Picking your dreams

“Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.” — Sylvia Plath

This is an interesting way to put balance into perspective. We have all had that moment in our life when we are challenged by our own imagination. We are persuaded by all of the greatness that we have inside; our ability that we can do anything. We are insured by others that are successful that if they can do it, why can we. But with all of the choices in this beautiful world, we don't want to limit our scope of achievement. We don't want to put barriers on our futures. This is all good. But on the other hand, we can truly limit our growth by not putting our best foot forward towards anything and our half hearted efforts towards everything. Our choices are not driven by a focus. We are falling in love in the fog of the dream rather then the passion of the clarity. This passage sheds light on what can be accomplished and how to get there. A burning desire to start means nothing if you satisfy the burn with a tree growing from the ashes of the fertile soil. The freedom to make choices can be used to get what you want. You just have to make them. 

Middle East Dealing Re-Evaulation

What if United States is wrong when it comes to the Middle East? Is it that the United States believe that the Middle Eastern people can be manipulated in negotiations? I have noticed that these people run on feelings and that they have very deep memories. The past of these people and these nations run deeper then the all of the history of the modern United States. The lives of the people and these nations go back as far as the biblical days, a time where written history as we know it today was just being formulated and, to note, the information that has been captured in writings is just a small glimpse into the past. Religion has a major influence in the day to day decisions of the region and it defines their existence. Just imagine what life would be like if a vast majority of Americans believe in a faith that gives life itself its meaning. The traditions do not fade or wither. Now imagine the customs that we hold so dear to our existence since the beginning we now threatened. That is the overall feelings of the Middle Eastern people. The United States looks like a foreign asshole, completely out of touch with what these people feel and believe is important. They are stepping on the lands and stripping the integrity of the cultures that stood before written history. The lands of blood, tears, years, gold, silver, metals, fuels, kings, slaves, trade, love, peace, pride, war. Although very stern in the approaches of tradition, these people can be negotiated with, but they cannot be manipulated into control. They have nations and pride that has been through many types of invasions and have come out of adversity. How would the United States react to the same treatment if they were in their shoes? The nations of the Middle East will be willing to make peace. They can be persuaded into talking about their past to settle out their difference within the region, maybe even bought out... maybe... but they will not sell out to be controlled they a new foreign threat to their very way of life and their sustainability. One would think that in the business of nation building, there needs to be a win/win approach and when it comes to an entire region of religion and of centuries of tradition, the notion of coming out as a loser is not an option. That seems to be the United States approach, I believe, in dealing with the Middle East that is perceived by her people. Now that is a battle not worth fighting, especially with someone that will not hesitate to make sure that you lose as much as they might, even if it boils down to sacrificing themselves in the process (i.e. WWII kamikaze jets and suicide bombers). So the United States needs to first understand who they are trying to deal with and the approach that needs to be taken in order to move forward into a peaceful resolution, then understand their own reasons in dealing other than just the profitable justifications. The ramifications are just to sensitive and grand. Peace is the obvious, yet very important, outcome. If there is pain in the hearts of man, there will never be peace unless they can accept what the outcome shall be. So if we lead with the outcome, than we will accomplish the main objective of peace throughout... in which, I am sure the world wants and needs. So let us see the reasons for our actions, re-evaulate our dealings, and lead with the only "P" that matters... Peace, not profit. Damien

Quiet the mind..

The quiet the mind ... You must practice achieve the brain heart harmony.
The balance between the communications between the heart and the brain.
Middle calming spot.
Where your mind is settled and the heart is steady.
A place where there is a heightened awareness of your self...
The surrounding s around you is understood.
To achieve this totally is difficult.
The mind hard to settle.
The heart is hard to steady.
But possible.
Feel mind within self.
To be mindful is acquired thru visalemc.
Once mind is wondered to mindfulness, snow ready to cease.
Bring the mind down to the heart.
Focus attentions to center of the body.
Relax in the heart like sitting in a comfortable chair in a familiar space.
Believe in the space in heart.
Feel the calmness there.
Feel the warmth.
Keep energy balanced.
How?
Once you feel too much unease in heart, bring energy to the mind.
Always use line between brain and heart.
This is the center link within the body between the heart and the mind.
That is brain heart harmony.
Stay there.
That awareness settles the mind and steady' the heart.
The mind feels calm and the heart feels open.
Thoughts from mind now becomes passion of the heart.
The only thing the drives passion is the good within the warmth of the heart.
But like it said, it is hard to master.
The mind may pull energy from the center, causing imbalance.
Just bring energy down using process of pulling back to the heart.
Feel the space.
Heavy comfort.
Feel it for a while to settle the mind.
Once feel energy in heart, find the balance between center.

Looking At Pictures

For the first time ever, I realize the life is a gift that is more precious than time. Although it is true that time is something that you can never get back once it passes, as true for life. But life is something much more. Yes... Life has time within it, but life also shares an emotion attached to that time.The time is much more relevant when I can somehow revisit that moment, where time and emotions shared the same space. A great way to revisit this moment, let's call it the past, is through an old fashioned method. Method that humans have used since the beginning of human consciousness. it's called remembering using memories. Memories notoriously have had a way of bringing the feeling of the past back to the present. It is a strong way of bringing back the feeling, but there is one another stronger. Pictures. Remembering the past is easier with the aid of a picture. Many memories can come from one picture. Each memory can have many emotions. In just one photograph, a few questions may present themselves in the mists of the memories that still remain unanswered in the present. An overwhelming emotion that laid dormant may be awakened and consume me at any moment in revisiting the past. I may also realize an answer to a question that I have been repeating over and over in the deepest parts of my mind. To me, pictures are the best way to bring the past into the present. Pictures may be interpreted into any opinion based solely off of what I can see, but the way i feel plays a big part in understanding what i am looking at. I can see a picture and see life in a moment in time. I can understand how the life within that picture fills that time and makes it important.

White water rafting... the time of my life. Before i get to the running river i need to understand it. I must see it. I will do my best to flow with the current. I will stay in the boat and make sure that i have all equipment to stay safe. Not looking cool today. Wetsuit and all. So things will be good. The guides im with can get us thru it. They know the river better than i. So im good.. will tell more tales when return. Oyobio

Looking for a Job? Here are a Few Ways to Stand Out

28 years old

It has been a long while since I posted something new on this online journal. I say that every time don't I? We all know that times are getting more and more busier by that year but I will work on making this a more of a regular thing. Guess what America... Today, April 10, is my birthday. How old am I you might ask? I am 28 years old today. 28..... For the OG's out there, you say, "Thats a young brotha." FOr the youngsters out there, you say, "Brotha, you're old." For my peers, you all say, "2 more years and broth, you will be the big THREE O..." On this day, I feel a bit more conscious of my age than ever before. Turning 18 was great. I can buy black and mild's and swisher sweets. Turning 21 was ever more fun. I can hit the clubs and the bars and buy all the alcohol that I can afford without worrying if my fake ID would pass the test. After turning 21, there was no much else to look forward to. It's almost like the feeling after you open up all of your presents on Christmas morning. I can play with all of my toys but the sheer excitement of the surprise has faded. I guess 25 was an experience. I did feel a sense of a mid-mid-life crisis. I was a quarter of a century for crying out loud. I suppose the feeling of being a true adult (by the value of the numbers) started to sink in. I am not a youngster yet not an OG, just stuck in the middle. My mind was on the track of not setting excuses for myself and to own up to my responsibilities. I wouldn't say that I was 100% mature yet. Maybe 75% capacity. Now today is the day. I am 28 years old. What does that mean to me? While lets start on the accomplishments 1. having a child (cool) 2. I have a path on a career (double cool) 3. Working on trying not to stubble in school (yearning to learn can bring concern if its earned) 4. 5 close family members made the journey home (within the past 6 years, yeah ouch!) 5. working, struggling, succeeding, hoping, wishing, praying for the future (my destiny yet GOD's will) 6. realizing that my relationship with my lovely lady is important (but hard) 7. trying to stay connected to my family members (whenever i can) 8. getting rid of energy consuming friendships that only bring negativity... 9. Always making new friends 10. Staying true to me by getting to know me. That last one sounds weird, but it is true. I never realized that my life in my late teens and early 20s were constructed around how to impress. I never really cared of what others opinions were of me but I was aware of my swag status. I worked on making it 100% all the time. I am not saying that I went down a few points, but I realized that I was wasting my time. i had to explore myself. I had to become an adult. I know that being 28 is close to 30, I don't think about that. Why? because I am happy being now than then and I look forward.... To later...