Life in a Cocoon

Asian Moth

I left my home on Koh Samui on the 7^th of May.  Over the last 10 months I can only remember 2 time periods where I spent a full 30 day stretch on my Paradise Island.  This has been the most I have traveled since I left California in 1996. 

The last 60 days I have been exploring the USA for a new business base and visiting friends and family from coast to coast.  My average length of stay in any one area; Orange County Ca, Florida, South and N. Carolina, Virginia, Kansas City, Colorado and Georgia was approximately 7 days driving and flying from region to region.   Two months away from home living out of a suit case and restaurant eating has not been good to me.

Pagosa Springs Colorado, USA

The other day I was feeling a bit blue about my weight gain and lack of fitness training.  That’s when I had an epiphany and realized that for the last 12 yrs I have lived in a cocoon; I don’t read or speak the Thai language and am oblivious to all the chatter and noise that takes place around me.  I have managed to create my own little world where I only speak when I want and hear what I want, the rest of the time I am alone in my thoughts and partaking in what I enjoy; training, family and entertainment.

Life in a cocoon is peaceful, safe and secure; controlled.  I rarely interact with strangers and have created a routine that allows me to know when to expect the unexpected and predict the predictable.  Time in a controlled environment is affluent; it flows easily.

preparing for the 4th of july in Pagosa Springs, Co.

After two months on the road in the USA, sleeping in strange beds, consuming industrial food, and living in a state of unrest; radios blaring, reality T.V., and under a perpetual state of commercial bombardment I reached my limit.  The mere sound of a panicked news reporter or energized infomercial makes me feel nauseated.

I miss my proscribed ecosystem of white sand beaches, cool sea breezes and swaying palm trees without commercial TV, radios, or newspapers.  My heaven; alone and not lonely, surrounded by family and friends, doing what I want, when and where I please in the silence and peace of my own mind. I crave the days of never being asked what I do and interacting with travelers who are on their own quest of self fulfillment living free from expectation and the bonds that bind people to struggle.

Harbor in Seal Beach California, USA

I have breached my tropical island capsule and there is no turning back.  The mission forward is to recreate a new atmosphere of peace and serenity, prosperity and affluence on Hilton Head Island.  I am certain that the most disruptive origin of disease is the stomach turning chatter of commercial radio and television and is to be consciously avoided.

A common sign on the South East coast of USA 

I have always said that anyplace can be paradise if I can afford to leave it but the last 8 weeks has shown me there is more to paradise than escaping an undesirable situation.  Paradise is found from within; it is a perception and a way of life.  Unconditional love and acceptance is the front door to a world of peace, joy and happiness.  Faith is the catalyst that opens the gate and empowers us to follow our dreams.

At Royals Baseball Stadium In Kansas City USA

The road to living a dream is full of obstacles and barriers which is why it is most important to be mentally clear about what we want.  The smallest details create the most colorful picture.  Make a list and trust your inner voice. A simple exercise that produces some incredible results is to take paper and pen in hand.  If you are right handed write a question such as; why don’t I know what I want? Then use your left hand to write the answer.  It is important to script whatever comes to mind and not over think this exercise.  The answers can be surprising and a basis to work from.   

Paddle Bikes

Let’s reduce the unnecessary distractions in our life, break away from expectation and disappointment and start by turning off the noise of industrial airwaves.

Go have some fun,

Clearwater Florida USA

Geo

es ist gut, um den Komfort der normalen entkommen

The Dove Tail Effect

Physical

Eighteen months ago I truly believed I had tuned into exactly what my physical requirements were to grow strong, increase balance, lean out and reach peak conditioning.  One year ago I hit a weight loss plateau.  My weight had leveled; I was 18kg/39.6lb over goal weight.  I was not overly concerned because I was in the best physical, mental, spiritual, financial and emotional conditioning of my 10 year self improvement journey.  I assumed weight training and muscle mass was tweaking the scales.

mental

The first warning sign of storms on the horizon was when regular yo-yoing began; up 1kg/2.2lb one week and down .5kg/1.1lb the next.  It would take me 14 days to drop the weight I gained in one week.   The Yo-yoing did not escape my attention; I focused on my food intake, regulated my fat, protein and carbohydrate percentages and made adjustments to my fitness regiment which resulted in a temporary stop in the fluctuating scale but did not produce another weight loss sequence.

spiritual

In my mind, every week I gained weight was another mislaid week in my journey to ideal weight and I began to feel frustrated and confused.  I had transformed from 162kg/356.5lb to 97kg/213lb without drugs, doctors, or diets the only thing I did was focus on moving and refrained from over indulging in the foods and behavior that cause weight gain.

Emtional

My personal performance system worked for me; I was improving in all five areas of life; physically, emotionally, mentally, financially and spiritually and ready to sharing my program with others. Then I hit the wall. I was going in the wrong direction each month was either a push or worse a gain and no matter how much I tried to adjust my behavior I was not being rewarded for my effort.  Each failed attempt to get back on track felt like a gut shot and failure to regain control began to weigh heavily on my mind and emotions.

financial

I frequently make reference to five areas in life; emotional, physical, mental, spiritual and financial.  I believe they dovetail and when one is out of balance it has a domino effect on the others.  When my emotions are dominating my decisions, I am not being as rational as I could be and when I am being over rational I am lacking in faith.  Focusing on finances often times leads to neglecting my relationships as poor health effects every aspect of life. 

spiritual

I weighed in last week and I am up 23kg/50.6lb over the last year; 17kg/37.4lb in the last 6 months.  I had a glitch in my system 12 months ago which correlates with my decision to expand my business and personal endeavors to another continent.  The dynamics of change has had a broad spectrum affect in all areas of my life.

physical

Stress releases a chemical called cortisone which is a proven natural steroid that causes weight gain, combine this with travel infringing on my quality time in the gym and I my laps in controlling my unhealthy behavior, I have gone adrift and no matter how hard I try to get back on course I feel like I am in a boat missing a paddle; rowing in circles. 

Emotional

I know I am stressed and have been for quite some time.  I believe it is only human to have fear of the unknown.  I have done my best to rely on faith and pragmatism to lead my way through this time of change.   I am surprised and disappointed by the dramatic weight gain over the last 6 months because I have been actively working to control my weight for more than 10 yrs and I trusted that my program was proven and effective enough to get me through whatever life put in front of me.

financial

My focus is on completing my intercontinental expansion and fear is effecting my emotions which are having a negative effect on my physical and spiritual well being and at times have had me feeling lost, dazed and confused. The good news is I am spiritually sound, financially healed and mentally stable.

the total package mental,physical,emotional,finacial,spiritual

 Moving in faith and trust should lead me to salvation and back to ideal fitness, health and wellbeing.  

Go have some fun,

Geo

Never Too Old to Get Better

some things are timeless

I was having a conversation with the mother of my dearest friend, she has known me for 50 yrs and I must admit the time we shared was completely enjoyable; she is inspiring, involved, evolved and in many ways a role model.   I have interacted with many seniors over the last two months; ranging in age from 60 to 85. Some are new to retirement, and others are still working, a few are widowed and dating and others are in long term marriages or divorced.   

These groups of people have more than age in common they share a time in history when people had fewer choices.  For all but a few their world was their neighborhood and family.  Education was optional but work was mandatory, none of them grew up in an era of entitlements; everyone was expected to produce if they wanted to eat.  They made their opportunities and were willing to pay the price to make their life better.   

Never to old to grow

One lady in her mid 80’s did not go to school until she was married with children and in her 30’s; from that experience she discovered her love of reading and took a speed reading course. Today in her mid 80’s she will read a book a day from cover to cover.  Her love for the written word led her to writing and in her mid 40’s began writing articles for the local newspapers which she continues to do today.  She is in her mid 80’s widowed, dating, sews quilts, minding flowers, volunteering in community events, suffers through failing health and perseveres. 

Another woman I met who is in her 70’s was raised on a farm, has lived a life full of emotional and physical challenges, her 1^st husband divorced and left her with 3 children, she has survived cancer and its barbaric cures and has recently been widowed from her soul mate.  She is an inspiration to others as she continues to keep a positive outlook on life, is spry and a political activist, stays fit, watches her diet and looks many years younger than her age.

take time to enjoy natures beauty

I have a sister who labored on a 1,000 acre Oklahoma farm for many years to make sure her two young boys had a good life. When the oldest son headed to university she joined her husband and began driving a long haul truck. The last email I received from her was from their sail boat anchored in the Caribbean. Today they literally go where the winds blow them. 

My mentor is in his mid 70’s and an immigrant, he received his PHD from a school thousands of miles away from family and friends, has been divorced and remarried,  raised several beautiful children, stays fit and thrives working at his business.

In California I met a real estate agent in her 70’s with a thriving book of listings and rental properties and in Colorado an owner of a bed and breakfast, in South Carolina a realtor/broker/attorney widow in her mid 80’s who is traveling between southern Florida and South Carolina, they are all taking care of themselves and have no plans to retire.

What I discovered during my encounters with seniors is how making the decision to read for pleasure improved my ability to converse intelligently with others.  By exposing myself to the literary works, I broadened my exposure to the world of fantasy, and adventure such as Dick Francis and his jockey detective stories or Clive Cussler and his adventure hero Dirk Pitt or Wilber Smith and his African exploits.  16 years ago I would have had no idea what people were referring to when they talked of classics such as “On the Road Again” or “Death of Salesman”.  

I did not begin reading for enjoyment until I was 40 years old and by making that choice I have become more open to new ideas, a better listener and interactive person. I have a broader perspective of the world and reading has enriched my life and worth.

 Aging is nothing more than a matter of time; stay busy, inspired and active and good health and a long life will follow.

Go have some fun,

Geo