Being a pioneer

Finding new ways has a high value to our society. However, this value is seldomly appreciated during the initial stages of the process.

Most of us are in many ways very rigid in our minds and once we have found a way that works for us, we are like a train on its tracks.

There is a huge resistance to change built into most of us. Which is absolutely valid, as seen from a survival standpoint. What can be better than sticking to a way of doing something, that has already been proven to work out?

Only one thing can be better: Finding something that works even better!

In order to evolve further, we have to also be willing to explore new paths, even at the risk of failure. 

A healthy society is able to provide a stable platform by mostly staying on the well proven roads, and at the same time we must be able and willing to support those who seek new ways.

So why is it still so difficult then to bring something new into existence? Why is there still such high risk to be carried by those, let’s call them „pioneers“, who are willing to explore and build alternatives?

The answer I get is: 

Without risk, it would be just too easy to waste the societies energy for some nice ideas without real substance. After all, the society does carry most of the risk by providing the stable platform for „fall back“, in case of failure. Since many people have ideas, but only few of those ideas are really good, and very few people have the „right stuff“ to follow through, there must be a certain resistance in order to separate the dreamers from the visionaries and the phonies from the creators. It is part of a very smart mechanism for survival of a society, balancing stability and exploration.

I have found that some pioneers are more close to the herd, just attempting a few variations of „normal“ while mostly going with the flow. Others are more like an astronaut, having been catapulted away from the ordinary by massive force and energy, like riding a rocket into outer space. This force could be, for example, the strong sensation of not fitting in, being disgusted by „normality“, idealism, a strong vision which is completely out of the ordinary, or a combination of the above. In my case it was also a lot of arrogance and a complete lack of appreciation for the value of the „base“ that made me avoid the normal ways of life. It was almost a default setting to oppose the ordinary and do it differently. 

The harder my life got, the more difficult I found it to be without the support of the others whom I have looked down upon for a major part of my life. Finally I was out there in outer space, feeling that this could not really be all to my mission, and I truly wanted all my struggle to have a true meaning. This was the moment when I began re-connecting with „earth“ and found a place where I could bring all the things I have learned during my unusual journey. A place where all my hard earned treasures can be put to work for something larger. We are now building a new part for the „base“, integrating knowledge that was only possible for me to collect in times of severe separation. Besides technical skills, the most important one being: Trust in life. And the gift that I personally have received in return for my journey and all the hardships is a true sensation of my own gratefulness, as well as appreciation for the value provided by my fellow people who have supported the „base“ by their daily lives and their reliable and stable being.

The question I carry around these days is whether I have fulfilled my mission as a pioneer and become a part of the support team now, or if I am bound to remain in the pioneer lifestyle…? Probably both. My pioneering will take place a little closer to earth with more connection to the base, and the times on the „ground“, supporting and building stability will be longer. The picture in my mind is a ball that skips several times, each skip getting shorter and shorter until it finally stays on the ground. 

I am indeed very grateful for my journey, however I am also very happy for not having to go back to my previous self. All the pain was probably needed to break open the shell and release what I have to give to the world now. 

This text is a little bit of that. May it serve you well!

Christian