Sometimes Life Doesn't Seem Fair

I have always been trying to get the most out of my life here on earth. It is always sad when someone passes from this life sooner than expected, but this man Randy Paush gives us a good example of how we can live our lives. Professor Randy Paush was a computer science professor whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became a best-selling book. He passed away last week due to pancreatic cancer.
If you haven't seen his lecture online already I suggest that you watch it and read the book which provides a bit of background information to better understand the man and his story. Very inspiring. Great advice.

Time For Another Music Video From The Hanks

This Might Change your life.



The Hanks
Believe

The Drums are amazing in this song.

Procrastination: "If you do 10 percent better than most people, you're a superstar."

I am the worst at procrastination.

I will read this tomorrow...

Happy Fourth of July

I took this photo yesterday at the USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor).

The Fourth of July 2008 From The U.S Census Bureau

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million
In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation.
Source: Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970 <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/statab.html>

304 million
The nation’s population on this July Fourth.
Source: Population clock <http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html>

Meditation Contemplation Relaxation Proclamation

I went to a Buddhist temple today. Only in Hawaii do they put leis on their Buddhist statues. Because of this event, I have been thinking about meditation. I haven't been meditating as much as I used to and this is a sad thing.

Meditation [med-i-tey-shuhn] is a state of concentration and attention on some object of thought. Also a continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation.

Everyone has their own way of meditating, this is mine.

1) Sit quietly and comfortably, but not to comfortable or you will fall asleep.
2) Minimize distractions.
3) Hands in a comfortable position. I like my hands palm. Some Buddhist have their hands in this position to catch the blessings and answers from above in their hands. I do it because it gets me into meditation mode.
4) Relax. Sometimes when I am really tense or stressed, I will tense up my whole body and the just relax.
5) Close your eyes.
6) Focus on breathing. Deep breaths.
7) Go to a nice spot in your mind. I usually go to a tree house I had as a kid and I climb up the ladder in my mind. I focus so much on that and my breathing that I am ready to concentrate, reflect, and think.
8) Hold attention on a particular object.

I like to use meditation to develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility, insight, relieve stress, and prepare for a test.

I learned today that Buddhist say that the path to enlightenment entails three types of training: Virtue, Meditation, and Wisdom.

Happy Meditation.