life learnings
Storytime
Last week it was my third time sleeping at the Fluhalp (one in winter 2021, last summer and now).
Every time I go there, I get overwhelmed with all the fantastic things that happen.
The silence of the altitude, sunsets and sunrise, the good food, drinks and great talks with the locals is always guaranteed ♥️ I think the energy that the place has opens one to new encounters.
The day started with a stunning sunrise—the Glacier on one side and the Matterhorn with the Fluhalp on the other. After a few (many) pics and a rich breakfast at the hut, it was time to make my way down through the well-marked paths leading to Zermatt.
A 5-minute walk, right below the House, there is the Stelisee, one of the most famous picture places in the region, where the Matterhorn reflects beautifully on the water.
Of course, I couldn't avoid stopping there myself for some shots, mainly because in the morning hours, there's no wind, and the reflection is majestic.
Among other people admiring the view, one, in particular, caught my attention. Sitting on a bench alone, dressed in the Swiss uniform of a street sweeper, seeming to be taking a break. I walked past him and greeted him. He responded with a big smile, and we had that usual quick chitchat between strangers admiring a stunning view.
I continued my way.
At some point, a bit further, he was a few steps in front of me. I am not entirely sure how that happened, but there he was, cleaning the path. Now it made sense - a mountain sweeper, cleaning the paths walked by various tourists daily. I had to praise his job - only a few have this office view (stunning mountainside paths, with a daily VIP view of the Matterhorn). What most pay to experience, he earns to live it.
By the time I reached him, he had recognized me. And that initial chitchat evolved into a deep conversation.
I am unsure how long we walked together; I just know it was a highly philosophical exchange. Here to the highlights retrieved from the talk:
God has different names but is one (at the end of the day, all religions and beliefs talk about the same bottom line but simply use other words for it)
God (or whatever you wish to call it, that's the term he chose) is good; it all depends on how you wish to see things (the essence of life is positively engineered, it's all just a matter of perspective and how we choose to see the happenings)
Each chooses their own reality (we are each responsible for the life we choose to live. We have a choice, and it is up to us the routes we choose to follow)
There's no such thing as bad weather (when I asked him if he does the work every day, independent of the weather - he smiled and instantly said the weather does not bother him at all, after all, there's no such thing as bad weather).
At some point during the conversation, he mentioned something that touched me. He turned to me and said, "you know, your smile acts as a magnet; you attract people to you". It made me smile. A simple smile can do wonders in a world where empathy and caring for others sometimes seem lacking. I guess this whole experience was proof of that. If that initial sincere greeting by the lake hadn't happened, this entire insightful conversation wouldn't have happened.
Smiles can do wonders. Have you ever walked in the streets and smiled at strangers? Some might look confused at you; others will smile back. One way or another, a simple smile can have a profound chain effect on your surroundings and your inner being. It is said that the act of smiling and laughing is medicinal. So cheers to more happy faces.
When we came to a point where it was time to go our separate ways, I asked his name, Werner - a true Zermatter. With two grown sons (one of them coincidently one of the cooks at the Hotel Pollux - my base in Zermatt), he worked 40 years of his life as a coachman in the village, and since a few years had taken the public job of cleaning the famous mountain tracks.
Before the final farewell, he told me the famous sentence, "you always see each other twice in life". I answered, saying that actually, this was already the second time. His answer was fast, with a smirk, "all good things come in threes".
We said our goodbyes. He went on one side of the lake; I went to the other.
While sitting by the lake, cooling my feet in the water (as per Werner's advice), I looked forward. And there he was, smiling and waving, on the other side of the lake—the third time.
Cheers to insightful encounters with strangers 🖤
