A successful life is not the result of routine, but of moments of happiness. This is the fuel to get the best out of yourself every morning. The wiser, somewhat older people amongst us know this: The most difficult times are behind them and things can only go on more gently.
Remaining calm in rough terrain leads to serenity; serenity enables focussed action and the knowledge gained from it to be shared; shared knowledge spreads and in turn attracts new experiences.
Reinhold Messner looks to the future: analysing what has worked and what has not. Using this knowledge to make (even) better decisions. Doesn’t sound exhausting at all! The future thus becomes a continuation of the learning journey and a joy. Learning is not a fixed state, but a way of life that needs constant nurturing. That sounds challenging – and it is. After all, fulfilment is not a goal that is achieved at some point, but a basic mental attitude with which we go through life.
This requires stepping out of our comfort zone. Over time, effort becomes a very normal matter; change loses its terror and the fear of the new disappears. Even small victories against inner resistance act as catalysts for personal development.
Reinhold Messner shows how meaning and vision are anchored in existence – flexibly, courageously, tirelessly. He grew up in a large family in South Tyrol, free from rigid life guidelines even as a child, but with traditional structures. This balance of rootedness and openness shapes his ability to welcome change without losing his own identity. Courage to take risks and continuity of vision despite change.
Reinhold Messner, who celebrates his 81st birthday on the 17th of September, looks into the future with undisguised energy and is opening a new chapter: The Reinhold Messner Haus am Helm in Sesto. The house, which opened in June 2025, is dedicated to the future with the mountains providing the backdrop: here, the urge to discover, curiosity and the desire to understand how life works here and around the world are awakened. Languages, customs and stories show the diversity of our cultures and how colourful and connected our world is. And like everywhere else in the world, the same applies here: Progress is based on respect for the environment and safety for the lives of all people, animals and plants.
The man who has made a name for himself as an author, politician, mountain farmer and museum developer opens new doors – to inspiration, reflection and dialogue.
A place of quiet grandeur – the Reinhold Messner Haus am Helm
The Reinhold Messner Haus rises up where the past has not been forgotten, but transformed. The former mountain station has not been left to be demolished but has been guided into the future with visionary sensitivity. Today a breathtaking panorama opens up through the large windows of the former cable car hall, where the gondolas of the Helmbahn once glided in and out: the majestic Sesto Dolomites in all their splendour. Their highest peak – the imposing Dreischusterspitze, over 3,000 metres high and a symbol of Alpine grandeur is also enthroned in the field of vision.
Upcycling in its most sublime form: An architectural statement for sustainability, environmental awareness, art and dialogue. Between historic wooden beams and modern clarity, a space for pausing is created – a place where thoughts circulate, horizons open up and stories continue to be written.
It is more than a museum. It is an invitation to rethink responsibility. To shape change. And to listen to the silence that is always a voice in the mountains.
Happy birthday, Mr Messner, and all the best from Riviera Buzz.
All images courtesy 3 Zinnen Dolomiten; lead image of Reinhold Messner ©www.wisthaler.com; all other photos as credited
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