I have forgotten how much I love the Speaking of Faith website, I haven’t been there in a while. Such a wealth of information, some of the most amazing interviews ever done.
This particular episode, I sensed would be interesting. Finally! Someone who realized, and a recipient, nonetheless, that aid is not doing the things that it’s intended to do. It makes the people feel entitled, it teaches them that they’re incapable, and that they do not need to build the country themselves.
If one person actually things and believes this in that corner of the world, there are more! It is only a matter of time before this consciousness spreads out and Africa will rise up and be a valuable and healthy and contributing continent.
PSI seminars rock. It’s one of those things that you don’t want to do, but when you actually do it, you’d be asking yourself why you didn’t do it sooner.
I was done with personal development when my fiance told me to take this seminar. In short, I thought I know all there is to know about me, and nothing else will make much of a difference. Plus, I don’t need fixing or improving, thank you very much. But when I took the Basic seminar, I learned so many things that made me very very thankful to my fiance. If he wasn’t so persistent in promoting PSI, I might have never taken it. At $500 over 4 days, it’s not exactly cheap.
But that’s all in the past. I’m glad I did it, I’m glad he pushed me, I’m glad I was open to it, and honestly, it’s one of those things that now I can’t imagine living without having done it.
I went to PSI-7 and WLS also. And wow those two rocked as well. WLS was my personal favorite. I think I learned much more there than the previous seminars. Personal liberty and responsibility is close to my heart, due to what I’ve gone through in the past few months (or years), but I think somewhere along the line, I wasn’t really taking the responsibility of my own life. As in, I chose the easy way, rather than what I really wanted. I settle for less, because what I want is too far out there.
Perhaps now I’m still like that, but I’m definitely more aware of it. It’s like, once you know how good life can be, you’re reluctant to settle for less than great. Because really, this or that, easy or hard, it’s all about choice. And i can make different choices every time. Every time. Hm, if that’s not a great personal responsibility, i don’t know what is.
PSI stuff definitely are not new. Books and books have kept on talking about choice, living to the fullest, usingall your potentials etc for years and years. But I think what PSI is so good at, is that they brought what were once mere words, into experience. What was theory knowledge, becomes practical knowledge. And it’s so great, because once you learn how to bike or to swim, you’ll never forget it. And the actual knowing with your whole body is much more valuable than just knowing it in your head.
Yeah, cool, I think that’s why I like PSI so much. And it’s just amazing to meet other people, and see what they’ve been through, and how they’ve been helped with what they learned.
Which brought me to something else. There is just so many unnecessary suffering in this world. It’s so easy for me to see it in other people, because obviously I’m not living in their life. But really in the whole scheme of things, none of my baggage or my concerns are really true. I just made all those up, through circumstances , true. But still at any moment I can make a new life. I can change the direction where I’m going.
Which now brings to realization, how beautiful life is. How amazing is that, that every second holds opportunity, and that the opportunity for a different, better, more fun, more relaxed, more adventurous life are always with you, are always with me. That’s just awesome.
Well, if you’re ever come across my writings here, check out PSI seminars at www.psiseminars.com. They have an office in every few states, and you should check them out. Take the basic seminar. See if you think it’s worth it. There are a number of dissenters out there for PSI, and that’s fine as every person has their own opinion about everything. In the end, life goes on. For me, PSI was amazing. I’m so grateful to be introduced to these philosophies in this way, at 28 yrs of age, that I can take what I learned until the rest of my life. And I plan to live until 150, actually. In great health, in abundance, in happiness. I’m curious to see how the world evolve from this day forward.
And look what I found, a video by Bob Proctor (One of The Secret guys) for PSI.
Have posted about Barbara Sher before, quoting huge chunks of paragraphs from her book.
This next one is from her occasional email newsletter, and she is just so lovable. Always giving moi ‘aha’ moments.
This one is particularly funny, no matter how many times she wrote about this already.
“What’s a Scanner? Here’s how to know if you are one:
If you find you have loads of interests, that you’re curious and love learning new things, that the subjects that fascinate you are all over the map; if you hate the idea of being limited to any one thing because you’d miss all the others, you’re a Scanner.
If you wish you could find the One Right Thing but you fear you’ll never find a career (or a hobby!) that will remain interesting for very long…If you’re a sweetheart of a person, kind and friendly and childlike in some ways, and you like to help people or make the world a better place, you’re a Scanner.
If you wish you were born rich so you wouldn’t have to work at all, just so you could play forever with fascinating ideas and concepts and skills and never again have to do anything boring, If you find yourself wildly enthusiastic about something and you believe you’ll stay that way — but after awhile the enthusiasm dies down and you become excited about something else, If people call you a dilettante or flakey or a ‘hectic eclectic,’ (as one person wrote me), well then, you’re a Scanner.
And if you thought you were the only person like you and often wonder how you got so strange, you’re a Scanner.”
I went to Madam Sachiko cookies again today. And I almost fainted. And that whole can’t see, can’t feel the ground underneath me, and can’t stand up without feeling the world spinning so fast episode made me think about my near death experiences in the past.
Yes, of course fainting isn’t really dying, but when you’re experiencing it, it’s really scary.
So my NDEs:
1. Diving down the pier on Pulau Bidadari trying to retrieve my missing rental snorkel. I was so out of breath that I thought I would die down there. But I feared my parents’ wrath from losing the snorkel more than my own death. I was 11, I think. I got the snorkel, and obviously I didn’t die. I was quite the fish. So proud of myself.
2. Driving home from work, using the mountain route because the main highway was so backed up. I ran over a big rock, my car was stuck, right there on the turn. Then we got out of the car, and just stood around, without realizing that another car would speed pass by and kill us.
That was actually really stupid. But I was too distracted by the problem at hand, ie, how to get the car back home from the middle of that remote mountain.
3. Falling down the icy hill while skiing. It was 4th trip skiing, and against all fears I tried one of the advanced run. One I took a misstep, I couldn’t stop tumbling down the hard ice.
The run was supposed to be closed because it’s still not suitable for skiing. And lucky me, I fell down that same unsuitable hill. About 500 meters, I think, and I was actually rolling down, feet over my head, then in reverse, and on and on and on. Such a miracle I didn’t suffer any injuries other then few cuts on my cheek.
Therefore, I conclude that falling down skiing isn’t as bad as it looks! How many times have you seen horrible ski falls on TV, with the sort of falls that looks to be bone breaking or even body paralyzing? But then, often, the skier came out fine, suffering only minor injuries.
Well same thing happened to me. It was really cool while you’re tumbling down. First of all it didn’t hurt at all. There’s all that abnormal positions that your body go through, and that helplessness from being unable to stop the fall, but all in all, it was rather painless.
I’d do it again if I can have a guarantee that by the end of it I’ll be 100% fine. It’s sort of fun.
4. Getting lost for about half an hour on the May Lake trail in Yosemite Park. It was the classic getting lost situation. Once we realized we were lost, we seem to get even more lost. After a while, I pictured in my mind that a bear would get me and eat me. Then my parents would be so sad, and they wouldn’t even be able to recognize me anymore, because my face by the time they found me, it would be all deformed and eaten. Yes, really cool.
5. Getting lost in Angkor jungle trying to find Ta Nei temple. What was I thinking anyway getting into a clearly wild jungle? I think I was pretending to be some early explorer finding an ancient Angkor temple. I followed what seems to be a trail, but the deeper into the jungle I get, the trail branched and then they seem to just disappear.
I saw lots of ant hills, ruined so many spider webs, and broke so many plant branches. I think the jungle must’ve seen me as this incompetent intruder wrecking the once peaceful life in there. When I saw some wild berries, I filed that in my mind as food that I could possibly eat if I really have to camp out in the middle of that tropical jungle.
In one of the desperate moments, I started marking the trees with my initial, so that I can see if I’m going round and round. I really thought I would die. Nobody goes to see freaking Ta Nei temple, and I now understand exactly why. They don’t want to die by getting lost in the jungle.
Then by all miracles of miracles, I found my way back. So not dead yet.
So there you go. My fabulous 5 NDEs. Anyone want to share theirs?
You know when you listen to song, there are some parts of it that you just love? And somehow your senses are just heightened when that part is being played. It’s like you hear everything, even the smallest details, and what kind of instrument they play in the background the kind of sounds they make.
I realized this hidden world of music when I was little. It was Sebastian’s “Kiss the Girl” song from Little Mermaid. At some part of the orchestra, there were some amazing acoustics that made for a truly wonderful effect. I used to rewind and play it over and over and just listen specifically for that part.
It’s too bad I just realized what a wonderful technique this is. Technique for listening to music, I mean. (Maybe if I paid attention to music theory class, I would know this sooner).
Well, today, I’m reminded of the wonderful hidden world of music yet again, by Loreena McKennitt’s song called Snow. She reminds me about everything that is extraordinary in the world of sounds and songs. She should get some kind of amazing award or something, or maybe just boatloads of money from her recordings.
I hope I can see her in concert before I die. Yeah, I will put that on my to do list.
Well, I listened to this song, paying attention only to the harp in the background. The effect is just amazing! It’s like the vocal blends out in the background, and the violin suddenly becomes more prominent, and the harp sometimes so soft you can barely hear it, but it’s still there.
Listening to it this way is like going inside a comfortable cocoon, and be enveloped with such wonderful melodies. With eyes closed and headphones on, and preferably lying down on a bed, this song is enough to make anyone feel joy and peace for 5 minutes.
The good news is, there’s almost an unlimited number of ways to listen to this song. You can focus on the vocals, or on the harp, or on the strings, or any other sound you like. Each way opens up a new way to experience the song.
I will never forget this so-called technique again. And that proves once again, the best way to do something, anything, is to give it your all. No distraction, no multi-tasking, and no un-awareness. Just one thing at a time.
I just got back from Madam Sachiko cookies, and WOW! A woman after my own heart!
Well, in the greater scheme of things, I actually just got back from biking to the Angkor temples. Plus, I almost died when I got lost in the jungle trying to find Ta Nei temple. Plus, I rode alongside the butterflies. Plus, I had a wonderful lunch with three Cambodian little girls who each made me wildflower wreaths.
But what got me fired to boot up my pc and write this is Madam Sachiko.
Sachiko Kojima single handedly provides employment to 40 Khmers, by making Japanese cookies and opening a smoothies cafe.
She hires local people, she uses local ingredients, she even uses Kampot pepper, for goodness sake, and she makes little trinkets that you won’t find anywhere else in Old Market. Talk about being different in the sea of same same.
I knew about the cookie store since my last trip to Siem Reap. At first I thought, “Come on, Japanese cookies, Japanese name, Japanese food, in Siem Reap Cambodia? No, thank you.”
That’s why I never bothered to visit the place, until this afternoon, when my leg was so tired, and I remembered their slogan, “The best shakes in town”.
Even then I almost didn’t go; I passed it by, but then made a u-turn for the sole reason that I knew I’d be too lazy to go back there in the future.
Well, I’m so glad I did. I was truly blown away by this business operation.
The attendants are so nice and helpful, the items are unique, the cookies are delicate and delicious, the lotus tea is happiness inducing, and the shake, OMG, it is to die for!
I took one sip of my watermelon shake, just one sip, and I had to stop and be surprised at how amazing it tastes. Totally flabbergasted, I told the waitress about it.
It was watermelon through and through, with a uniformed icy texture, and a little bit of sweetness that I think is from added sugar. But nevermind all that, it was the one perfect drink after biking all the way from Angkor Wat.
I care not whether it is Japanese or Cambodian. Good is good, no matter where you are! I hereby declare that my obsession with pineapple shake has ended, replaced with the watermelon shake at Cafe Puka Puka (Madam Sachiko’s cafe).
And if I ever, ever, go to Angkor again, on my way back I must stop by for one of those shakes.
But that’s not all.
I was there, sitting in the cute air-conditioned cafe, overlooking the street with jasmine plants on the window sill, and just enjoying my amazing watermelon shake, my jasmine tea, and my pepper cookies that I just got.
I was leafing through a Japanese magazine, before I remember that I took a copy of a newspaper article about store. Then I started reading that instead.
The article was very positive, and from what I’ve seen already I agree that she is an amazing businesswoman. But what sealed the deal for my utter admiration for this person was what she said in the closing paragraphs.
“Many of the foreigners in this country are aid workers and people from NGOs. I’m not saying they’re not needed, but the longer I’m here the more I doubt the wisdom of simply giving people handouts. In many cases it discourages independence.
What I try to do is offer a workplace to people with the will to work, and pay them in keeping with their labor. If they work hard, they earn more.
I turn down almost all requests for charitable contributions…”
Damn right that handouts discourage independence! I agree that NGOs are well meaning organizations, but sometimes you have to look at the long term effects of what you do.
I would really love to talk to this woman. I’ve never even met her, but I’m so excited knowing that there’s a person like her in Siem Reap, and it’s like I already know who she is.
I’ll definitely make a page dedicated on madam Sachiko cookies and shakes, and place it in a prominent place on my Angkor website. Maybe I should contact her and see if she would give me an interview. Wow, I get to be an interviewer? I love my life.
I was researching on what to write next on my Angkor site, and found these two. They’re soooo cute, and the tune is catchy! Watch it if you don’t believe me.
I can’t stop smiling when listening to this. So next time you want to smile a big smile for a 6 minutes, watch these.
So this is day 30, and I just have to say that this diet is the best I’ve ever done. I might eat my words later, but I plan to do this forever. Yes, forever.
This diet plan makes me feel super. I’ve never felt so good (without regular exercise) in my whole life. Imagine if I stick to my workout routine. This lifestyle is it!
In the past 30 days, I cheated 5 times. Which isn’t too bad, I don’t think.
First one was on my brother’s b’day. We went to Korean BBQ place, and I ate only half of Bibimbap cuz everyone was taking some (!!), with no meat on it, only to eat a piece of the bbq meat later. It tasted good, but surprisingly I felt horrible. As in I kept seeing the cow being slaughtered in front of me.
Second cheating time was tasting my bro’s chicken satay. He’s doing a new venture, and was cooking up recipes. And it was really good! I would definitely buy them, they’re yummy. I ate 1 stick, with a spoonful of rice. I did have flashes of chickens running around.
Then third time is just few days ago, Mom and I went to Bakmi GM, and I ate capcay veggies. I also ate several spoons of her bihun noodles. Boy were they good, but an hour after I felt miserable, and my stomach was acting up.
Then fourth time was yesterday, I ate 1 big lumpia that my aunt brought from Semarang. Lumpia Semarang was my weakness, still is I suppose, so I couldn’t resist tasting this new lumpia.
Then fifth time was last night. Mom found a new place that sort of replaced Art and Curio in Menteng, and she brought some home. I ate 1 spoon of mashed potato, a slice of the beef, and a bit of gravy (no cow images this time). It’s not as great as Art and Curio, but respectable.
All in all, I gotta say I did very well! One month passed by so quickly! I ate few concoctions that were good, and some that were inedible. But all is good.
I got my routine down, I think. Morning would be green smoothies. Lunch would be fruits or salad. Dinner would be fruits or salad. And lots of fruits and nuts snacking in between. Almost every monday I’ve had Urap made for me, but instead of boiled, it’s raw. Extra crunchy, and still yummy! I’m getting bored of it now, though.
I’ve failed in the beans department. I’ve soaked some mung beans, normal beans, black soybeans, and soybeans, but I didn’t do much with them. They take too much work, and I don’t have the patience. I’m thinking of making rice milk, and soybean milk, but haven’t gotten around to them.
Also, mom went crazy over Alisa Cohen’s Caesars Salad dressing that I made. It’s good, but I just don’t understand why she likes it so much. She’s obsessed with it, and keeps on telling me to make her a salad.
That is all! All is well, blender is my new best friend, and fresh food 4eva!
I notice that I no longer obsessed about cooked foods, instead I’m more looking forward to raw foods as being the best choice for me. Whenever I cheated, I did it with heavy heart (well, except the lumpia). How cool is that, my whole outset about food has turned 180 degrees.
Oh, hm, if anybody knows how to stay being a raw fooder while traveling, please do let me know. I think travels gonna wreak havoc on my new lifestyle. Should I bring blender everywhere? That’s not much fun, is it?
WOW! I just completely forgotten about the one best thing about this diet. My eyesight has improved! I was gobsmacked when the Doctor wrote the prescription. I’m very shorshighted you see. Last time, my vision was -5.50 and -6.00. Now, get ready, they are -4.50 and -5.00.
How. Cool. Is. That!? I am speechless.
Fine, this isn’t done is some controlled test environment or what not, so I can’t really know what’s causing the improvement. But I would guess it’s the raw food diet. Each year they have been getting worse, and this is the only time that they’ve improved.
Green raw veggies, here I come!
James DeLelys presents WORDS » Articles posted at WORDS, saying, “Prejudice… Excerpts from WORDS A Prophecy Fulfilled”
Adam Wilson presents Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus posted at Letters on Pages, saying, “This is my book review of Banker to the Poor, which is an inspiring biography of Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank, which is involved with micro-credit to the poorest people in the world.”
Adam Wilson presents Dark Summit by Nick Heil posted at Letters on Pages, saying, “This is my review of Dark Summit by Nick Heil. Dark Summit is a really cool story of the 2006 Everest climbing season. The writer is great and you won’t be disappointed!”
Andrew Edgington presents Digital Camera Reviews To Help You Pick The Right Digital Camera! posted at Complete Photography Secrets Guide, saying, “Planning to buy a new digital camera? Be sure that you are not misguided by the salesman in the electronics store you visit. A number of times people get misguided by the inevitable qualities described by the sales persons. So, you must be aware of certain things while buying the digital cameras. The best source to get informed on the essential features of digital cameras is reading the digital camera reviews.”
Covert Hypnotist presents What Hypnosis is NOT! posted at Conversational & Covert Hypnosis Blog, saying, “Hypnosis has been given many false pretenses through the media, movies and just plain rumor. Hypnosis is not the ability to have complete domination over one’s mind, nor is it domination over another human being.”
Albert Decker presents The Hunger posted at Resonant Enigma, saying, “Your comment about being a vegetarian wannabe, however you meant it, brought to mind this post, which I created because I really do wonder what people think about the fact that we MUST kill in order to FEED, that our bodies may survive. I mean, where do you draw the line, and why?! Broccoli lives!!!”
First Lady Of Poker presents The Art Of Checking posted at Shopping and Poker Blog, saying, “Sometimes, the best move in a hand is to just check and wait to see what others do.”
That concludes this edition. I could not include every submission, due to this and that. When you submit, please do read my measly requirements, they’re not hard! Oh, also, 1 submission only per website, per month. Sorry!
After that failure of going on a vegetarian diet about a year ago, I’m starting a new ‘diet’. Last time it lasted about 3 weeks, all went down the drain because of travels, gatherings, and just too many temptations. I hope this one is the last.
So this is day 4 on going Raw. Day 2 and 3 was weird. I felt weak, my nose was runny all the time, and just didn’t feel like doing anything. I only half-finished a new page for Angkor, and spent the day not doing very much.
Day 4 is much better! When I woke up this morning, everything seemed ‘clear’. I don’t know how to explain it, but this must be what they’re talking about having some fog lifted. Yes it does feel that way. Everything seems more real, I’m more alert, the moment of now seems to be more abundant. It’s cool!
I don’t approach these diets as diet per se, but more of as a way of life. Raw food diet makes a lot of sense for me. And they’re ready in 10 minutes!
Day 1
morning - apple and string beans, blended. 1banana in mid morning.
afternoon - fried noodles (i was planning on easing in), 1 orange, 1 banana.
night - more bananas and oranges.
Day 2
morning - apple and string beans, blended. This tasted good, actually. What a surprise.
afternoon - can’t remember. non-raw, I think.
night - big bowl of lettuce salad (I went shopping for raw food)
Day 3 - decided to be 100% raw.
morning - 2 bananas
lunch - big bowl of spinach and lettuce salad, with avocado and raisins. The salad dressing was okay, got an idea for next one.
night - bananas bananas bananas, oranges.
Day 4
morning - bananas, oranges, watermelon. Mom told me to marinade the meat for steak, and I was grossed out… dead meat looks ugly…
lunch - kailan and papaya smoothies. Wow, such a green gunk, lol. But it’s actually good. 5 minutes prep time.
Obviously I need more variety. Also, I’m still confused about the green smoothies. Is it okay to combine fruits and vegetables? Doesn’t that break the cardinal rule of Food Combining methods? I also snack on fruits whenever I’m hungry.
I want to have a dehydrator. That seems fun! If can make my own potato chips and crackers, that would be heavenly.
