I'm interested in a lot of things, such as technology, human behavior, sustainability, the earth and the universe, in general, how the world works, what the future could look like, how we can make trade obsolete and much, much more.
But that wasn't always the case, because school destroyed my interest in the world rather than encouraged it. I always found school very boring and like everyone else I was forced to go there to do my time for a ridiculous piece of paper that I got at the end (Abitur). It was a trade: my time for a piece of paper. Did I then know what I like to do and what excites me? Not at all!
That's why I wanted to get out into the world to see and experience what it really is. Traveling I learned a lot about the world, about cultures and religions, about people and nature, about the world's problems and ideas about how to solve them, etc.
After I came back to Germany, I was completely overwhelmed because apparently nothing has changed, but I have become a completely different person through all the experiences I have gained.
On my journey I came across the TROM project, whose ideas I found very exciting. I started translating the books until I finally translated the website and am working on it now. I am also working on the handelfrei website and directory.
I realized that the world is so incredibly thrilling and interesting - more thrilling and impressive than any Hollywood movie - and our trade-based society is destroying everything.
Humans have no idea of the incredible world around them: of neutrinos passing through everything and everyone by the billions; about atoms that make up people, stars, chocolate, laptops and mountains; to giant supernovas out there. We live on a unique sphere in a gigantic universe and there are amazing things like gravity, quarks, quasars, cells, DNA and so on... the wonders of medicine; the mysterious world of the “digital” and all the advances in science and technology that allow us to automate most jobs so we can enjoy and have fun on this wonderful planet.
Yet most people find Hollywood movies, Netflix series, or violent, unrealistic, or pointless video games much more exciting.
I don't know where I'll be in 5 years' time and what my situation will be, but I try to volunteer as much as possible and promote trade-free goods and services as best I can. It's super exciting and, above all, it gets easier and easier with really cool tools, such as YunoHostthat allow you to host your own digital space yourself (social media, like Friendica, Mastodon, PearTube, the search engine SearX, Nextcloud and much more). in the trade-free directory you can find many more great goods / services 🙂
What I have learned:
- All over the world there are incredibly nice and friendly people who will help you.
- Be aware of organizations that say they want to change the world because they have their own interests too. In a way, that's normal in today's world (everyone has to eat) but don't be fooled if you think they are 100% honest. More likely, they'll put themselves first. That is why we are obsessed with keeping TROM as respectable as possible so that we don't sell anything, don't prostitute ourselves, all you see is what you get.
- Don't be naive and think that the world will change in your lifetime. More likely it won't. So make yourself comfortable in this world and then try to change the world from this place.
- Be you social pressure and social expectations (“you have to do this and that and that”) and try to go your own way.
- If you want to learn something, then you will too. I had no idea how to create a website, edit videos, install Linux on my laptop, or manage a server. The internet can teach you just about anything if you dare to make mistakes and learn from them.
I love what I do and I burn for it every day. If I died tomorrow, I would at least have done what I wanted to do and not what others expect me to do. This is important!
Don't get old and dissatisfied with the decisions you made when you were young because you can't turn back time. Lots of old people will tell you this, but the trick is to understand this point when you are young.