Are you expanding or contracting?

"when was the last time you did something for the first time"

I'm not talking about your waist size. I'm talking about your life bucko. We've all heard that old cliche that says, in nature eveything is either growing or dying. When it comes to your life you are either expanding or shrinking. When we are young we are always learning new things and having new experiences (expanding). However, as we age there is a tendency to shrink.

Sometimes we think we know everything. We quit seeking new experiences, skills and knowledge and our world starts to shrink. Get old enough and even your friends start die off and you shrink your social life. As we age we have that tendency to cocoon and pull back from life.

For some their only day planner is the TV Guide. We exercise less, get out in nature less. We fall into the trap of playing it safe. The tried and true, old and comfortable become our new norm....we start to shrink!

So be honest with yourself, are you expanding or shrinking? Thinking about this got me to evaluate my life. I reached the conclusion that while I was still expanding, I could do much more (and I'm not talking about my hat size). So then the question came to me....How do we become shrink resistent?Here 12 fun ways to make you shrink resistent;

1. Learn a new language

2. Learn a new skill

3. Take up a new hobby

4. Read more

5. Write

6. Travel

7. Do cross word puzzles and Sadorka (No sure about the spelling of that)

8. Do charity work

9. Change vocations

10. Commune with nature

11. Seek silence, solitude and stillness (doing nothing works too)

12. This will be a favorite.....try new sex positions.

Of course thinking about this I must practice what I preach so this is what I'm playing with right now;

1. Learning to sail

2. Take a scuba lesson

3. Making a new friends

4. Very, very, slowly learning more Spanish

5. Writing more

6. Planning a trip to a new destination

7. Taking an online course

8. Take up kayaking

9. As soon as I find the right partner, I'll work on number 12 above

Phew, makes me tired just looking at that list....I just might have to quit work early, I wouldn't want to risk straining my poor brain...

Smile, the more we expand the more fun life is!

Eduardo

The miracle of immaturity

"you will never realize a fullfilled life without embracing the miracle of immaturity"

Immaturity gets a bad rap! Nothing brings a smile quicker to an adult than to see kids at play. Their goofiness reminds us what joy feels like. Joy is unbridled elation. How silly to think it should be the exclusive domain of children. Why must we restrict ourselves to experiencing joy vicariously through our kids. A life that is joyless is hardly worth living and certainly not fulfilled.

"it's not my inner child that I fear losing track of, it's my outer adult"

I know a gal who can't resist taking every swing she passes for a spin. Myself, I've occasionally taken a ride on shopping cart in the grocery store. Yes, it's true...I've been blessed with an exceedingly high level of immaturity (but don't worry, there is still room for improvement)Others wouldn't dream of such childishness. And the reason....

"the biggest impediment to happiness is worrying what others may think"

It's that insecurity that we feel by thinking that others will have a lower opinion of us. Oh, they hide their criticisms behind comments like....why don't you act like a grownup? Well, some of us don't want to act like anything, we want to be ourselves. And if that happens to be goofy at times, so be it. We believe...

"we may as well be ourselves....everyone else is already taken"

When it comes to adults the serious team is way too crowded. And let's face it, they are not having much fun anway. Now the goofballs always have room for one more and will welcome you with open arms. It is a far more exclusive club. But it takes courage to brace your immaturity.

"only an idiot would be childish all of the time...unless he was a child"

I haven't completely lost my marbles, yet! Responsibility has it's merits, but I'm assuming you are bright enough to figure out I'm not advocating we quit our jobs and meet at the playground. (we can do that after work).

Smile, life is too important to be taken seriously!

Eduardo

BONUS; Laughter is the shortest distance between two people (Victor Borge)

Can it get any better?

"putting off a trip to the beach right now is a lot like putting off sex until you get old"

In my never ending quest to find ways to make life fun, easy and abundant, sometimes even I am blown away with what researchers keep discovering. But there it was in my morning paper...The Sunshine Vitamin Makes Men Smarter!

That would be 'Vitamin D' they are talking about. And sadly for some of you, it only works for middle aged men and older. (I qualify...yahoo) Sorry but you ladies and young men will have to make do with your exisiting brain power.

The benefit of the Sunshine Vitamin for us guys is improved cognitive brain function, which measures attention and how fast the brain process information. This is in addition to the other benefits;

*keep bones healthy

*protects against cancer, heart attacks and stroke

* protection from autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes

And what is so exciting about this is; we get Vitamin D from the sun. So when us guys are out fishing or watching the girls on the beach, we are actually making our brains work better. AND it is healthy, and that's what you ladies want for us....right? PERFECTO!

So amigos, lets do a quick review; a few months ago, research proved the health benefits of beer. And now, its sunshine (guys only). Does it get any better? We only do it for our health's sake! Homer Simpson once said.....BEER, now there's a temporary solution! Stupid Homer didn't know that its now a pernament solution!

Smile, this is more proof that God wants me to be happy!

Eduardo

BONUS; When choosing between two evils, I always pick the one I have never tried before. (Mae West)

Carpe Momento

"seize the moment. Think about all of those women on the Titanic, who waved off the dessert cart" (Erma Bombeck)

I have friends (Pierre and Cynthia) who own a houseboat which is named 'Carpe Diem' which means seize the day. Now that's a great name for a boat but it got me thinking.....

"to live a happy fulfilled life, all that is required is to take care of this moment"

So I'm thinking the expression should be...Carpe Momento (seize the moment). I've tried to control a whole day without that much success. Too many things happen unexpectedly to screw things up. As the boxer Mike Tyson once said...'it's great to have a plan, until someone hits you in the head'.

The only thing I can control or react to properly is one moment...this moment. And that's all that is really required.

Smile, wine is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

Eduardo

BONUS; They say money doesn't bring happiness. I'm not denying that. I just want to find out for myself!

Why be optimistic?

"within every adversity lies the seed of a benefit so magnificent, that once realized, will bring you to your knees in gratitude"

Alex Tan had this to say...."perhaps our eyes need to washed by our tears once in awhile, so that we can see life with a clearer view again" I doubt that brought much comfort if your stocks and savings are taking a beating?However, being the eternal optimist I'm looking for reasons to be optimistic. Being true to myself I even found some humor which I'll be only too happy to share with you....

"a pessimist is a man who thinks that all women are bad,an optimist is one who hopes that they are" (Chancey Depew)

Feeling better? Not yet? Well, here are a few thoughts that might help...

1) Nothing is static pernamently. Everything in nature is operating in cycles. Even after the worst possible storm comes the sunshine.

2) Bad times make people nicer. It is usually in the worst of times that we see the best in people.

3) Maybe this will be end of consumerism run amuck. This endless desire to get something newer, bigger or fancier than our peers hasn't brought us anymore happiness. Maybe, this is the time to strive for voluntary simplicity. Time to learn to appreciate what really matters and ditch our rediculous egos.

4) As quick as things turn sour, they can turn around.

5) We are insanely lucky! We could have been born in Darfur or Somolia. We won the gene pool lottery and don't even know it (or forgot)

6) Everything is not as it seems....it is much better. What a beautiful opportunity for me to live my own philosophy!

Feeling better now? Great! (see how opitimistic I am?) Ok, one last feel good thought (I made up just for you)

"if we could only see ourselvesas God sees us....now that would be really funny"

Eduardo

Daydream Believer

"the limits of my daydreams are the limits of my world"

Throughout my undistinquished and limited scholastic career there was always one constant I can remember. Every report card I carted home to my disappointed mother always seemed to be annotated with this....."Edward could do much better but he spends too much time daydreaming". Lucky for me, as Mark Twain said...I never let me schooling, interfere with my education.

My teachers were in full agreement that the only thing that seperated me from doing my mother proud was my lack of discipline and interest. I'm sure if they could of, they would have advised mom to lower her expectations with this child. But little did they know that while I was daydreaming about riding my bike or that pretty little thing across the aisle, I was actually developing my creative muscle. I was growing more neuron connections for future use.

"our brains are much more activated when we daydream"

That is the findings of a recent study published by the prestigous Academy of Sciences. They discovered that the activity of numerous regions of our brains increases as our minds wander. Previously they had believed that our brains went dormant when we daydream. The common belief was that mind-wandering was associated with laziness.....FOOLS!

"we can spend one third of our waking time daydreaming" (unless you are Eduardo, in which case it can be much longer)

This latest study shows that our brains are very active when we daydream. And it is in doing routine tasks (like doing homework I presume) that the brain goes on vacation and slows down. HUH!

"so what does this mean"

They could have saved their money on this study. Just look at Mr. Big Brains....Albert Einstien, he discovered the 'Theory of Relativity' by daydreaming about riding on sunbeam (and you thought I was nuts). Truth is most of the great creative discoveries are made by daydreaming. In short us daydreamers are the one's that change the world. We should be admired and given free tropical vacations that last all winter long. We could save your little planet if you but recognized the source of our brillance.

"putting off daydreaming until the work is done, is a lot like putting off sex until you get old"

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to find a place in the sun and do some serious daydreaming!

Eduardo

BONUS; Hard work has a future payoff, but laziness pays off right away (unkown)

The God you choose

"God is a commedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh" (Voltaire)

At times I've been accused of being a little overboard in my writings. And since I'm not about to change, if you are sensitive to discussions about God that don't match your own beliefs...best to skip this article.

"we see God, not as he is but as we assume he ought to be"

Almost everyone who professes a belief in God, assumed the beliefs of their parents. It is rare to find someone who went against the teachings they were brought up with. And yet, since there are so many religions, we can't all be right, can we? Well maybe we can all be right. Maybe we get the God we choose!

"Dear God, please protect me from your believers" (I can't remember who wrote that but I find it both profound and funny)

In the book 'How God Changes Your Brain' the authors discuss the effects on your brain, based on the type of God that you believe in. Their research is based on brain imaging studies of nuns, Buddists, Sikh's and Sufi's. Their findings are remarkable.

"The God we choose to love, changes us into his image, whether he exists or not"

Now that is a sobering concept to contemplate. Contemplating a God that is loving, strengthens portions of our brain where empathy and reason reside. Contemplating a wrathful God empowers that part of the brain were aggression and fear reside. Scary huh? Sort of explains why some people will strap a bomb to themselves and go kill innocents. As for me, I call my God the Cosmic Jokester....hmmm I wonder how that affects my little brain?

"I don't go to religion to make me happy, I always knew a bottle of port would do that" (C.S. Lewis)

So there you have it from the latest scientific research....you become like the God you contemplate! I'm sticking with the Cosmic Jokester...I like him!

Smile, the God's are fond of a good joke (Aristotle)

Eduardo

Willpower is greatly over-rated!

"The quality of our thoughts and ideas are dependent on our ability to focus without effort"

Bull crap said a friend of mine when I proposed my latest ephiphany. Now my friend is one of those who actually possesses terrific willpower. His business success and his personal life are a testament to his willpower. So he is of course a big believer and scoffs at the idea that much in life is achieved without it. Fair enough, but is it true...

"willpower only works for the highly disciplined and the intensely motivated"

So where does that leave the rest of us? Are we doomed because we have not mastered willpower? I don't think so! There is always more than one path to choose from. There is no 'one way' to success or happiness.

"the use of willpower has been a tragic failure"

Think of the millions of folks who have plunked down billions of dollars in hopes that the latest fad and a little willpower will help them lose weight and keep it off. We keep trying and we keep failing. Willpower has worked very poorly to solve the problems of quittting smoking and drug addiction. So what is the solution?

"the quality of our thoughts and ideas are dependent upon our ability to focus without effort"

Sorry just had to repeat that because it holds the promise of an answer. It takes little effort to hold our attention when we focus on something we love. Those who are fortunate enough to have employment doing something they really like have a tremendous advantage over those who are just putting in time. Those who love their bodies are going to have an easier time maintaining weight and fitness then those who view their bodies with disdain. You get the idea...

"if you hate what you do....do something else or change your attitude towards it"

If your friends continually bring you down, don't waste your energy trying to reform them....get new ones. If your partner demeans or treats you with disrepect, maybe its time to replace them. And with those things we can't just replace like our bodies....learn to love it more.

Smile, everything is not as it seems...it is much easier!

Eduardo

P.S. Some wise guy once said...the only way to rid yourself of temptation, is to give into it!

Reasons for optimism

"within every adversity lies the seed of a benefit so magnificent, that once realized, it will bring you to your knees in gratitude"

Alex Tan had this to say...."perhaps our eyes need to washed by our tears once in awhile, so that we can see life with a clearer view again" I doubt that brought much comfort if your stocks and savings are taking a beating?However, being the eternal optimist I'm looking for reasons to be optimistic. Being true to myself I even found some humor which I'll be only too happy to share with you....

"a pessimist is a man who thinks that all women are bad,an optimist is one whohopes that they are" (Chancey Depew)

Feeling better? Not yet? Well, here are a few thoughts that might help...

1) Nothing is static pernamently. Everything in nature is operating in cycles. Even after the worst possible storm comes the sunshine.

2) Bad times make people nicer. It is usually in the worst of times that we see the best in people.

3) Maybe this will be end of consumerism run amuck. This endless desire to get something newer, bigger or fancier than our peers hasn't brought us anymore happiness. Maybe, this is the time to strive for voluntary simplicity. Time to learn to appreciate what really matters and ditch our rediculous egos.

4) As quick as things turn sour, they can turn around.

5) We are insanely lucky! We could have been born in Darfur or Somolia. We won the gene pool lottery and don't even know it (or forgot)

6) Everything is not as it seems....it is much better. What a beautiful opportunity for me to live my own philosophy! Feeling better now? Great! (see how opitimistic I am?)Ok, one last feel good thought (I made up just for you)

"if we could only see ourselves as God sees us....now that would be really funny"

Eduardo

Sudden insights...

"I get a lot of epiphany's (sudden insights). It's probably because I thought I knew so much when I actually knew so little"

So off the top of my head, here are some of great epiphany's over the past year. I will give them to you without comment. See if any of them resonate with you?

* I have everything I need

* The answer is always love and the way love is expressed is kindness. Love and happiness are the same thing.

* The world needs and craves enlightenment. Anyone and anything can be a teacher.

* Most people don't like to think and are happy to let someone else do it for them

* Manifestation of what you want, requires imagination. Imagination requires play. Therefore, getting what you want is fun and easy.

* Life is easier if I accept complete responsibility for everything in my life.

* I tend to forget lessons learned, so I need constant reminders.

* I tend to remember best, what I think is important or funny.

* Be wary of people who rarely laugh or smile, whatever it is that they have...might be contagious!

Eduardo

BONUS: The guy who smiles when something goes wrong, has just thought of someone to blame (unknown funny person)