End of the Month, January 2010

My focus this weekend is to see whether I could spend the weekend in silence. It's not too difficult when you're single and spend most of your time to yourself, but it's extremely difficult all the same. How many "thank you's, 'cuse me's, have a great day" I;ve spoken this weekend, but there were quite a few. Otherwise, I afforded starting any conversations with anyone. I had read about spending time "in silence" while reading a magazine article on buddhism, or mediation, I don't recall which, but I thought I'd give it a try. Yet, you mind holds it's own conversations. I've been reading the Noble Eighfold Path, one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, or having (1) Right view, (2) Right intention, (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Action, (5) Right Livelihood, (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Mindfulness, and (8) Right Concentration, and have been to look at my thoughts, my thinkings. It's amazing that when we are mindful of our own thoughts, that we recognize them for what they are; some of my own are terrible, and truly could lead to the wrong view if it weren't from my own self recognition - wow!!! where did that or these thoughts arise from. We live in a culture, a society, bombarded with violence, greed, and selfishness - our higher selfs aware of this, but our lower selfs, ignoring or delusional about where our heads are at. Raised as a Christian, fascinated with Judiasm, and religion, I have to say for practical purposes, Buddhism has universal appeal for creating a better world. I printed out about 18 pages from the Wikipedia web site on the Noble Eightfold Path, and plan to carry them with me every day, so I can read and continue to be mindful.

I still enjoy reading my life extension, longevity articles, and am continuing to try to incorporate some of the healthful behaviors into my life, but that's difficult too. But I'm still walking about 10 miles a day, eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast, and of late, having a large salad for lunch, or a veggie burrito from Chipolte....but I'm drinking too much coffee, 5-8 cups every morning, and still using sugar... Hopefully, this year I will actually enroll and start practicing Yoga, and embarking on formal mediation trainings and instructions....

The New Year Continue's

I lot has been happening in the world since my last blog, there was a major 7.0 earthquake to devastate Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed. I usually don't donate anything principally due to the believe that so many others are helping, but I felt complied to give something for the relief effort. My heart is moved by the suffering of so many, in such a country that has some little to offer it's citizen's even without such a horrific event. There's few people in the world who hasn't heard to devastation or the call for assistance....

I've grown homesick, missing my city I love so much, Portland, Oregon. Today, I saw a the movie Extraordinary Measures, filmed in Portland. Many of the scenes I recognized and have frequented many times over my life. I was raised in Portland, and saw it's development, growth and refinement into a Great City. Someday I hope to move back home.

A personal reminder

I don't get into my blog that often, but during one of my breaks from my desk today, I walked outside and a biker caught my eye, it reminded me that this year I want to start a new habit of becoming a self propelled commuter, and to become a "BIKER"..... Many weekends I go out to the U-District and sit in the UW Bookstore window on the Ave. Right in front of the window is where bikers lock up their bikes, and you can observe the many different people who bike. Of particular interest to me are those people who you can tell RIDE as a way of life. The middle to upper aged, white couple, with packs on their wheels, well used bikes and appareal, scream out their true self propelled. It's like the obvious Yoga/Vegan Hippie styled person, you have to admire their lifestyles...

The New Year 2010

Gosh, It's to believe a decade has past since the millenium of 2000. For me a major shift in my interest over the past decade has been with the science of aging, and the prospects of stopping aging. I'm hopeful that I can make another decade where science may provided me with a few additional years to enjoy life. It's also been a decade of seeing both my daughter's, Lakyn and Nia, grow into young women. I'm very happy to see their development and how well they both matured. I've suffered some fairly substantial financial set backs, but I'm optimistic about the turn around. Of recent, I've begun reading a lot of buddhist literature and find myself attracted to it's basic precepts. I've moved closer to a vegetarian lifestyle, but still eat meat fairly regularly. Hopefully, this is a year when I'll be able to nearly eliminate it from my diet.