Journey of A Spirited Strider

GoD And DoG by WJ Francisco

2009-11-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me this video and I thought it was so beautiful I had to share it here. What a beautiful piece to show how God's love and the love from a dog are unconditional!

And when we are in that place of loving our precious pets, we are closer to God as we find alignment with the God within us. Unconditional love is true love indeed.

Doing What You Love And Feeling Good

2009-10-04T09:22:00.004-04:00

Music was always a big part of my life and I used to love to sing: yet I haven't been singing for many years. I missed it. I used to tell "stories" about my singing and believed that I couldn't get my voice back to how it used to be.

I realize now that I was wrong. If singing makes me happy, why not pursue it? So I recently started taking private voice lessons and joined a community choir group. It feels so good to be singing again and to hear my voice develop. I'm loving it!

What "story" from the past are you telling? Is there something that you once loved doing yet say you have no time for now? Or perhaps you always wanted to pursue something but thought you weren't good enough, too old, not talented enough, etc. What excuse are you telling yourself and to others?

It's time to forget about those excuses and just go for it! You will feel so much better doing what you love because you will feel good about what you're doing!!

This video was just shared by my friend Heather on Facebook and I thought it was a good example of people singing and obviously doing what they love and having fun. The group is called Voca People and here they are singing the history of music in 3 minutes. Enjoy!

Wayne Dyer/Changing The Habits That Erode

2009-09-27T19:41:00.002-04:00

I like Wayne Dyer's work. Since I'm going to see him again this week here in New York, I thought I'd share a bit of him here.

How I Spent The Rest of My Summer

2009-08-30T20:33:00.003-04:00

I've been away for awhile, but now I'm back! After my wonderful experience in Japan, I spent some time visiting colleges with my youngest daughter. Here's a photographic and musical video I made of our trips to DC and Boston. The weather was raining on the college visit days, but the other days were great for seeing the sites!

Intending Peace in Hiroshima

2009-06-30T00:14:00.111-04:00

While it's now been well over a week since I visited Hiroshima, the effect that the city, its people, its history and their strong desire for peace has left a lasting imprint on my heart. Words cannot really describe how it felt to spend some days in this city. From the enthusiasm of the Hiroshima Carp fans, to eating "Okonomiyaki" with new friends and colleagues, to singing Karoake the "authentic way," it has been a very fun place to visit.

Okonomiyaki

Ready for Karaoke

Beneath the "good times" in this city lies the undertone of the historical significance to what happened here on August 6, 1945. Over 200,000 people lost their lives that day, and there was always an undertone of the realization of where I was during my entire stay there. Whenever I'd see an older person, I couldn't help but think that they were alive during the terrible tragedy. I wondered if they remembered. I wondered what they thought of Americans. I wondered how they survived.

On one of the mornings, we visited Shukkeien Garden. I found this video made a few years ago on YouTube to give you an idea of this very beautiful place.

Immediately upon entering, you can see the images of the park as it was before the bomb hit it and destroyed everything there. I stood in silence as I read that people began to run to the park for shelter when the bomb hit, but to no avail. The garden has been reconstructed to replicate how the park was prior to its destruction. The reconstruction is magnificently done and the park is absolutely breath-taking. The garden itself means "shrunken-scenery garden," and there are valleys, mountains, forests and mini rice fields, along with tea houses within. Of course, I took some photographs of my own.

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Mini Rice Field in Shukkeien Garden

As I walked through the park, across its picturesque bridges and rocks spread across streams, I couldn't help but notice the trees. I love to photograph trees and am instinctly drawn to looking at trees. The bamboo trees were breath-taking and I know that they grow very fast, so they were planted after the bombing. Yet I saw a few other trees that looked much older than 60+ years since the bombing and wondered out loud if any trees survived the atomic bomb.

Bridge in Shukkeien Garden

Bamboo Trees in Shukkeien Garden

Little did I know that later in the day, my question would be answered by a taxi driver. He brought the subject up, what appeared to be completely "out of the blue," and I felt this sensation that I was about to hear something important. He announced that he had been studying about the atomic bomb and that he was studying the trees. He had a page of photographs that were laminated in the back seat pocket for us to look at. There I saw how what looked to be a dead tree later develop into flourishing symbols of endurance, strength and beauty. He explained that very, very few trees survived the bombing in the entire city. I realized right then, that he had answered my question. Chills went through my body at the sychronicity of it all; yet I knew in my heart that when one asks, the answer is always given.

I was so touched by this man that I asked his permission to take his photo.

My Gracious, Humble Taxi Driver

The trees represent the wisdom and perseverance of the people who survived. They are respected elders who we can all learn from. Through the trees and the elders who survived the bomb, we can see examples of the beauty of love and peace; of perseverance and nurturing; of how respecting nature and human beings can blossom into a harmonious world for us all. Despite the atrocities of what occured in Hiroshima, the city lives on: through its people, its history and its trees. The message of the trees and of the survivors is one of peace and they consciously broadcast that message to the world.

All of this was a prelude for my final day in Hiroshima, where I would visit the site of the A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. Inside the park, one sees the actual remains of where the bomb hit directly above this building. It remains because it was dropped directly above it.

A-Bomb Dome

The park itself is beautiful and a moving symbol of peace for the world. I wished I had more time there, but it was a rainy day and I had only a few hours, so I spent most of my time in the museum.

The museum experience was very powerful. I don't know how anyone who experiences it can exit without becoming an advocate for peace on Earth. I learned about the Hibakusha, a name in Japanese that literally means "explosion-affected people," and is used to represent the survivors of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They could be survivors who were in the area at the time, who suffered from the side effects of nuclear fall-out or unborn babies at the time who later were born with birth defects. The Hibakusha have fought hard for an end to nuclear proliferation.

Below is a replica of what Hiroshima looked like both before and after the bomb.

Hiroshima Replica Before the Bomb

Hiroshima Replica After the Bomb

I found it very difficult to "get through" the second half of the museum, with artifacts and stories of individual children who perished. I literally didn't listen to them all, as I found myself in tears. Yet I understood the intention of having those exhibits there: to imprint a desire and passion so strong for peace within all who experience it.

Perhaps the most fitting photographic exhibit for me was in this last image I'm posting of the phoenix trees. If you click on the photograph, I believe you can read the captions which explain how the phoenix trees survived and grew, even though no one expected them to for at least 75 years. What is deeply moving is reading that the "hibakusha" gained strength from Nature's rebounding from this man-made destruction. What a tribute to the trees and people of Hiroshima! May we always find that peaceful place within us and with others.

Exploring Miyajima Island, Walking with the Deer and Climbing Shrines

2009-06-21T09:10:00.025-04:00

Saturday I spent the hot, humid day on Miyajima Island with colleagues and hosts, who were so graciously accompanying us to show us around. The place is absolutely beautiful, and like most places I've seen in Japan so far, I ran out of time to see everything that I wanted to see. I found myself spending a couple of hours in one particular shrine, climbing various structures and stopping by to listen in on a Buddhist monk chanting and talking. While I couldn't understand any Japanese, I felt his gentle spirit in his voice and demeanor.

There is something magical about this place. I will one day return here.

Baseball: Japanese-Style

2009-06-19T04:45:00.029-04:00

The other night, I had the pleasure of attending a baseball game here in Hiroshima. The Hiroshima Carps played against the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles. It was an exciting finish, as the Carps won in the bottom of the 10th inning in an exciting home run by the player, Ishihara.

The excitement of the crowd in getting to the game was similar to what one may see in the States. People had on their favorite team colors and various sports attire, and vendors enticed the crowd to buy their food along the way. Yet I knew I was in for a special cross-cultural treat when our hosts told us that we'd be picking up a Bento box to take into the game to eat (because it's cheaper and better than the food in the stadium), and I saw the array of bicycles parked just outside the "Mazda Zoom Zoom" Stadium!

Amidst the backdrop of the mountains around the Hiroshima area, the new Mazda "Zoom Zoom" stadium has a stream of trains gliding by throughout the game, as train passengers get a glimpse into the stadium as they travel to and from Hiroshima. In this picture, you can see a white Shinkansen train (bullet train) gliding by.

The game itself was very much like a baseball game in the States. The crowd behavior, on the other hand, was quite a bit different. There were cheering sections for each team, way up high, with flags waving and leading the crowd with their continuous cheering, chants and songs. It reminded me of a soccer game, actually.

The crowd joined together and cheered on their team, with the lead from the section way up in the stands (where there was a small band as well). To give you an idea of how the crowd all joins together to cheer, here's a quick video moment from the game.

I ordered a Coke and later had a beer, as we weren't allowed to bring in drinks from the outside. While food from the outside is permitted, liquids apparently are not. One of my colleagues ordered a corn dog at the game as well. Both young men and young women strolled the stands with beer kegs on their backs, serving the crowd.

Baseball is extremely popular in Japan and it showed in the pride and fan support during the game. The rules were all the same, and there were even two American players on each team (who didn't perform that well, by the way), and I couldn't help but think about how wonderful it is to share something in common with a culture that is so different than our own. Sports is a great way to cross the cultural divide between nations, yet there are some fundamental differences between the object of the game across countries.

One of my hosts and I talked quite a bit about the differences and to give you an idea, consider this: in Japanese baseball, if the game is tied, it only lasts until the end of the 12th inning. In other words, the game can be tied at the end, as the players will get too tired if the game goes indefinitely. Imagine a game in the States where there is no winner! We are so competitive and wouldn't stand for no one winning, while the Japanese are more concerned about keeping everyone happy and in harmony with one another. I thought it was a very revealing contrast. I also learned that when the game is televised, the broadcast ends when the alloted television time is over, so if the game endures for a long time, people watching don't see the end. Now imagine that ever happening in the States! It would likely cause a riot in some major city rival games!

I noticed that the players threw out baseballs at the beginning of the game, that they don't sing a national anthem prior to the game, nor sing any patriotic songs at any time during the game. Instead, they sing their school song with pride. In addition, most people stuck around after the game to watch the "press conference" that was set up on the field as a stage and the "hero" of the game was interviewed in front of thousands who remained.

After it was all over and done, everyone seemed to pick up their own trash and carry it over to a trash collection area, so that the stands were as clean as they were when we first arrived.

It was a great night of Japanese baseball and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it and particularly to my Fulbright hosts who entertained us with this special treat.

Oh, and by the way, this is their mascot. Somehow I couldn't see the "carp" in him, but he was very cute! :-)

Images of Kyoto: Cultivating Peace

2009-06-17T17:14:00.025-04:00

Last night we arrived in Hiroshima for some days. I thought I'd look back on the past few days in Kyoto with some photographic memories here. No need for lots of words.

Japanese Cooking Class in Kyoto

2009-06-14T07:08:00.044-04:00

Today I had the honor and pleasure of being inside of a Japanese home (above) to take what turned out to be the highlight of my experience so far here in Japan. Along with one of my colleagues on this trip, Aimee, we took the "class" together, meeting our hostess and teacher, Emi Hirayama, near her home at a local university and walking to her house where we began our "lesson."

What a pleasure and delight it was to be inside her home, in her kitchen, learning about all of the different kinds of vegetables and other ingredients used in Japanese cooking! She is a lovely person and while Aimee and I did our best to "cook" along with her, I found that it took some time to take all the photos, write down the recipes and that there were many, many steps involved to making some typical summer Japanese dishes. We peeled off the skin of soybeans, cut eggplant, chopped prawns into a paste-like substance, ground fresh ginger, wrapped eel with shisho in soymilk skin (yuba), made tempura, made soup, made and molded sticky rice into beautiful molds that provided a lovely presentation, grilled scallops, prawns and eggplant, drank sweet homemade plum wine that Emi makes every year, and ate a delicious meal at the end of it all!

Most of all, our hostess was so kind and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto, and particularly if you are looking for an escape from the hotels and other tourist sites and want to get an glimpse into the Japanese kitchen in a real life home. She can accommodate up to 4 people, but I think doing this with one other person was quite meaningful, as there was space and room for both learning along with Emi, but in conversing with her as well. She is fantastic and has it all so well organized and is very pleasant company while you learn. I will always remember this experience and I also know that if I ever come back to Kyoto, I will definitely want to do this again.

To learn more about Emi and her cooking class, please visit her blog and her website.

Rather than try to write out the "recipes" I learned (and quite honestly, I didn't get all the names of things, but got most of them), I thought I'd share a few visual images that will give you the idea of the rich experience and delicious food we learned to make today.

Here's a taste. Enjoy!

Soymilk skin (Yuba)

Shitake Mushrooms & Kyoto Peppers

Lotus Root

Name? This was used a special garnish

Shisho

Deveining Fresh Prawns

Ready to Roll The Yuba-Filled with Shisho & Eel

Ready to Fry the Tempura

Frying Prawns, Scallops & Eggplant

Molding The Sticky Rice

Beautiful Rice Mold Result

Hot, Bubbly Oil Making Tempura

Draining Tempura

Ready to Eat (minus soup)

Lunch in Kyoto: Soba or Udon?

2009-06-13T09:06:00.016-04:00

After a thrilling ride on the bullet train from Tokyo, we arrived in Kyoto around lunchtime today. After checking into the hotel, we immediately found our way to a noodle place for lunch.

We had a choice of soba or udon noodles (buckwheat vs. wheat). After I had already decided on the soba, one of my colleagues asked the waitress which was better. She said that the udon noodles were better, so consequently everyone in my group ordered udon except me.

There is something to the sound of "buckwheat" that sounded more "down-home" to me today and I stuck to my initial decision. I have to say that both were delicious (one of my colleagues and I tasted each other's--just to be sure!)

I thought I'd share a visual "taste" and let you all decide for yourself.

Soba

Udon

To The Left in Tokyo

2009-06-10T09:08:00.011-04:00

While I've been here for less than a week, I am quickly reminded of some adjustments in my normal everyday habits that I have to make while walking around Tokyo. It could get dangerous NOT to remember that the driving in Japan is "to the left." This means that instead of looking left when crossing the street, I have to remember to look right. It sometimes feels like a march in my mind as I first look left; then remember that it's the wrong way so I quickly look right; then left to be sure again!

But even more noticeable to me is the way in which the pedestrians move in the subway system, through tunnels, stairways and escalators: through crowded rush hour "pedestrian traffic," one must keep to the left (most of the time). As a reminder, there are signs:

But sometimes, I'm supposed to go to the right!

It's all very orderly and efficient, yet I cannot help but smile as all of this "dancing" around Tokyo has me chuckling as I'm reminded of the song by Beyonce...

Service: Japanese Style

2009-06-07T17:35:00.008-04:00

One of the things I've known about Japanese culture from working with people over the years is how polite and service-oriented the society is. Yet while one can read about this in thousands of books and experience it from meeting Japanese people in the U.S., there is nothing that compares to experiencing it first-hand in Japan.

While I've been here not quite two days, the examples of exceptional and efficient service and kindness are everywhere: from the governmental officials at the airport in the Quarantined, Immigration and Customs' areas, to the money exchange counter, to the bus limosine staff, in the hotels, restaurants, on the streets, in the subways, the departmental stores, the taxis and the tourist areas. It is truly a delightful change to have people acknowledge you with a slight bow, a smile and a soft voice whereever you go. It certainly makes one feel very, very welcome. Even the store display of this sale in a department store is welcoming! (Hint: Click on the photo to enlarge it so you can read what is written on the display in English.)

In the States, normally this kind of exceptional service would be rewarded with a tip of some kind. Yet in Japan, tipping is not practiced! What a cultural difference this is, leaving me and the other Fulbrighters in my group to feel a bit guilty right now that we cannot reward such service with the tip that it deserves.

Yet we are thinking in our own cultural box when we have such feelings. While I'm aware of it and can process it, I can't help but feel the emotional response of a bit of guilt because that would be how I would show my appreciation back home.

So in my reflection of what I'm seeing, hearing and feeling, I turn to gratitude. I so appreciate this element of Japanese culture and am grateful and humbled by the many demonstrations of it all around me.

And I cannot help but think of how the world would be such a better place if we all practiced a little "Service: Japanese Style" of our own, once in awhile.

Blogging from Japan

2009-06-06T10:20:00.006-04:00

I just arrived in Japan for the beginning of what I know will be an amazing experience. I intend to occasionally (or perhaps, more regularly) blog from here as I journey through my experiences here. Since I'm extremely jet lagged and tired, I'll let the picture speak for itself. This is from Narita airport (Tokyo) right after picking up bags and hanging over the Customs area.

What Dreams May Come

2009-05-02T16:05:00.002-04:00

I absolutely loved this movie the first time I saw it and recently watched it again. This piece has music from Enigma. Enjoy the creativity!

45-Day Boundless Living Challenge Starts April 16th!

2009-04-12T12:46:00.000-04:00

I invite anyone wanting extra support for their goals to seriously consider joining Bob Doyle's 45-Day Boundless Living Challenge #3, which starts on April 16, 2009. This will be my third time doing the challenge and it's because of my involvement with previous challenges that I am where I am at today: with improved relationships, practicing EFT, leading a support group, pursuing photography, and attracting abundance in all areas of my life!

I recently gave my "testimony" on his BlogTalkRadio show, along with many others. You can find my 5 minute piece around the 48 minute mark. I encourage you to listen in and get inspired to take some action! Challenge #3 is going to be big! You will find many amazing people with amazing results!

If you just can't wait to get started, sign up HERE

Woman Finds $357,000 Check and Returns It

2009-04-11T00:07:00.002-04:00

It's time for some good news. Did you catch this on CNN?

Whoopi Goldberg treated by TFT on The View, part 1

2009-04-08T21:38:00.002-04:00

Around 5:26 on this video, you'll see how the psychologist, Jill, explains how they used TFT (a form of tapping) to address Whoopi's fear of flying. EFT was developed from TFT.

This is exciting exposure for tapping!

EFT WORLD SUMMIT

2009-04-03T00:13:00.004-04:00

I have some exciting news for anyone curious about EFT, passionate about it or just willing to give it a try! On April 20th, for 9 days, there will be an EFT World Summit for 9 consecutive days. And it's FREE. My friends at Try It On Everything have created a very exciting event!

The event is called the EFT World Summit and features some of the top minds and practitioners in the world of Emotional Freedom Techniques, such as Carol Look, Dr. Patricia Carrington, Brad Yates, Bob Doyle, Carol Tuttle...in fact, there will be over 16 instructors in all.

All these experts will gather together their combined knowledge to immerse you in the world of EFT, to help you create better emotional and physical health, prosperity, clarity, energy focus and much, much more!

Never before has a panel like this been assembled...and it may never happen again, so I'd like to encourage you to get registered right away.

Register Here Free!

We're telling everyone we know so please feel free to share this blog post along to anyone you feel would benefit from the EFT World Summit, too.

This is a perfect time to give EFT a try!

Earth Hour is Here!

2009-03-28T16:03:00.002-04:00

Earth Hour is here! Tonight at 8:30 p.m., I'm turning off my lights for an hour and joining others around the world in this movement. Last year, I was one of 50 million around the world to participate.

I wonder how many millions will join me this year?

Earth Hour 2009: Won't you join me in turning off the lights?

2009-03-10T23:00:00.002-04:00

I encourage everyone to consider participating in Earth Hour Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m., your local time. Let's make a difference! The "quiet" time can be very relaxing (and romantic!)

It's all for a good cause: our planet Earth!

Wayne Dyer/How God Tells You It's Time For a Change

2009-02-28T22:35:00.003-05:00

An insight from Dr. Wayne Dyer that is particularly timely right now...If you have lost your job, what is it that you have always really wanted to do? What is your dream? Now is your opportunity that, while you were working, you probably didn't have time for. This is the time to pursue your dreams!

Think Different

2009-02-20T21:59:00.002-05:00

It's time for everyone to think outside the box! That's why it's called "creativity!" I'm staying open to new ways of approaching life's challenges and to the people I meet along my way. I'm daring to be different. What about you?

I Can See Clearly Now: I Healed My Need for Reading Glasses!

2009-02-02T23:51:00.012-05:00

As a practitioner of EFT and the law of attraction, I have healed my need for reading glasses within the past months. That's right. I healed it and now I'll tell you how I did it.

While I cannot remember the exact date when I had a "rocket of desire" so strong to be able to read without those glasses, I do remember the feeling in the moment when I put that desire out there. It was no more than 6 months ago, but I think it was about 4 months ago. I was so sick and tired of having those glasses fall off of those cords that hung around my neck, and frustrated that I had to depend upon the glasses so much to enjoy all of the books I wanted to read! So I remember that my desire to see clearly was a very strong desire. I just decided that day that I would read without them, while intending overall good health.

The first few days I remember squinting a lot, but I refrained from using the glasses. Then I just forgot about them.

The other day at work, one of my co-workers had a newspaper with some really small print that she couldn't read (because she didn't have her reading glasses) and she asked me to read it. I did so and then it hit me.

It really hit me. Wow. This stuff really, really works! I had healed my need for reading glasses!

While I had some moments of happiness and observation in the past few months that I had no need for those glasses, I really haven't celebrated it. So I say, "It's time to celebrate and you are invited!" And in honor of this amazing technique, EFT, I am posting the video from Gary Craig, the Founder of EFT, for your benefit: to inspire you, to encourage you and to motivate you to give EFT a chance!

You can try it out at my party on Thursday, February 19th at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm hosting a free teleseminar for those new to EFT. To sign up, please send me an email with your name and email address and I will send you the details. To send me an email, you'll have to really look around to the right column on this blog. Scroll way down to where it says "View My Profile" and click on it: then click on "Email." The first 5 people who sign up will receive a free 15 minute private tapping session by phone with me in the next 30 days.

Celebrate with me and learn EFT! I'll "see" you at my party!

In Honor of This Great Man: My Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

2009-01-19T11:49:00.008-05:00

I posted this last year in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While I realize his actual birthday was the 15th, I will make this my annual tradition on the Monday that is a U.S. national holiday. Sit back and relax and cherish this moving speech that gives so much hope and instill dreams in so many, years later.

In loving memory of this great man, I'm posting his "I Have A Dream" speech in its entirety. I hope you'll take the time out to sit back and be inspired by his message.

Give a Gift of Life: A Few Dollars Can Make A Real Difference

2008-12-31T19:51:00.024-05:00

I heard about Karen Jo from Sarah on Twitter (and consequently read her blog posts about Karen Jo.) The picture is of Karen Jo with her cat at Thanksgiving time this year. After reading about her current situation, I was compelled to immediately make a contribution and pass this on! Time is of the utmost importance! Please consider giving from your heart.

The doctors say that Karen Jo is dying but she is determined to prove them wrong. She has an immediate challenge, however, and that is money to travel to the nearby clinic for the covered cancer treatments, her medications and for her bills. Any contribution would be really appreciated! She doesn't have supportive family members to count on, so it's up to others like us to lend a hand.

How about ending the year and giving hope of a new beginning to Karen Jo?

You can contribute below or send your check to her at:
Karen Jo Moseley
802 Troy Rd. APT #105
Albert Lea, MN 56007

Any contribution will help! Thanks for contributing and please pass this on!