Karma's a bitch

I believe in Karma. I have seen it come to life so often, I cannot ignore it. Karma is the law of moral causation and is fundamental to Buddhism. It's a key tenet of my personal philosophy. Simply, do good and good will happen to you. Do bad, and bad will happen to you. Maybe not right away, maybe not this week, but it will.

This includes thoughts as well as actions. Many people think they can think bad thoughts, but if they don't act on them, then it's ok. Nope, nice try. Bad thoughts will still create a negative energy, too.

That is why I try to live by a philosophy of do good, think good. Not only to avoid karma coming back and smacking me upside the head, but it's actually a hell of a lot easier to be good and think good thoughts than bad. Try it, you'll see. Being bad is exhausting.

So all those who do bad, watch out, the Karma Police will find you and you will pay the price.

New Music Friday - Feb 20.

Continuing my new Friday tradition (Ok, it's only twice, but traditions have to start somewhere people!) Just click links below. Enjoy:

Aaron Neville - Use Me

Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

Keller Williams - People Watchin' (Featuring Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten & Jeff Sipe)

Kitchens of Distinction - Drive That Fast

Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Lyle Lovett - Here I Am

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance

Steve Kimock Band- Is it Up To You (Live at the BellyUp) - Sorry can't find on-line version.

The Funky Meters - Hey Pocky Way

Van Broussard - Ooh Poo Pah Doo

Get the bus off of me

What is wrong with people! Ok, now that I got that out I feel better. I won't go into details, but I felt like I was thrown under the bus by someone this week. If you don't know the phrase, click here for an urban dictionary explanation.

I've had time to think about it (long commutes). Why do people do that? I believe it stems from insecurity. If someone is secure with themselves, they would not do this this as their own personal internal strength would not allow them to act/react this way. But insecurities bring out the worst in some people.

I'm fine with the situation, because I am secure with myself. I only feel sadness and pity for the person who tried to throw me under the bus. Note to person, the tire tracks are not real and wash right off.

Friday Music

I love to share new music. I love it when someone hears something I'm playing and says 'That's cool, who is it'. And when I tell them, they say 'I've never heard of them'. So I will be sharing my musical tastes every Friday (or almost every Friday). You may have heard these groups or songs and that's OK, it just mean that you're musically advanced :-) . If not, well, this is your chance to broaden your musical tastes. Just click on each song below. Enjoy.

Ben Harper Diamonds On the Inside

Grateful Dead - Franklin's Tower

Joss Stone - Tell Me 'Bout It

Natalie Merchant - Baby I lLove You - Son Of A Preacher Man

Os Mutantes - A Minah Menina

Reel Big Fish - Hungry Like The Wolf

She and Him - Sweet Darlin'

The Police - Murder By Numbers

The The - Soul Catcher

Umphrey's McGee - Wine, Women and Song

Joy, Pain, Sunshine, Rain

What does this have to with Striving for Excellence? Quite a lot, actually. What are the two things that motive you (or anyone) to do anything. Joy and Pain. Carrot and Stick.

Think about this. When you do something, it is either to avoid pain or have pleasure. I will eat that piece of chocolate cake because it tastes so good. - PLEASURE. I will not eat that piece of chocolate cake because I will feel guilty cheating on my diet - PAIN.

At first you may say, 'What! You're reducing us to the level of Pavlov's dog? We can't be conditioned like that." Sorry, yes you can and companies pay Marketers billions of dollars a year to just that. "Drink this and you'll be happy" "Wear this perfume and you'll be sexy" They cater to our basic level. Pleasure and Pain.

Ok, now that you know this. Use it to your advantage. Take the thing you know you need to do, but are avoiding because of some pain and turn it on it head. Reframe it so that the outcome is pleasure.

I need to get the garage cleaned out, but it'll take all day! - PAIN stops you. Reframed: I need to get the garage cleaned out so that I park my car inside again. - PLEASURE.

By you reframing the issue, you control the outcome. You control you. Don't let someone else do it.

It's economy, stupid.

Remember this from the '92 election? It's too bad that we've forgotten it's meaning over the last 15 years. In good times, people tend to think it will last forever and subsequently they make financial choices on that premise.

With this global recession hitting hard...really hard, people are coming to grips with their own financial difficulties. However, I have spoken to many people that react, 'Well, this is bad, but we'll be fine.'

Now how is it that they can have that mentality and other are preparing for the end of days? (ok not the real end of days, but that is how they seem to be reacting). The answer, RATIONAL SPENDING.

I have a neighbor who thinks that all their neighbors are names Jones. (for those of you that don't get that - Keeping up with the Joneses). I can see the spiral they are in, but they cannot seem to see it.

It's OK to spend, but don't spend what you don't have or what you cannot possibly repay easily. And please save. You never know when you'll need it.

Ok, stepping off my soapbox now. Thank you, and good night.

You Watch That?

Everyone has some television show they watch that makes others say, "You watch that?" Ok, at least I think they do. I have two shows that makes my wife ask me that (she has shows that make me ask her that too).
I began to think about these shows and why I watch them. It finally hit me reading a great post from Danielle LaPorte over at White Hot Truth. She asks "are you willing to be toast?: authentic transformation".

The two shows in question are 'Clean House' and 'The Biggest Loser'. "You watch that?" you ask. Well yes, and now I know why. Each of these shows are about people transforming their lives, either breaking away from addiction to clutter or addiction to food. And in the process have transformed themselves to become the person they have aspired to be, but never could seem to get there. Sometimes, they did not aspire to be that way, but were unhappy with their lives and could not figure out why.

Each show has lots of tears as the walls that held these people back are broken down and new strengths emerges. That is why I watch. I see the transformations and it reaffirms to me that change is good, examples of what I do not want to be and the happiness that a transformation can bring to someone. The people on these shows need help; help to finally lose the weight or get out from under the weight of clutter.

I will continue to look at myself and see what is holding me back and work on my own transformations.

Ok, I get it

So I've spent the last week checking out Twitter. At first I pretty skeptical. Isn't this for teenagers? Does anyone care what I'm doing throughout the day? More importantly, do I care what others are doing?

Well, I gave it whirl and it's pretty cool! I have found several people on there that have some great links to interesting articles, just some damn funny things to say, and great info.

It can be a great tool to build your network. I'm not a twitter evangelical, but I'm digging it and see the potential.

Twitter me.

Revisiting the Tao

I picked up my copy of the Tao Te Ching again to revisit it. I will make my way through it and think about a passage a day, trying to place it in context with my thoughts. I find it amazing that I can always relate it to something happening in the world or in my life.

I read the first passage and this time I made me think about people that I know.

"Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught up in desire, you only see the manifestations."

How many people have you known that are so wrapped up in something: Getting the right job, spouse or car, beating the next person in a competition, making someone else look bad. They all are actually unhappy, they complain, the grass is always greener. Don't they bring you down?

Then look at people that are just plain happy. Do they care that someone else won? Do they need to get a better car? No they don't. They realize what is important. The others do not and only see the manifestations (their perceptions, not reality).

I know I'm rambling, but bear with me. I admire people that seem to have an inner drive to achieve, but do not let that drive dictate them. They are successful because they realize that what they are trying achieve is not the most important thing; their family, their relationships, their time is more important.

If you have a chance, pick up the Tao Te Ching and read it. It's short, but don't make it a short read, you'll loose the meaning. Or check out an on-line translation by Stephen Mitchell.

Second Wind

“If you make an ass out of yourself, there will always be someone to ride you” - Bruce Lee
I have let my blogging lapse again. Sigh. But, I could have just said, forget it and not come back, but I made a promise to myself, so here I am. If anyone reads this, feel free to scold me :)

I saw this quote fro the great Bruce Lee and had to share it. I have known at lot of people who have the ability to always make an ass out themselves (I know I have). But what this simple quote states that most people don't realize, is that you put yourself in a bad, negative or subservient position when you do. Most people tend to do this by talking when they should be listening. Here is a great post on listening.

I'll be back in a day or two.