He approached the beach and gave his legs a break from peddling, allowing a moment to enjoy the cool and gentle breeze which flowed through his sun drenched hair. The smell of saltwater was in the air as the worn tires of his old bike rolled over the cracked concrete, producing a slightly noticeable whir. Occasionally he glanced up at the swaying palm trees that stretched towards the sky, which still didn't seem real. The streets were familiar, and the scene no different, but the experience was always new. With a grand imagination it could easily be anyone's first time.

Later as he sat in the sand time stood still, and with the backdrop of ever present waves, memories were made. The far away clouds hung over the mysterious blue water, grey and dreary, but the sun still shone overhead. When he was there, it was all just a moment. But time has no bounds, and everything etches itself into the past. Though tomorrow is an eternity away, eventually things start to move, and with the right memories it is all recalled as he rides down a familiar street and glances up at the swaying palm trees stretching towards the sky, which still at times don't seem real.

Labels: poetry, random

I had written this article about compromise almost a year ago, and realized that I never even published it. It was sitting in my drafts, so I guess no time like the present to dig it up and send it out to the world!

I'm not trying to give any advice here, this is about me sorting out things in my personal life, things regarding lifestyle and prioritizing. And even though this was originally written a year ago, a lot of it still holds true.

In general I am a pretty happy person, I am laid back and easy to get along with. But also, I am prone to over thinking and overanalyzing, and as anyone knows, both of those things can get to you. I feel lucky to be where I am, I have a roof over my head, things in my house, a girlfriend, and I get to do a lot of fun and interesting things that a lot of people never get to do. (Even little fun day trips like this!) I know that I should express more gratitude for all the great things that I have in my life.

However, at the same time, I feel like I need more. Not more things, not more money, but more life. I feel a yearning deep down inside that I am meant for more, that there is more for me to do. And these thoughts lead me to sometimes feel stagnant. Not that anything about right now is bad, but that there is more that could be. And often I find it hard to find a balance between what I want and yearn for and what I currently have. Sometimes feelings of contentment conflict with these yearnings, and finding middle ground and stability is hard for me, and finding this middle ground is something I need because it will then allow me to nurture my personal relationships, while at the same time not compromising my ideals or my happiness.

I understand that life is about compromise, that you can't give into every whim and every want, that sacrificing for those you love can be a reward in itself, however the questions that I ask myself is:

How much is the right amount? Am I being too selfish when I indulge my yearnings? And my compromising too much of myself? How can I stay happy and true to myself and grow into the person I want to become while also being responsible to my current obligations?

Quite often I feel that my life is very dualistic. I am usually happy and satisfied to go home to a quiet and modest home, happy being an average person with an average life. But then there are days where I wonder if I am following a path which will always leave me wondering what's out there if were to follow another path just a little further. I know that life is a journey, that we reach points that we have to make choices. Compromise is a part of life. I know this. But where and when is it time to draw a line in the sand, to learn to be content or to indulge the yearnings that are deep within? How do we know when compromise is right and when it's wrong?

Labels: compromise, personal development

I'm pretty sure that come Friday everyone is looking for something besides work to do, so I've decided to start a new feature here that I'll publish every Friday morning. I guess for a lack of anything better to call it, I'll call it my Friday Interesting Links until I can come up with something better. If you have any you want to share, let me know, and I'll be sure to credit you for bringing it to my attention.

So here are my votes for this week, just a few I've found that are worth sharing:

Videos
India Monkey King scales new heights - YouTube video, 1:35
You'll never do this on a bike - YouTube video, 6:21 via Wend Magazine
Hanuman the traveling cat - LonelyPlanet.tv video, 2:58
New Wedding Dance - YouTube video, 5:09

Articles
Denver Post Barefoot Running Debate - Barefoot running article, thx barefoot ted
How to send food back at a restaurant - Bohemian Revolution

Labels: interesting, link-friday, random

I have been thinking a lot about my life lately. About things like abundance, positive thinking, manifesting desires, and living the life I want. I am by nature a person without a lot of certainty, I am always double thinking, over thinking, second guessing, and oddly I know a lot about what I don't want but not a lot about what I do want.

Just recently I read this post by Steve Pavlina and it made me realize, even though I am great at dreaming and I want a lot out of life, I am not a great manifester. Which subsequently got me into an email conversation with a friend of mine who is currently in the process of manifesting the perfect life for herself.

It started with me writing an email, asking her if she thought I am inadvertantly manifesting scarcity in my life because of what I believe and my values. I have strong feelings about consumerism and over consumption, and I don't think money buys happiness. (I do believe that security can help happiness though.) So my question to her was, being that I don't think material abundance is necessory nor is it something I am interested in, does that mean that am I putting myself into a mindset of scarcity? Monetarily and materially I am quite happy with what I have, but I got to thinking if these feelings of contentment were in turn creating contentment in other areas where I may be lacking. And finally I was curious her thoughts on what I could do do align my beliefs and desires with a state of mind which would manifest abundance in other areas of my life, not necessarily relating to finances.

And of course, she had some very good feedback for me.

To address my question about financial abundance and being content, she made some good points that I had been thinking about. That it's not about overconsuming, but rather having enough/plenty of money, and having things you want that were made with care and that will last. And I suppose that if money is what it takes to do the things I want, regardless of whether it is a lot or a little, then that means having abundance. And a great way of looking at it, she said that if she chooses to shop at a thrift store, it's not about being cheap, it is about the treasures that can be uncovered. That it's about the ability to find the best things for her (or anyone), without needing to think about the price tag.

She told me that she visualizes her life being abundant. And suggested a gratitude journal, saying it helped her. Each morning she would write down 6 amazing things, things really crazy amazing to align herself with what she wanted to manifest. Then, before bed, she would write down 5 things that were positive and abundant things about the day to remind herself that she is already happy with the life that she is living.

The things she told me were all very positive and I am going to try to integrate some of them into my life starting today. We will see over the next few weeks if visualing happiness, success, and abudance can help me make some changes in my life.

Labels: how-to, inspiration, personal development, thinking

Photo credit: juicyraiI found this article about how to send food back at a restaurant over at Bohemian Revolution, and I think it's great advice. For a lot of people, this is trivial information, but it's always good being reminded that it's ok to send food back if you are not happy, and that there is a way to do it without being a jerk.

How to send food back at a restaurant

Labels: how-to, interesting, personal development, tips

Main plaza in Tecate MexicoToday we decided to take a day trip down to Tecate, Mexico. Though it is a border city, it is a much smaller and better representation of Mexico than Tijuana. It's also within an hour of San Diego. I had been once before, but today I went down with my girlfriend. We drove to the border, parked, walked across, and within 15 minutes we were sitting in the central plaza sipping beers and eating chips.

Prior to my first trip there, I had heard that it was a nice place to visit, but I wanted to check it out for myself. At the time I couldn't find much consistent information about it online, but if you're interested in visiting, it's a simple day trip. No border lines, no stress, and not even much walking.

As it turns out, you can park on the US side, there are side roads where it is fine to just pull over on the side and park for free. As you approach the border, turn left (east), and you will where there are other cars parked, just pull up and make sure you're off the road. The border is less than a 5 minute walk, and once you enter Mexico, just go straight for a few blocks and you will see the main plaza. It seems that this is where most things happen, as the park is filled with locals just relaxing. Today, a Sunday afternoon, there were very few tourists.

It's a great day trip, there is very little stress involved, and crossing the border is about as easy as it gets.

It doesn't seem that there is much to do in Tecate other than hang out in the plaza, but isn't that ok?


Related Links:
Memorial Day Weekend in Punto San Jacinto, Mexico

Labels: mexico, San Diego, travel

There are a few things that I've recently learned about running that have me excited. I've always been a casual jogger, but have never been all that thrilled about it. Really it has been more of an activity to stay active than something that really intrested me. But after reading the book Born to Run, I have a renewed interest in it. I have been taking tips and drawing inspiration from where ever I can, including the book, a DVD called Chi Running, and some of the Superatheletes that were written about in the book Born to Run.

And so far, I'm happy to report that it seems to be working. My issue is still with my conditioning, but my runs -- short though they may be -- have been more enjoyable and with no apparent issues. One of the biggest things I have learned is about how our feet are intended to function, and how wearing high performance running shoes changes that. According to many sources, running shoes generally hurt running performance rather than help. This is for several reasons. Apparently while wearing shoes, the ability for the foot to feel the ground and thus ensure that we are running with proper form is hampered, in turn causing bad form that can lead to potential injuries that would be prevented if running barefoot or with very flat or thin soled shoes. Heel striking is a common injury that wouldn't occur without these "performance" shoes. Also, with feet kept continually in shoes and supported, many of the muscles of the foot are allowed to weaken, which further increases the chance of injury. I have read of people whose running injuries have totally disappeard within months of starting to run barefoot! Additionally, I have heard accounts of people with so called flat feet (like me) who adopted barefoot running and subsequently lost the flatness and developed an arch.

It's just amazing what our body can do.

The biggest thing that I repeat in my head now as I run comes from Caballo Blanco, who was introduced to me in the book Born To Run: Run easy, light, and smooth. Amazing how much that works.

Also what I am focusing on:

• Keeping my knees bent to help absorb the shock of landing, rather than letting the shoe do it
• Avoiding heel striking by being lighter on my feet and taking shorter strides
• Trying to lift up my feet from the ground as opposed pushing down to propel, to make the movement easier, as taught by Danny Dreyer of Chi Running
• Posture - keeping my shoulders over hips, and my hips over feet
• And while my hips stay aligned with my feet, I picture my feet as wheels doing a smooth circular motion rather than scissoring

I am still a beginner at this, but I definitely have a new outlook on running...


Related Links:
Ultra marathons and barefoot trail running

Labels: reading, running

How to Successfully Summit Mount Whitney in One Day - eBook Coming soon!

In my first real attempt to monetize this site, I am in the process of writing my first e-book. And because it will be my first eBook, I will be giving out the first 10 copies free. Keep reading for the details.

The e-book describe in full detail how to successfully day hike Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States. I have attempted the hike twice, and completed it once, so I know what makes the difference between a successful trip and an unsuccessful one. I also spent quite a bit of time researching for this trip, so I have wealth of knowledge to share.

For those of you who don't know, I am just an average guy and I'm not an extreme athlete, but I learned from the first year's mistakes and successfully trained to complete the hike the second time around. Since this is my first go at an e-book, I will be giving out the first 10 copies free. All I ask is that after reading it you provide some feedback. I will then make any necessary changes and probably being selling it for $9 per download.

With this guide I am not trying to make you a superstar hiker, however I will tell you in complete detail the steps I followed to make the trip a success. My goal is to supply anyone with the desire to complete this hike with all the necessary information to prepare, train, and successfully complete this hike.

What you can expect from this guide:

• What months to go to have the best weather and the best chance of success
• How to navigage the permit process
• Training and preparation tips
• When to begin your training
• How to know if you're ready
• How much training is necessary
• What to expect in the days leading up to the trip
• Where to stay prior to the hike (Camping vs hotel)
• Acclimating to the elevation
• How and what to pack for the hike
• What to expect on The Big Day
• Photos of the trail and the mountain

If you are interested in being one of the first to receive this e-book or you wish to get on the list to purchase it, simply leave a comment below or contact me. I will notify you by email when the e-book has been completed.

Labels: ebook, hiking, how-to, inspiration, mt whitney

The other day Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Noncomformity posted a really interesting article about social networking for introverts. It really struck me because I tend toward being introverted myself. And in one of the comments, someone said something that really resonated with me. Nicole from Just Make It Better noted that someone she knew would say

It’s not that I don’t like being around people, it’s just that I prefer to be around the ones that I like.

And that pretty much explains me.

I am good at conversation and I enjoy being around people, the catch is I have to like them to have a good time. In the past I have been told that I can be a bit standoff-ish or unfriendly, to which I say, I am neither, it's just that I have to know you first. Chris says in his article that when he is seated on an airplane next to people he may not have much in common with that "sometimes we’ll talk and sometimes we won’t, and either way is fine with me."

All of this makes perfect sense to me. However, I think that there are extroverts who don't quite understand this mentality, they think this behavior tends towards anti-social. They thrive on conversation, and on meeting new people, whether or not there is any mutual connection. Whereas for me, when I meet new people I have no problem with chit chat, but once I know that there isn't much in common, I become bored and the conversation can get strained. For me to be stimulated and to really enjoy someone's company, I need a deeper connection. I don't mean a sexual or intimate connection, but I need to know that the person I'm speaking with really understands me, and then the conversation can go on for hours. I have had several friends like this in the past, and spending time with them was always great. We would debate and philosophize and talk about dreams and aspirations and life and bounce topics off each other. But when I don't feel that connection, I am ok with being alone. And enjoying solitude is a scary thought for some people, but that's another topic altogether.

So to get back to Chris' article, the thing that is really profound is that the majority of the people who commented on his post seemed to share the common trait of being introverts. Maybe there is some correlation? Maybe he attracts fellow introverts? Who knows. But maybe a reason we introverts can embrace social networking so well is because it allows us to create the deeper connections that we thrive on more easily. Another thing of note is that I'd say most of Chris' followers are independent, motivated, and intelligent people.

Certainly all people I'd like to call my friends, in real life or not.


Related Links:
Social Media Makes Us Approachable

Labels: interesting, personal development, social networking, thinking

I've found another blog I like, so I figured I'd share it. I'll give another little shout out on Monday regarding what led me to Nicole's blog, Just Make It Better, but for now I want to pass this article along.

I won't waste my time paraphrasing what she wrote, but I will say she's right on regarding what she says about being yourself and doing what makes you happy. And she also points out a couple of the traps that we (myself included) fall into when it comes to following the rules even if it doesn't benefit us.

It's not how it's done, it's how you do it.

Labels: interesting, personal development

Shantaram
Gregory David RobertsAs promised last week, here is my review for one of my favorite books of all time, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

The book is very long, over 900 pages (!), but because it is so action packed it can be a quick read if you have the time to let yourself get involved. In brief, the book is about a man who escapes prison in New Zealand and ends up in Bombay working as a slum doctor. Thus the book is about the life he build in Bombay, and follows him over several years, first as a slum doctor, then moving on to mafia man and then mujahadeen fighter. The twists and turns of the plot make you want to keep reading, never knowing what will happen next. What makes this even more interesting is that, while fictional, much of what happens is based on experiences from Roberts' life. In real life Roberts had been a former heroin addict who managed to escape from prison in Australia and ended up in India. There is debate as to which events in the book are true and which are not, however Roberts claims that most of it is fiction. Never the less, there is at least some that is based on true events, and the book is sure to hold you attention.

In real life Roberts is ultimately recaptured to serve out the remainder of his prison sentence, and it is during this time that he wrote much of the novel, which makes the story even more amazing. There are many parts of the story that seem like they could be exaggerated, scenes that you wonder if could ever have really taken place, but the reality is it doesn't matter since this book is a novel, and a great one at that. He manages to write in such a way that as the reader you feel like you are experiencing the heart and soul of Bombay, and being taken to places that you will likely never venture on your own.

Shantaram is a real piece of work, and I would highly recommend it to most anyone, especially if you have an interest in adventure, travel and/or India. That said, there are parts that contain extremely violent events, so keep that in mind before picking it up. But if you choose to read it, you will not be disappointed.

Related Links:
My Top 10 Books

Labels: books, interesting, random, reading

Mt Whitney Summit -- August 2008There are days when I feel accomplished, and there are days when I feel down. Sometimes life seems to get a little boring, and the days begin to pass in the blink of an eye. So I've decided to write this post in an effort to keep myself inspired and to remind myself not to let my life get too boring as I quickly approach my 31st year. There are some things that I've accomplished that I can look back upon to remind myself that I am living, and there things I want to do to make sure I keep living. On days when life gets frustrating and starts to seem pretty boring, I remind myself of these things that I've done and can continue to be proud of. And along with that, I have to keep reminding myself of all the things out there that I want to do!

So here is my list... What are your accomplishments and goals? How do you stay motivated?

Done and/or accomplished:

• Summitted the highest mountain in the continental United States (Mt Whitney) in one day (up and back, 22 miles, 18 hours, 6000+ ft elevation gain)
• Driven across the United States (3 times, once alone, twice with a friend)
• Bicycled from San Diego, California to Phoenix, Arizona, 400 miles in 7 days
• Backpacked Spain alone for two weeks and also ventured into Morocco
• Completed a half marathon
• Left my family and moved to California by myself
• Went to the 2003 NCAA Final Four Basketball tournament at the Louisiana Superdome
• Taken a train some 3000 or so miles across the United States
• Driven the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway up the California coast to Monterrey
• Fasted on water only for 4 days

Things I want to do: (Not limited to just this list :) )

• Finish a marathon or longer race
• Take an overnight hiking/backpacking trip
• Ride my bike up the Pacific Coast
• TRAVEL more (Asia, Africa, more of Europe, South America, anywhere really)
• Live in a van or RV for at least a month
• Hike some or all of the Appalachian Trail
• Become self employed

Labels: adventure, biking, hiking, inhibitions, lifestyle, personal development, random

Thanks to Matador for pointing me to this series of photos, "Intolerable Beauty, Portraits of American Mass Consumption" by Chris Jordan. It definitely makes you think about how much we as a society use, and more importantly, waste. In addition to this photo of cell phones, there are photos of enormous piles of cigarette butts, old hard drives, old cars, sawdust, bottles, and more. Go over and check them out.

Labels: consumption, interesting, trash