The Ultimate New Year's Resolution

by David Brown

 Today, on New Year's Eve, millions of people engage in an annual traditional ritual that has hope, expectation, and a desire for change.

The New Year's resolution is done either before New Year's Day, or maybe after that late night New Year's Eve in which the last hurrah of the old year is gone and a Happy New Year is shared and celebrated by everyone around the world.

The resolution(s) may pertain to weight loss, health, relationships, business, finances, spiritual goals, or all of the above.

How many New Year's resolutions were followed through during the whole year?

Another annual tradition occurs in the gyms, yoga studios, and fitness clubs. Every January there is a surge in memberships and more participation by existing members. By February there is a drop off back to normal levels.

Is there an "ultimate resolution" than can prevent the falling off in February or before? What would it contain? How would it be different? Why would it work compared to other well laid plans?

I recently discovered this after needing to make some changes but wanting to bring in as much support, willpower, experience, and intensity as I could gather to make it happen.

About five years ago I attended a weekend intensive event in which 2000 other people were there and the results were life changing. It happened in the summer and although it wasn't just before New Year's Day it had the effect that carried through until then. Somewhere along the months after I began to fall back and lose the momentum that I had going after that intensive. So this time I figured that I need something that I can do daily to sustain my new goals and resolutions throughout the year and beyond. One four day intensive might be fine, but I also wanted something now that I could use and did not want to wait until next year - 2015 - to get started.


At this point you must be wondering who and what is this and why does it pertain to the "ultimate resolution".

The organization is Robbins Research, founded by Anthony Robbins, one of the top trainers and coaches in the world. He is appearing more and more in the media if you haven't heard of him, and is called the CEO whisperer by Forbes in an article just published on December 27th. Tony Robbins is featured at the top of the list for "15 Fabulous Fortune Reads from 2014" and is touted as one of the best stories in Forbes for this year. He also has a book that is in the top ten of the New York Times bestseller lists, and all of the proceeds are being donated to charity. 

So if you could have him as your personal coach and trainer to help you with your New Year's resolution, do you think it might actually work and will not fall away in February?

I made a phone call around December 15th to my same contact person in the organization that sponsored the event, and not only did I sign up for another event for the summer of 2015, I told her that I wanted something now that I can use daily for the next six months before then to get results.

She made a recommendation, and I thought about it and researched it a bit. It was on a 30 day free trial, which made it much easier to try, and I took the plunge.

The program is called The Ultimate Edge. What a perfect title for the ultimate resolution.

It contains three programs in one, on CD's and a few DVDs. It is like advanced therapy, personal training and coaching, motivation and inspiration all rolled into one amazing educational tool to support you accomplishing your goals, resolutions, and changes in your life if needed.

I am about two weeks into the program and finished it sooner than expected. I have integrated some of the information into my life and am seeing results already, and the New Year has not even started.

It's no longer a New Year's resolution. It is a resolution for life. It is the ultimate resolution.

Give it a 30 day free trial, and find out how it can help you to make your New Year amazing.

Visit the web site at www.TonyRobbins.com and/or Contact Billie Sandoval, who has worked with the Robbins group for twenty four years. Her telephone # is 858.535.6277.

Have a Happy, Prosperous, and Healthy New Year!

David Brown

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Thanksgiving - Not Just a Holiday - Thank you Tony Robbins

Is Thanksgiving Day more than just a holiday? The two words of thanks and giving are powerful words that reflect actions; things that we can do to live a more fuller life.

This week is the Thanksgiving holiday week and everyone is getting prepared for it with food and family planning. Another preparation that is going on with many are reviewing all the blessings that we are thankful for, and how we can give to help others as a result of our own gratitude.

Two years ago I had the thought that Thanksgiving Day can be celebrated to some extent every day. That is doesn't need to be limited to one day per year. Of course I'm not referring to the family gatherings and food aspect of the holiday, but to the process of giving thanks and of giving to others.

Gratitude - We Give Thanks

We live in such an abundant and free country here in the U.S., and yes, in spite of all the challenges that we face individually and collectively, we can truly be grateful for what we have here compared to other countries. We can be grateful for the arts as well as business, our friends as well as our families, and those blessings in our life, both large and small, that we have received. Even challenges can be a blessing in disguise as we learn after the fact that it helped us in some way.

Gratitude is a deeply spiritual practice also, and is usually a part of prayer, meditation, and conscious thought during the day. If we made a list of all the things that we are grateful for we might be surprised that we can not finish it in one day. The list may go beyond our own life and include the lives and contributions of others such as those who have passed on and made a major contribution to humanity such as the Nobel Peace prize winners or business leaders, or teachers who created life changing events for thousands of people, such as Tony Robbins.


Giving - The Amazing Value of Helping Others

I just finished a book by Tony Robbins, someone whom I admire and have seen live at one of his events, Unleash the Power Within (UPW) about five years ago. His new book, titled Money - Master the Game , is a game changer. This book is a must read for anyone to get a better understanding of the investment world, and Robbins interviews the top financial investment experts in the industry, many whom he knows personally. The book, in the end, is not about him, or you, but about helping others. The chapter on giving just blew me away, and made me realize that I can make a difference in helping a child escape slavery, receive food and water, and get an education. You cannot help but be engaged with this book. It was a page turner and hard to put down. The younger you are when reading this the better advantage that you have in planning ahead and enjoying the time proven value of compounding and planning ahead. Tony also uses examples from his early life that are dramatic and powerfully inspirational.
  
from Amazon:
"Based on extensive research and one-on-one interviews with more than 50 of the most legendary financial experts in the world—from Carl Icahn and Warren Buffett, to Ray Dalio and Steve Forbes—Tony Robbins has created a simple 7-step blueprint that anyone can use for financial freedom.

Robbins has a brilliant way of using metaphor and story to illustrate even the most complex financial concepts—making them simple and actionable. With expert advice on our most important financial decisions, Robbins is an advocate for the reader, dispelling the myths that often rob people of their financial dreams. 

Tony Robbins walks readers of every income level through the steps to become financially free by creating a lifetime income plan. This book delivers invaluable information and essential practices for getting your financial house in order." 

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The Signature of All Things Book Review

by David Brown

Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert

You took me on a journey with your novel and let me discover your amazing story, so well written that it hits a ten on my unofficial scale of novel writing.

I try to pick books that I think might be a good read, after looking at reviews, best seller lists, synopsis, and maybe a glance at the "take a peek" Amazon feature.

Take botany, international commerce, depth of family characters, and a young woman who has the soul of a pioneer, the mind of a scholar, and a heart devoted to the love of plants.

Alma Whittaker is the epitome of a superior intellect with a deep passion for her life's work, including the unique plant life of moss. With a strong, and stubborn Dutch mother and a self-made multi-millionaire tycoon father, she experiences unusual twists and turns in her own journey through life, and keeps you engaged as if you are sharing it with her.

What I enjoyed besides the story writing, characters, plot, and settings in this novel were the mystical undertones of breakthrough scientific inquiry, where the supernatural or divine creation continues to tease those researchers who make new discoveries that sometimes defy logic and rationality.

May all novels that I read from now on be on this same level of excellence.

View the book summary, reviews, and sample pages on Amazon:
The Signature of All Things: A Novel

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Still Round the Corner ...

"Still round the corner 
there may wait, a secret road or secret gate" -J.R.R. Tolkien

from 500px.com

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Hot Yoga and Men

photo from ZenSpot website - www.zenspotmbs.com/

When I started hot yoga classes I was surprised that there were not as many men in the class.

 Then I found an article titled Five Myths (Some) Men Believe About Yoga by Tresca Weinstein.  The most recent stats show 82% of yoga practitioners are women. Here's a discussion of the myths that she listed. 

Men think that yoga is warm and fuzzy, meaning that it only involves some stretching, and there may be talk of opening the heart, and maybe some ballet type postures. My take on hot yoga and vinyasa in particular is that it is very challenging, even for men, and is an excellent workout for an hour non-stop. It needs to be experienced before a "warm and fuzzy" judgment is made about it.  

One thing not mentioned is that because yoga classes have a majority of women, men may shy away from them thinking that it is only a women's exercise class. Be a warrior and overcome that fear guys.
Another myth stated in this article was that you need to be flexible to do it. Yes and no. In the years prior to starting yoga, whenever I did workouts, jogging, weights, etc. I would always forget to do stretching. One thing I love about hot yoga is that is all about stretching, while getting an aerobic workout at the same time. Yoga helps flexibility. If you are already flexible, then the more challenging postures are easier. If you are inflexible, then yoga feels great because it opens you up and improves your flexibility. Yet, even after 18 months, there are postures that I could do when I was 21 that I cannot do yet such as plow. However, it's all good in that yoga still has amazing benefits even if you cannot do one or two of the postures. 

The third myth mentioned is that women may be better at yoga. This may be true for at least two reasons. They have been practicing and know their postures better. They also have a different anatomy that is more conducive to bending and stretching, like when a baby is delivered. That said, men have strength that comes into play with certain postures. I happen to have a wide chest and cannot cross my arms in front, but I have strong upper body strength that allows me to handle the chataranga push ups better. 

One of the phrases that I have heard from yoga teachers is "go where you can go" ...so it's not about being perfect but moving into a posture to whatever degree that you can, and then that is the perfect move for you at that moment. It is ok to sit down and skip a posture if you are too winded or need a minute or two to recover. That is allowed, and not frowned upon. It's a different low key approach to some personal trainers that work you beyond your edge whether you are ready or not. For men this may be an adjustment as we may be inclined to compete with others or ourselves. When I set a 100 day challenge for myself, to do one class a day for one hundred days, it was like my own personal"Mt Everest", or goal that I could empower myself to do. Funny thing was, that as I got closer to the goal, the numbers didn't matter anymore. What mattered most was my commitment to do my yoga practice on a daily basis or at least five days a week, which is not the norm for most yoga students. 

Another myth mentioned is that a person (man) can "win" at yoga. The only competition to focus on is against yourself. If you want a challenge then do ten days in a row. If you want another one then go for thirty. You already have ten down and twenty to go. When a group joins together to do an extended daily practice such as a sixty day, it's not called a challenge but an experience. In fact, it can be a life changing experience. That's another reason that I am writing this book. At day fifty my life, my body, my food habits, and my workaholic schedule are changing.

Except when I did yoga forty years ago (from the time of writing this book), I lived life in my head much more than being aware of my body. I overate and drank and soon weighed about 285 lbs at age 50. I worked hard on that and leveled off around 260 when I started yoga. My weight has been dropping but even more important is the commitment to daily practice, and the self discipline with food that comes much more easily. This is a huge shift for me as I have committed to workout regimens and personal training before but could not get the eating under control. This is changing and I am not resisting it, but going with the flow of life. By doing yoga it has helped me be more aware of my body, and this a big change for me.

My personal vision is to see more men embracing yoga as an amazing experience and form of exercise. Even more, I would enjoy seeing more baby boomers doing yoga in classes, as the average age now I estimate to be about 30. The men close to my age that I meet in the yoga classes and that come to class regularly are friends that I can relate to and that also support me to stay focused on my practice as they are focused. 

On a deeper level, it doesn't matter what age or gender mix there is in a class. We are all there to practice yoga as a group and are doing the exact same asanas or postures together with the teacher's instruction. There is so much focus on just doing the posture that all other thoughts can just be set aside most of the time. Then the experience at the end of class, with a "savasana" or laying on the back completely still is a powerful completion to one hour or seventy five minutes of yoga. 

I am age 63 as I write this. I love yoga and the benefits that I feel in my life as a result.

Kelli Harrington, the owner of a yoga studio named Zenspot

in Eugene Oregon told me  when I started that yoga can change my life. She was spot on. It has and continues to do so.

All men are invited to try hot yoga and challenge themselves to enjoy it and see the benefits.

  

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333 Words

by David Brown

I had just awakened from a deep place beyond dreams and glanced at the clock.  Again, it was exactly 3:33am, the same number that has popped up in my life for years, especially in the middle of the night. I finally realized some years ago that this was more than a coincidence, as this number kept showing up every other week or so in different ways, and sometimes twice in a day.

Once, at a Starbucks, I ordered a skinny hazelnut latte and with a gold member card the discount caused the price to be exactly $3.33.  My driver’s license had 333 as a part of the 10 digit number.  I regretted that I could have used that number once on a lottery ticket with four numbers. The day I thought of it the drawing on the very next day had the first three numbers as 333.  

It was most pronounced in the middle of the night, when I wake up without any external noise and glance at the clock only to see the red digital numbers of 3:33am right there staring at me.

 Once, I was telling a friend about this at their house, and at the end of the story which included numerous examples I glanced at the large antique maritime clock on the wall, and the time was exactly 3:33pm. My friends were surprised at the coincidence and could not help but believe my story. 

License plates on cars that I just happen to be behind sometimes have 333. One BMW had two sets: 333333. It is an ongoing phenomena that just keeps me guessing as to when I might see it again. Gas prices, text messages sent at exactly that time,. seating capacity at P.F. Changs in Eugene, Or. -  333.

There's something about it that is mystical, with synchronicity, and maybe a bit of quantum physics. I don't know why, but is it easier to live in the question than to try to figure it out rationally? Yes.

note: the word count for this blog : 333

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Do We Really Love Our Culture of Violence?

At a recent family reunion, we were all discussing our favorite T.V. shows, and all of them had violence as a basic premise in the storyline. Whether it is Blacklist, 24, Walking Dead, etc., our favorite programs and movies are usually those that contain a lot of violence.

"It's Only Art"
We seem to justify this by saying, “It's only fiction and art...” “The review ratings are so high that it is hard to pass up...” “I love the actors...”

When there is a high school shooting, or thousands of innocents killed in war, or other violence appears in the news, are we becoming more numb to the
blood, bullets, and extreme forms of death due to our acceptance of on-screen violence?

Do we really love our culture of violence?
What about children these days? Video games keep getting more extreme in their involvement of the numerous ways to kill another person. I have witnessed very young children being taken into a movie that seemed far beyond their years regarding handling the violence on the screen.

We seem to be numb and deaf to any discussion of it. It is what it is, you might say. Therefore, we assume that we must just accept it as a part of our lives. I myself was a fan of 24 and Blacklist and even started playing World of Warcraft after seeing my son playing it for hours at a time. I killed and was killed many times in the game. I healed and helped to fight many monsters in deep, dark caves and dungeons.

Inspiration and Spiritual Blessings
What is ironic is that I believe in inspiration and spiritual blessings and have a mystical background in my faith. It has occurred to me in recent months that watching violence on T.V. and in movies does not resonate with my soul anymore. At the time of this writing, there are two movies in the theater that is only a few miles away from where I live: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Guardians of the Galaxy. Both have over 91% critic review ratings, which make them a priority for me to want to see. However, I have lost interest, due to the violence in both of these movies. It's not too difficult to see why it conflicts with my love of inspiration, spiritual topics, and faith.

Faith and Violence
Regarding faith, there are many people of faith that enjoy violent television programs and movies. Their faith does not seem to stop them from seeking out that kind of entertainment. I know this because this thinking has been a part of my life for a number of years, until now. Most faiths have certain teachings of non-violence, peace, and love. Extreme forms of faith can result in terrorism, both in the real world and in our movies.

Do we really love our culture of violence?

Maybe, if you are still reading this, you can ask yourself that question the next time you see someone get stabbed, shot, or tortured in a television program or movie. When we have bad dreams, we call them nightmares. When we see violent entertainment that we love, we share it on Facebook, tell our friends, and maybe write a rave review on it. Do you see the contradiction here, or is it just me?

David Brown
Catalyst333

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The River of Doubt - A Book That Can Be Life Changing

by David Brown

Teddy Roosevelt was an amazing man.

One hundred years ago, on May 19 1914 he entered New York Harbor on a steamship from South America, just three weeks after emerging from a two month expedition down an unexplored river in the Amazon jungle.

I knew about him not only from history books growing up, but also from the fact that my great grandfather rode with Teddy's Rough Riders. I have a vintage photo of the whole group.

After reading the three volume, Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Teddy Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, I felt that I knew the former president better than some people that I have known most of my life.

Then a friend told me about a book titled The River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candace Millard , and I could not put it down without effort.

In 1914, The River of Doubt was an unexplored river in the Amazon jungle. It posed the perfect challenge for Teddy Roosevelt, who had just lost a presidential election, and had a history of challenging adventures in his life. At age 54, he gathered a group of various experts and helpers, and set out on one of the most amazing journeys ever recorded.  

When reading this story, it was almost as if I was right there with them, deep in the Amazon jungle, facing unexpected hardships, loss of equipment and supplies, unceasing attacks by voracious insects, imminent Indian attack, malaria, death and murder, loss of hope, and trust of others. 

It was a metaphor for how I see the world changing, and how I see my own life changing. 

We are all in this journey together, in some ways exploring uncharted territory. The world is getting more populated, more complicated, and overrun by technology. Our lives are changing collectively, as well as individually. Everyone is affected. The river of life is moving in one direction. There is no turning back. Challenges need to be faced and overcome, like churning rapids in a river. 

When we know that we do not know it all, that we don't have all the answers, then what is left is mystery, hope, faith, and sublime power. Or despair and frustration.

It was not only the primeval human instinct that prevailed and allowed the expedition to live, and emerge from the thousand mile journey of the dark River of Doubt. The instinct to survive was strong in the expedition, with Teddy Roosevelt's bull-like determination.

However, it was the collective instincts of the indigenous tribal groups of the Cinta Larga, who could have easily killed the entire expedition that were decisive in their survival.

 Isolated deep the the jungle, they were "marvels of efficient lethality, refined over thousands of years to kill silently and swiftly. They were never seen by the expedition, yet their presence was known. The elders of the various clans of the tribe were in disagreement as to whether to let the expedition live. Their decisions of war were made by consensus, and we may never know how close the decision was to let the expedition live." 

This same primeval instinct prevails today, under the surface of our modern lives. Whether it applies to business or to our private lives, we all have a river of doubt to be overcome in smaller or greater levels of challenge. It is one of the joys of life when we are successful in overcoming those challenges. 

David Brown  

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Spotify - Free Music Site Tips

Spotify – Free Music and Site Tips

Who said that PC Magazine is only for computer geeks?

In a recent article, “17 Spotify Tricks That Will Make You a Streaming Samurai ,”
the author discusses some secrets about how to use Spotify, and yes, they even work for a 60 year old music lover.

Spotify is a free music listening web site that allows users to easily find their favorite songs and artists, as well as listen to entire songs without fees. They are sponsored by advertising and also have two upgrades for $5 and $10 that eliminate the ads. How cool is that?!

When I discovered Spotify, after hearing about it from one of my yoga teachers, I was amazed at the range of music available. They have everything! After about six months, I bit the bullet and opted for the $5.00 per month service. 

Here are some user-friendly tips mentioned in
PC Magazine that I like from Spotify (besides the ability to browse):

1) Create folders and playlists inside of folders (like in Itunes).
These are on the left side and its easy to figure out.

2) Apps - Check out the app-finder link in the left column. There are a lot of options from which to choose. However, TuneWiki is nice, since it shows the lyrics for the songs to which you are listening. You can even do online Karaoke!

3) Do you blog? If so, you can embed a song into your blog. Here's an example:
You will find more of this in this “Books and Music Reviews” blog. Go to Brazilian Jazz and World Cup Soccer.

4)                  Top Lists
This feature shows the top 100 tracks and albums being listened to on Spotify. Above the lists, you will see "Tracks, United States, Albums." They have drop down menus to change the lists by artist, country, etc. Go for it!

5) Spotify "Smart" Radio
Also, look at the menu on the left. It allows you to give a thumbs up or down for different selections. “Thumbs up” or add songs to your "liked from Radio" list.

6) Drag and Drop Into Playlists
Whatever is playing, if you want to save it, drag and drop it into an existing playlist, or create a new one. Remember that you may want to set up a folder first, if there are other albums or tracks from the same artist.

7) Use Modifiers in Your Search
If you designate the names of artists, albums, and years, then you may be able to avoid search results for everything unrelated. Example:   artist:"Bob Marley" album:legend year:1984

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Book and Music Reviews

Books and music are one of the sources of inspiration, knowledge, wisdom, and joy in life. At the time of this writing, it is the beginning of summer, an excellent time to start to read a great novel, or even to write one :)

Music is also an ongoing adventure in savoring the sounds and words that are created in a Paul Simon classic, a Sergio Mendes Brazilian jazz piece, or a Bach Two Part Invention. It's all good.

In this blog I will share some books that I have read and really enjoyed, some Amazon reviews, links, books and music that stirs my soul, opens my heart, and feels good to read or listen to.

Spotify - Free Music Site Tips

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Home is Where the Heart Is

Home is Where the Heart Is - "Home Page" Catalyst333

With my mother and daughter - 90th birthday - August 22 2014

Welcome!
This is the official home page of Catalyst333, a "blog site" containing topics I wish to write about that are not directly business-related. Using the tabs above, World, Oregon, Hot Yoga, Soul and Inspiration, Wisdom, Grace, Meditation, Books and Music Reviews to find various blogs that I write under different topics. This "blog site" is an exercise in writing, copy writing, indirect content marketing, and personal reflections of life. My business blog can be found at  www.LikesTweetsandSEO.com  and focuses on Internet marketing.

If you are visiting and would like to receive updates, feel free to subscribe to Catalyst333.

Thanks for visiting,

David Brown

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Meditation

Meditation is Mainstream

Meditation has gained mainstream acceptance, just like organic foods and yoga. These were considered on the fringe in the early 1970's. Now, neuroscience research has shown a wide range of benefits associated with meditation.

Back in the day (1971-1974), I was a teacher of "TM" - transcendental meditation, and I hung out with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (who also taught the Beatles) at large gatherings, including a six week retreat at Arcata California, a six month teacher training in Southern Spain, and other retreats and trainings in Europe. 

Back then, it was a "movement" and was actually two organizations. SRM, or Spiritual Regeneration Movement, was the original name of the organization, but it was later "Westernized" and changed to Science of Creative Intelligence. 

However, there was an inspiring speaker, Charlie Lutes of SRM, who gave talks in West L.A. every Friday night. A group of us from the Pasadena TM Center, which I had co-founded at age 21, went down to see Charlie speak every Friday and socialize with friends.

Once, we went over to Al Jardin's home  (yes, Al Jardin of the Beach Boys), who still practices TM (I think I read that somewhere).  After a Friday night seminar, we were invited to his home and had a memorable visit. I remember seeing all of the gold and platinum awards on the wall. We also had a private concert with Kenny Loggins in Pasadena. I remember a scientist from CalTech - John Lewis - who joined us occasionally for group meditations.

At the age of 21, I was giving seminars to a full room of people who, after hearing about it on the Merv Griffin show, had decided to try it to reduce stress and reap other health benefits.

Of course, meditation is an ancient method and is practiced in many traditions- Christian, Hindu, Native American, Buddhist, and as a non-religious spiritual or wellness therapy. 

I have not practiced "TM" for years, but I have meditated sporadically over the years, combining it with prayer and affirmations. I am trying to make it a daily routine, in order to balance out the many other activities going on in my work and free time. So far, I have not gotten into the daily routine.

According to Brendan Burchard, one of the top motivational speakers and high performance trainers in the world, "Neuroscience has proven that meditation is powerful, not only to reduce stress levels, but also in growing neurons and activating our capacities for more creativity, empathy, and achievement."

Meditation is being recommended by "mainstream" organizations, as well as by many coaching and self-help programs. As an example, WebMD has something to say about mediation and its benefits for health:

Meditation- Topic Overview
Also see the following link: Yoga, Meditation, May Help Dementia Patients (June 5 2014)

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Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is one of the well-kept secrets of geographical diversity in the United States.

The Coast

The Oregon Coast is one of the most beautiful and stunning coastlines in the world. The State of Oregon planned well when they created many State Parks, waysides, and protected areas up and down the entire coast. This is my most favorite area of Oregon.

There are no major ports on the Oregon coast, as would be found in San Francisco and Seattle. Portland is on the Columbia River and is an inland port. As a result, the Oregon coast has only a few cities of any size, such as Lincoln, Newport, and Coos Bay. Many other small towns have their own charm and distinction.

The coast spans 363 miles and has a diverse geography of forests, coves, sand dunes, 

The Columbia Gorge and Mt Hood

The Columbia Gorge is a scenic wonder, with tall cliffs on each side of the Columbia River, waterfalls, and acres of forest, emanating a sense of Native American history. Nearby is Mt. Hood, a dormant volcano, majestically rising over 11,000 feet. It can be seen from Portland, as well as from miles away both North and South. Most flights in and out of Portland allow for viewing Mt Hood from far above. Make sure to get a window seat!

Crater Lake

Crater Lake is a National Park and one of the "seven wonders" of Oregon's diverse geography. It is one of the clearest lakes in the world, is spring fed, and is located within the crater of a dormant volcano. There are no recreational boats allowed on this pristine lake, although the Park service provides a tour on their own boats during the day. Most of the lake is surrounded by cliffs and forest, so what's left are spectacular views from all sides. View photos on Google >  

To be continued ....

The Willamette Valley

Portland

Eastern Oregon

Southern Oregon and Ashland

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Grace

Hidden Rose by J. Scott Peck

Grace, originally used in the Christian tradition, can be received by anyone. It is defined, in any tradition, as an unexpected blessing. Whether we call its giver our greater power, Holy Spirit, or Divine Source, grace is the sacred power that helps to pull us out of the drama and chaos of limiting, ego-centered living and opens up life-changing breakthroughs that we may have thought would never happen.

Miracles are one form of grace.

Other forms are subtle and may be happening at this very moment within you.

Grace is that hidden power that is already there as a gift. To receive it, we need to do nothing, or do less of being ego-centered, in order to be able to open up and receive.

A Prayer for Grace

"I pray for your holy and benevolent blessing of grace to give me the courage to step in the direction of my heart's desire without hesitation or fear. Help me not to succumb to the endless stream of excuses and reasons that my ego offers for avoiding my authentic path. I ask for your grace today to help me stop talking about what I am going to do and, instead, actually do it. I ask for your loving and merciful grace to help me remain conscious and mindful of your loving presence in my life, blessing me over and over with your loving gifts." 

from the book Grace, Guidance, and Gifts by Sonia Choquette

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Wisdom

Wisdom is expressed as a deeper form of knowledge that reflects experience, intuitive insights, connection to Spirit and the depth of life. In different cultures it is embedded in traditions handed down over hundreds or thousands of years.

We see wisdom in holy books such as the Bible, the Yoga Sutras, the I Ching, Bhagavad Gita, Tibetan Book of the Dead, Mayan Popul Vuh, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. In countless documents as well as in the oral traditions of Shamans, wisdom guides us to better understand the mystery of life.

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World Population - From 7 Billion to 9 Billion

The world is a fascinating place.

Remove all humans, and there remains the awesome power and beauty of nature.

Include all humans, and there is still the awesome power and beauty of nature.

Then, there is human nature.

The media makes sure that we see a world in chaos, conflict, war, and death.

Yet, we also see and hear stories in the mainstream media, social media, or YouTube about heroism, hope, humor, joy, wisdom, and life as an amazing mosaic of color and creativity.

The world is what it is.

Furthermore, we create it to be as it is, to a lesser or greater degree.

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Soul and Inspiration

Life is like an iceberg.

We go about our daily lives experiencing things that we see, hear, do, and say.


Simple enough.


However, beneath the surface lies a larger part of the iceberg that is unseen, "behind the scenes," hidden, deep, and profound. With a major portion submerged under the water, it evokes a mythical and primordial connection to our ancient instincts, those threads that we carry in our genes and DNA. 
It represents the unconscious, the transcendent, and the depths of our souls. 
It is called the source of spirit, soul, and inspiration. It can come from the depths or from above or both.
All traditions of faith call upon a greater power, god, goddess, or spirit to make the connection and bridge the gap between our physical world and the world of the transcendent.
In any given moment, we can celebrate the adventure of living at a deeper level. We can create something new and make it extraordinary.

"The soul contains all our feelings, involvements, learning, love, confusion, and understanding from our first moment of separation from Source to the present, where we yearn for the moment of reunion. That is why the soul seeks. It is on a mission to get back home, back to Source, and it draws from all of its experiences to achieve wholeness.

We all already know that. It's just that sometimes (many times) we are not aware of it.

We are aware and conscious of the surface of life in what we see, do, and experience on any given day.

When we are inspired deeply by something, we feel it in our hearts and in the depths of our souls. Meditation can do this sometimes. 

The Difference Between Soul and Spirit

Sonia Choquette, in the book Grace, Guidance, and Gifts, makes an interesting distinction between our souls and our spirits. 

"The soul contains all our feelings, involvements, learning, love, confusion, and understanding from our first moment of separation from Source to the present, where we yearn for the moment of reunion. That is why the soul seeks. It is on a mission to get back home, back to Source, and it draws from all of its experiences to achieve wholeness."

 "Our Spirit, on the other hand, is a timeless, divine spark of holiness within, the eternal flame of light that has never been separated from Source. An extension of the One Spirit, our Spirit oversees the soul on its journey home." 

  

These writings under the category of soul and inspiration are a journey, an inquiry, and a call. 

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Grandpa's Hot Yoga Blog

Grandpa’s Hot Yoga Challenge - 

After 40 years, at 61 years of age, I started yoga again on February 1, 2013.

I had taught Transcendental Meditation in 1971-1973 and also had done yoga back in the day. On February 1st of 2013, I went to a hot yoga class and was amazed at the intensity of the workout. It took me three days to recover, but then I went back and soon completed four classes in row, because my body loved the asanas and workout.

After the fourth day, I heard that there was a ten day challenge so I figured that, since I already had four done, why not? At the time, it seemed like a big deal, maybe because I weighed 260lb. At the end of the tenth day, I heard about a thirty day challenge, so I thought I could do twenty more days, and then after that, I thought of setting a powerful goal of one hundred days. It was my personal Mt. Everest. I heard that yoga would change my life and I believed it, so I thought that if I did more of it, it would change my life more, and it did.

The personal transformation and depth of experience on all levels cannot be fully described here. I think I could write a book about it. However, here are the main benefits and insights that I have had in a nutshell: rejuvenation, weight loss, boost in confidence, and a renewed life. 

On day 97, I decided to write this blog. I started it about a year ago but never published it.
I ended up doing a personal 100 day challenge, one class a day for 100 days straight.

But, that is another story. Stay tuned!

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