THE STORY BEHIND THE MOTIVES

The day of my accident changed my life forever. It was a swimming accident; the details aren't important. But one moment from that day has remained deeply etched in my memory. While my head was underwater, I was overcome by panic. I couldn't move and felt like it was all over. I was about to drown. At that moment, I thought I was going to die and began to resign myself to this thought.

 

But then something unexpected happened: A small fish swam right past my face. It was completely calm, as if everything around me were perfectly normal. This fish had a calming effect on me. It gave me the feeling in that moment that everything would be okay. An inner strength arose within me. A will to live. I just had to wait for my rescue.

 

This fish became a symbol for me that has stayed with me to this day. At that moment, it seemed like a sign—as if God had spoken to me through it and given me the strength to persevere. "Thank fish" has been a thought that has held special meaning for me ever since.

 

It reminds me how small, inconspicuous things can provide great strength in difficult situations. They help us stay strong, fight, and not lose hope—even when everything seems hopeless.

After my tragic tragedy, I realized that mental health is absolutely paramount. Even though I'm now in a wheelchair and face many challenges in everyday life, I feel lighthearted as long as I can laugh and feel inner balance. Mental strength carries me through, even in difficult moments.

 

After my accident, I immediately received intensive support—both physically and mentally. Psychotherapy, in particular, showed me how healing it can be to talk about a traumatic experience. At first, facing the accident and its consequences was painful, but it was the right path. By addressing the pain and fear, my mind began to process the experience bit by bit. I'm far from having worked through everything yet, but I've learned that repression only makes the path more difficult, while openness and confrontation make us feel easier in the long run.

 

This realization taught me how essential mental health is for all of us—whether it's dealing with everyday problems, serious setbacks, or living with an illness. As long as we feel good inside, we can overcome even the greatest challenges.

 

Unfortunately, our society still lacks resources and acceptance for dealing with mental illness. There are too few professionals, and open discussion about mental health is often avoided or stigmatized. Yet this is precisely the key: more understanding, more conversations, and more support for everyone struggling with it.

 

The flower head represents this openness. It reminds us how important it is to take mental health seriously and give it the space it deserves. Because ultimately, it is the foundation for a fulfilling life—no matter what obstacles we face.

This motif has great emotional value for me: It shows a wheelchair with wheels made of flowers. This connection represents hope and the challenges that come with life in a wheelchair. The wheelchair has become a new means of transportation for me—one that makes many things easier, but also brings its own challenges.

 

Sitting in a wheelchair not only means being on a different level physically, but often socially as well. You stand out, people look at you, and you're visibly different. This attention can sometimes be stressful. Nevertheless, I'm grateful that wheelchairs exist. They enable mobility, independence, and participation in life. Without them, many things would simply be impossible.

 

The variety of wheelchairs reflects the individual needs of the people who use them. There are active wheelchairs, for people who can move their upper body. Then there are power wheelchairs. These offer even more options: Some can climb stairs, adjust their height, or even change into a standing or lying position. For people with severe paralysis, adaptations such as head controls allow a high degree of independence.

 

Every wheelchair is unique, just like the person who uses it. And most importantly, every wheelchair helps people lead a more independent life, manage everyday life, and be part of society.

A play on words intended to help educate people about tetraplegia. Tetraplegia is a form of paraplegia that occurs when one or more segments of the cervical spine, from C0 to C8, are injured. This damages the spinal cord, which has repercussions throughout the body.

 

The extent of impairment depends largely on the level of the injury. People with an injury at the C8 vertebra level can still move their arms and fingers, whereas with an injury at the C4 vertebra level, the arms are often completely paralyzed, but the affected person can breathe independently. Those affected at even higher cervical vertebrae often require a ventilator, as the respiratory center may also be affected.

 

In addition to limited mobility and sensitivity, tetraplegia also presents many additional challenges. Spasticity, or muscle spasms, often occur, which can be painful and unpredictable. The autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating body temperature, blood pressure, and other vital functions, can also be impaired. Those affected often have difficulty correctly perceiving cold or heat and suffer from problems that are often invisible to outsiders.

 

Despite all these limitations, there is also hope. Many people with tetraplegia experience that their body awareness can improve over time – through therapy, training, or getting used to new movement patterns. Every movement, no matter how small, can be a major improvement: a controlled shoulder movement or raising an arm becomes a sense of achievement.

The play on words "Tetrapak" reminds us that behind tetraplegia are people with individual stories who, despite their challenges, maintain hope, strength, and courage. It shows how important it is to educate people about this topic and develop an understanding of the different facets of life with tetraplegia. Because even if the path isn't always easy, there's always the possibility of making progress—be it physically, mentally, or in the way you shape your life.

Cats don't have any deeper symbolic meaning for me, but what's fascinating about them—as well as dogs and animals in general—is their unconditional acceptance. Animals don't judge, they don't evaluate. They simply accept you as you are, without prejudice or expectations. There's something comforting and healing in their innocence.

 

For me, this is invaluable. While humans often – consciously or unconsciously – judge or evaluate, animals look with complete indifference to external appearances or characteristics. They see the person, not the facade. This makes them the perfect psychologists: They don't talk, they don't judge, they are simply there.

 

My cats, Ali and Vito, embody exactly that for me. They are an enormous support in my life, a source of calm and acceptance. Their mere presence is a comfort that sometimes speaks more than words ever could.

The "UOMO" motive represents encounters with people—all those small, often unconscious moments we experience with others on the street. It describes not only my personal experiences, but also my wishes for how such encounters could be more respectful. Of course, everyone has different expectations and feelings, but for me personally, the behavior of many people is sometimes difficult to understand.

I experience very different reactions. There are people who approach me openly, helpfully, and friendly. They aren't afraid to talk to me or actively offer their support. But there are also the opposite: people who don't help, don't notice, or even create obstacles by, for example, standing in the way.

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One example that strikes me again and again is the situation on public transport: When I get on the bus, there are often people who just stare and hesitate instead of helping me extend the ramp. They look, but they don't act. Curiosity and a quick glance are, in my view, completely human. But the gawking, the long, intense staring, without a smile or a friendly gesture, seems disrespectful to me.

I wish these barriers, both external and internal, would be broken down. It should be a given that people with disabilities are treated the same as everyone else. Helping when needed or simply greeting someone with a smile doesn't require much effort, but it makes a huge difference.

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Because ultimately, we are all part of the same society. It doesn't take great courage to be polite or helpful – just a little openness and empathy. The "UOMO" motif reminds us that we can shape encounters – through small gestures that make life a little more pleasant for everyone.