The story of your life is being written in front you, by every step you take and every action you make. You’re both the main actor and the director of your movie. What differentiates life from movies? Did you ever watch a movie and then say to yourself, “wow, that was a crazy fucking movie”. It was full of twist and turns, ups and downs, mystery and drama, a journey that left you in awe. Now think of life. Some of the craziest, most awe inspiring and tragic things i’ve seen or heard off didn’t happen in a fictional story, they happened in real life. Life is just as crazy, just as epic, just as adventurous, just as romantic, just as tragic. Reality is the craziest, most epic movie of all time.
Since i was a boy i’ve always dreamt of having an epic journey, like the superheroes and fictional characters i admired. We should all become the epic heroes in our own lives. We should all strive to become the Supermans, the Wonder Womans, the Odysseus, the hercules, the Tin Tins, or any other hero or heroine you admire. Take all the good qualities about them you liked, take their values, take their character, then apply them in the making of your movie, in the making of your life. Given the critical state of our world, we can no longer keep heroes fictional. We have to embody and become these heroes. The world is in desperate need of heroes. You become the hero every time you act nobly, courageously, lovingly, honorably, righteously. Every time you sacrifice for the greater good and put others above yourself. We all have huge amounts of power in the development of our lives so use it as you want, i can’t tell you how to spend your life but I will be busy writing my story, making my movie, living my epic journey. Life is a journey, a voyage of discovery. Why not take the high road?
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist and author among other things. His brilliance, his love for science, and his fascinating way of communicating his ideas left millions in awe. He was an inspiration to many and will continue to be for a long, long, long time. I post this illustration from zen pencil to help share some of his wonderful work.
The fighters for justice, the lovers of liberty, the seekers of truth. The helpers, the builders, the healers, the learners, the volunteers, the travelers, the career builders, the motivators– they are the Dream Seekers. This post is for all those who are busy at work, attempting in whatever way they can, to truthfully make themselves better people. Our generation will inherit a world in crisis. Economic crisis, Environmental crisis, Spiritual crisis. This all-encompassing global crisis has the human species on life support. I think the young of today, my generation, can be the antidote that saves us. We must make the change and be the change that will see us through this tunnel of darkness we are going through. We cannot afford to make the mistakes of past generations, we cannot continue “business as usual”. If we don’t get our shit together, we will become another failed evolutionary experiment. Life will simply erase us and start anew. This post if for all the people who are working hard to turn our generation into the generation that changes the world. This is for all the helpers, all the explorers, the travelers and the achievers. Those who are working hard to better themselves and by doing so encouraging and motivating those around them to do the same. I believe that the best way to teach others is by example. Instead of you telling them how to do something they can observe you do it, then learn by their own accord. Your life is an example, it’s this sort of teacher to others. Those that do good, inspire good in others. Those who exercise and eat healthy foods motivate others to also exercise and be healthy. Those who travel and explore the world motivate others to go on their own adventures. Those who create art, in any way, shape or form, motivate others to walk their path of self expression and artistic development. This makes your life very important, your life is an example for the rest of the world. Your life could be a shining light for others. So what are you going to put out there? Do you want your life to make a difference? How do you want to show yourself to other people? When you tell your story, what is it that you want them to see?
Constantly strive to become a better person. If your looking for some inspiration hit play and listen to some wise words from Joe Rogan.
Poem written and performed by Taylor Mali. There is the written post about health, some pictures and this video to Complement it. Really trying to drive the message home. Hope it helps
Your health should be of the outmost importance to you. No matter what you achieve in life it will all be overshadowed if you don’t take care of your body and maintain an unhealthy lifestyle. Mahatma Gandhi once wisely said “It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver”. But why is it that so many of us fail to understand the necessity of being healthy. If you want to better the world, to make it a happier, cleaner, livelier place, you have to start with yourself. Why settle for short, degrading lives when we can live long, vibrant, energetic and fulfilling ones.
With good nutrition you can prevent all diseases, even genetic ones. If there is a disease that runs in your family it doesn’t mean you are doomed to be diagnosed with it as well, all it means is that you have a predisposition for it. It’s up to you to trigger it on or off. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle these dangerous genes inside you will remain dormant and never wake up. If you take care of your body, it will take care of you. It’s a symbiotic relationship that if balanced leads to a better life. Every time I bring up being healthy to unhealthy people i get the old, “you only live once” argument. It’s true you only live once, so wouldn’t you want your mind, body, and soul to function in harmony and at its fullest potential. When you feed your body the right fuel, the level of functioning your body reaches is mind-blowing. When your body functions properly you are not inhibited in any way and you can actually truly live. Once you feel how a normal healthy body functions there is no going back. A healthy body becomes a positive addiction. I can write 30 pages trying to explain what it feels like to have abundant amounts of energy, to never have headaches, stomach aches, body aches or any other sort of aches; but until you experience it for yourself you will never truly understand. I sound like i’m selling miracles here but it’s true, you have to feel it to believe it. It’s empowering to feel in control of your body, a body which responds to your demands and needs. Your body becomes a tool which aids in your unfoldment and development. If you are out of shape and unhealthy you are inhibited in so many ways, So why not give being healthy a try. Whats stopping you? time? don’t have the know how? don’t have energy? bullshit.
That healthy food tastes bad is a big misconception. There are thousands of mouth-watering, delicious, healthy dishes out there but its up to you to find them and learnt how to make them. Figure out your tastes, try new dishes and experiment. They say that variety is the spice of life. You should eat the rights food because in a very real sense we are what we eat. It’s a lot more convenient to buy a meal at a fast-food restaurant or to buy packaged meals but this convenience comes at a great price. You are only hurting yourself. Shitty foods make us sick, fat, and shorten and degrade our lives, it’s simply not worth it. I know it’s hard because a lot of crappy food tastes awesome. The people that develop these foods pack tons of flavor into them and no one can deny that they don’t taste good. Problem is, these foods don’t have any nutritional value, it’s all processed crap. They don’t give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and function properly. let food be your fuel, let food be your medicine. Break the cycle of unhealthiness and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Become informed. Learn what foods are right for you. Eat as many fruits, vegetables and whole grains as you can. There is a direct link between nicely deep colored vegetables and their exceptional health benefits. The colors come from a variety of chemicals called antioxidants which are almost exclusive to plants. Antioxidants are cancer reducing agents that help to protect us from free radicals and maintain a healthy body. The deeper the color the healthier it is for you. The deep greens like spinach and kale. The deep red of cherries and tomatoes. Eat all the vegetables you can, learn how to cook them, If they are organic and locally grown better but start where you can. It’s okay to indulge and eat the food you like but not every day. If you go to a party or a restaurant go ahead eat what you like. Have pizza if you like, have a cheeseburger, eat that mouth watering piece of cheesecake but eat them moderately. It’s your day to day diet that you have to try keep healthy and nutritious. Some people eat as if they were feasting on every meal. You cannot feast every day it’s just not sustainable, over time it will lead to problems. It’s okay to let loosen up every once in a while but you have to moderate. I once heard a great quote that sums this up pretty well, “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” It’s the day to day foods, that monday-thursday that you should worry about most. You can relax a bit in the weekends if you want and have your cheat meals and overtime you’ll enjoy the cheat days less and less and they will become less frequent. Limit the poisons you put into your body and take care of your shell.
Exercise. So many people don’t do any sort of physical activities which is craziness. It has to be a part of your life. It’s as much a necessity as sleeping every night, eating food and drinking liquids. One constant in life since the beginning of time has been movement. Life is always moving, always constant, in motion, and the human body developed through evolution to move around and if you don’t use it not only are you wasting it, you are hurting it. Don’t settle for a sedentary lifestyle filled with health problems, grogginess, and unhappiness. Working out makes you happier. When you exercise your brain releases serotonin which are the feel-good chemicals stored in the body. This is why you feel really happy after a good workout. Get out there and put that body to use, there are countless ways to exercise, walk, hike, run, row, dance, do the exercise of your choice but pick something. You don’t need to be at the gym 7 days a week like a maniac, just be more aware of it, move it around, go for a walk, stretch it out, anything works but make sure you use it and force it every once in a while, it does the body good. It seems so simple yet most people don’t do it. You can do wonders with just 30 minutes of exercise a day. If you don’t have 30 minutes to set aside 3-5 times a week for the improvement of your life then you seriously need to re-asses your life. There is always time you just have to learn how to schedule your day better. If you want to train but don’t know what to do search the web. There are millions of sites online you can go to for help. There are thousands of great dvd’s you can buy to train in the comfort of your own home. You need very little resources. You don’t even need wights, just your own body weight is sufficient. You will develop the know how as you go. Start small, but you have to start somewhere. Over time You will become stronger and will be able to do more than before. Believe it or not exercise can be fun. It doesn’t have to be a painstakin event which leaves you dreading the next workout. Find the fun in it, find what it is that you like then do it. After some time you will look forward to your next workout. Exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle leaves you with abundant reserves of energy. You have to develop healthy habits.No one else is responsible for your health , not a trainer, not a doctor, not anybody. You are the captain of you ship and are therefore responsible for you own health.
Treat your body like it was a temple because it’s what it is, your own temple. Use your brain and reflect on your actions and your thoughts. This is why practices like yoga and other meditational practices are good for you. They allow you to reflect and ponder on your thoughts and to relax. It’s very important to maintain your emotional health as well. Give Yoga a chance. Aside from the mental benefits, it’s great excercise. You can get a butt kicking workout by doing yoga. DRINK YOUR WATER. Avoid soda and fruit juices full of sugar. REST YOUR BODY when it needs rest, don’t kill yourself, and make sure you get a good nights sleep. Once healthy becomes a lifestyle, once it becomes a part of you, you will truly understand and reap its benefits. Say goodbye to headaches, to aches and pains. You will sleep like a baby every night. You’ll have more energy and feel more alive. If you feel good now, you will feel even better. When the body feels good and your healthy, it has a positive impact on all other areas of your life so why not do it? You know you want to; everyone wants to be healthy so what is stopping you from doing it? No one but Yourself. Don’t make excuses. I can’t do it because of this or I can’t do it because of that. Don’t make yourself the victim. Put in the work to better you life. We can’t control a lot of things in our lives but your health is completely within your hands so take responsibility for it, you can improve the quality of your life. Do some research and find out. The information is there, there are no excuses. Do your best and forget the rest. Stay positive and keep moving forward. I really think that what you put into the world you get back so put out good things. The one thing I know for certain about life is that it never stays the same, everything changes and we must grow and adapt with this change. Life is a struggle. It’s this beautiful, amazing, sad and happy heartbreaking story we are all living. Don’t let anyone define the parameters of your life. Don’t let anyone put you into a box and don’t put yourself into a box. Treat your body with respect, take care of it, STAY HEALTHY and grow in the light direction.
NYC Singer and song writer Benjamin Lyman singing his soul out at a New York subway station. How this guy only has 6000 views on youtube is beyond me. Appreciate good art
Great spoken word by Suli Breaks.
2 people were subjected to violent anti-muslim attacks. The first was a Bangladeshi man who was beaten by a group of men, who called him a “fucking Arab”, outside a bronx restaurant just hours after the Boston attacks. The second attack also angered me but it also saddened me. A Boston man, apparently enraged by the Boston Bombings, assaulted a muslim woman walking with her children on Commercial Street. He punched her and yelled, “Fuck you Muslims! You are terrorist! I hate you! You are involved in the Boston Explosions! Fuckk you! First off this guy was a coward because a true man would never lay a hand on a woman. If he was so enraged at muslims he could have picked a male to assault but instead decided to prey on the weak and defenseless, what a man. Doesn’t he understand that violence cannot be counteracted with more violence. An eye for an eye will leave everybody blind. How ignorant do you have to be to think that because a Muslim person is responsible for an act of violence, all Muslims are responsible? What kind of shit is that? It’s the extremists who are the problem, and they can be found in any religion.
I don’t know if the two who perpetrated the Boston bombing labeled themselves as Muslim but a true practitioner of any religion would never commit such an act of violence. It goes against the golden rule which is one of the main teachings in almost every religion. Christianity: Do onto others as you would have them do to you. Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. Islam: Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. Taoism: Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Regardless of how you word it, it’s the same message in every religion and a true believer and practitioner should would never brake this golden rule. My point is that extremist are not truly religious people, at least not to me.
But you can’t only blame the guy who threw the punch, i also blame those responsible in informing him. I blame the media outlets like CNN, the associated press and others who falsely reported the perpetrator of the attack to be a “dark skin male”. I blame publications like the New York Post, who don’t have an ounce of journalistic integrity, which printed the photo of the two “bag men” who it said were being searched for in connection with the Boston bombings who were completely innocent. The post saw two dark skin males with backpacks and turned them into the terrorist. I blame Those who blamed a Saudi national, who was a student with no connection to the attacks and any other “news” outlet which spread rumors and lies. The media in many cases dissinfroms people doing the exact opposite of what they are supposed to do. They fill the airwaves with violence and terror creating a climate of fear and directing suspicion towards particular communities.
The two people responsible for the Boston Bombing and this idiot are not that far apart. While the scale of violence is different, they were both fueled by ignorance and hatred. Are we going to act like Nazi Germany who blamed the jewish people for all their problems and make Muslims and Islamics the new scapegoats. The religious wars should have ended with the crusades. In times of turmoil and panic we need to be sensitive, aware, cautious and most of all United.
We all need something to believe in, it gives us reason, meaning. I don’t understand why it’s so hard to allow others to have a different faith than you. The actions of this man are ignorant, foolish, embarrassing, and wrong. The same goes for the so called “news” outlets. We don’t need to spread more hate around, we need to learn to live in harmony. We all have common enemies to fight together: ignorance, fear, hatred, and violence. So be wary of mainstream news and their misinformation, be wary of ignorance, both in yourself and in others and like always keep growing, in the light direction.