturing. Suddenly a memory rose in me that had long slumbered in a hidden corner of my consciousness. When she discovered me, she stormed towards me to greet me warmly. I didn’t know if my unexpected reunion or the absurd scene in theforeground, but I remained calm. I didn’t say a word, but while I was walking, I heard quietly: “Oh Guido, I was a customer of the first hour…” Later I learned that her husband had lost everything and that she was grateful to be invited at all.

A last greeting

A week later, I packed the dress in a plain brown cardboard, without tissue paper, and put a card with it. In it I wrote: “I think you’re wearing this beautiful dress today, knowing that poverty is not shameful.” Sometimes life teaches us lessons that we only fully grasp much later. But the experiences, whether painful or beautiful, shape us andlet us mature. Life goes on, enriches us through the encounters and lets us discover new perspectives again and again.