The Search for the Infamous Haartrockner

As most of you know, I cut my long flowing hair last year wanting to do something different.  And I absolutely love my hair.  However, I cut my hair before I knew that I was moving to Germany.  So the challenge this presents is 2 things: I have to move away from the stylist who has taken care of me for years [tear :( ] and I had to decide what to take and what to chance finding in Germany.  So before I left, I went to my local inner-city beauty supply where the city-wide famous self-dubbed Black Ninja works to procure all of the items that I thought I wouldn't be able to find in Germany.  This is mayonnaise (perm), mousse, gel, wrap strips, hot oil treatment, etc... Needless to say I spent over $75 in the beauty supply.  Once of the things I left for chance is being able to find a bonnet hair dryer.  I assumed that I would be no problem finding one of these because women from all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds have or currently sit under one of these at least once a month.  So I knew for sure I would have no problem finding one.

My thoughts were swiftly crushed with my first trip shopping.  Luckily I got my hair done right before I left, so I had about a week to find a solution, especially since I forgot my curly hair staple - glycerin - back at home.  Since I had a workshop for work Wednesday and Thursday of my first week, I was in a race against time to find a bonnet dryer.  I needed to to do something to my head! I sought out my friend Google and eBay to see what I could find.  But since my IP address is registered in Germany, Google and eBay was not fully registering what I wanted to find so I had to look up the word in German for a blow dryer "Haartrockner" and go from there.

Both my Google and eBay search picked up some momentum.  My search results went from almost non-existent to hundreds.  True enough, the Haartrockner can be both for the hand, and also the one sitting on my head, so to narrow it down a bit, I was able to find out that a bonnet hair dryer = haartrockner haube.  I was so excited to really be able to make a correlation, and in no time I should be able to find the elusive dryer.  What I didn't anticipate was finding dryers that I didn't recognize.

The Haartrockner Haube both online and in the stores were nothing like I had ever seen before.  It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.  I didn't know exactly what to do.  I needed to think.  It's amazing how used to certain things you get until you get somewhere and they are not there.  I definitely have taken for granted all the trips to the Black Ninja's beauty supply to just pick up a jar of gel, or flat irons, or even a blow dryer.

After some thought I just decided to go for it and I purchased the alien device.  I say to myself, "Self, with any luck this will work and I will have found something new."  And indeed, it did work!!!!!!  I was so excited.  Now I look funny wearing it, but the contraption is great.

My search for other hair care products have been a different adventure, but I'll leave that for another post.

For your viewing pleasure I have included a picture of me under my new Haartrockner Haube!!!!!

Don't laugh (wink!)


Hugs & Kisses
XOXOXOXOXOXO

A New Journey: JoCoop Takes on Deutschland!

March 25, 2012, I said "See you later" to my family and friends embarking on a new chapter in my life as I moved clear across the world to Stuttgart, Germany.  Ever since my first international experience, when I traveled to England touring with the Renaissance H.S. Symphony Orchestra, I knew that world travel was something that I wanted to do.  I didn't quite know how it was going to happen or through what vehicle and I've definitely bumped my head a number of times trying to make it happen.  But in the end, hard-work, discipline, obedience, and as my dear friend Ted says "hiding and honing" paid-off.  I'm here now, and life as I've known it will never be the same.

I can honestly say that you are never prepared for such move, no matter how much research you do, people you talk to, or things you try to put in place in advance.  I am completing my second week in my new home, but it doesn't feel like home yet.  First, I'm living in a hotel until I can move into my apartment mid-May.  Yes, hotel life is nice, you don't have to clean after yourself, cook, vacuum (which is my all-time most hated chore), etc... but after about a week you long for the time when you can just do those things yourself.  But, it's only temporary, and there is an end, so in the meantime I have been taking the time to shop for all the things I need for my new place.  To put it plainly, I need everything from the bed to the dust pan -- that alone keeps me pretty busy.

I was fortunate to move over here, by pure chance and a favor, with my good friend Rabea.  Rabea and I started working a Detroit Diesel around the same time 4 years ago in 2008.  She's originally from Germany, and has returned.  It has been a great relief with her being here, as we are definitely able to lean on each other during this time of transition.

Last weekend she (Rabea) and I ventured to Hoffmeister and IKEA trying to do some furniture shopping.  Let me tell you, I definitely give it up to all those people who build and remodel a house.  Let's just say after the first floor my head was ready to explode, and we had FOUR more to tackle in Hoffmeister alone.  We hadn't even made it to IKEA yet.

Now IKEA: I may be the last person on earth who had never stepped foot into an IKEA.  Let's just say, I don't plan on spending much time in there.  That store is HUGE.  And even more, it is chaotic, ALL OF THE TIME!  But it was good to go, because I got to actually see some of the items I was interested in online.  Some panned out, others didn't.  But I went to my temporary home, open my laptop, and proceeded to add to my shopping cart the things I will be purchasing and having delivered (I have no plans on stepping foot into that store many more times...LOL!)

Monday, was my first "official" day on my new job.  The work part, I've never been concerned about.  I work with some great people, who I have had the chance to meet and get to know prior to this whole transition.  They make things easier and have been very helpful.  Through them I have found living room furniture, a washing machine, great places to eat and go, tips on places to find different things.  But first, things first, I had to do 2 things: (1) complete my VISA application, (2) get a new ID badge.  Both required photographs.  I will digress for a moment, when I got my passport renewed I had to take a new picture, so I took the least expensive route and went to CVS and had my photo taken.  Needless to say, I am not the least bit happy with my passport photo.  I had to take photos here for my work VISA and my work ID badge.  I made sure, that I did not disappoint myself this time.

Needless to say, I was happy with both outcomes.

There is probably much more I can talk about, but I will do those under separate postings.  This is simply an introduction into me, getting settled into my new life and to stay close to all those who have and continue to support me back home.

Until next time,

Keep Living

XOXOXOXOX

The Bookstore

At one point in time I was a frequent guest of the self-help section of the book store - emphasis on the words SELF-HELP.  I was looking for something - a thought, a word, a sentence, a quote, something - that would help to flame the fire that had already been lit in my heart.  But I was often disappointed; because the journey I read about in those books and the stories of success at the end did not leave me feeling inspired - it left me wanting to shoot myself (not literally).  I could not help but to think that these people were doing a disservice to the millions of readers out there searching for the same things, and more importantly they were wasting my money.  Although the endings of these stories were real and apparent in the news, and Forbes, and the tight circles they frequented, they weren't realistic.  Like many times in my life, they were a synopsis leaving out all of the negative aspects - maybe to protect the self or the ego - but romanticizing the success by portraying that with these few simple steps all my problems would go away.  Even more so, it led me to deduce that if I still felt the same guilt, shame, fear, or pierces to my self worth or self-esteem it was because I was not doing something right in my life, or I was not accurately following these steps.

So I walk out of the self-help isle and past the periodical stands and read the titles on the magazines that promise the same thing - your best body in 10 days, overcoming depression in 3 steps, finding a mate in 5 minutes - and the list goes on.  Now I feel worse, because not only is it my fault that emotionally and mentally I'm struggling on this battlefield of life; physically and socially, I am a failure because I can't seem to lose the extra pounds I picked up after college ball, or no one bought be a drink at the bar that night, or I've failed once again in this unfulfilling relationship and I'm going to end up alone.

Books are fundamental, and by this time I'm fundamentally through with myself and my life, and don't now where else to turn.  So I decide to check out the religion section.  Me, I grew up baptist - or as my pastor would say baptist with a lowercase 'b' and Christian with a capital 'C'.  Anyways, I sift through the different translations of the Bible and move over to the spiritual books.  At this point I'm trying to win the "Battlefield of the Mind"and "Live [My] Best Life Now"in a "Purpose Driven Life" so that I won't get "Left Behind".  I'm not perfect, I know this.  I drink, I'm compassionate, I've smoked, I'm loving, laid and played, sacrificed, lied, been raped, cheated, been devalued, hurt others, been hurt, caused pain, cried, judged and been misunderstood.  I've played on both sides of the fence trying to figure out this thing called life, and trying to explore this thing inside of me that just won't let me go.  But now in the religious section I learn that number one I have to believe, and I have to ask God for what I want.  And if I don't get what I asked, then it must be because I really didn't believe and I delayed or lost it because of doubt.   Concurrently, if I don't sense God, it's because I sin.   When I try my hardest not to sin and "beat myself into submission" but I'm not happy it's because I don't really believe.   So now I feel like it's my fault that my life is the way it is because I'm not accurately following the steps, I don't believe, and God is disappointed in me because I'm not doing what I'm "supposed" to be doing.

I don't know how many people get caught up in this constant battle to overcome disappointment and punishing the self for where or why things - internally or externally - aren't better.  Quite frankly, this angers me, because I know from deep within this is not how life is supposed to be.  Regardless of when I'm a saint or a sinner, I feel the presence of God in my life.  More than that, whether my prayers are structured or I'm just riding in my car having a frank conversation, I know God is there and He hears me.  And I know in my heart that if I continue to follow this unexplainable feeling from deep within, it will take me further than any of the steps of any book can guide.  And today that gives me comfort, and helps me to appreciate more where I am in this moment.  I don't have to be more right now, more today, more tomorrow.  None of that is promised.  Today all I have to do is listen to the voice deeps in the crevices of my being, further than the depths of my heart laying in the lull between each breath that I take, and resting it's head of each pause between my heart beats.  It is in that  place that I find all the help in the world, if I just set aside the time to listen.

As I exit the bookstore I leave thousands of authors behind, as go back to the One that has been sitting on the shelf all along.

-IAmJoCoop

Human Performance

I often times get frustrated with the uncertainties of life.  More importantly, I get frustrated when thinking about my life's purpose.  I try to discern where my life is supposed to lead based off of my passions---health, fitness, self-improvement, and helping others.  The lines between these passions are often blurred because they all are important.  They all are only pieces of a complete life.  They are only roles. 

We all play various roles in our lives. Often times we find ourselves out of balance because we exacerbate ourselves in only particular areas while others suffer.  We work long hours; therefore, we don't make time to go to the gym.  We throw ourselves into achieving a goal and we let personal relastionships suffer as a result.  We are always going-and-going like the Energizer bunny, and we don't make time for solidarity and serenity--time to for reflections and spiritual growth.  These are but a few examples. 

It is my belief that each area of your life is just as important as the next.  To be balanced is a concept that is discussed infrequently, but we set goals and resolutions for the areas of our lives we feel are lacking on an annual or some more frequent basis in search of something that we feel is out of our grasp. 

I too struggle with finding balance, but it is in my pursuit of balance that I hope to discover the ability---the blueprint---to help others do the same.  The ability to live this life completely, and fully without regret.  The confidence to know that when I reach the end of this journey, I would be content knowing that I became the person I was meant to be---that I lived out my purpose.

Change Clothes and Pose

I used to write for inspiration, but I think I'm going to go more for truth.  The tables of my life have turned drastically, and selflessnenss and understanding has caused an abundance of pain.  I've spent so much time asking myself, "what makes people....[insert here and use as many explatives as you want]?", or "why do I always.......[same as before, but probably a few more explatives]?"  I'm a person who always wants to be understanding because from my personal experiences, I would want people to do the same for me.  The road has definitely been bumpy.  But what I realize is that I can be understanding and still have a set standard.  You might say duh, but I'm serious.  When you live without a standard you'll take anything--and boy have I accepted some [bleep]!  Even now I wonder, "what the hell am I doing?"  But I'm not the victim, I'm a victor.  It is true when they say, "you teach people how to treat you."  Beyond all of the experiences good and bad, I'm on a quest to do something and be someone whom many would not believe.  A quest to make a change, but first that change must begin in me.  I used to be afraid to talk about my life, but that fear has paralyzed me in a place where I find myself often settling--in relationships, jobs, friendships, goals, objectives and life in general.  As many books as I've read, none of them have the answers.  The journey is a single one.  I'm on a road that only I was born on, on a journey to a place only I can go, trying to reach a destinations that many hope to attain.  The difference is, I'm no longer resting on hope, but action.  So it's time to teach a new lesson.  But first things first, I have to deal with the past, the whole past, I'll let you know how that works out. 

Until next time.

What Do You Want?

Living out your dream is not always easy, but we make it harder than it needs to be.  Let's be real, when you decide--I mean when you really decide--to pursue your dreams you jump, not off the top step, but to jump off the highest point, in the highest place with the possibility that you will not land in the place you will end up.  But how can you not?  And in the pursuit of that place you want to be we begin to forget about the place we are now, and that we are where we are supposed to be at this appointed time. 

Dream finding is a selfish feat.  Selfish because people may not understand why you are trying so hard instead of taking the 30 year, 9 to 5, 401(k) easy way out.  I think about a guy I went to high school with--Elton Anderson.  Elton left his corporate America, "secure" job to pursue a career as a professional photographer having only taken one photography class, one semester, during his college years.  And even though it may have been the single most scariest thing he's ever done in his life, and even though family and friends had their opinions and feelings about his decision--it was worth it.  Because if you look at his pictures, and you see his life, you know that taking that leap is always worth it because even if you don't land where you imagine, you always land better than you would have ended up if you took the simple, "secure" way out.  There is nothing better than living life doing what you love!

My greatest fear is getting to the end of my life and meeting the person I could have become if I weren't afraid to step out on faith.  And this goes with every aspect of my life.  I've come to learn that people judge what others doing based on the fears they have within themselves.  But when it comes down it, true happiness, true joy has more to do with defining what you want and going after it, rather than accepting where you are hoping that one day things will be different. 

Today, the perverbial shoes that I often refer to are tight on my feet once again.  And although the pain of moving forward, and shoes that don't quite fit can be very uncomfortable and seemingly unbearable, it's in the pain, in the stretching beyond your present limits that makes those new pair of shoes feel so much better.   So today, I'm focused on what I want.  I'm focused on what is best for me.  I'm aceepting what I know I deserve, and hitting the dance floor, in the crowd, full of confidence, laced with joy, dancing like there's no one watching!

Wise Investments

In helping others, we help ourselves.

This is a truth that has been known and realized since the beginning of time.  There are countless stories that involve major changes in societies sparked by the coming together of the collective whole.  In the game of football it takes all eleven players on the field for a team to do their individual jobs in order to see the success of the team as a whole.  Sometimes that job involves personal sacrifice in statistics, in fame, in recognition, and even fortune, but for the greater good and achievement of the team, the sacrifice is well worth it. 

As apart of team life, it is important that we all make sacrifices at times for the greater good of the human race.  It's in that sacrifice that we find our greater purpose.  We are all here to serve.  We want nice things, to live in nice places, to have extravagent lifestyles and to obtain personal goals, but at the end of this life, it's the impact that we've made in our families, in our communities, in our country and in our world that will make the difference.  It is the opportunity that we leave for all those who come behind us, that will have the biggest impact. 

Change in the world does not happen over night.  And neither does the change in ourselves.  Some things we do will stagnate the potential growth and progression, but it is those failures, those halts, those yield signs, and sometimes those stops, that strengthen us.  Because if we take the time to learn the lesson in the pain, in the desert places, in our loneliness, and in our uncomfortable situations, and we use that lesson to invest in the well-being and the growth of others, we also, subsequently take the time to invest in ourselves.

Therefore, I finish back where I started: In helping others, we help ourselves.