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At the end of October, I became very ill. It was the kind of sickness that causes sleepless nights and makes you hesitant to commit to any long-term subscriptions. Since I had to go to a specialized clinic, I was 200 km away from friends and family, and I struggled immensely with this new situation. Even my usually indestructible sense of humor failed me, and I spent days and nights brooding darkly. However, at one point, Spotify unexpectedly played a special song that changed everything – and it was partly due to Christmas.
Around midnight I was lying in a Hamburg clinic, utterly miserable, with rain lashing against the windows and the distant lights of the harbor twinkling. My roommate Wilfried, a splendid fellow, was snoring peacefully, probably dreaming of his huge vegetable garden and his wife’s cooking skills. The night shift was bustling in the hallway (sounding like they were bowling with empty metal canisters), so I grabbed my headphones and played a Spotify playlist. 2½ hours of calm music in the Simon & Garfunkel tradition, food for the soul. When the playlist ended, the Spotify algorithm selected a song it believed matched what I had been listening to, and it was both wrong and yet so right. Instead of another piece with acoustic guitar and soft vocals, “Immanuel” by Tony Anderson, a Christmas song, started playing.
Initially, I wanted to skip the song (I was in the mood for everything but Christmas!), but then I let it play. Nearly 15 introspective minutes, artfully interweaving two classic Christmas carols (“Carol of the Bells” and “Veni, veni, Emmanuel”), did not fit my mood at all but deeply moved me. Amid all the examinations and blood tests, pain, and unpalatable food, I had gradually lost hope and goals. But “Immanuel” brought me a hint of Christmas, a distant vision. It was a promise of everything I love about it; Christmas markets, celebrating with friends, and the holidays with family. While my recently operated stomach was growling, I thought of lavish Christmas meals, and the stark hospital room faded in my imagination behind decorated Christmas trees and colorful lights. I wanted to experience that, I would endure and do everything necessary for it.
And as if my fate had received a wake-up call, not everything turned out fine, but many things improved. The endless days in the clinic seemed more bearable and shorter, internal and external wounds slowly healed, and eventually, I was able to go home. Of course, not everything happened as quickly as I wanted, but life came back, step by step. I could walk in the park again, gradually returned to work, and then (point 1 on my list!) attended the Ashampoo Christmas party. I hadn't seen many dear people for months, the joy of reunion was immense, and we laughed and chatted until my voice was hoarse. I also visited a Christmas market (point 2), and a Christmas concert (point 3) will follow before the final rush towards the holidays.
And so, a year that I will never forget is coming to an end. I'm still sitting at work, looking down into the richly decorated lobby, watching colleagues bustle through the corridors. Soon, silence will reign here, the lights will go out, and Ashampoo will take a short, well-deserved break. I wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy New Year, and a wonderful 2024! Don't get upset over trivial matters that aren't worth it, and appreciate what you have, it can be gone so fast. Wherever you may be reading these lines, have a great time, hug a few dear people who deserve it, and most importantly, stay healthy!
Dear Sven,
I don't know you, but I do now...just a tiny buy significant way....the kind that reminds you that the world is full of wonderful people, stories of all kinds taking place each and every moment.
Thank you so much for your life share...and even deeper...your very personal thoughts of the soul. We all need to be reminded of these sacred things from time to time... and sometimes.... that we are not the only ones going through "tough times".
I give Cheers to you, and a warm hug of gratitude for giving me the gift of this story...
I send you continued healing, and wishes for many more beautiful days filled with things that Move you!
Please take care!
Dear Sven!
I am very deeply touched by your sincere message! It is very humanly understandable to everyone who perceives the world as our only abode given to us by the Universe and feels their inextricable connection with other people on the planet, and not just with their family and friends. Historically, in the Orthodox world, Christmas is celebrated later, that is, after the New Year. But Russians have another custom - to celebrate the Old New Year on January 14. We are all different, but we have the same world. The motley, restless, alarming and warlike, but at the same time beautiful, amazing, unique world of planet Earth. We will certainly drink, according to Russian custom, to the passing year and to the hope that the coming year will certainly be better and calmer. You know, it so happened that you and I ended up in the hospital almost at the same time and the world shrank to the size of a hospital ward.
But he continued to live in us, in our souls, warming us with the warmth and attention of our family and friends.
And I will also raise a glass of wine this coming night for you, for your health and for the happiness of your family to see you healthy and energetic again.
Happy Old New Year
Vladimir
Immanuel (God with us) is our only hope. Hope in a future eternal life with our Creator where there will be no more tears, " no more death or mourning or crying or pain." Sounds as if you may have found HIm as I have.
A Blessed 2024 for you and your team. May your health just get better and better and you all be with us for years to come. Thank you for all your good hard work.
Bless your heart friend, I'm growing right now with that music selection, I needed it. Thank you, and thanks God for your recovery, hopefully in the near future (January or February) you will be just like new. Thanks for sharing, makes one appreciate more what we have. Your words move me more than your software and your software is amazing. I appreciate your work. Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Glad you have decided to stay with us! Your time and work are enjoyed by many.
HI , Been playing guitar (includ Simon & Garfunkle for 65 years. Good stuff. Enjoyed your story. Christmas has majic.
By the way, I am much interested in your software , particularly on cd/dvd . That way, if my computer hiccups,
I can re-load it when I need it. Your help and cooperation
most certainly appreciated.
Best regards, and a Merry Christmas to you and your people always. Dan Bessette
dannynceline@verizon.net
Thank you for a very moving blog post. I wish you continued recovery and a long life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you for a very moving blog post. I wish you continued recovery and a long life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Wishing you and your Team a Happy and healthy new year.
I'm glad you are snapping back. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a better new year.
This was a most surprisingly good blog post regarding christmas.
I usually never read christmas cards because most of them are just generic salutations.
You sir had my attention. This year was also extremely difficult for me. I've lost my main 2 jobs and was left almost in the street. Even worst, one of those jobs, I've lost it in December 30!. Talking about an ice cold boss. I was in my home country, visiting the family, that was my worst new years eve I've ever had.
This whole adventure didn't come free of consequences. I've developed a high pitch noise (tinitus) on my right year a year ago, when I was out of job. I imagine it was product of the intense level of streess that this gave me, having lost my job while i was living on a foreign country with my family.
Nevertheless I was able to recover and stand up again and created my own small hosting company and these last 2 months I continued to grow as people recommend me more and more.
The tinitus is still with me, as a reminder of this experience. I hope that some day it could go away but I am now confident that I should value what I have more and enjoy the family that surrounds me. We don't know what health really is until we loose it.
I enjoy your software and use it daily. Thank you so much for your genuine post.
Love your software!! I have quite a few of your programs and I love them all. I look forward to what the future will bring as an fan of your company and your wonderful software!!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
God bless you and all the wonderful Ashampoo staff and their families. Happy New Year 2024 to all.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holidays. I had a challenging year like you and glad you have recovered and back to normal. I've been Ashampoo customer for many years and really like your software.
Hopefully this holiday break help you more to get back to normal life. Happy Holidays.
Thanks for your Software,most useful to me.
May our God give you grace to develop more useful products.
Have a well earned break.
Do see the comments I posted in a letter to Computer Active magazine , current edition.21.12.23 re Ashampoo
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. My year has been a little patchy also, but all is fine now. I've been a customer for many years. Ashampoo is the best.
May the divine physician heal you. Merry Christmas!
You fought the hard fight and made it. Enjoy the holidays. I wish and your family a Merry Christmas and an even better 2024 New Year.
Thank you for the beautiful words and sharing your experience with us. It is truly the meaning of Christmas. I have really enjoyed your products and your help.
The Lord is our GOD and watches over us all the time. Have a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Ashampoo! Thank you for making such great software.
Thank you Ashampoo Team
You develop the best software for pc .
The song Immanuel speaks of the one who came to die for us & pay the penalty for our sins, Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can save us & get us to heaven:
John 14:6 - "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me."
Trust in Jesus as your Savior & Lord so that when you die, you will go to heaven.
Thank you for sharing your Christmas experience. I think it lends itself to the real message of Christmas which is hope and Love. God bless you.