Meet Patrick Schuette, longtime New Harmony resident and owner of Say’s Restaurant
My name is Patrick Schuette. I am from Lafayette Indiana, went to Indiana University, graduationing with a theatre and music major, fine arts minor. My parents owned a German restaurant as a child, The Heidleburg, in downtown Lafayette, with my father also owning a home store Interior objects, while being a professor at Purdue, historic preserving as many businesses and homes throughout the state, and city markets throughout the country. My mother was a realtor, with a catering business for many years. My father was formally brought to New Harmony by Jane Owen in the mid 90’s to design and build the Cathedral Labyrinth. I remember meeting Jane for the first time in her front garden, with her classic straw hat and denim long simple dress, big smile with the warmest heart. She made us feel like family, ultimately helping to secure my family with a house on North Street in 2001.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Happiness is feeling comfortable in your body, the curiosity to find a passion as if the universe was meant to flow through you with purpose. Not feeling jealousy toward others achievement or privilege but instead revel in their fortunes while staying focused on your simple needs to grow, with reflection as a means to become the person you are meant to be.
Which living person(s) do you most admire?
I admire people who help others. Teachers, doctors, firefighters, anyone working toward the greater good.
Who are your favorite writers?
I have very much enjoyed reading books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Irving Stone. Love in the the Time of Cholera and Lust for Life are my two favorite books.
Who are your heroes in real life?
I don’t know if I have a hero in life at this point. Hopefully I am my own hero.
What does the New Harmony Project mean to you?
I love creative people. Makers. People and groups of people who make something out of nothing. I love good communicators, hard works, people who try something new and keep learning with curiosity. New Harmony Project is full of people like this. There is so much room to grow and improve in life and having NHP come to town certainly moves New Harmony closer to utopian ideas with their presence each year.
