Editor Peggy opts for happiness

Peggy Patzschke decided some time ago for a new happiness. She reveals what role a pearl mussel played in this and why the successful TV and radio editor also has luck at her side as a book author, trainer, organizer and pastor.

You have more than 25 years of media experience in radio and television. If you compare the initial period with today's: what has changed?

The first music I played on a radio station I put on as a record. Later came computers. In any case, I was allowed to participate in the most exciting time that you can experience as a young maker in this broadcasting area: the construction of a new media landscape with all kinds of playing fields from live coverage to comedy - and almost without competition. Today, you can also reach the audience with exciting web series, podcasts and social media. All the more important when dealing with all the communication channels is the personal offline time and that you don't just stay on the surface. After all, the most beautiful thing about media is the contact with people and what we can be for others when we meet. For my part, I want to give away joy and appreciation. For example, through honest interest in the counterpart. Might sound a little pathetic. But goals must never be big enough!

In addition to your successful television career, you are a book author, organizer, trainer and volunteer pastor. How do you get all this under one roof?

Fortunately, I get to do things I love. Still, I need time out. Small oases also help. A walk through the forest, a bubble bath and music. In addition, I recently have a happiness memo in my pocket. A shell I stumbled across, because I like the philosophy it embodies. By accepting and changing perspectives, she turns disturbances, such as a hurtful grain of sand, into a new treasure: the pearl. Just like mussels, we humans sometimes believe that we have to die after stress or negative experiences. Then we suffer and close ourselves. I also had to clean up properly behind me again and reconcile old injuries. Such a thing remains a lifelong process. Today I think that we can use everything that happens to us meaningfully and for me personally I have found out that even small changes bring a lot. For more joie de vivre in everyday life, I take a close look at habits, crap out friendship lists and give myself more time for myself. In fact, it's never too late to do things differently. I understood this during my meeting with Inge. A great woman who learned to play drums at the age of 80 and founded a band. Yes, in the end it is like this: only our tailor behaves sensibly. He takes new measurements every time he meets us.

What is your most embarrassing story on radio or television?

During the interview with Chris de Burgh, he sang his hit "Lady in red" for me. He wanted to be charming and to include mine in the passage in which a woman's name appears. After all, I had been introduced to him personally shortly before - together with a newspaper colleague, a certain Ingrid. So he breathed: "...i never will forget, Ingrid was here, schallalala.“ He had mistaken me. So once in my life Chris de Burgh sang just for me, in front of a running camera, captured for eternity and then my name was Ingrid of all people.

How do you define happiness?

For me it is the view of the sea, the knowledge of people I can trust and it is the moments when I am completely with myself. Above all, it is about perceiving them. Namely when they happen and not later, when you look at photos. In fact, happiness is a decision and I made it again some time ago. That was at the stage where I felt like I was stuck in the Bermuda Triangle midlife. Since I had no idea how to get out there and find new destinations, I decided to take a break by the sea. The flotsam I stumbled upon changed my life. How - I reported about this in my book - and continue to practice vigorously with the principle: "If life throws sand into your gear, make pearls out of it!“