Back to nature - my personal path

At the beginning of the 2000s, I was working in a world where it was still rather unusual to pay attention to nature, animal welfare or environmental protection. The fact that I was already a vegetarian back then or that I liked to shop in small organic stores was considered rather exotic. And anyone who came to the board meeting by bike was not necessarily looked at approvingly, but rather asked whether the car was broken. I didn't question this at all and, at least professionally, I went along with the wave of capitalism.

I spent an incredible amount of time in nature as a child. We lived right next to vast fields and I loved being outside or in the stables. When I entered professional life and climbed the supposed career ladder, I distanced myself from nature and found myself in uncomfortable high heels and tight outfits in so-called business life. I remember racing to a trade fair with customers in 1st class on the ICE on the way to Cologne. It was all about stakeholder value, customers and corporate identity. But outside, there was the vastness. Endless rapeseed fields passed me by with the blue sky shining over them and I asked myself “What the hell am I doing here?” I wanted to be out there and feel at one with nature again. To walk through the fields and shake off everything that was confining me.

It took a few more years before I actually sold my agency and got out of this higher-faster-further life. Since then, nature has come back into my life bit by bit. From an increasing inner resistance to everything artificial. On a small, very personal level, such as using unprocessed food, natural cosmetics, clothing made from natural materials, acquiring knowledge about the effects of plants and herbs or gardening. And without any claim to perfection, but with curiosity and fun in discovering and learning.

And also professionally. It started with drawing nature motifs in 2008 and led me to working as a garden designer today. It's not about being professionally involved with nature at all, but about choosing your profession according to your nature and personality. For example, I love creating harmony. Back then as a communication consultant between people, today in the design of outdoor and indoor spaces and objects.

I believe that everyone has talents and abilities that are very special. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to become president or a pop star. It's much more about the small pieces of the puzzle that the world needs to become a little bit better. Sounds a bit pathetic, but it's true.

I've always been fascinated by people who have done something with passion and heart and soul. Their eyes light up when they talk about their work and immerse themselves in it until the result is perfect. Whether it's a carpenter who works for days on a piece of furniture until it's ready for the customer with a soft sanded finish and the scent of beeswax. A teacher who speaks with kindness and warmth about even the wildest of her students. Or the hotelier of a small country hotel, who looks at each room again with attention to detail before the next guests arrive, straightens the corners of the gleaming white bed linen and places fresh flowers on the table.

And so, after selling my agency, my professional goal was no longer to do "big business", but to find my passion, get there and stay there.

This development from illustrator to interior designer to garden designer took a few years. Years of learning, training and then "trusting myself" to leave the old behind and focus on my passion at the ripe old age of 50. It is a gift to approach new projects every day with anticipation and to bring joy to other people with what you create.

Everyone has to find their own way. Or rather: we are allowed to find our own way. We are all, of course, bound by framework conditions such as financial opportunities, access to education, family obligations, etc. I hope that everyone has enough freedom within this framework to discover their own nature and let it unfold. Whether at the age of 20, 50 or 75, I now know from my own experience that it's worth it :-).