There are two core fears: losing what you have, and not getting what you want. The solution? Falling in love with where you are.

— Jeff Foste

Life without Timekeeping

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping.

You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie.

Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays.

Man alone measures time.

Man alone chimes the hour.

And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures.

A fear of time running out.

—	Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

Health quote

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

- Buddha

18 Life Lessons Learned From Traveling The World By MATTHEW KEPNES

This report is By MATTHEW KEPNES

I never thought I would still be nomadic. My original round-the-world trip was only supposed to last one year before I went back home, found a “real” job, settled down, and by now, be married, have a house, 2.5 children, and complain about my retirement fund to my friends.

Yet life took a decidingly different turn and here I am, seven years later, writing this from an overnight train to Copenhagen with the same desire to explore the world and no sign of stopping soon.

After so many years on the road, there are a few life lessons I’ve learned from travel that I never would have learned otherwise and I wanted to share with you today.

1. It’s not that hard.

Every day, people get up, go out the door to travel the world, and survive and thrive. Kids as young as 18 make their way around the world without any problems. All that worrying and fear I had before my trip was for naught – this traveling thing is a lot easier than people make it out to be. You’re not the first person to do it and there is a well-worn trail that makes it easy for first times to find their way. If an 18 year can do it, so can you.

2. You learn a lot of life skills.

People who travel a better adjusted and less socially anxious people and traveling around the world has taught me to how to be more social, be adept and more flexible, and, most importantly, understand non-verbal communication a lot better. It has made me more independent, more open, and, overall, just a better person. There’s no reason to be scared that you might not have “it” in you. You’d be surprised how often you’ll surprise yourself.

3. You are never alone.

It may seem scary just throwing yourself out there and talking to strangers, but we are all strangers in a strange land. At the end of the day, everyone is very friendly. It took me a while to get used to just saying “hello” to strangers, but now it seems like second nature. Everyone is just like you – they are alone in a strange place and are looking for others to be with. People travel to meet other people and that means you. Don’t be afraid to approach other travelers and locals. You’ll find that when you travel alone, you’ll never really be alone.

4. You meet some of your closest friends traveling.

Whether it was in a restaurant in Vietnam, on a boat in Thailand, or walking into a hostel in Spain, when I least expected (or wanted) to meet people was when I met the best and developed the longest lasting relationships. And even though you may not see them for years, you still end up at their wedding, Christmas dinner, or family celebration. Distance and time cannot break the bond you formed.

5. Relationships come and go on the road.

I’ve met lots of people on the road, including members of the opposite sex I’ve found attractive. But the nature of travel doesn’t always lend itself to long-term romantic relationships. It’s hard to make something last when everyone moves in different directions and holidays end. If you get too attached too often, you’ll have nothing but heartache as people come and go. But I’ve realized you need to simply enjoy your time together and live in the moment. Dwelling on the future will only keep you from making that leap.

6. But chase the ones you like.

Yet once in a while, you’ll find someone you really connect with. Meaningful romance on the road does happen. And when you have nowhere to be and no place to go other than where you want, sometimes there is no reason not to follow. Don’t force yourself to say another good-bye if you don’t have to. Pursue it even if the distance seems too vast and the circumstances not right, because you never know where it could lead or how long it might last because, once in a while you meet the one and when you do, you should do everything you can to stay with them.

7. It’s good to try new things.

I used to be a very rigid person, but traveling has helped me loosen up and expand my worldview. I’ve pushed myself to the limit, eaten new food, taken cooking classes, learned magic tricks, new languages, tried to conquer my fear of heights, and challenged my established views. Travel is all about breaking out of your comfort zone and enjoying all the world has to offer.

8. Be adventurous.

Doing the canyon swing was tough. So was jumping off the boat in the Galapagos. As was eating the maggots in Thailand and caterpillars in Africa. Then I got my butt kicked in Thai boxing. And, while I won’t do most of those ever again, I don’t regret trying new things. Scare yourself once in a while. It makes life less dull.

9. There is no such thing as a mistake.

No matter what happens on the road, it’s never a mistake. As was once said, “your choices are half chance, and so are everybody else’s.” When you go with the flow and let the road just unfold ahead of you, there’s no reason to have regrets or think you made a mistake. You make the best decisions you can and, in the end, the journey is the adventure.

10. Don’t be cheap.

When you travel on a budget and need to make your money last, it’s easy to be cheap. But why live like a pauper at home while you save so you can skip the food in Italy, the wine in France, or a sushi meal in Japan? While it is good to be frugal, it’s also important to splurge and not miss out on doing once-in-a-lifetime things. Who knows when you will get another chance to dive in Fiji?! Take every opportunity.

11. That being said, don’t be wasteful.

But remember you aren’t made of money, so don’t always feel like you need to party with your new friends every night or do every activity in a new place. Sometimes it’s OK just to sit around and relax or cook your own meal. Be frugal, but not cheap.

12. Drop the guidebook.

Don’t be so glued to a book. You can travel fine without it, especially with so many good alternatives on the Internet these days. You’ll buy it and hardly use it anyway. Just ask people for tips and information. That will be your best source of information, especially for those off-the-beaten track destinations and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that no one’s ever heard of but serve the best food you can imagine.

13. It’s never too late to change.

Even if you aren’t the traveler or person you want to be in your head, it’s never too late to change. Travel is all about change. The more you say “tomorrow,” the less likely it is that tomorrow will ever come. Traveling has shown me aspects of my personality I wish I didn’t have and also shown me I’m really lazy. I’ve always lived by the phrase “Carpe Diem” but sometimes I don’t really do it. It’s never too late though and realizing that has made being more pro-active a lot easier.

14. Relax.

Life is amazing. There’s no reason to worry. The universe unfolds as it should. Relax and just go with it. You can’t change the future – it hasn’t happened yet. Just make the best decisions you can today and enjoy the moment. Don’t get caught up trying to see all the “must sees.” There’s nothing wrong with spending a day playing games, reading a book, or lounging by the pool.

15. Learn more languages (seriously).

There’re some great benefits to not knowing the local language – like miming out “chicken” to let the lady know you want eggs for breakfast – but learning languages is very helpful when you travel, and works out great when you meet other travelers. There’s also nothing like surprising people by speaking their language. Moreover, knowing basic phrases will endear you to locals who will appreciate the fact you went the extra mile. You’ll find people will be much more helpful, even if you struggle to say hello.

16. Wear more sunscreen.

Seriously. Science has proven it helps, and with all that beach time you do when you travel, you could always use a little more. Being tan is great. Having skin cancer is not. SPF up.

17. People are good.

All over the world, I have encountered amazing people who have not only changed my life but have gone out of their way to help me. It’s taught me that the old saying is true – you can always depend on the kindness of strangers. My friend Greg taught me long ago not to be guarded against strangers. That experience when I first started traveling changed everything and when you travel with an open heart, unexpected goodness will happen. 99.9999% of the people in the world aren’t murders, rapists, or thieves. There’s no reason to assume someone is one. Sometimes people are just trying to be friendly.

18. There’s no such thing as must-see.

This is your trip. No one else’s. Everyone’s journey is their own. Do what you want, when you want, and for how long you want. Don’t let anyone tell you aren’t a real traveler for skipping the Louvre, avoiding some little town in Peru, or deciding to party in Thailand. This your journey. You owe no one an explanation.

I’ve learned more about the world and myself in the last seven years of travel than I had in the previous 25 years of my life. No matter what happens in the future, I know that travel has taught me life lessons I never would have learned had I stayed in my cubicle job.

Find a way to travel as often has you can to all the destinations you dream about.  They will change your life. 

purpose of life

“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” 

– Leo Rosten

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea."

          —  Isak Dinesen

Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.
- Toni Morrison in Beloved

A mind is a wonderful thing to change.

- Andrew Sullivan.

The bad news is, your life will never be perfect. The good news is, you don’t need a perfect life to be happy.

Beyond Happiness and unhappiness, there is peace

Some Quotes

"Don’t just go to sleep expecting to sleep.. Go to sleep expecting to wake up.."

— Lazy Lucid dreaming proverb

"The sound of water says what I think."

— Zhuangzi

Grown up

You know you've grown up when none of the things you want for Christmas can be bought at a store....

what is the major important thing in the world??

Well, there are a lot of competing theories as to what’s the most important thing in the world.

Audrey Hepburn said: “The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it’s all that matters..

Princess Diana said: “Family is the most important thing in the world.”

But Oscar Wilde maintained:”When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I’m old, I know that it is.” 

I hope this answers the question. I tend to agree with Oscar (lol!), but you can take your pick. 

Only natural methods cure diseases.                 
Manmade methods maintain diseases....

 - Jurne Azubiah

your own thinking....

Everyone is a mirror imageof yourself—your own thinkingcoming back at you

— Byron Katie 

You came here to be.....

“

Dear Human,

You’ve got it all wrong.

You didn’t come here to master unconditional love. This is where you came from and where you’ll return.

You came here to learn personal love.
Universal love.
Messy love.
Sweaty Love.
Crazy love.
Broken love.
Whole love.
Infused with divinity.
Lived through the grace of stumbling.
Demonstrated through the beauty of… messing up.
Often.

You didn’t come here to be perfect, you already are.

You came here to be gorgeously human. Flawed and fabulous.

And rising again into remembering.

But unconditional love? Stop telling that story.

Love in truth doesn’t need any adjectives.
It doesn’t require modifiers.
It doesn’t require the condition of perfection.

It only asks you to show up.
And do your best.
That you stay present and feel fully.
That you shine and fly and laugh and cry and hurt and heal and fall and get back up and play and work and live and die as YOU.

Its enough.

It’s Plenty.

”

—	Courtney A. Walsh

The ‘Busy’ Trap : From NYT

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

If you live in America in the 21st century you’ve probably had to listen to a lot of people tell you how busy they are. It’s become the default response when you ask anyone how they’re doing: “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.” It is, pretty obviously, a boast disguised as a complaint. And the stock response is a kind of congratulation: “That’s a good problem to have,” or “Better than the opposite.”

It’s not as if any of us wants to live like this; it’s something we collectively force one another to do.

Notice it isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the I.C.U. or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs  who tell you how busy they are; what those people are is not busy but tired. Exhausted. Dead on their feet. It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they’ve taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they’ve “encouraged” their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.

Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing something to promote their work. They schedule in time with friends the way students with 4.0 G.P.A.’s  make sure to sign up for community service because it looks good on their college applications. I recently wrote a friend to ask if he wanted to do something this week, and he answered that he didn’t have a lot of time but if something was going on to let him know and maybe he could ditch work for a few hours. I wanted to clarify that my question had not been a preliminary heads-up to some future invitation; this was the invitation. But his busyness was like some vast churning noise through which he was shouting out at me, and I gave up trying to shout back over it.

For more: Visit- http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/30/the-busy-trap/

A Swedish proverb

Fear less, hope more; 
eat less, chew more; 
whine less, breathe more; 
talk less, say more; love more, 
and all good things will be yours

- Swedish proverb

Consumerism

Consumerism is the personification of greed and people don't realize that one can die for greed just as one can die for nationalism. It drives a person to work too hard, to desire money and to consume. One is conditioned to think that without  consumer goods one is nobody. ''I buy therefore I am' is the slogan of the modern age. We must underside and consumerism as a new demonic religion and find a spiritual alternative.

- The Dalai Lama

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less  -  Socrates

"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it."- Terri Garey

Khelokude Group, Annual Meet 2011 in Mandu, Near Indore, MP, India

Quote

"Don’t think about making life better for other people who don’t even deserve you, rather, focus on making your life the best, for yourself and those who love you."

C. JoyBell C.

मैकदे में कोई रात उछालें....!!!

Gazal by my great friend Raghvendra Bajpai

"शिकवों-गिलों की जगह वो सौगात उछालें,

अब ज़िन्दगी की कोई नयी बात उछालें.

दिन तो गमों के साए में बीता है बराबर,

आओ के मैकदे में कोई रात उछालें.

दुनिया जो नफ़रतों की कभी बात करे तो,

दुनिया की तरफ इश्क़ के लमहात उछालें.

प्यासी सी सरज़मी के लिए आओ के यारों!!

बिन बादलों की कोई तो बरसात उछालें.

हर ओर बदगुमानियों का दौर जवां है,

ऐसे में कोई नयी सी शुरुआत उछालें.

माना कि कई बाज़ियाँ हारीं हैं जीत के,

उन बाज़ियों की क्यूँ भला शह-मात उछालें.

ये ठीक है के गर्द -ए- सफ़र साथ है लेकिन,

मुफ़लिसी के क्यूँ बेवजह हालात उछालें.

महफ़िल में फक़त ग़ज़ल की ही बात हो ना के,

एक दूसरे की खामखाँ औकात उछालें...!!!"

---Raghu

"An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you."

- Goi Nasu

Things to worry about

Things to worry about:

Worry about courage
Worry about Cleanliness
Worry about efficiency
Worry about horsemanship
Worry about…

Things not to worry about:

Don’t worry about popular opinion
Don’t worry about dolls
Don’t worry about the past
Don’t worry about the future
Don’t worry about growing up
Don’t worry about anybody getting ahead of you
Don’t worry about triumph
Don’t worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault
Don’t worry about mosquitoes
Don’t worry about flies
Don’t worry about insects in general
Don’t worry about parents
Don’t worry about boys
Don’t worry about disappointments
Don’t worry about pleasures
Don’t worry about satisfactions

Things to think about:

What am I really aiming at?
How good am I really in comparison to my contemporaries in regard to:

(a) Scholarship
(b) Do I really understand about people and am I able to get along with them?
(c) Am I trying to make my body a useful instrument or am I neglecting it?

Stay....

"Stay hungry, stay young, stay foolish, stay curious, and above all, stay humble. Because just when you think you’ve got all the answers is the moment some bitter twisted fate in the universe will remind you that you pretty much don’t."

- Tom Hiddleston

“Everyone is my teacher. Some I seek. Some I subconsciously attract. Often I learn simply by observing others. Some may be completely unaware that I’m learning from them, yet I bow deeply in gratitude.”

- Eric Allen

Success

To laugh often and much; 

to win the respect of intelligent people 

and the affection of children; 

to earn the appreciation of honest critics 

and to endure the betrayal of false friends. 

To appreciate beauty; 

to find the best in others; 

to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, 

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; 

to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded."

— - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Five Point to Live Happily

• Know that after all,
  LIFE IS SIMPLE, do not complicate it.
  
• Be generous in your
  THOUGHTS, DEEDS, and THINGS
   
• Remember that things go
  according to your KARMA - 
  whether you like it or not
  
• Humbly obey the
  LAW of Universe
  
• Be positive
  under any circumstances  

Motivation is Like ..........

I get a lot of people asking me “How do I find more motivation?”  I think like sex, motivation is not something that can be forced.  Most clench teeth and knuckles, thinking they just need to do it.  Get motivated!  Then when they can’t or don’t “find it”, they become more frustrated and of course less motivated.  This leads to internalization and believing they lack ability.  Most tie ability to worth so now they believe they are less than.

Motivation is not an intellectual thing.  It’s a feeling thing, involves chemistry not logic.  So again, like sex, the focus should be on creating mood / environment and letting it happen organically.   Instead of forcing it and getting pissed when it doesn't happen.

There are two parts to creating a hot and steamy motivation environment.  

One is in physical space: 

If you grind at work seventy hours a week and come home to a pig sty, it may be difficult to pick up a pen, brush, barbell, or whatever you are seeking motivation for.  You may be physically exhausted and there may be a million other things on your mind before you can get to building this piece of your life.  Also falling under the physical space category, sleep, water, food.  The basics.   Sleep well.  Stay hydrated.  Eat real food. 

Two, mental space:

It’s nearly impossible to orgasm when you have high anxiety, correct?  Stress also kills motivation.  So instead of focusing on motivating yourself, focus on de-stressing yourself first.  Maybe it means cutting hours at work, creating boundaries with friends, or just taking an hour a day for you and only you.  Whatever it takes to carry less anxiety and be able to dream clearly while you’re awake.

Those are the fundamentals.  

Now where you place yourself is your call, depending on where you get in the mood the most.  And that can change.  Sometimes, I have to be in a busy coffee shop to get any writing done.  Other times, I need to be home alone in front of my computer with cold air blasting my face.  So find your sweet spot.  If you’re reading this and thinking “Well, I can’t find motivation to create space to find motivation”, then it’s not about motivation.  It’s about making a choice and why you can’t make it.  Usually it’s fear.  If I was to guess, fear of failure.   

We are all made to build and create and to challenge ourselves.  Most of us mute that by getting buried in the daily grind and not giving ourselves the space for that to happen.  Growth is all about space.  What many don’t know is that they can create it themselves.

- Angry

Source: http://theangrytherapist.tumblr.com

Jump or Swim

Sometimes our road looks like this.  

If you can’t jump, you must swim.  

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

 - Mother Teresa

Universal truth does not require the approval or consent from Man....