Lessons from the Iceman

The season of Ötzi’s discovery (Fall 1991) was a very impactful time in my life. Just three days after stepping off the plane in Vienna, Austria, I heard the news of a married couple who had found a man, frozen in a glacier between South Tirol and Austria, near the Ötztal. The story of the oldest man on earth tore through the media. While I perfected my German that fall, the rest of the world was uncovering the mysteries of man.

A confluence of events led to his discovery. The glacial ice melted away just at the point where the Iceman was found. His belongings, as well as his body, were so well preserved that we were able to learn that the Copper Age started a full 1,000 years earlier than scientists had originally thought. And the married couple? They spontaneously decided to take the route they did.

Fate? Fortune?

In my view, everything unfolds exactly as it is meant to. The magic of life requires nothing other than to simply dance to the unfolding. Why resist new ideas? Brilliance may be just one ice cube away.

New scientific discoveries are exciting and serve as a reminder that we must frequently reconsider our own belief systems. Gallileo and Einstein are two major paradigm-shifters that come to mind.  Challenging the status quo takes courage, but if you know something to be true, then there’s no denying it.

So good Old Ötzi had to wait 5,300 years to be discovered. Obviously, he’s a patient man. And a frozen one. On view at the Ötzi museum in Bolzano, Italy. It’s well worth a visit, if you’re interested. And don’t miss the artist’s sculpture of what they think Ötzi must have looked like. It’s hauntingly realistic. If you peer closely, you might just see him wink!

3 Comments

  1. Jonell Galloway

    June 14, 2012 at 10:30 am

    Fascinating read! Thanks for sending me your book. It took me a while to make all the connections. I believe you are Liam and Victoria’s friend? I love the way you use concrete examples to show the “power of slow.”

    1. powerofslow

      powerofslow

      June 14, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Thank you, Jonelle! It’s great to hear from you. Yes, I am friends with Liam and Vikki. Thank you for your kind words. Please come back often. I value your insights very much.

      Best to you!

  2. willowdrinkwater

    June 15, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Talk about the Power of Slow…5300 years later we find out about the reality of one man with a copper headed axe. I was privileged to be in that museum with you, drinking it all in. Love your words!

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