The 2019 has been rather unspectacular. In summer I have had some mental issues. Otherwise I had a lot of fun with art, went to the mountains for a few times and did run an Ultra Trail race. Honestly writing this review is difficult, because 2019 somehow passed by fast and uneventful.
Some Pictures
Coping with Depression
Unfortunately I’m coping with depressive episods for three years now. I had a depressive episode in the summer and have managed to get over it by making appointments with my psychotherapist, made an appointment with a shaman and registered for a mindfulness course. Simply arranging this appointments helped me tremendously, because I was doing something and was not helplessly exposed to the depression.
In summer I have started meditating again, a simple 15 minute breathing meditation. This developed into a meditation streak of almost 100 days, really meditating every day (this is my longest meditation streak so far). Why did meditation help with my depressive episode? At that time I had no idea, but the positive effect was there. Later, after I had overcome the depressive episode all by myself, I had the appointment with my psychotherapist. I talked about my meditation practice and the almost miraculous, but inexplicable positive effect for me. The therapist then explained that the self-empowerment associated with meditation practice probably has the positive effect, i.e. ‚doing something for yourself‘.
In addition to the meditations, I have tracked my emotions with the Moodpath app. The Moodpath app helps me to get an overview of my emotions (Do I feel bad in the morning or in the evening? Are the bad times really as long as they feel? Are there special triggers for the emotions?). Every two weeks the app gives an overview and a sort of diagnoses like ‚indications of a mild depressive episode‘. This helps to make your own feelings even more tangible. The main goal with the Moodpath app was to track my emotions during the depressive episode. Firstly, just dealing with your emotions helps a patient. Second, psychotherapists love such diaries because they get more information and do not just have to rely on the patient’s condition during therapy sessions. In summer, the emotional diary was practically a preparation for possible psychotherapy, which was no longer necessary after the depression subsided..
Conclusion: I have overcome the depressive episode by myself by (1) making appointments to get help, (2) meditating every day, (3) tracking my emotions, (4) using noise-canceling headphones and some other small changes.
Fitness?
Not fit and chubby. Early in 2019 I have had some minor issues with my right knee and late in the year some issues with the sole of the right foot.
In May I have been running (i.e. hiking) the 100k long distance Ultra Trail race Megamarsch from Munich to Mittenwald. First as an ‚emotional supporter‘ for my colleague during her first Ultra Trail Race. We have been running through a very dark and wild rainy night. After 46 kilometers my colleage stopped (much much further than she ever planned). Then I continued in heavy rain and snow up 70 kilometers and dnfed at Kochel am See. On the one hand because the group I had joined gave up at Kochel and on the other hand the luxury that my wife will pick me up in the cold rain was simply too tempting. Next year I will start again with my colleagues of the team ‚Mulikulti‘ at the 100k Megamarsch München.
The most important thing is that I started running regularly again with my running group, first flat then hilly and in all weathers.
The Most Expensive Purchases?
My trip to Japan and some skiing trips.
More or less?
Profession — more
My new ‚I don’t care‘ attitude helps a lot. I try to ignore all things that I can’t change (current economic crisis, gossip, changing employees and bosses, wrong decisions of other people and excessive parties with colleagues, …). I try to concentrate on my own work, I have had nice projects … maybe I am a better engineer now.
Mountain Sports — less
2019 was not a year of mountain sports, no backcountry skiing, some few mountain hikes: Kreuzspitze, Hochblasse, Notkarspitz, Kurama-dera Temple, All Saints‘ Waterfalls and Dolomites.
The biggest challenge in 2019 was the top of the mountain Kreuzspitze. At the first attempt in summer hiking the Kreuzspitze –still mentally strained– the mountain top seemed very threatening to me, the closer I got to the top, the worse and I stopped the hike. At the second attempt in autumn I have hiked to the top of the Kreuzspitze without any mental problems :).
Boardsports — less
I did some skatebord tours at Augsburg. I barely used the electric longboard, but damaged the expensive battery … now I need a new one.
Cooking — as usual
Vacations
Zillertal – Ortisei – Milan – Black Forest – Berlin – Japan
Stupid Behaviour?
Done nothing insane or stupid (sort of).
Biggest Surprise?
I can see with my eyes closed! No joke and no, that’s not some kind of esoteric nonsense. My experience and the whole scientific background can be found in the german blog article „Sehen mit geschlossenen Augen„.
Tastiest Food & Best Drink?
The best meal was the tempura at Kyoto and the best drink a Frozen Kirin at the J-Bar with my dad. At a party at Milan I have had strawberries with mint in a Tupper box filled with red wine … delicious.
Any New Friends?
No new friends, but the participants in the MBSR course were a nice nice group..
Relationship status?
Happy in a relationship ❤
Best Book?
Though reading a lot there is no particular best book of 2019.
Best Movie?
Most Beautiful Art?
I have really liked iron cast sculptures of dead roots by Ai Weiwei (Galerie Neugerriemschneider in Berlin).
The Hub Schwabing had been a temporary use of building at Munic before it was demolished. The artists Hemel & Freytag were really great, painting at the same time at the same painting, sometimes painting over each other in competition. They share the experience with the visitors of a vernissage, who were invited to paint a picture together.
Best Event?
As a spectator at both semi-finals of Ninja Warrior Germany 2019 on a hot summer day.
Positive Memories (no particular order)
Strawberries and beer at the Mummelsee (Germany) / Forest Spirits / Ninja Warrior Germany / Roofing Berlin / Unicorn Portrait / Top of the mountain Kreuzspitze / Lovot , Pepper , Unicorn Gundam and Fortune Telling Robots / Banksys ‚Girl with Balloon‘ at Baden-Baden / All alone at the museum „The Hub Schwabing “/ Artichokes at the Golden Bar / Demolishing a Bench / Water Rocket Launch / Blue Coke & Blue Nicecream / Summer Evening at the ‚Kulper Hut‘ / What is a ‚Gumpe‘? / „No danger! No danger! “/ Looking for Kasimir / Bombardino and Goats / Megamarsch 100k Ultra Trail / MBSR Day of Silence / Men’s BBQ / The good Stuff ‚Berliner Luft‘ Peppermint Liqueur / Using Japanese Restrooms / Yusubitch on Tonic / Lockpicking / Bathing at the ice-cold Lake Starnberg / Downhill with the E-Bike / Red Bull Roller Coaster / Strawberry Red Wine Neighborhood Party at Milan / Chichu Art Museum and Ando’s architecture / Running the Whole F*%$ Hill! / Frozen Kirin with my Dad / Skiing at Ortisei / All Saints‘ Waterfalls / Epiphany Cake / Oktoberfest with Friends / Karlsberger See / Bavarian specialties at Gärtnerplatz (Munic) / Hot Summer Caravan Evening / Rainy Night with the ‚Guardians of the Galaxy‘ Soundtrack / Birthday Parties / Chiffon Cake / Carving a Watermelon Shark / Ai Weiwei Roots / New Clothes Dance / Silver Coat / Bell of the ancient Kurama Mountain Temple / Birgit doesn’t have to starve / Barbecue with Colleagues / Sumo / (My) Favorite Surfer Girl / Pumpkins / Eden Project / Chips on the hotel terrace / Croissant Crumbs in Bed with a View (of the Berlin Television Tower) /
Done for the First Time?
A classic eight-week mindfulness course (MBSR) with practical and theoretical components and lots of new knowledge.
Done Again After a Long Time?
II decided to run the Mega Marsch Munich 2019, my first ultra trail in three years.
Bad Times?
Mental crisis in summer and dog shit at Berlin.
Nice Gifts?
Birgit gave tickets for the two Ninja Warrior semi-finals 2019 in Karlsruhe and that was an incredibly great experience.
Best Quotes?
After I told my parents that I did not finish Megamarsch Race from Munich to Mittenwald and stopped after 70 km in Kochel am See, my mother said:
Oh, well, there is the nice museum at Kochel am See. Did you visit the museum after that Ultra race?
At Berlin:
Nice, you two share a coat.
The Hub Schwabing 
The Hub Schwabing 
Berlin 
Salone de Mobile
Yes, the coat is mine, but Birgit looks somehow more stylish, so stylish that it is addressed on the street and now there are some pictures of her in some magazines as a typical Berlin style hippster woman.
Good Deeds?
My karma account is still balanced.
2019 TL;DR …
Nothing special, just a year I probably won’t remember getting old.
2020 Plans?
(1) Running the 100k Megamarsch 2020 from Munic to Mittenwald with my colleagues.
(2) Travelling to Yucatan (Mexico)
René Rössig 