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Gratitude

5/26/2015

I subscribe to the notion that we could have all been born to different circumstances, so count your blessings when fate deals you a better hand.

I believe in the Power's of the Universe, and acknowledge that at times things can seem like a cosmic coin-toss, but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. These reasons can shape, define, and breathe meaning into Life.

My attitude reflects this belief, and it determines my choice to feel sadness or joy.

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Control

5/25/2015

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Learning to 'Let go' of the reigns and let whatever may come in life is freaking difficult!

You basically go through life by trial and error, and even then change is constant, so what might have worked before is no guarantee of it being effective in the future.

This is what is referred to as "the Game" of life.

It is compared to a game because there are winners, losers, cheating, second chances, and no guarantees. We've all heard that "Life's not fair". We're all born into a system of survival and competition. Humans compete for resources, attention, and time. There are consequences to every decision, which can affect mild to severe outcomes. At the same time depending on your attitude, there is joy, happiness, and fulfillment. The key word is 'Attitude' because it will determine how one approaches life's twists and turns.

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Sustenance

5/23/2015

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Orange-Chilli BBQ Ribs!

Recipe: Place Full Rack of Pork Spare Ribs on two sheets of aluminum foil on a baking tray, mix 1/2 cup Brown Sugar, 1/4 cup Chilli Powder, 1/4 cup Salt, 1/4 cup Ground Pepper in a mixing bowl to apply as a dry rub on both sides of the ribs. Next, sprinkle a modest amount of BBQ sauce of your choosing on each side (less is more). Now, cut onions and garlic slices to place below and on top of the ribs before wrapping the ribs in foil to trap the steam and juices. Bake at 350° for 2hrs. Check the ribs to see if cooked consistently through. Add orange peel zest (optional) for additional flavor. Bake for additional 30min uncovered at 300°

I never thought that I'd be able to replicate the amazing foods I've been fortunate to taste in my lifetime. My foray into cooking started when I was in college. Both of my parents can prepare amazing dishes, but in order to be a master of the culinary arts it becomes necessary to learn many different styles from various cuisines.

It takes practice to get the hang of anything, and disappointment is just part of the learning curve. The key is to shrug off frustrations, and embrace change so as to adapt. For instance, when I worked 60+ hours per week, I didn't have the energy to cook and often ate at restaurants. This of course came with a high price. Not only did it cost more money, the food was generally unhealthy. It was convenient and tasted good enough which is why this habit persisted for as long as I allowed it to. At some point my body started to reflect my dietary shortcuts, and I wasn't happy with these findings. Weight gain and general malaise can creep up on you if left unchecked.

I had enough! I was determined to make changes in my lifestyle to reflect my discontent with making lazy and poor choices, especially with food. Fortunately I kept a decent work out routine, but I needed to put some work into my diet. I began cooking healthier meals and keeping track of what I consumed. I avoided unnecessary calories such as sodas and sweets. I began to respect and appreciate the sacrifices necessary to achieve results. The changes started gradually but became more noticeable after a few weeks of practicing these newly cultivated habits. After six weeks of cooking my own food, I had saved money and lost close to 40lbs. My confidence soared and I discovered the satisfaction of self control.

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Near Life Experiences

5/20/2015

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These are the moments that shake your reality and realign perceptions (as opposed to the traditional Near Death Experience). For instance, the fear of imminent death often leads one to prioritize people over 'things' or push one to reach towards their dreams instead of living to simply exist.

While riding my motorcycle back to Austin from Dallas, I had a near-life experience. I was about 50 miles outside of Dallas on the 200 mile journey when the clouds turned from hazy gray into ominous black. It had been threatening to rain for a few days, but no major downpours had actually occurred. My family tends to worry about me when I ride, so out of respect for them and my own safety, I prefer to ride in safe weather conditions. While I have experienced riding in the rain before (rain drops feel like needles through your clothes) it increases risk quite a bit. The road is the most slick during the first 15 minutes of rain due to the water mixing with the road to form a greasy surface from the oil build-up left by the constant highway traffic.

The first few drops seemed to evaporate as quickly as they materialized, but soon turned into a heavy cloud burst with limited visibility. Traffic slowed down a bit, but freight-trucks and speeding vehicles still cast dirty mists of road precipitation and wind turbulence.

It was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. My mind required heightened focus, my heart raced to compensate for the much needed adrenaline to react to the unexpected, and my spirit felt grateful to be "Alive". After a few minutes of this feeling, i decided that the risk was not worth the reward and exited the highway. I ended up avoiding the heaviest of the rain while sipping a hot coffee inside a McDonald's restaurant. After about 30 minutes, the storm had passed and I got to dry my dampened clothes on a freshly cleaned, sunny highway.

The movie 'Fight Club' has a scene where the 'near-life experience' is discussed. The narrator is contemplating (with himself) the difference between 'thinking' and 'knowing' that he is going to die. The narrator's split personality, Tyler, illustrates his point by releasing control of the steering wheel in a speeding car while driving down the highway in a torrential downpour. He asks his passengers what they wished to accomplish before dying. Each rider quickly responds with a personal goal, except for the narrator who can't process the alarming situation and the impending reality of death. The vehicle eventually crashes and everyone is able to walk away relatively unscathed. The point of the exercise was to illustrate the importance of having purpose, and its priority in one's life.

"What will you wish you'd done before you died?"

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The Greatest of All Time

5/16/2015

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What more can be said of The Man, other than what He means to me.

I think about the Man every now and then, I even wear a few t-shirts with reminders of His influence. He is the same age as my father, and as I watch my own Dad mature, I wonder how much longer We will continue to live in a world blessed with such Men.

He was a child of a poor minority race, and witnessed firsthand the inequalities of man's ways. He used His emotions to fuel and propel His drive to become a World Champion.

He used His accomplishments to "awaken" people who were conditioned to think as they were programmed to believe. In other words, He dared to be "Great" and encouraged others to do so as well. In doing so, He made himself a target of the authorities in power, who tried to strip Him of his glory and accomplishments. He refused submission to political powers while remaining loyal to His beliefs and His fans took notice. Eventually, the authorities had to relinquish their grasp as He was found both innocent and righteous...

He became a symbol of peace for humans everywhere in the world.

Ali used the violence and brutality of Boxing to catapult his celebrity onto the world's stage, where he took a stand against War and Inequality.

He turned social programming on its head, and "shook up the world!"

Although I haven't met or seen Muhammad Ali in person, I'm pretty sure He is Real and His Spirit will still exist long after He has left this world. To have existed concurrently with human beings of this greatness it becomes more understandable that our ancestors walked with the ancient Prophets and Holy Men who affected the world so long ago, that their Spirit continues to change and shape the World Now.

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