Archive for the ‘Thought of the Day’ Category

Planning beats best plans

Thursday, March 1st, 2018

Plans are nothing; planning is everything.

— Dwight D. Eisenhower

Plans are nothing; Planning is everything. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Plans are nothing; Planning is everything. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Will Learning from Experience ever stop?

Thursday, February 22nd, 2018

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.

— Dough Larson

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate. www.walled-in-berlin.com

The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

Getting out of the rat race

Thursday, February 15th, 2018

Sure, it’s nice to get out of the rat race, but then you have to learn to get along with less cheese.

— Anonymous

If you want to get out of the rat race, you have to learn to get along with less cheese. www.walled-in-berlin.com

If you want to get out of the rat race, you have to learn to get along with less cheese. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Perseverance Drives Success

Thursday, February 8th, 2018

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.

— General George S. Patton

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

Gateways to new beginnings

Thursday, February 1st, 2018

 

Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings. 

— Ralph Blum

Open the door to new beginnings. Yesterday's obstacles can turn into today's gateways to new beginnings. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Open the door to new beginnings. Yesterday’s obstacles can turn into today’s gateways to new beginnings. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

When one snowflake joins another

Thursday, January 25th, 2018

 

A snowflake is one of God’s most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!

— Anonymous

Snowflakes change the world one snowflake at at time. Photo © Malik Tamimi, 2016. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Snowflakes change the world one snowflake at a time. Photo © Malik Tamimi, 2016. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on the home page of http://www.walled-in-berlin.com Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War.

 

 

Patriotism Defined

Thursday, January 18th, 2018

 

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government only when it deserves it.

— Mark Twain

 

What is Patriotism? Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2017. (United Nations, New York). www.walled-in-berlin.com

What is Patriotism? Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2017. (United Nations, New York). www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

Berlin then and now – Incredible transformation

Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Berlin then and now. Watch this worldfilmheritage.com video and discover what East and West Berlin looked liked between 1954 and 1960, well before the Berlin Wall went up.

I vividly remember the destruction. Then read about Berlin’s incredible transformation:

http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/berlins-brandenburg-gate/

http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/the-reichstag-prominent-berlin-landmark/

http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/berlins-prestigious-humboldt-university/

http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/berlins-cafe-kranzler-in-name-only/

http://www.walled-in-berlin.com/j-elke-ertle/soviet-war-memorial-in-treptow-park/

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic or current events, people, places or food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

New Beginnings – Let’s go 2018!

Thursday, January 4th, 2018

 

New Beginnings – Eyes forward. Mind focused. Heart ready. Let’s go 2018!

New Beginnings - Eyes forward. Mind focused. Heart ready. Let's go 2018! Photo: USS Midway Museum, 2017, © J. Elke Ertle. www.walled-in-berlin.com

New Beginnings – Eyes forward. Mind focused. Heart ready. Let’s go 2018! Photo: USS Midway Museum, 2017, © J. Elke Ertle. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Power and the People it Attracts

Thursday, December 28th, 2017

 

Power always attracts people with no moral values.

— Albert Einstein

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.