Post-materialistic view on work

It's a working day. But it doesn't particularly feel like one. I have a big meeting coming up this afternoon. But there is no stress. No stress at all. I feel completely confident. Confident that everything will work out just fine, that everything will be alright.

Maybe it's the sun, the sunglasses laying next to my laptop and the yellow t-shirt I'm wearing right now. Maybe things will change as soon as I'll change into my 'meeting-outfit'. As soon as the phone will start ringing again and my inbox will start getting stuffed with problematic e-mails again. Maybe. But just not right now. Now is the time to realize the nice side of life, even during a working day. To realize things could be different if you want and everything is about the way you look at things. We don't do that very often. All the contrary. We never do that. But starting from today I will. At least I'll try to. If only the sun would be shining every day. For me, that would be already a big help and an even bigger step forward.

What about a trip to Bucharest?

A black, new and shiny bmw m6 is waiting for the light to turn green. A dito mercedes impatiently waits just behind it. Both drivers look not older than 25, wear big shiny sunglasses and are obviously not in the need of taking an extra mortgage to keep their cars spotless and running.

No, this is not a Monte Carlo boulevard. No view over the sea and a port stuffed with extra sized yachts. All the contrary: looking over the way too shiny roofs of the cars a weird contrast pops up. It's a big building. Smoky black. Bombed. Or at least looking as if it just got bombed. Big holes in the walls, no windows. Only a huge amount of pain stored in a pile of stones. A big scar of a society still finding its way. Still looking for a new personality. With a huge way to go before it will probably find a proper balance: welcome in Bucharest.

Bucuresti (to spell it the way it should be spelled) is a city of contrasts. A city on the edge between worse and better and between past and future. It's a city balancing between extremes. It's a society of extremes. I suppose that's normal when for decades the "communist average" used the be the magical codeword towards living a happy life. It's not a city of love at first sight, like Paris, Rome or Barcelona would be. But that does not mean you should just skip it when selecting your yearly city trips.

Bucharest is majesty. It's greatness obscured by a doubtful past and an big dose of fear for evolution. For finding a proper equilibrium in that enormous potential. 'Cause that's exactly what it's all about. The first steps towards activating that potential seem to be taken. If it is the nightlife, the way of living, the friendliness of the people. But a lot of work is still to be done before the future of this city will be confirmed as a bright one. I have faith in it, but who am I. Let's hope the people living there have it too. Because the city deserves it. Because the people deserve it.



To our Sefa - it would not have been the same without you.