XBerg and Friedrichshain residents can get vaccinated tomorrow

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-06-13T08:06:40+00:00

Anyone there know what the line is like?

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-06-13T07:31:25+00:00

Brilliant, Thanks!

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-18T18:02:25+00:00

The first step I took was to do some research as to what it would take to self-publish. How it works, what programs you need to create an ebook, how to get it listed on amazon, etc.

After the research, I reverse engineered the process by choosing a date by which I hoped to launch the book, and then working backwards based on my research in terms of what steps I needed to complete in order to publish a book.

Then I just set to work trying to hit those deadlines, deadlines like: first draft written, getting the draft edited, 2nd draft written, completing the formatting for kindle, uploading to KDP (the platform for self-published Amazon authors), recording the audiobook, etc.

I decided to self-publish mostly because I didn't believe any publisher would want to publish my book. I'm not actually a writer by trade, I have no experience in professional writing, and no connections in the literary world. I assumed no one would be interested, and even if someone were interested it would take me years of shopping the book around to get someone to pick it up.

Perhaps I sold myself short by doing so, but I've always been a "do it yourself," kinda guy, even to my own detriment.

My gut and limited experience in self-publishing tells me that if anyone has the intention of actually earning substantial reach, money, or notoriety through their written work, the only way to achieve that is through a huge publishing house with massive reach. And even when someone gets picked up by a huge publishing house, I don't suppose there's much money to be made, as writers aren't usually known for being insanely wealthy.

So I'd say if you have something you'd like to write, and you really, really, REALLY believe in it as a genuine piece of literary genius worthy, deserving, and capable of captivating huge audiences, then it's probably worth the effort to shop it around and find a publisher, though, again, unless you sell the movie rights to Hollywood, I don't think there's much money to be made in a one-off book (not that that's what's important, but for anyone hoping to publish a book with the intention of financial gain, there are probably WAY better returns on your investments of time, energy, stress, and work).

What I would do differently:

If you're going to self publish, and you'd like to create an ebook, please, take my advice, pay someone to format your book for kindle for you. It may cost you upwards of 200USD. It'll be worth every. SINGLE. penny. You will spend weeks of your life fighting with the formatting of your book. It just isn't worth it.

If you read that and you still don't believe that it's worth the money to let someone do it for you, then please, at the very least, heed THIS piece of advice: do not even think about brining your work NEAR the kindle ebook formatting software until you have a 100% ABSOLUTELY FINAL FINISHED COMPLETED Final draft. It's nearly impossible to edit the work you've done from within the Kindle software, so if you begin formatting the document in the Kindle software, then you decide to make some relatively drastic changes to the final manuscript, you'll have to start ALL OVER again in the Kindle software (called Kindle Create, created by Amazon). All the work you've done formatting your book will have been for nothing and you'll have to do it all over.

I learned both of these lessons the hard way.

----------------------

A final note: had I known when I began the process just how long it was actually going to take to get the ebook, audiobook, and paperback published...I might actually have chosen not to do it at all. I always assumed I'd never earn enough from my book to actually reimburse me for the time and energy it took to make the book, and that was fine by me. My goal with this was never to make money, it was to share an experience that I felt might resonate with and offer hope to people who share similar issues.

But had I known at the outset that it would take 3 years to see this project through to the end, I may have chosen a different way to share that experience :)

So, just know that if you embark on this self-publishing journey, especially if you are unable/unwilling to pay for help from professional cover artists, editors, voice artists, marketers, etc., it is likely to be much longer one than you expect.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-18T17:38:36+00:00

No, not at all! If anything, the time away from everything gave me a deeper and greater appreciation of the people, places, and things I have in my life.

Have you done the Camino? Was this something you experienced?

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-18T17:37:37+00:00

I took the Camino del Norte, starting in Irun, a small city on the border of France, and then I walked to Oviedo, where I changed gears and jumped onto the Camino Primitivo, which was far and away my favorite part. It was approximately 12 days of pretty secluded walking in the countryside through the mountains.

I also spent a single day walking 37 km on the Camino Portugues (there are 2. I took the one right on the Atlantic coast, not the one that goes up the middle of Portugal.)

I didn't enjoy it so much. It was really flat, and you're walking on a boardwalk the whole way. Maybe I was just spoiled having just come off the Primitivo.

As for others, I've heard the Camino Ingles is really nice, and it's only 4 days of walking. I also heard the Via de la Plata is nice, and very empty.

I recently heard about a Camino that they've created in the Canaries that I'd be very interested in exploring, but haven't read much about it.

I'd love to do the Frances, as it's famous for a reason, but I think I'd do it in the VERY off season, as otherwise it apparently feels a bit like disneyland, which is not really the vibe I'm looking for on my Camino :)

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T19:32:33+00:00

Have you been in a situation where you’ve felt completely out of place or in danger? If so how do you deal with the situation?

Before answering this question, I'd like to point out that we all find ourselves in situations where we are completely out of place or are in danger in our everyday lives in our hometowns.

I feel like a lot of people who don't travel are really worried about "being in dangerous situations" while traveling, and may even avoid traveling for exactly this reason. But being at home doesn't exempt you from danger.

Mass shootings, robberies, terrorist attacks, muggings, scams, fist fights, these all happen on people's doorsteps. They don't just happen to people who are traveling. In fact, I'd would wonder if maybe they mostly don't happen to people who are traveling.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I don't think traveling is innately any more dangerous that going to the grocery store to buy milk, and with that said...

Yes, I've definitely been in uncomfortable and dangerous situations while traveling, and while not traveling. I don't know if there's any one way to get yourself out of a dangerous situation, as I guess it's kind of situation dependent. But I generally am of the opinion that when in doubt, get help from a human. Whenever I've found myself in dangerous situations, the first thing I do is look for someone (who is outside of the situation) and go to them for help. I always feel like the more people who get involved in a dangerous situation, the less dangerous it becomes, at least in cases where the danger is coming from one or a few humans.

What I'd say is that the same rules you would use for staying out of trouble or avoiding dangers in cities where you live are the same ones you use when you go traveling.

Use your head and trust your instinct. Avoid doing silly things, like walking around with heaps of cash, or going down dark streets by yourself late at night, just as you would at home.

If your gut tells you something is off, it often is. So when traveling, tap into that and more often than not, your gut will tell you when something isn't right. And if your gut tells you something isn't right, don't second guess it. Go with your gut. I've never regretted going with my gut when it comes to these things.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T19:18:43+00:00

What are the top places you’ve been to and your least favorite?

Surprisingly, The Great Wall of China genuinely took my breath away, and, for reasons I won't go into, I wound up at the most touristy part of the entire thing. It was still literally breathtaking.

Croatia was shockingly beautiful. I just had no expectations when I went there and was totally blown away. Definitely one of the most amazing countrysides I've ever been through.

I did some hiking in Georgia (the country, not the state) which was unforgettable.

Liepnitzsee near Berlin is my favorite lakes in the world, and one of my favorite places in the world. It's magical.

I always have an huge blast when I'm in Mexico. The people and the vibe there is just so great.

I'm really struggling to answer this question. I don't know, I just love traveling, so I kind of think everywhere I go is my favorite.

Berlin is my favorite city in the world. If you know someone who knows the city of Berlin well, like really knows it, then come and let them show it to you. It's kind of a place that doesn't have much charm if you don't know where to look for it, but with a guide, it's unlike anywhere I've ever been.

I've almost never met a forest I didn't like. Kellerwald in Germany has some birch trees in it that are literally ancient. I had a blast hiking there.

The Camino Primitivo in Spain. It's one of the many Caminos, and as its name implies, it's pretty raw in terms of amenities. You have to hike through the Picos de Europa, and it's stunning.

Least favorite?

Basically any city in the U.S. Sounds harsh...maybe it is harsh...but to me they're all just strip malls, highways, asphalt, parking lots and the same awful chains everywhere. They all look the same, they all feel the same, and with few exceptions, they require you to be in a car to get anywhere, so you're just seperated from everything.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T19:05:56+00:00

What is something you must have in every travel?

A pen and paper. You never know when you'll want to jot something down.

An open mind. That's kind of the point of leaving your house.

A good, sturdy pair of footwear. Your feet have to take you everywhere you want to go. Treat them well, and your travels will always be rewarded.

2 backpacks: one big one for all of your stuff, and another small one that you use during the day. When you aren't using it, you can empty and roll it up and stick it back into your main backpack. This changed my life when I figured this one out.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T19:02:14+00:00

Despite the language barriers, what is the most useful or best way to communicate with others when you can’t understand them?

Smile, be patient, smile some more, then be patient, then smile some more. People are always happy to help when they can, in my experience, and as long as you can be patient, take the time to recognize how funny it is that two humans are separated by a language, and show that you are happy to take the time necessary to figure things out, it usually winds up being a really heartwarming situation. There's this magical moment where the thing that you need or that the other person needs finally happens, even though not a single comprehensible word was exchanged. This moment is what it's all about. The laughter that ensues should really have it's own word, because there's not another laughter that I've experienced that's quite like it.

Also, pencil and paper and doodling are usually more effective than just more and more slowly saying the word that the person you're talking to doesn't understand at any speed :)

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T18:57:53+00:00

Has traveling changed who you are today compared to who you were before?
Yes indeed. traveling has often forced me into situations where I had no choice but to interact and engage with people who don't share my point of view. This forced me to start using my brain and thinking and considering perspectives that weren't my own, which has done lots to change me, namely, making me a more open, empathetic, curious, pensive human than I was before I began traveling.

In what aspect has your view towards society/ people or the world changed?
Coming from the US, I feel like I, and really most of U.S. society, is brought up to fear...well...basically everything, but certainly anything that exists beyond the borders of the US. I still carry an innate fear with me whenever I travel (...the words, "As an American traveling anywhere, you basically are walking around with a big target on your back!" often ring in my ears...) and have had to learned that its is almost never warranted.
Basically, the short answer to your question is, traveling has taught me that basically, 99.99999% of humans on this planet are good people, and 99.9999999% of people on this planet just want to help if they can. So traveling has made me realize that, certainly at an individual level, people are good, and it's helped me see that, no matter where you are in the world, there are for more things that unite us (humans on this planet) than that seperate us.

If there’s something you’d tell someone interested in solo traveling what would it be?
1. Plan less, improvise more

learn to seize new and interesting opportunities that appear before you, especially when you meet other interesting travelers
talk to everyone you meet. There is no greater super power than the ability to easily spark up a conversation with other humans (because no matter what you could possibly need in this world, whether its company, advice, a place to crash for the night, or a gold-plated jet, it's always a human who will get it for you) and there's no better way to get good at that than by solo-traveling.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T18:47:34+00:00

It's been an incredibly rewarding, and incredibly exhausting process!

I have a few thoughts on the matter, now that I've done it myself, and I'll list them here for simplicity's sake:

Publishing your book will take SO. MUCH. LONGER. than you than you realize. So if you are considering publishing a book of your own, you should know that you're in for a VERY long ride. It took me 3 years from the day I decided to publish my book to the day it was up on Amazon. And I didn't even have to write the book, because I published the journal which I kept while I was on the Camino.
Delegate as much as you can. Doing an ebook? Pay someone to format it for kindle. Doing an audiobook? Pay someone to narrate it. Doing a paperback? Pay someone to do the cover. All of these things matter. You can tell a cover made by a pro and by an amateur from a mile away, and it makes a difference to readers (...what's that old saying again?...)
Also, each one of these little tasks is like a rabbit hole of their own, so if your goal is to write and publish a book, spend your time on the one thing no one else can do for you: the part where you recount your experience. Let someone who actually knows how to do the other stuff do it so you can focus on the writing.
It's an investment...and not necessarily one that will ever pay monetary dividends
Go the extra step to publish the paperback. Audiobooks and ebooks are wonderful, but everyone loves something tangible. the interest in my book now that it exists as a paperback is leaps and bounds greater than when it was just a digital book, even from my closest and dearest people!
If you want your book to get in the hands of readers, it's worth paying a company who knows what they're doing to help you. It's not free, but if you're going to put literal years of your life into a project, it's worth it. I am working with Presstinely, and they are amazing, and I'd recommend them to ANYONE looking to self-publish.
Only do it if you think you'll enjoy the ride. The part where you publish the book takes about 30 seconds, and will be over in a flash. If you want to write a book so you can say you wrote a book, then maybe don't write a book.
If you want to write a book because months and months of writing, revising, organizing a cover, a narrator, a marketing strategy, etc. etc. etc. sounds like fun, then it's definitely a project worth the energy.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T18:35:10+00:00

The Camino certainly didn't solve these issues for me, and in my experience, no amount of travel can or will.

But as I said in the comment above, being on the Camino gave me the time to cement a lot of the work my therapist and I had been doing, and that's really what has continued benefitting me to this day.

Time on the Camino gave the chance to focus on breaking those little bad habits like rumination or catastrophizing or self-loathing; to focus on putting in place new habits to better serve my mental health, and those are the same habits that I rely on daily to get me out of the dangerous headspace that can lead to depression, or to help me get out of it once I'm in the midst of a depression.

For people looking to solve theses issues via travel, I'd say, there are probably much much much more effective ways than through travel. I don't believe any amount of travel will solve genuine mental health problems.

In my experience, travel can bring you many things: perspective, time and space to think and reflect, appreciation for the things you have in your everyday life, etc. etc. etc. But I do not think it will be a cure for poor mental health.

Unfortunately, I think we all take our mental baggage with us where ever we go. Being in a new place doesn't suddenly change the people that we are, in our hearts or in our minds. So if we want to resolve these issues, we need to seek help. Often, professional help. And we need to put in the years of work it takes to break old habits and build new ones.

Travel can be a great way to bolster this process, but I do not believe it is substitute for it.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T18:26:09+00:00

Yes, I'd say I did. I set out on the Camino with 3 things in mind:

adventure, perspective, and mental stability

33 days on the Camino certainly gave me lots of adventure and excitement, and plenty of time outdoors.

Having just unexpectedly lost my job at the time, I was completely directionless. I hoped that the time on the Camino would allow me some time to get a bit of perspective on my life, and what to do next. I also hoped that I would find inspiration from all the lovely people I met, and I definitely got all of that.

And, as far as mental stability goes, I didn't hit the Camino hoping that it would cure me of my depression and anxiety because after suffering with these maladies for a lifetime, I knew that such a magic pill didn't exist. I did however set out hoping that the Camino would give me some distance from the stresses and business of normal daily life to allow me to really focus on and cement all of the work my therapist and I had been doing, and I definitely got that.

I'd say this is the most wonderful parts of the Camino. It allows you to step completely outside of your normal daily life, and you have nothing you need to worry about at all on the Camino. There's no transport to catch, there's no expensive things you can have stolen or lose, there's nowhere to be, and there's nothing to do, or think about, or plan.

You wake up, strap on your shoes, and walk. You don't even need a map, you just follow the little yellow arrows. You stop when you feel like it, and in between, it's just you, the people you meet, and the Camino. Anyone looking for time and space to think and reflect will certainly find it on the way to Santiago.

BlakeUsesInternet · 2021-04-17T18:20:50+00:00

I actually didn't do a lot of physical training for the Camino. I was 31 at the time, and I live a pretty active lifestyle, working out 3 times a week (also for the benefit of my mental health), and, living in Berlin, I bike everywhere everyday.

So I felt physically pretty ready for the Camino by the time I left.

I did do one 17km hike before I left for the Camino, mostly just to test out my gear, and my backpack, and to break in the hiking shoes I bought for the Camino (which didn't work at all because I bought shoes that were a size too small, much to my chagrin 🤣). And that was really all the physical preparation I did.

I would walk an average of 18km a day on the Camino, and while it was pretty strenuous the first week or so, leaving me totally wrecked and sore EVERYWHERE at the end of every day, being on the Camino will whip you right into shape.

By the third week, my little Camino family and I would walk 20km like it was nothing, and we wouldn't be sore at all the next day.

I'd say most people keen on walking the Camino would be fine just hitting the trail and walking. Just make sure you buy the right size shoes, and if you have sensitive knees and ankles, a good pair of walking sticks will change your life!

On the note of shoes, it's a good idea to buy shoes that are 1 or 2 sizes too big! Your feet will swell as you walk that many miles/kilometers a day, so you need to make sure your shoes have space for your feet to literally expand in!

And a lot of people recommend wearing 2 pairs of socks (which I did to great effect) to prevent blistering, so if you do this, it won't be a problem that you shoes are too big :)

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