If anything has the power to transform our understanding of time, presence, and the way we live, it is illness. When my mother was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer at the age of ten, that moment changed everything. Not just in the expected ways—uncertainty, learning independence far too early—but in profound and enduring ways, especially after her passing. It reshaped the way I experience life, how I wake up each morning, how I perceive my own existence. Letting go became not just an act of surrender, but an act of acceptance—an embrace of hardship and suffering, a reorientation of my consciousness toward reality as it is.

In this acceptance, I have discovered a deeper understanding of gratitude. I wake each day with the awareness that I am alive, that I am healthy enough to learn, to love, to experience the fullness of life. Acceptance does not mean expelling suffering from existence, but rather recognizing it as an integral part of life’s tapestry. To truly live, I must acknowledge that suffering is woven into the human experience. And yet, it is precisely this suffering that allows me to treasure the beauty that surrounds me, to feel love with an intensity that might otherwise go unnoticed. Learning to accept suffering has led me to a more profound, more vibrant way of living—because, in the end, isn’t that what we all long for? This, to me, is the essence of a full life—a life rich with every emotion, every feeling. It is the distinction between merely existing and truly living, between life’s quantity and its quality.

A Philosophy of Suffering and Growth

This idea of letting go is not unique to Meister Eckhart; it is echoed in the philosophy of Nietzsche. In German, Leid(suffering) and Leidenschaft (passion) share the same root, suggesting that passion is intrinsically connected to struggle and deep emotional intensity. To view suffering not as an enemy to be banished but as a catalyst for growth, as an indispensable force in shaping love and resilience, has profoundly altered my perception of life.

A Novel That Bridges Philosophy and Experience

Markus Vinzent’s Nicht alle Tage follows the journey of individuals whose lives are irrevocably altered by a serious diagnosis, such as ovarian cancer. Through moments of hope, hardship, and reflection, the novel does more than tell a story—it invites readers into a dialogue with Meister Eckhart’s philosophy, particularly his teachings on Gelassenheit, or the art of letting go.

Vinzent does not treat Eckhart’s ideas as distant theological introspections but rather integrates them into the lived experiences of his characters, demonstrating how these teachings can provide solace in the face of fear, loss, and transformation. As I read, I found myself moved by how illness, often perceived as an ending, became in this novel a doorway to a different kind of presence and understanding.

Meister Eckhart’s Teachings on Letting Go

At the core of Nicht alle Tage is the recognition that suffering and uncertainty are woven into the fabric of existence. Meister Eckhart teaches that our suffering is often magnified by our attachment—to health, to time, to expectations. Instead of resisting what we cannot control, he advocates surrendering to the present moment, releasing our grip on the illusion of control.

I believe in the power of the mind to transform emotions. We may not control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. We can choose how we interpret our experiences, how we process pain, how we make meaning of it all. Accepting the limits of our control does not mean resignation; it means redirecting our focus toward what is within our grasp. Heidegger’s philosophy of Being and Time mirrors this idea: the only true domain of control we possess is the present moment. Anchoring ourselves in the now offers a sense of agency amidst uncertainty. What am I doing in this moment? What can I change right now? This shift in focus grounds me when the weight of the unknown feels overwhelming.

A Personal Reflection: What This Book Taught Me

Reading Nicht alle Tage reinforced my understanding that letting go is not about giving up; it is about fully embracing the now. It means choosing presence over resistance, reality over illusion. Illness is not merely a clinical diagnosis—it is an existential reckoning, a confrontation with the fragility of life, a call to reevaluate what truly matters.

Through Vinzent’s storytelling, I saw my own emotions mirrored: the fear, the grief, the moments of despair, but also the quiet revelations, the unexpected beauty that arises when we stop resisting and start embracing what is. The book helped me reframe my mother’s illness—not as a battle to be won or lost, but as a journey we navigated together. And while that journey is steeped in pain, it is also rich with meaning, connection, and love.

Why This Book Matters

Nicht alle Tage is not merely a book about illness; it is a book about life. It is for those grappling with uncertainty, for caregivers, for patients, for anyone who has loved and lost, and for those who seek wisdom in difficult times. Markus Vinzent has crafted a novel that is both a meditation and a mirror, reflecting back the profound challenges and quiet revelations that come with embracing impermanence.

For me, this book was more than a narrative—it was a companion through grief and self-discovery. And for anyone standing at the crossroads of fear and hope, I believe it has the potential to offer the same solace and understanding.