A Crisis as an Opportunity?

Dear Reader

“Crisis as an opportunity” may sound good. Nevertheless, I’ve never been enthusiastic about this saying; for I’ve seen too many people for whom the crisis was far from being an opportunity—indeed, it often turned into a catastrophe. Let’s therefore avoid political discussions and keep our feet on the ground. Nevertheless, the financial and economic crisis may have put the importance of possessions and money into perspective for some of us. We Swiss are dedicated professionals. Many of us pour our heart and soul into our jobs and often put the company’s needs before our own. If it all comes crashing down one day, for some it’s not just the job that’s lost—

the world will come crashing down. Everything I’ve dedicated myself to, everything I’ve lived for—is it suddenly gone? Sooner or later, moments like these can force us to rethink our priorities. Is there anything else besides our profession, work, and career? Family, friendships, and an enriching hobby? Studies show that when people lose their jobs, they’re very often unable to take up and/or pursue a hobby. They lack not only the energy and self-confidence but also, quite simply, practice. “When I retire, then…” By the way, resolutions like that don’t work any better. The solution is simple, but hard to put into practice: I’m talking about

searching for and finding a balance between life’s various responsibilities: family/friendship—job/career—leisure/sports. The hobby of model aircraft flying allows you to combine many of these elements. Manual work—such as building model airplanes—also exercises both body and mind. This, too, has been scientifically proven. Isn’t that a wonderful opportunity? Start today and set aside just a little time for your hobby. I wish you the best of luck!

Best regards

Emil Ch. Giezendanner