More than ever, I am still in!

On a sunny Sunday afternoon 25 years ago, a girl stepped up to me at a climbing crag in Strubensvallei, South Africa. She asked me a simple question. It changed my life.

A quarter of a century later, our amazing journey, built upon an unwavering commitment to make each other grow, is still going on. It has taught me a few lessons:

1. Follow your intuition.

Intuition or gut feel is like an instrument that you can practice. And you need to keep it in tune. If you do so, every once in a while you may be blessed with a moment of absolute clarity. I had such a moment 25 years ago. To follow it had the most profound impact on my life.

2. Do the best you can. And for the rest: Trust the universe.

As much as we like to think we are in control, in reality it is often not up to us to make our visions come true. We can and should give our best, but for where that ends, we have to find a way to trust the universe (and others) to help align the stars.

3. Never give up.

Not on yourself, not on those around you. I know, these words have been overused. But that does not make them any less true. No matter how difficult the road gets: if you are certain of a path, pursue it. Of course, with eyes and ears wide open. Ask, listen, observe, discuss, understand, and if necessary, adapt. But always stay on course.

4. Always forward.

Learning and (personal) growth are key ingredients to happiness. Life is full of setbacks, detours and breaks. Get over it. And whatever it takes, find a way to push yourself (and others) out of the comfort zone, and forward.

5. Be open, curious and approachable.

Amazing things can be found in the most unexpected places. The keys to unlocking these are a curious and open mind, a taste for adventure, the willingness to make a fool of yourself and the ability to connect with others.

6. Two are better than one.

Being in the right team simply makes me better. I love sparring ideas, explore different perspectives and find common ground. It is not always easier, but in the end, it is always better.

7. Diversity rules.

A wise man once said: “You have to remember that you come from two different cultural backgrounds.” Thats the secret: Somehow we are all different. If you happen to look different, grew up on different continents or speak a different language, it is just a little more obvious. Then, building bridges becomes an integral part of your “team culture”. The essence of formidable teams.

8. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

One of the most valuable lessons is to always communicate. Never let a problem linger, never hold back on your thoughts and never let an opportunity go to waste to connect with each other.

9. Everything (or nothing) matters.

You either believe that everything is connected and therefore everything somehow matters, or you believe in a big coincidence. As an earth scientist, systems thinking may be a “déformation professionelle”. But today, more than ever, I believe that there has to be a universal storyline.

10. Happiness is in the moment, and in you.

I do not claim to understand the universe. But with everything that is going on in the world, I am immensely grateful for what life has thrown at me. I try to celebrate that every day.

As I said: The best part of my life started 25 years ago. More than ever, I am still in!

Thank you for being, my love!