Bark @ The Full Moon

"What if my whole life has been wrong?" - Ivan Ilyich

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

While I don't know too much about what the Full Moon does to our energies, especially today, I've come to notice a lot of introspection much more than I've ever done before.  During this time, I've gained some closure for things that had not concluded in my mind.  I didn't even know they were open ended until these last few days.  Sure, having things open can be a good thing.  It allows for possibilities that can be explored for the benefit for all those concerned.  This wasn't the case for what I decided to close the chapter on.  

Certain relationships, I've resolved, no longer serve the purpose they once did, and thus could prove toxic to continue.  Who I speak with and interact with, for however often I wish, and for whatever extended period of time I wish, is entirely up to me.  

Some may call this selfish or self-centered.  Though they could be right, let's ask ourselves this, who do we ultimately live for?  And for that matter, what is more important than how we feel?  We can spend our whole life saying we live for the betterment of humanity, and yet feel resentful deep down when we don't feel compensated for our bullshit nobility; the voluntary sacrifice that comes as a distraction from just plain taking responsibility for our own thoughts and actions.  

So, in a nutshell, I've placed that mirror in front of my face, and looked deep into my eyes and saw just what I needed to see.  Some of it was really uncomfortable and some of it was surprisingly reassuring.  When moving on to the next chapter in our lives, it's actually good to feel a bit scared.  If not, then life would cease to be that adventure in achievement, right?  May everyone who reads this discover their joy, despite struggling with what is in one's journey; be it depression, anxiety, financial, relationships, etc.  It's all meant to be.  Hard to believe, I know.  I still wrestle with that quite often.  In short, we cannot get this life wrong.

Here's to a new chapter.

AMOR FATI

Thank you and good night.

The Legend of the 49er and the Easter Roo

"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."

-Epictetus

Thank you for those who wished me a Happy Birthday.  It's great to connect with so many friends and family, some whom I haven't spoken to in years!  

Not only was yesterday Easter Sunday, it was also the conclusion of the Thingyan or "Burmese New Year" (April 13 - April 16).  

It is also known as the Myanmar Water Festival, where people throw water on each other as a symbol of cleansing the past, and welcoming prosperity of the coming year.  There's more to it, of course.  

So to all those who celebrate, Burmese or not, Happy New Year! 

နှစ်သစ်မှာ ပျော်ရွှင်ကြပါစေ!  

Hey, if you got busted on your New Year's resolutions, now you have yet another chance to set that reset button.

Below is a picture of a white wallaby in Australia that I saw on Twitter.  No, it's not photoshopped.  Although rare, these guys really do exist.  Here he is, posing for the camera, as he does his Easter egg thing "down under".  

And who's the 49er?  Well, take a guess.  :-)

Happy Lunar New Year of the Water Tiger!

When we think of a tiger, we may come up with images of aggression, ferocity and ambition.  One thing we may neglect is that this creature is also very patient, stoic and focused; waiting for the right time to pounce on its prey.  If it were merely aggressive, it would scare off its prey, and go hungry.  So too must we be patient and wait for our opportunities to arise.  

Then when it presents itself, we will take the shot without hesitation.

These type of opportunities can not only be in the form of something for ourselves, such as a job opening, an entrepreneurial endeavor or a chance encounter with someone whom we want to ask out; it can also present itself as a way to be kind to one another, even if it's as small as a silent blessing towards someone.  

Just like the tiger, there needs to be purpose behind what we say, think and do as much as possible, should we make headway this year.  It all starts with what we want.  We don't even need to know how are we going to get it.  We just have to have it in our minds.  From there, a way will present itself.  

If it's hard to come up with what we want, what sometimes helps me is to identify what we DON'T want first.  Much like a sculptor visualizing the negative spaces to create a masterpiece from a block of stone, having a concrete sense of what we don't want can be an excellent canvas.  In other words, we must intend all of what we want, while being aware of what we don't want.  In fact, if there is one word for this year, it's INTENTION.

Have a great year!

P.S. Here's a picture of our Crouching Tiger.  Enjoy!

The Fall of the American Empire, Part II

Yes, the title of these two blogs appear grim, I know.  The purpose of what I'm saying is really to make us aware of what we are doing to the planet and one another.  True, there are a lot of good things that come out of humanity and I have faith it will continue.  Enough good would need to counteract the destruction we are creating here in order to "breakeven", so to speak, and even more to bring about overall healing to all. 

In this country, the USA, we are ever increasingly divided mainly in the area of race and politics.  With our unique diversity, we can truly do amazing things if we came together.  We've made up our fucking minds that it's ok to be a part of something that blatantly excludes others.  Moreover, people are willing to kill or create severe harm to claim and defend their superiority over another.  What did your mom put in your Cream of Wheat to make you think like that?  Bitches, I tell ya!  

[Random thought: The term "reverse racism" is so damn retarded.  I mean yes, racism is backward; however, either something is deemed racist or not.  Period. End of story.  It's just another one of those ethnocentric bullshit terms that I keep hearing; to the point that I don't think the people saying it even know what they are REALLY saying!] 

What I think really isn't important.  What is, is that we find a way to dissolve this kind of fucking juvenile entitled and narcissistic behavior before we are all done for.  Quite honestly, I have this weird feeling that, just like some villains want to destroy the planet, some assholes really just want the whole world to burn even with them in it.  Insanely suicidal and yet somewhat accepted as part of a plot in an action movie.  "Can't we all just get along?", asked Rodney King even after being beaten to a pulp.  I know that's been a butt of some jokes, so saying it gets a tongue-in-cheek response, but seriously...can't we?

If we don't, then the great American Empire will truly fall and there ain't nothing or nobody to stop it at that point.  I'm trying my best to stay optimistic; that the future is bright with abundant possibilities.  I would be lying to you if I said that it isn't challenging.  Even after cutting off watching the news and curbing my time spent on social media, both for years, negative voices still sneak in.  I don't think I'm the only one.  I mean, you'd have to be pretty fucking bulletproof to stay smiley all the time.  Wait, that would be unbelievably creepy, yeah?  Anyway, as I've been taught in boxing and combat sports, protect yourself at all times.  This doesn't mean be unkind; actually, quite the opposite.  Be kind but watch your back.  That's what this year calls for.  My one word for this year is INTENTION.  What will you intend this year?