Archive for March, 2008
I love reading great philosophies about how to live life to the fullest, enjoying each sip from the nectar of life. I have combined some of my favorites for your reading pleasure. My personal philosophy in life comes from the last line in my favorite poem Ulysses: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not the yield”. My interpretation is to strive for love, seek knowledge, find happiness, and yield not to fear.
- Dance like no one is watching, Love like you have never been hurt, Spend like you didn’t earn the money, and don’t take life too seriously: No one gets out alive, anyways.
- Fear nothing, never quit, never give up, never surrender, and always speak your mind even when your voice trembles. A life lived in fear is a life half lived; because man should never fear death but man should fear never having lived.
- Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find “tomorrow” on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday’s defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow: This is it. Doomsday, All you have.
- Nothing happens by chance, so don’t chance anything; make it happen now. Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it.
- Circumstance don’t make a hero, they just reveal him. Man is not the creature of circumstances,
circumstances are the creatures of men.
- Laugh at yourself, life, and everything around you. Laugh as a remedy and a miracle drug that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective seemingly terrible defeats and worries in life.
- It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. Remember that you have only one life to live so make the best of it. Be whoever and whatever you’d like to be. Pursue your passions and your dreams.
- Don’t waste time suffering. It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
- Throw caution to the wind in pursuit of pleasure, because if it hurts, then it’s probably worth it
- Always lie to cops… LOL Just kidding…
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Tags: , fear, heart, Life, mind, philosophies, soul
By changing what you eat, you can enliven your heart and enhance your soul. I found an amazing post this week containing some delicious healthy drink recipes. The article was so tasty that I left a comment for the writer requesting permission to share his work; luckily he agreed. The post was written by Jaison, if you’re interested in reading more of his material, you can find his blog at the following address: http://iamjaison.blogspot.com/
The Body Cleanser
Use 3 parts apple 1 part ginger and 3 parts carrot. The main benefits of this juice include revitalization of the body, good for cold and glowing skin. Beauticians usually prescribe this juice because of its extremely good effects on the skin. But the benefits are not limited to the skin. It has a cleansing and boosting effect to the whole body.
The Cholesterol Buster
A juice made from Apple cucumber and celery is known to fight cancer and reduce cholesterol. It also improves any sort of stomach upset and headache. This juice is a must have once you have crossed your 30’s. If you have this juice every other day, then you will not have to worry about your cholesterol level any more. Sample proportion - 2 parts apple, 1 part cucumber and 1 part celery
Super Breath
This juice is specifically for people who want to improve their skin complexion. The ingredients are Apple, Carrot and Tomato. For better effect use Green apples. This juice also had an added advantage of eliminating bad breath. This is due to the Apple, Tomato combination. Sample proportion- 2 part apple, 2 part carrot and 1 part tomato
Super Cooler
A combination of Bitter gourd milk and Apple is used when one generates lots of internal body heat. This juice will instantly cool down your internal body heat and make you more comfortable. It also fights bad breath just like our previous recipe. Sample proportion- 1 part Bitter gourd, 1 cup milk, 2 full Apples
Super Skin
It is a very well know fact that orange and cucumber are the most vital things to have if one is concerned about the skin. A combination of these two combined with ginger will act as a supper supplement for your skin. Its combined effect will improve the skin texture and moisture content in the skin. It is also a body heat reducing drink. Sample Proportion- 2 parts orange 2 parts cucumber ½ part ginger
The Wild Thing
Now, this one is one of my favorites. Apple, Pineapple and Watermelon blends together to form a wonderful mouth watering juice which is excellent for you kidney and bladder. It also helps dispelling excess salts from your body. Some people use a tint of salt with this juice but I like to drink it as it is without the salt flavor. Sample proportion- 2 Apples, ½ Pine apple and ¼ Watermelon (The seeds should be removed otherwise the taste will differ)
The Vitamin Juice
This is an extremely healthy drink with loads and loads of vitamin content. It is made from Honeydew, black grapes, watermelon and milk. If you have kids at home, they will love this. Other than Vitamin C, it also has Vitamin B12. It also increases the cell activity and strengthens body immunity. Sample Proportion- Mix in equal proportions.
The Sugar Fighter
This is a simple but very useful and easy to digest juice. It regulates the sugar content in our body. The juice is made of Pear and banana. Pear is good for an ulcer, constipation, and urination and also works for congestion, fever alleviation, and cough. Banana is good for people who have high blood pressure because it is low in salt. Banana contains tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that is known to make you feel happy and improve your mood. Sample Proportion 3 parts pear and 2 parts banana.
Anti Oxidant
A juice made by mixing mango, pear, carrot and apple will act as an antioxidant. It clears the body heat, counteracts toxicity and decrease blood pressure. Apple is a well known anti oxidant. The addition of mango makes this juice a very tasty drink. Sample proportion- 3 parts mango, 2 parts peer, 2 parts carrot, 2 parts apple.
Purple Pine
Purple pine is made from pineapple and grapes. A black grape is usually used. The drink is high in iron and pineapple acts as a Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Digestive agent. It is a good drink to have after your lunch or dinner. Grape juice is known to be good for heart. Sample Proportion- ½ Pineapple and 1 full cup of grapes.
Pink Floyd
This is an extremely tasty juice (Most of the times used as milk shake) which is made from a combination of banana and strawberry. The strawberries should be ripe enough and should be mixed or blend very well before using. Some people filter this drink but I like to drink it without filtering because I love those tiny strawberry pieces floating in the drink. Sample Proportion- 8 medium size strawberries and 3 bananas with half cup milk
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Tags: cleanser, drink, health, heart, juice, recipes, skin, soul, vitamin
Today was an amazing morning today for two reasons. The first, was finding out that Enlightenyourday.com won The Blog of the Day Award after only two weeks of publication. In the spirit of my favorite saying “Pura Vida”; celebrate good fortune, whether small or large. It was a little omen that brougtht a big smile to my face. The very next email I checked was from Elf. I met Elf in an internet café in Jaco, a notoriously dangerous place in Costa Rica. Elf rushed into the internet café, and began to plead with the employee to let him use the internet to cancel his credit cards, all his money and valuables were stolen that day. I looked back and gave the employee a simpethetic look to say “Come on buddy, do what’s right”. He sat down next to me and started to cancel his credit cards online, we began to chat and he told me the story. He was at a tourist attraction watching the crocodiles, he put down his bag to take a picture; two seconds later it was gone. I reached into my pocket, I had twenty bucks American on me at the time, not much; but enough for a bed at the hostel and food for the day. I handed it over and said “Here you go Man”. His response was great, “Really, are you sure, I will pay you back, just give me your email, I promise.” His shock to my small act of kindness was enough to know I made the right decision. “Canadians are very friendly people who like to help others”, is all I said. I let him know where I was staying and to come by if he needed anymore help. Three months have passed since Costa Rica, I almost forgot about it until today’s email which reads as follows: Remember Jacó Hello Jonathan, how are you? Maybe you remember the confused german in Jacó, Costa Rica who’s baggage was stolen - at least all valuables, papers andmoney. That was me! The 20$ you borrowed me were very helpful for the first night. Thankyou very much again! I’m sorry that I get in touch with you so late,but the rest of my baggage was lost on the flight back to germany(when it rains, it pours) and with it your email address. Surprisingly it was found a fews days ago… Now I want you to get the money back. You told me something about PayPal? Looking forward to here from you! Best regards,Ulf Instead of responding to his email, I am just going to send him link to this post. So Elf, is your reading this, don’t worry about the twenty bucks, it was my pleasure. Like I said, “Canadians are very friendly people who like to help others”. Just pay it forward sometime to someone who needs it. Pura Vida Amigo
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Tags: , friendly, inspirational, kindness
My favorite book, The Alchemist, written by my favorite writer Paulo Coelho, is a beautiful Fable about following your dreams. I love this book with all my heart and I give it as a gift whenever possible. The gift I am sharing with you today is my favorite quotes from this inspiring and enlightening book.
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“Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
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“The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”
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“When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. “
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“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.”
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“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
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“Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World. “
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“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
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“When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force.”
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“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
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“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
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“When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.”
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“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
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“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”
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“When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.”
- “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”
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Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. “
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“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.”
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“In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.”
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“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
- “I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald.”
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Tags: Alchemist, book, Enlightening, fable, heart, Paulo coelho, quote
I am by no means a bible thumper; I could’ve made a career out of sinning. Yet, in all the bad things I have ever done, I never lost faith in something more pure and beautiful that guides the world to make it a better place. I have hit rock bottom more then once; the higher you go in life, the farther the pit we fall down in. At one of my lowest points in life, I had no where else to turn. I asked God for a sign, an omen, that better days would be coming. What happened next shook me to the core of my existence. I remember reading something about a man who would flip through the bible to a random passage, he would always find the guidance he needed at the most crucial times in his life. I thought to myself, it can’t hurt if I try it just this once. I was so low and depressed at this point, I would try anything. So here goes, I started my random flipping through the pages until they seemed to come to a stop for me.
My name is Jonathan, for some reason I always considered it to be a modern name. I had no idea of it having any bible references. So when the pages stopped at a passage with my name in it; I was in awe. Curiosity filled my being as I continued reading what seemed to be unbelievable at the time. I have always had a great interest in enlightened philosophy. I contribute that to being a seeker of all things good. So here is what I read at a time when I needed an omen in life and was desperate to find one anywhere.
Samuel I, chapter 14: “And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan heard not when his farther charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of his rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his month; and his eyes were enlightened. And answered one of the people, and said. Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath trouble the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.” Samuel I, 14
This passage was so close to the truth in my heart: I have always tasted the sweet and dangerous honeys in life. Yet, for me it was the path that was necessary to bring me where in needed to go; because it was in my darkest hours that I found my true light; a light I know shall never leave me. My prayer was answered that day, and I shall never forget it for as long as I live.
I originally published this post in I Dream Now Travel Blog
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Tags: , bible, god, honey, omen, passage, prayer, Samuel
I love The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, it will always remain my favorite book. The first time I read it, I couldn’t help but think a little part of me was the Shepherd boy Santiago seeking his destiny by listening to his heart and following his dreams. If my apartment caught fire and I could only take three things, they would be my Cat named Alchemy, my laptop, and my first edition signed copy of The Alchemist.
“At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him. When he looked intro her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke-the language that everyone on earth is capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older then humanity, more ancient then the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen-the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the silence of the desert. It was the pure language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe need none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only women in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than anything in the world… …And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have on meaning. Maktub, thought the boy.” P. 97 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“The boy didn’t know what a person’s ‘destiny’ was. ‘It’s what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny… It’s a force that appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your destiny. It prepares your spirit and you will, because there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth. ‘Even when all you want to do is to travel? Or marry the daughter of a textile merchant?’ ‘Yes, or even search for treasure. The Soul of the World is nourished by people’s happiness. And also by unhappiness, envy, and jealousy. To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation. All things are one. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires to helping you to achieve it’.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“There, he could exchange his book for a thicker one, fill his wine bottle, shave, and have a haircut; he had to prepare himself for his meeting with the girl, and he didn’t want to think about the possibility that some other shepherd, with a larger flock of sheep, had arrived there before him and asked for her hand. It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting, he thought, as he looked again at the position of the sun, and hurried his pace. He had suddenly remembered that, in Tarifa, there was an old woman who interpreted dreams.” P.11 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“I’m alive”, he said to the boy, as they ate a bunch of dates one night, with no fires and no moon. “When I’m eating, that’s all I think about. If I’m on the march, I just concentrate on marching. If I have to fight, it will be just a good day to die as any other. “Because I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m only interested in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. You’ll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the heavens, and that tribesmen fight because they are part of the human race. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living right now.” P.89 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I originally published these passages in I Dream Now Travel Blog. If you enjoyed this post then subscribe to Enlightenyourday.com today.
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Tags: , , Alchemist, Coelho, destiny, dreams, heart, inspiring, Paulo, soul
An open heart: Let everything in without fear; an open heart will always lead to beauty. Open you heart to the people around you, the sun, the stars, and the wonderful experience of life in general. There is only one friend who can never betray you in life; your heart. It will lead you to your smiles, treasures, and true love. Take a moment each day and listen to the sound of its rhythmic beat and ask it what the best plan is for today. Limited or no expectations: Don’t limit yourself with expectations of the grandiose. The less you expect, the more you get. If you want to be pleasantly surprised time and time again, expect nothing, want nothing, and just be. Make a point not to plan everyday out, or like me don’t plan anything at all, just step outside and follow your heart to the next pleasant surprise in your life. It’s when we least expect it that our heart fills us with the white light that brightens the day. Virgin Eyes: All children are Zen Masters because everything is an eye opening experience. They’re seeing, tasting, feeling, and most important; loving the world for the first time. Try saying to a child with all the enthusiasm in your heart, “Wooowwwwwww Look at that Bridge”, their eyes will light up with wonder and inevitably have a complete Zen response like “AAAHH”, WOW, and so on. There is nothing mundane or boring in life for a child, everything possesses beauty: a Cat sitting peacefully in a window, a Bird singing in a tree, even a little Ant crawling along just trying to make it home alive. When or where we lose this wonder, I don’t know, but it seems to me when we travel a little sense of this child like wonder comes back to us. We want to gaze at Churches, buildings and monuments with delight. Yet, the same delight can always be found right in our own backyard on a cloudy day. Choose virgin eyes and see the world again for the first time. The present moment: There is no tomorrow and yesterday is never coming back! Ask yourself each morning, “What do I want to do today; what will make me happy now!” That is the beauty of the journey. When all the routines, expectations, and obligations fall to the wayside; all that is left is your desire; follow this desire in the present moment. Start the day off with that which will make you happy and leave the rest open to new experiences. There are infinite possibilities of happiness; no one can ever hope to obtain them all. If you can gain even a few specks of what will make you happy; then you have done a good job. A journal: A journal will bring you back to the thoughts and feeling in your mind. It will show you how your soul has grown and that you have become a different person. Rereading my journals is always fun because it shows me how my heart and mind has changed. This reminder is comforting; change is the only constant in the world. Embrace change and you will always continue to become a better person. I originally published this post in I Dream Now Travel Blog.
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Tags: , changing, children, Essentials, heart, journey, Life, masters, Zen
As I walked out my door today, spring was gracefully flowing through the air. The feeling of the warm wind caressing my cheeks and the wonderful scent of Nature immediately heightened my presence and awareness. To quote one of my favorite movies, American Beauty, “There is so much beauty in the World”. In one of my favorite little books, Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain, there is a simple and beautiful meditation to practice on a day such as this, I hope you enjoy. The basics of Creative Visualization can be defined as follows: “Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.” Shakti Gawain.
The world’s easiest meditation: Pink Bubble Technique
Exercise: “Sit or lie down comfortably, close your eyes and breathe deeply, slowly, and naturally. Gradually relax deeper and deeper. Imagine something that you would like to manifest. Imagine that it has already happened. Picture is as clearly as possible in your mind.Now in your mind’s eye surround your fantasy with a pink bubble; put your goal inside the bubble. Pink is the color associated with the heart, and if this color vibration surrounds whatever you visualize, it will bring to you only that which is in perfect affinity with your being. The third step is to let go of the bubble and imagine it floating off into the universe, still containing your vision. This symbolizes that you are emotionally “letting go” of it. Now it is free to float around in the universe, attracting and gathering energy for its manifestation. There is nothing more you need to do.
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Tags: , bubble, creative, energy, Gawain, goal, meditation, Pink, Shakti, technique, Visualization
I enjoy reading Zenhabits.net on a daily basis. One of my all time favorite posts is 75 simple pleasures to brighten your day. So I decided to take this post and creatively combine some Zen habits together for your reading pleasure. Here is my list:
- Taking a long, warm and relaxing shower, gradually cooling the temperature until you feel completely refreshed. Now, hop right back into bed and snuggle closely with your loved one.
- Walking barefoot in grass while listening to good music and smelling the fresh-cut grass permeating the air.
- Playing hooky to have a picnic and blow bubbles into the sun while forgetting completely about your things to-do list.
- Dancing like you are crazy because no one is watching, feeling great for doing it, like a revitalizing workout.
- Taking a hot bubble bath with the window cracked open to feel the gentle breeze caress your skin.
- Kiss in the morning rain and come home to a soothing message and comfortable nap.
- Eating Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and telling jokes till your sides ache.
- Watching the sunrise to a surprise breakfast in bed.
- Walking on the beach with a friend to watch the sunset; enjoying the art of conversation as the sun sinks below the horizon line.
- Snuggling together under the covers on a stormy day with all your favorite chocolates and wine to keep you company.
- Staying up all night talking between making slow and sensual love to your partner.
- Being lazy on a Sunday with Fries, a chocolate milkshake, and Reese’s peanut butter cups for dessert.
- Floating in the water and watching the ebb and flow of the ocean.
- After dancing in the rain and stomping in puddles, singing loudly in the shower to clean your body and mind.
- Making someone smile and helping someone in need on the same day.
- The smell of a new Moleskine notebook, the feel of the fresh crisp pages, and the flow of a good pen to drain your creative thoughts.
- Swimming at night after a long day of just being you.
I originally published this post in I Dream Now Travel Blog. If you enjoyed reading this post, drop me a comment below.
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Tags: creative, enjoy, pleasure, refresh, relaxing, soul, Zen
