The Courage To Turnaround

Written in Waxenberg, Austria, am 20.07.2009

As you know, too much planning is unreasonable, because the more well-planned we act, the more effective we are hit by the unforeseen. And that is what happened to me recently, as my hiking plans got disturbed by pneumonia, which influenced the mode of my voyage crucially. This time I did not walk over large distances, nevertheless I experienced an intense time. Here is the report of the latest occurrences in France, but before I will take a look back to the months of winter and spring time.

Lyons was the final destination of my last hiking season, before I went into winter break. Gregor and me had been walking separately already from September on, but now it became clear, that further work together under “Global Change” would be difficult. Gregor´s plans for 2009 had changed heavily, and we realized, that we would need our space to develop our own ideas. On the one hand, I was very disappointed about the fact that our dream of a long hike together had found a rather rapid end. The reality on the way had shown that being together 24-7 has its difficulties. On the other hand, we could look back to a very intense time of rich experiences and impressive moments. We had done excellent work to spread our message among the people, and when I think back, I feel a deep joy about our achievements. But now I was on my own responsibility, a new exciting time would begin.

I was very happy to be able to get my old job in engineering home in Graz, in order to make money for some further hiking. After the impressive experiences last year I felt, that my wandering time is not over yet. It became a long and work-intense winter. Of course, I could not keep myself out of some other activities besides work, which resulted again in some very stressful months. I wondered, how fast the calmness and serenity, which I had developed on the hike, were displaced by bustle and jumpiness. How is it possible to keep this serenity in the everyday life?

But as every year in spring time, my energy rose with the sun and the temperature, while I began the preparations for the hike. Besides work, we created step by step the new homepage RYTZ.AT, which should be ready before the start. Once again there was plenty of stuff to be done: preparing the equipment and optimizing it for summer time, moving out of the temporary flat, saying good-bye to friends, colleagues and family and completing other organizational stuff. Also the presentation, which I held just before the start in my home village of Waxenberg, was time-consuming, but succeeded well. It astonishes me still, how much time it takes every time until everything is done. But then finally: departure!

Only after a few days of travelling I began to relax, as I slowly realized that I had nothing forgotten. Being in Lyons was a good opportunity to visit some old friends which I had met druing my academic exchange some years ago. Furthermore I dropped by in the editorial office of the “Décroissance”, which I had visited already in autumn. This newspaper with the subtitle “Journal for the joy of life”, which has already a run of 60.000 copies, is dedicated to the important task of questioning the growth paradigm of our present economic policy. Permanent economic growth in a world of limited resources is impossible and contradicts a real and honest ecologic policy. The theoretical and political discourse centres about the urgent question, how we can get out of this “religion” of growth, the economization of all areas of life and the unchallenged consumerism of a media-controlled standardized society.

For an ecological turnaround enduring “degrowth” (=Décroissance) is coercively necessary, since the consumption of resources is highly correlated to the absolute volume of the economy. On an individual level this means a simplification of our lifestyles instead of “more of everything” and focussing on the quality of life instead of unlimited materialism. This is exactly the topic of my hike, but the Décroissance movement expands the idea theoretically and gives it a political platform. A very interesting subject that is hotly discussed in France and which also should find big reception elsewhere.

On a hot summer day I stood again on the bridge “Pont Morand” in the centre of Lyons, where I had stopped last November. I had picked up my hiking pole, which had waited for me there over the winter, and I hit the road. That meant walking up the hill to the widely visible Basilica „Notre Dame de Fourvière“. From there, a last look on the panorama behind me, then out of the city all along the big suburbs. Finally on the road again, what a fantastic feeling! After the first night in a cherry plantation (cherry season!), I reached the town of “Saint Galmien” next evening, now already well on the country-side.

It is Saturday afternoon, I hear music from afar. I walk around the church and look down to the main square. It is the town marching band doing a show in front of a full assembled audience. I ask if there is something special going on, and yes, it is the “Fête de la musique”. At this one day music festival stages are built all over the country and everybody who wants is allowed to do a gig. A nice tradition, I think as a musician. I meet Sophie and Romain, and they invite me to sleep over in their house. PERFECT! Later in the evening the local hair dresser picks up his electric bass and lets his rock´n´roll heart out with his band. With good old 60ies and 70ies songs they heat up the audience despite the freezing weather, and we spend an excellent evening together. That is the way I like Saturday evenings! :-)

Cold wind from the north and temperatures of about 12 degrees accompanied me during the next days, with high sun radiation intensity at the same time, since it was solstice. Short sleeves too cold, long sleeves too hot. A dangerous mix as I would find out. I noticed that I was picking up a cold, so I decided on Tuesday to go into a hostel for a couple of days to recover. But the next day it got very serious. Very high fever showed up and did not leave for three days. The doctor diagnosed an influenzal infection and suggested some medicaments and calm as therapy. For ten days I stayed in the small village of Valprivas for recovery. Then I went to Retournac, where I consulted again a doctor, because the cough had not disappeared. No worries, he said, you are almost recovered. I rested another day and went on optimistically to Le Puy. But the cough got worse. Another doctor, this time a critical: The right lung is definitely NOT OK, he said, a radiograph and a blood test absolutely necessary. The findings of the Hospital of Le Puy were clear then: Pneumonia in the right upper lung. They kept me there directly. Another eight days of patience, but I was happy to get an adequate treatment based on a good diagnosis.

Well, such a desease ain´t funny. I realized the severity of my situation when I heard some of my elder hospital mates breathing heavily and moaning. They really felt sick. Everybody around told me to take an extensive time-out to get well, so I came to the difficult conclusion, that it would be a must to return to Austria for a full recovery. I thought of my aunt, who had wished me the “courage to turnaround” if it should be necessary. It was not easy, but stuff it! „Dharma patana mokshanam…“, is written in the old vedic books from India: “You want to attend to your duties, you want to become rich, you want to enjoy sensual pleasures, or you want to recognize your self – but always must your body be in health for it.”

One thing I have learned for sure in the last three weeks: Patience. Day after day I spent mostly alone and hoped for a fast recovery. But I never lost the serenity, I was always aware, that also this awkward situation will pass. Again, I experienced the selfless support of many people during this time. Danielle and Dominic accommodated me and took care of me for full ten days in Valprivas. Sandrine and Cathrin from the hostel in Le Puy visited me spontaneously in the hospital and brought me the backpack. And the staff at the hospital looked after the foreigner carefully and friendly. I had my delight with the small things: i.e. when I got a fruit tulip as dessert with raspberries, blackberries and sour cherries. Or the fireworks on the French national holiday, that I could observe directly from my bed in full panorama view. Furthermore I had enough time to study some interesting books and some French vocabulary. And last but not least, I got never expected skills in Sudoku… :-)

I have not expected to return to Austria so early, but nevertheless, I am happy to have some company after the tiring weeks. I will use the time to do some other things, to develop some ideas and write some articles. I hope still, tough, that I will be in best shape again very soon to be able to return to France. But I take my time for the recovery, even if I am keen on getting back tomorrow.

All the best, I hope you are doing well.
A hug to all of you,
Reinhold.

Some Impressions