When Passion Meets Purpose: My German Adventure in Health, Music, and Life Balance
- evennow
- Aug 21
- 9 min read
Updated: Aug 23
Spending three and a half weeks in Germany has left me feeling absolutely recharged, and as I reflect on this incredible journey, I can't help but think back to my very first blog post about living your passion. This recent trip was the perfect embodiment of everything I wrote about then - following what lights you up while nurturing every aspect of your wellbeing.
These are the insights of a fabulous road trip with my friend Claudia in her camper van, following our passion to see concerts of our favourite artist, Chris de Burgh.
Right at the start of our holiday I had a fantastic experience. What started as a spontaneous message to Petra Nagel-Metzingen turned into one of the most enlightening conversations I've had in years. When I reached out during my holiday asking if she'd like to meet in person after we had so far only met virtually on facebook messenger, I never expected we'd not only be dressed in matching colours but would talk for over four hours about gut health! We spoke for so long that Claudia and I had to rush to make it in time for the Baden-Baden concert that evening. As someone who's always been fascinated by the mind-body connection, hearing Petra's insights was like finding missing pieces of a puzzle I'd been working on for years.
I've since started taking the Daily Plus from Lifeplus that Petra recommended, and I'm already feeling the positive impact on my digestive system. For anyone interested in exploring gut health further, I highly recommend checking out Petra's page "Weltweite Challenge für einen gesunden Darm" or her group "Darm-Gesundheit Weltweit" - either is a treasure trove of information that can transform how you think about your body's foundation of health.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of this trip was how seamlessly I could blend my passion for travel and music with my calling as a coach and PSYCH-K® facilitator. I conducted several PSYCH-K® sessions with clients and held two discovery calls while on the road - including a session with a wonderful new client in Dubai who found me through AI-assisted research! There's something magical about helping someone transform limiting beliefs while you're living your own dreams in real-time. These sessions reminded me why I do this work: every breakthrough, every moment when someone realises they hold the key to their own healing, fills me with purpose and energy.
Speaking of connection, I want to share something that really struck me during this trip. While my partner missed me terribly, our daily video calls made all the difference. There's actually fascinating science behind this - visual connection helps activate the vagus nerve, which reduces stress and promotes feelings of calm and wellbeing. It's not just about hearing someone's voice; seeing their face, their expressions, their environment creates a sense of presence that audio alone simply can't achieve.
This is something I encourage everyone to remember: when someone in your life is feeling lonely or isolated, suggest a video call instead of just a phone call. That visual connection is a powerful tool for mental and emotional health that we often underestimate.
Another unexpected gift from this journey was rekindling my love for golf. I first tried the game back in 2008 but never got beyond a few rounds on a 9-hole course. Now, living within walking distance of a golf course, I'd taken just two lessons before my holiday and visited the driving range perhaps six or seven times. When my friend Claudia agreed to visit a driving range near one of our concert venues, I was overjoyed!
What fascinated me was how clubs of different makes and specifications feel so different, and how much more challenging it is to hit the ball from grass versus a mat. These small discoveries reminded me that our bodies are constantly learning and adapting - much like how we can retrain our subconscious beliefs through PSYCH-K®. On my first day back home, I went straight to the driving range, borrowed my familiar clubs, and hit the ball beautifully. The muscle memory was still there, waiting to be awakened.
While the main purpose of this trip was to see Chris de Burgh concerts, this trip also brought my first Iron Maiden concert - certainly a departure from my usual Chris de Burgh shows! When my friend Heike had to sell her Iron Maiden ticket to attend a Chris de Burgh concert instead, and couldn't get a ticket for Iron Maiden's Stuttgart show, I reached out to my friend Tony Moore, a founding member of Iron Maiden, for help. We ended up in the 'first wave' right in front of the stage - WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
While completely different from a Chris de Burgh concert, it was unforgettable and fantastic in its own way. It reminded me how important it is to stay open to new experiences, even when they're outside our comfort zone.
Throughout this adventure, when it comes to eating, Claudia and I followed the principles I outline in my book 'Glucose Wisdom' (available in German as 'Glukose Balance'). I started each day with the new addition of the Daily Plus shake, which was followed by a huge, fibre-rich salad that we prepared freshly every day, and then protein and healthy fats with a slice of hearty German oatbread. We stayed well-hydrated and I added two special herb combinations to support our bodies: coriander, cumin, and nutmeg for joint health, and cayenne pepper, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon for blood vessel health and blood sugar regulation.
These might seem like small things, but they're perfect examples of how tiny daily choices can support our body's natural balance. It's not about perfection - it's about consistent, loving choices that honour our wellbeing.
Overall, Claudia and I covered 4,000 kilometres in 26 days, and every single kilometre was worth it. People often ask why I'd see the same artist multiple times, but every venue is different, every crowd brings unique energy, the weather and atmosphere shift the entire experience. Sometimes even the setlist changes a little bit, or the artist brings slightly different moods to each performance. No two shows are ever the same.
When Claudia dropped me off at Düsseldorf airport on that final Monday, we'd had a total blast! Being flexible and sometimes driving at night to get to the next venue in the peaceful solitude of a night drive was amazing. What struck me most was seeing all these different parts of Germany that I had never visited, despite being German myself!
The variety of venues was absolutely breathtaking - from ancient castles like Schloss Eyrichshof and Schloss Kapfenburg to outdoor amphitheaters nestled in mountain forests, from monastery parks to industrial brewery settings. Each location brought its own unique energy and atmosphere. One of the most memorable experiences was in Görlitz, in the most south-eastern corner of Germany, close to the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic. We actually walked over the bridge to Poland for cake and coffee - even though it is 'normal' now, it was still a surreal and wonderful experience, to simply stroll into another country! The medieval setting of Görlitz with its rich, long history was fascinating, and being able to literally look 'into Poland' so easily felt like a small miracle of European unity.
There's something profoundly healing about discovering your own country through fresh eyes, especially when you can cross borders as easily as crossing a street.
One of the most memorable experiences was attending the premiere of Robin Hood, a musical written by Dennis Martin and Chris de Burgh. Now in its third season in Fulda, this production has travelled to several German, Swiss, and Austrian cities. While Claudia and I had seen the musical before, we still thoroughly enjoyed it, and particularly loved the after-show party with free food and drinks. We stayed until about 3am, then swayed back to the camper van, singing and laughing all the way, together with our mutual friend Anja. After another night cap in the van (and some events and laughter that I can't quite recall 😜) we fell into a deep slumber around 4am...
In the past, I would never have allowed myself to let go of all composure like that. But after several years of working on myself - using PSYCH-K® at every opportunity to release stress and limiting beliefs - I'm finally free enough to truly enjoy life. This liberty really cannot be measured in gold! Sometimes during this holiday, I wondered how much joy I missed in the first 40 years of my life because I wasn't able to enjoy it, limited by beliefs that I had taken on but that weren't really mine.
I am so grateful to PSYCH-K® and all the other modalities and practitioners I've encountered through the years. They've helped me become finally free to be me!
Speaking of creative expression, I want to share something wonderful about my friend and travel companion Claudia. Beyond being the perfect road trip partner, she's also a talented creator of "low content" books - journals, notebooks, and logbooks that she sells on Amazon. Her camping journals and concert logbooks are perfect for people like us who love to document our adventures and musical experiences.
During our trip, Claudia showed me one of her most special creations: a beautifully designed notebook called "Soul Notes" that's themed around Chris de Burgh's music. The cover art captures the essence of his storytelling with imagery that fans will immediately recognise - it's clearly crafted by someone who truly understands the music and its deeper meaning. This particular copy became even more precious when Chris himself signed it during the tour, making Claudia absolutely radiant with joy. (This signed copy is definitely not for sale - not even to the most devoted fans!)
If you're someone who loves to document your experiences, whether it's camping adventures, concert memories, or simply capturing your thoughts and reflections, I highly recommend checking out Claudia's collection on Amazon or to give her a follow on facebook. There's something magical about writing by hand in a beautiful journal that digital notes just can't replicate.
The most magical moment of our trip came at the final Chris de Burgh concert in Gelsenkirchen when the entire audience chanted: "Oh, wie ist das schön, oh, wie ist das schön, sowas hat man lange nicht gesehen, so schön, so schön!!!" (Oh, how beautiful this is, oh, how beautiful this is, we haven't seen something this beautiful for so long, so beautiful, so beautiful!!!)
That chant felt true not just for that particular concert, but for every concert and for every single day of this holiday. And really, shouldn't we feel that way about every day of our lives? Or at least some part of every day?
This trip was transformative for both my mental and physical health, and it was a very wholesome time where we slept in long (we both love sleeping in!) and agreed on almost every decision we had to make. Claudia and I were completely in tune - in tune with each other and with life itself. We experienced several beautiful amphitheaters nestled in hilly mountain forest settings, met wonderful friends, shared countless laughs, and connected with many like-minded souls.
The weather wasn't so great in the first ten days when it was very cold and rained a lot, but for the rest we had phenomenal summer weather that filled our souls with vitamin D and joy. I averaged 10,000 steps per day every single week, which was fantastic for my physical health. I sang, danced, smiled, and clapped A LOT and felt thoroughly fantastic throughout every moment.
Perhaps most meaningfully though, I chose to miss two of the thirteen Chris de Burgh concerts to spend time with my mum, helping her with daily tasks and accompanying her to her best friend's 80th birthday party. Thankfully, Claudia agreed with this choice and we even tackled hedge cutting together (again)! She really is becoming my mum's private gardener! These moments reminded me that while following our passions is vital, the relationships and responsibilities that ground us are equally precious.
It's all about balance - the kind of balance I help my clients find when we work together to identify and transform the hidden stresses in their daily lives.
I truly believe it's essential to take these 'time outs' to recharge our mental and physical batteries. When we allow ourselves to step away from the stresses of daily life, to immerse ourselves in what brings us joy, we return to our work and responsibilities with renewed energy and a better mood.
This isn't selfish - it's self love and it's necessary. Just like our phones need charging, our human energy systems need regular restoration too. Whether it's through music, travel, time in nature, or simply doing something that makes your soul sing, these moments of restoration are crucial for maintaining the healthy balance that allows us to thrive.
Are you ready to discover what's been holding you back from your own best version of health and happiness? Whether you're dealing with limiting beliefs, health challenges, or simply feeling stuck, I'm here to help you unlock your potential.
Book a discovery call today and let's explore how PSYCH-K®, life coaching, or my Glucose Wisdom program can help you create lasting transformation in your life. Because you deserve to feel as vibrant and alive as I felt during those magical weeks in Germany.
And... what brings you that incredible "oh, wie ist das schön" feeling? Share in the comments below - I'd love to hear about what lights up your soul!
PS: if you have read my first blog post 'Live your passion!' you may be wondering how the total count of my Chris de Burgh concerts has developed... it now stands at 368 attended concerts (over 39 years!), and I hope to break the 400 next year!! 😉🤞🏻
Diese Reise war einfach unvergesslich! 3,5 Wochen Roadtrip voller Konzerte, gemeinsamer Erlebnisse und einzigartiger Momente. Es war beeindruckend zu sehen, wie du deine berufliche Leidenschaft mit so viel Leichtigkeit und Freude in unseren Touralltag integriert hast und zu erleben, wie sich Arbeit, Vergnügen und Freizeit auf so geniale Weise verbinden lassen. Ich bin dankbar für jede gemeinsame Etappe dieser Reise – voller Musik, Lachen, guter Gespräche und für die vielen kleinen Augenblicke, die diesen Trip so einzigartig gemacht haben. Der Blogpost fängt das alles wunderbar ein und ich könnte direkt wieder losfahren!
Es macht solche Freude , deinen Block zu lesen , du sprichst mir aus der Seele ! Schön das wir die selbe Leidenschaft teilen und schöne und lustige Zeiten zusammen hatten . Du bist erstaunlich und voller positiver Energie und hilfst mit deinen Erfahrungen und deiner Art vielen Menschen , wie gesagt ,toll geschrieben , tolle Frau !!
Freu mich schon mehr von dir zu lesen und deine Tips selber umzusetzen.
Danke
Anja