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Nobody prepared me for the fact that motherhood is like permanent jet lag, only without the beautiful destination waiting on the other side of the world. Instead, every morning (and several times in the middle of the night), I land in a parallel universe of nappies, the smell of milk and dummies. Time Loses All Meaning. There's Only "Before the Last Feed" and "After the Next Nappy Change". My body no longer knows whether it should sleep, eat or simply exist for a moment. Beca

Between Dreams and Reality Have you ever noticed that waking up from a dream often feels like a journey in stages? Sometimes it feels as though you're returning from another world – moving from one level to the next until you finally arrive back in waking reality. This transition is fascinating, almost mystical, and holds a kind of magic that we often overlook. Waking Up in Stages: A Return from the Dream World Waking up rarely happens all at once. Instead, our consciousness

What Truly Matters in Life The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is not just about a boy's journey through the universe, but also about the deeper understanding of what truly matters in life. The Little Prince leaves behind his rose and the sheep to explore the vastness of the infinite. During his journey, he encounters many strange characters, including the fox, who teaches him an important lesson: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essentia

Finding Unity in a Divided World We live in a world full of differences: cultures, religions and worldviews. At the same time, more and more people feel a longing for something that sustains, inspires and connects them. This longing is spirituality – the awareness of the divine that dwells within us all, and the ability to recognise a deeper meaning in life. Whether we call God "Allah", "Yahweh" or simply "God", these different names often seem to create walls between us. Yet

Skilled Workers Are the New Guest Workers Germany built its economy on the backs of the so-called guest workers. People who came from Italy, Turkey, Greece and other countries in the 1950s and 1960s to keep factory assembly lines running, build roads and construct homes. Their labour contributed significantly to Germany's post-war economic miracle, yet they often remained invisible – tolerated, but never truly welcomed. Today, decades later, the narrative has changed, but the

Play Instead of Imposing Rules Children are explorers by nature. Through play, they gain experiences that prepare them for adult life. During this formative stage, they learn to understand their emotions, explore their surroundings and make their own decisions. Yet parents often take on the role of "bodyguards" – constantly following their children around, offering new activities and assistance to ensure they are always occupied and never make mistakes. But this approach can

Schools as Places of Empowerment "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." This widely quoted statement by Nelson Mandela highlights the immense importance of schools as places of personal and social transformation. But what does it really mean to create schools that empower young people – enabling them, strengthening their confidence and giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential? Schools Should Create Opportunities, Not De

How Education and Work Tame the Free Spirit In today's society, the free spirit has become an increasingly rare phenomenon – a precious quality gradually swallowed by the pressures of financial obligations and consumer culture. What was once intended as a journey of self-discovery through education and work has often developed into a rigid system that teaches us not how to unleash our creative potential, but how to meet financial demands. This transformation has not only infl

Building a Strong Foundation for the Future In a constantly changing world, education and equal opportunities are the keys to a better future — for every child, every family and society as a whole. This is why I am politically engaged. To me, political engagement means taking responsibility and fighting for a fairer future. As a society, we must give children and young people, particularly those growing up in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods, the opportunity to discover

Our Responsibility for the Future – The Federal Election and Berlin's Role An important event is approaching across Germany: the federal election on 23 February 2025. At a time when the world is becoming increasingly uncertain and unsettled, taking responsibility and actively participating in shaping our future is more important than ever. Especially in Berlin, one of the world's most multicultural cities, each of us has the opportunity to help determine how the political lan

A Privilege That Reinforces Inequality? Apartment swapping is a creative solution that seems brilliant at first glance. Anyone living in an apartment that is too large, too small or simply unsuitable can exchange it with someone who also wants to move. Especially in Berlin, where the housing market has been under pressure for years, this appears to be a win-win situation. But a closer look reveals that apartment swapping comes with risks and may reinforce existing social ineq

Christmas in Times of War and Unrest Christmas – a celebration of hope, love and peace. A time when lights brighten the darkness and remind us that, despite all the challenges we face, there is still room for warmth and humanity. But what remains of this magic when the world around us is shaken by conflict? In times of war and unrest, it is difficult to feel the magic of Christmas. Images of destroyed cities, desperate families and ever-present uncertainty make the sparkling

A Fight That Must Never End Violence against women is a global problem deeply rooted in the structures of many societies. It takes many forms – from domestic violence and forced marriage to honour killings and commercial sexual exploitation – and often remains hidden, concealed by silence, shame and a lack of consequences. Despite the progress women have fought for over the past centuries, we still face enormous challenges. It is time to address not only the symptoms but also

How We Can Rewrite the Past According to Egyptian mythology, the deceased lived in the afterlife much as they had during their earthly lives. But before they could enjoy eternal life, they had to descend into the realm of the dead and journey through the underworld of Osiris, where dangerous trials awaited them. If they failed even a single trial, they returned to their graves, facing the threat of eternal damnation and an endless cycle. In Charlie McDowell's film The Discove

The Price of Loving More Than One Even in the Ottoman Empire, polygamy existed as a form of consensual relationship in which the sultan maintained physical and emotional bonds with at least two women. In Muslim countries, some men proudly boast that Allah allows them to marry four women. Yet most of these men cannot even make their own wives happy and satisfied. The fundamental rule of polygamy is that all wives must be treated equally. If one wife receives a diamond bracelet

How Prayer and Meditation Shape Our World The search for enlightenment is a central theme in Buddhism. One of the Four Noble Truths teaches that life is marked by suffering. Siddhartha Gautama sought to overcome this seemingly unsolvable dilemma as early as 480 BC. He attained enlightenment, and his teachings inspired a tradition that continues to guide around half a billion followers in their search for peace and wisdom. Prayer or the Creative Process? Unlike many of us, who

When We Lose Sight of True Happiness Hans Christian Andersen left us with a surreal piece of wisdom. He wrote about a mirror created by the devil that once shattered high in the sky into thousands upon thousands of pieces, falling to Earth like tiny grains of sand. Anyone who got such a shard of glass in their eye would find their heart turning into a lump of ice. These people became as cold as stone inside. They could no longer feel anything except bitterness and pain. Inste

The Path to Female Self-Determination Getting married often means beginning with idealised notions of love and partnership. Many people assume that love is automatically the foundation of every marriage. Yet sometimes marriages are formed without a deep emotional connection. This can lead to power struggles when expectations about roles or personalities clash. After a separation, many people find that their relationship becomes more relaxed and that they become friends, as re

Women and the True Meaning of Emancipation I don't like women who call themselves feminists yet get excited about candlelit dinners. I don't like women who call themselves feminists but immediately feel harassed when a man looks at them. I don't like women who call themselves feminists yet change their appearance the moment their man finds someone else. Feminism Is a Fight! The women who have walked this path carry scars within them that will never fully heal. That is why tru

The True Essence of Modern Relationships The modern zeitgeist has created more flexible ways of communicating. People have stopped fighting for their relationships. It's easier to ignore someone than to talk things through, challenge each other's opinions, raise our voices, make compromises and ultimately try to understand the other person and accept them as they are. In recent years, we've learned to become more flexible. There are so many possibilities waiting for us that w