A self-help book here, a wise quote on Instagram there and, in between, a thousand products promising a better life. Somehow, everyone and everything seems to know best. But what is it all worth if it’s estranged from your lived reality? Unlived wisdom. Unkept promises.
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At DOWNTOWN, we pride ourselves in facing the chaos head on, testing new trends, hyped-up gadgets, and bold promises to form our own opinion. It’s easy to get dazzled by big names and clever branding, especially with premium products. But reality often tells a very different story. You’ll find that in our barista training just as much as in our Porsche comparison, our e-gravel group test, and our deep dive into non-alcoholic red wine alternatives – the last of which left much to be desired, by the way. But how do you discern between hype and reality? What tastes good, and what doesn’t? And how do you tell the difference?
One of life’s biggest challenges is sharpening your sense of discernment – and learning to trust yourself. That takes experience, but even more so self-awareness, self-control, and self-reflection. The best investments aren’t in expensive cars, watches, or houses – they’re in yourself. Because once you’ve begun to hone yourself, everything else becomes a walk in the park.
Back to school? Lifelong learning has always been one of our core values, because real learning only starts after school. The world has so much to offer if you’re willing to take new paths, stay curious, and accept that not knowing something – yet – is part of the journey. If we knew everything, life wouldn’t be worth living – the game would already be over.
About six years ago, I got myself a teacher. And by some strange coincidence, he turned out to be arguably the best Kung Fu master in the world. We accompanied him to Hong Kong, talked about Bruce Lee, Hollywood illusions, and the idea that you have to master yourself before you can defeat your opponent. Spoiler: learning never ends.
Non-alcoholic alternatives are trending. So, in the spirit of accelerated learning, we went straight for the ultimate test: alcohol-free red wines. Which of them are good, and which should you avoid – and who are they actually for? We’ve got the answers for you right here.
Our trip to Nice was at least as exciting, where we put the hottest new e-gravel bikes in a head-to-head battle, finding huge differences while also rediscovering the city and surroundings of the Côte d’Azur in a completely new way. A few weeks earlier, we also took the new Porsche Macan and Porsche Taycan on a road trip from Stuttgart to Nice and Monaco, putting to rest which is the better electric Porsche, and revealing some uncomfortable truths along the way.
What’s more, we traveled to Sweden for the world premiere of the Volvo EX30 Cross Country to separate marketing hyperbole from real-world performance.
Let’s keep learning, questioning, and discovering what really moves us forward. That might not please everyone, but courage and integrity matter more than playing it safe and sucking up. We want to do work we’re proud of, not work that tries to please everyone. In lifestyle media, that’s a rare thing.
If there’s one lesson to take away from this issue, it’s this: freedom begins the moment you stop believing others – and start trusting yourself.
These (and many more) stories are just a few clicks away. If you have already installed our free app, you can download the latest DOWNTOWN issue directly there. If not, first install the app from the App Store (iPhone / iPad) or the Play Store and then load the latest issue within the app. Then you can sit back and enjoy the new issue (ideal with a cold beer or delicious coffee)!
So – let’s go! Dive headfirst into the chaos. And trust only what you’ve seen and experienced for yourself.
Robin Schmitt
Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Robin Schmitt, Jan Richter, Robin de Nys
