Eliminating Ego

You know what really illustrates the magnificence of the human ego? Thinking about old rulers millennia ago who believed themselves gods—and realizing how they struggled, I mean really struggled, to shit in a ditch.

We all are born, and we all die; we all are on that same track. How can we judge any other human? How can we view ourselves as superior? The only journey we know is our own. Recognizing we only have one singular experience, one version of events, and one set of feelings enables us to open and give. Eliminating ego has profound global implications—let’s work together toward its destruction.

To Chase a Waterfall

Chasing waterfalls has entered the lexicon of travel sites and bloggers. It suggests people actually hunt for them as items to collect. But what is a waterfall? I see them as true spiritual manifestations of our reality. There’s something special about watching a waterfall, no matter how small. Splendor draws you in; it’s our planet’s most unique and precious resource, bending to gravity, returning back to Earth. There’s a timelessness in observing them, with how they’ve shaped the surrounding landscape. In the billions of years of Earth’s history, you are witnessing the way the water flows in this particular iteration of the environment, right now. Maybe chasing waterfalls just means you’re looking for that connection to the Earth, to the Universe. A waterfall offers that connection, a window to the magnificence of the present moment. 

Prevent and Learn

The novel coronavirus shows how connected our world is today. What started in one city in China has now spread to 26 countries on 3 other continents. If this doesn’t show that what affects us some affects us all, I don’t know what will. 

I have several friends in China from my time when I lived there; one of my best friends lives in Beijing, and I actually worked in Wuhan for a month back in 2012, so I have contacts there too. It has affected the lives of several people I know. This outbreak is real and serious.

So it’s important to stay informed and prevent the spread of the disease. And maybe this outbreak will convince us to think more holistically about our planet. We are all human, we can all suffer from the same infections. We can also all work together to ensure our planet thrives.

Let’s See the Ball

Remember the Hong Kong protests? Are those still happening? It seems the news has moved on to other things. Our short attention spans are directly proportional to the lightning pace of the news. But the bushfires in Australia are still happening, the political unrest in South America is still occurring. There’s a lot going on in the world all the time. It’s like the media wants to keep us continually distracted by showing us new news, and new news, and new news. Distracted from what? It’s hard to focus our attention and our efforts on what will make the biggest impact when we are continuously bombarded with new stories. Which is why I always use #awareness when I publish these posts to social media. Without awareness, we don’t reach global consciousness or understanding. You have to be aware the ball is there to keep your eye on it. Let’s see the ball, be the ball. Our ball. The Blue Marble.

The Age of Instagram

It’s tough to watch people take 23 selfies (I counted) of themselves in front of a famous or beautiful sight, without actually turning around to appreciate where they are, or to insist that their friend takes their photo with a better angle for the 4th time (again, I counted—different person).

It’s the Age of Instagram. You haven’t been somewhere unless you have pictures (of yourself). Why even go if you don’t get likes and comments and shares out of it?

But then I think, more people than ever before can afford a plane ticket, and people are getting out there. They're traveling to different countries and continents, different cultures. Even if they travel differently than me, hopefully the experience opens their minds (it definitely helps open mine).

I believe the more we travel and immerse ourselves in different ways of life, the better we will understand each other. And understanding is the first step towards global consciousness, to peace, to harmony.

Share your experience online. It’s great to show people back home. But it helps to remember it’s not about you, or me, or anyone else, but about us. We all share the same rock. Let’s explore it, let's share it, and let’s unite it.

Legacy without the weight

At some point in your life, you start thinking about a concept too heavy for youth: legacy. What will be left when I go? What will people think of? Will the world be a better place? Will the universe have changed?

I believe our actions and choices ripple across time and space, that they affect beyond what we can imagine. What we think, what we say, what we do, matters. If we give it meaning, that weight will gravitate to others. 

If we rejoice in this notion, we won’t be bogged down by it. We can make a difference through hard work and compassion, but we can also enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. We can have both, a life of meaning and a life of fulfillment. We just have to choose it. 

Spirituality for a White guy in Bali

Spirituality forms a core component of the identity of Bali. But I won’t find it at the many temples covering the island. I come from too distinct a culture and know too little about Hinduism, particularly Balinese Hindu tradition, to feel a deep connection at temple. And as of right now, the infrastructure is not set up for an outsider to truly learn: souvenir stalls litter the inside and outside of temple complexes, cameras snap pictures constantly (of which I’ve taken many), and the unsettling “touristy” feeling pervades everywhere. Don’t get me wrong, the temples here are exquisitely beautiful, as well as incredible historical and cultural sites. I say that as a full fledged tourist. But they’re out of reach for me spiritually. 

That’s not to say I can’t find and feel the spirituality that exists here. It’s underlying in every facet of life. In the way locals slow down and shrug off someone who cuts them off on the road, in the sincere friendliness that permeates every town and village. Spirituality is embedded in the way of life on Bali—when you meet and befriend a local, you experience it. You sense it when browsing an unknown temple alone. You commune with it when appreciating the omnipresent nature and breathtaking scenery of the place. 

People connect with the universe in different ways. Bali is famous for enabling people to find that connection, and I’m grateful for being here, so I can find my own way to connect. Bali helps me realize the sacred is everywhere. The universe is sublime, as is this wondrous thing we call life. 

The Voting Question

Had a ride to the center of the island today, so I did some more reading on the Democratic candidates. I’ve also been learning more of the campaign zeitgeist via podcast on recent flights. 

It’s always hard to know what to think. If you read an article championing one candidate and demonizing another, the next one you read will argue just the opposite. Every candidate’s website is a hard sell—they build up a dream in your mind. If you align with that candidate’s policies, it becomes extremely enticing; but is it possible?

As I was browsing Warren’s and Sanders’ websites, I realized half the country (or at least tens of millions of people) would despise such rhetoric. They would feel the way I do when I read Trump’s statements. 

So it comes back to the voting question: do you vote for the candidate of your dreams, the one you believe can truly shape the country into the utopia you envision? Or do you vote pragmatically, for the figure head you believe can win the election and achieve some compromise in Washington you can live with? (With the underlying presumption, of course, that you will exercise your civic duty to vote.)

It doesn’t look like there’s any answer. As I’ve previously mentioned, I will be voting according to climate change policy because I believe it is the single greatest threat to our existence in the history of our species. But it’s also time to look at our political system and our election process. As citizens, we need to tackle the voting question in order to solve our other problems. 

The Power of Sunset

There’s something special about watching a beautiful sunset. Every one is completely unique and a one-time event, never to be seen again. You can pretty much watch a sunset from anywhere in the world. And there’s the timelessness element. Every single one of our ancestors has watched a sunset. That’s what our ancient forebears did. They were done with their work for the day by the time sunset rolled around, and simply enjoyed Earth’s natural beauty. They observed the stillness of the world, the changing from day to night. We can do it too, and doing so somehow connects us to them. It grounds us to the Earth, the only home humanity has ever known. When we enjoy a sunset, we are a part of it all—our progenitors, our planet, the elements. Sunsets provide peace through to the dawn. Let's watch more. It will bring our species closer together, and reconnect us with the Earth.

Bali by Scooter

Bali is like some type of island from a video game. It’s just the right size that you can get to anywhere on the island in one day, but also large enough to have unique pockets and areas. In 3 days I’ve gone to 4 different beaches, each with their own vibe and flavor. How do you get around? Like everyone else: scooter.

It was my first time ever driving one and it was in chaotic Kuta. What an experience. One minute you’re surrounded by cars and 15 other scooters on a 2 lane road, the next you’re climbing a windy hill lane amongst rice fields and temples. One of the best parts of living is trying new things, and it feels like Bali is the place to try this.

Even with the crazy driving, the locals don’t seem to get upset when they get cut off or have to wait for someone to clear the road during an impromptu u-turn. They just roll with it and keep going. You feel free here. People enjoy. Maybe it’s just the weather. Or maybe there’s more balance here. Even with the twists and turns, we can still enjoy the ride.

Pockets of Peace

Even in Kuta, the busiest and most touristy part of Bali, you can find pockets like these. Tourism has not eclipsed the core of the island—the base is still something more. It’s refreshing, because it’s all to easy for that to happen. In Bali, you can feel the balance. 

There’s a time for work and a time for rest. Being here helps me see the balance more clearly. Tropical places seem to make it easier: going to the beach, enjoying the water, and then just sitting there. Not reading or looking at your phone, but simply resting, relaxing. 

The scenery is stunning and the vibe is peaceful and spiritual. Bali is certainly a paradise on this amazing planet. 

100 Days of Blogging

Today marks the 100th day in a row I’ve blogged. I think It’s symbolic it happened here.

First impressions of Bali are overwhelmingly positive. There’s something special about the Island of the Gods. Yes it can be very touristy, but there’s an underlying spirituality here that you feel, even walking around in the scooter-congested, crowded streets. The weather is incredible, even in the rainy season. Every restaurant or cafe or bar has a very chill vibe, its music and decor curated with care. The island has earned its reputation as a world-class destination. I can only imagine what it was like here 30 years ago.

But back to my blog—some days it’s really difficult to write. I often feel I don’t have any insightful or interesting thoughts to offer. But maintaining a daily practice of publishing my writing has forced me to stay connected to my purpose: to contribute to the universe. It keeps me grounded in the overall big picture I think about so often. And hopefully, every once in a while, it compels a reader to consider his or her own views of the world. And maybe that leads to some action, some change. 

I look forward to synthesizing what I’ve learned on this journey, to driving even deeper towards my mission through long-form writing. Perhaps Bali is a good place to do that as well.

As I continue to evolve on this journey, as I continue to learn and experience new things, I pledge to keep producing my best effort of content that invokes and inspires. This whole thread of posts will I hope become one part of a much larger vision that makes a real and significant impact on people and the world. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey thus far. 

To New Journeys

Once you get on the plane, only the anticipation remains. It’s on to a new journey.

Have you ever wanted to do what Jim Carrey does in Yes Man? He goes to the airport and books a flight to the next destination available. If you do that, all you can focus on is the adventure. You commit yourself to the unknown, so the fear can only lead to excitement.

That’s what it’s like when you get on a plane going to somewhere you’ve never been. Any of the bitterness from the bittersweet goes away as soon as you leave the ground. 

Getting on a plane is probably a good visualization technique when we’re faced with change. You’ve made your decision, and it’s only ahead to look forward to. Here’s to new journeys, what life is all about. 

Last Day Appreciation

Today was the last day on another continent. It always feels bittersweet to leave a place when you know you probably won’t be back for a long time, if ever. The world is just too big.

Sure, the world is getting smaller in that it’s more connected, but the diameter of the earth is still 12,756 km. That hasn’t changed. It doesn’t matter if you seek nature or wildlife, culture or food, art or architecture—all of it exists all over the entire planet. It’s fascinating, but you can’t see it all.

The sweet part is it’s on to another journey, another adventure, another unknown. And it’s kind of beautiful that we can’t see it all. We have to choose what we do with our time here. In the end, it’s our choices that tell us who we are.

Rainforest Therapy

There’s so much going on in the news world right now—sometimes you just need to go for a walk in the rainforest.

Instead of browsing headlines and scanning articles, it was much more relaxing to search for wildlife and appreciate the scenery. 

It’s amazing how alive the rainforest is, even in the middle of the day. Birds sing and call, insects hum with activity, and there’s that constant sound of water. Even an environment as busy as the rainforest is refreshing, as if your body is telling you “you’re supposed to be here.”

Sometimes to take a break from all the noise in the world, we only have to immerse ourselves in the noise, or silence, of nature. 

Living Completely: Kobe Bryant’s Legacy

Like so many others, I am in shock over the news of Kobe Bryant’s death. It just doesn’t feel right, like he wasn’t supposed to go out like that. It’s difficult to process. Kobe was one of the most famous people in the world. He was one of the first American athletes to become popular in China, so literally billions of people knew who he was. Because he was so famous, it felt like we knew him. 

I actually walked by Kobe in a deserted corridor once, at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas in 2008, when the USA Men’s National Team was playing Canada in an exhibition game in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He was talking on a cell phone in the middle of the corridor, dressed in an all-black suit, and we exchanged a look as I passed him on my way to a conference in the convention center. I think he was glad I didn’t try to speak with him. I remember thinking how skinny he was. But that’s it, that’s the totality of my interaction with him as a person. I didn’t know him. We think we know famous people, but we don’t, not really. They’re as much a stranger to us as the next passerby on the street. That’s what makes processing celebrity deaths so difficult.

For me, the lesson to take away here is you really don’t know when you’re going to go. It can happen at any moment. All we can do is live our lives with joy, to love those we are close to, and to pursue our dreams with reckless abandon. If there’s one thing you can say about Kobe, it’s that. 

Thank you Kobe, for demonstrating what it is to be a full human. Your passion and vitality transcended cultures and continents. Your legend will live on. 

Australia Day

When you travel you learn. Being in Cairns for Chinese New Year was one thing; experiencing Australia Day was another. As an outsider, it’s clear there is much controversy over the holiday, which is celebrated as Australia’s National day. Many indigenous people refer to the annual date as Invasion Day, Survival Day, or Day of Mourning.

These are not easy conversations to have. The US struggles with similar problems when it comes to Native American rights, or the adding/removing of the word “God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Basically everywhere in the world copes with its darker parts of history. 

We need to have the conversations, so we can move forward together. Our world is becoming smaller and more connected. We can use these annual celebrations as an impetus to connect with each other as well. Communication and understanding are the first steps toward changing the world. 

Chinese New Year in Cairns

I’ve never celebrated Chinese New Year outside of China. It’s strange. Chinese culture was so ingrained in my life when I lived in Beijing, and even though that was a lifetime ago, it’s still weird for me to see its propagation within another culture. Especially because Australia is foreign to me—perhaps it would be different if it was back in California. 

Australia appears to struggle with the racism of its past in a somewhat similar way as America toils with the injustices within its history. Today’s celebrations almost seemed like a self-affirming assertion that “hey, Australia is a diverse place with many cultures and ethnicities.” It felt like the events were put on by white people. 

This continent is a multicultural place, especially in the south. And I’m not against celebrating important cultural holidays of people who live here. It just didn’t feel authentic. It was a holiday today in a way, but not quite. 

I believe it’s important to talk about these observations and feelings, that if we communicate openly and honestly about them, we will come together. Maybe not at first, maybe not easily, but hearing the other is the primary step towards understanding and resolution. 

An Amazing Reef on an Incredible Planet

You know how some things have very unimaginative names, yet their names just fit? The Great Barrier Reef is one of those things. It’s simply magnificent. All different types of coral and dozens of different species of fish. 

But even in the outer reef, the area least affected by coral bleaching and climate change, you can see what has been lost. Large sections of dead coral exist, and some of the colors aren’t as vibrant as you know they should be.

Thus it was both an awe-inspiring and sobering experience snorkeling in the reef. Our world is amazing, but it is changing. We must all do our part to achieve sustainability.

Consider our choices and their impact. It’s time for us to decide what’s important. Because things like the Great Barrier Reef exist only here, nowhere else. What kind of world do we want to live in?

The Tide of Energy and Change

I try to come up with 10 novel ideas everyday. I feel it helps me stay sharp and exercise my brain muscles, as well as reducing friction when trying to get into creative mode. 

Looking back at some of my idea lists from November surprised me. It was such a long time ago! My mindset, my perspective on so many things, was completely different. 

We change more rapidly than we know. Beliefs that were prophetic a year ago appear laughable now. Strong reactions to major events from last week seem small. As the saying goes, the only thing constant in life is change. 

It can be hard to keep up with all the change. If I miss a Twitter browsing session for just one day, the world has moved on and I feel lost.

This consistency requirement forces us to keep exerting energy. Much like my idea lists. That expenditure of energy is what makes and keeps us alive. To stop is death. We are alive. We must live. Stay current. Think of new ideas. Adapt to the ever changing environment. That’s part of the beauty of this experience journey and this big beautiful amazing world.