The Good, the Bad, and the Normal

Normal .  .  .

- according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle

- conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern

     - occurring naturally
  

That's from the Merriam-Webster dictionary .  .  .  So, let's work with that .  .  .

To give some background re:this post .  .  .  I've long since come to the conclusion that "normal" is in many ways, meaningless as a term and concept .  .  .  I realize that statisticians love the concept of normal, and so do people who seek to control others .  .  .  But, I'm in neither camp .  .  .  I despised stats in college, and have absolutely no desire to control anyone other than myself .  .  .

The lexicon of the language changes constantly, and we hear over and over things like "moving forward" and "prioritizing" and "the new normal" .  .  .  What? Did we get tired of the old normal?  Did it become obsolete?  Did we become bored with it, and just say, to hell with it, let's do something new and exciting normal?  Or, was the "old normal" just an illusion, as the "new normal" will be until it also is replaced by something else?

When we think about it, "normal" constantly changes .  .  .  Society can undergo change slowly over time, or it can experience tremendous upheaval .  .  .  Either way, nothing ever stays the same .  .  .  It evolves, just as individuals evolve .  .  . 

What is normal?  If someone asked me that, I'd have a very difficult time coming up with something that is accurate .  .  .  In a broad general sense, maybe we can agree on a few things, such as it's normal not to kill, normal not to steal, normal not to want to hurt people, and so on .  .  .  I DO hope the vast majority of people feel that killing and stealing and hurting should be avoided for the good of all .  .  .  But we all know that for some, killing and stealing and hurting are very much their usual behaviors .  .  .  Does that make killing and stealing and hurting normal then in some way?  And that thing about killing gets really difficult when we consider the "eye for an eye" approach of capital punishment .  .  .  Or, the human need and drive to go to war to protect what's ours, or to take what isn't ours, but which we want .  .  .

One can go round and round in discussing what's "normal" societally .  .  .  But, let's switch gears and bring it down to the individual level .  .  .  Let's talk about me, since I'm the expert on me .  .  .  I don't feel qualified to discuss any other human being, because I can't get inside their head and lick their brain and know what they truly think and feel .  .  .  

The question becomes, am I normal?  Well, what is the context?  Are we talking about behavior?  I don't kill and I don't steal and I try very hard not to hurt anyone in any way .  .  .  I've never been arrested, don't have a record, and have never sat in the back of a squad car while the people in uniform tried to break down my story .  .  .  Let's say I'm normal in that sense .  .  .  So that's good, don't you think?  But what about what goes on in my head?  What about the thoughts I'm experiencing, and then the resulting emotions, and maybe the behaviors I act out as a result of the thoughts and emotions?  Are they normal?  Are they abnormal?  I could have some sick thoughts, but never speak of them and never act on them .  .  .  Would I then appear "normal" in a behavioral sense, but be abnormal and twisted in a thinking sense?  It can get murky .  .  .

When people speak of normal, I become a bit nervous, because so much of what is considered normal can be used to control .  .  .  Monogamy is normal, so anything outside of that is abnormal .  .  .  That's used to control behavior, it scares me, and it's just one example .  .  .  Belief in one concept of God is normal in some cultures, so anything outside of that is abnormal .  .  .  That gave us the Inquisition, and other atrocities in the name of God, or the "normal" concept of God at the time the atrocities were committed .  .  .  It exists today as well .  .  .  If I go to, say Pakistan as an example, and I run through the streets of Islamabad or Karachi or any other city, town or village clutching a Bible or Torah or copy of the Upanishads and espouse what's in any of those, I'll end up among the deceased pretty quickly .  .  .  So, normal is so much about control of thought and as an extension, behavior .  .  .  THAT scares the shit out of me, because I don't want to be controlled!

There's another post to be written on the topic of "normal" from a more personal viewpoint, and this one has gone on long enough .  .  .  But, think about it .  .  .  And ask, what is normal?  Maybe, it's normal to be bored to tears after reading this!  Hah!

As always .  .  .  Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!       

Knocking it down . . .

As a former basketball coach, I can appreciate somebody who can put the rock in the hole consistently .  .  .  These guys can get it done, and with amazing creativity .  .  .  I've watched this multiple times .  .  .  Take a look .  .  .

Life is beautiful baby!



Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!

A toast to you Bobby . . .

What do we say when a good friend passes?  What CAN we say?  It's just a rhetorical question, where no answer suffices or is necessary, or even possible .  .  .


Bobby  .  .  .  I love you my friend, and so do many .  .  .  Wife, children, friends .  .  .


You showed your loyalty in the best sense .  .  .  Once a friend, always a friend .  .  .  You epitomized that .  .  .


Truly, we have to realize this .  .  .  We'll all pass .  .  .  In the end, Life is for the living  .  .  Live, love, laugh, enjoy, stop worrying about superficial shit .  .  .

A toast to you Bobby  .  .  .

Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!! 

PX90 Workout System . . .

I'm a workout fiend, and always looking for something new .  .  .  My great friend Steve in Oakville was talking about PX90 recently .  .  .  I've looked at the website, and they're obviously selling something .  .  .  

Does anyone have experience with PX90?  If so, I'd really welcome your getting in touch with me via email .  .  .  

Life is beautiful!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!! 

Hypnotic . . .

I had breakfast this morning with a friend at a restaurant attached to a bookstore in town .  .  .  While there, I heard song, which I haven't heard in a while .  .  . 

I know you can relate to this .  .  .  We see things multiple times, or hear something multiple times, and then there's that one occasion when we see it or hear it and it's on a whole different level than anytime before .  .  .  Is that because of a different level of consciousness at that moment?  Is it the surroundings?  What?  Whtever it is, it happens and we're always aware of it when it does .  .  .

The song is Take a Chance by the beautiful Chantal Chamandy .  .  .  As I heard it, I was standing at the magazine display checking out some new issues .  .  .  One of those moments when time stops and we just become immersed in the sensation  .  .  .  So here it is .  .  .



Life is beautiful beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .    Ciao!!

Work makes my ass fat!

No .  .  .  Not MY ass .  .  .  HER ass!


Some background .  .  .  A perfect July day in 2010, with lots of sun and heat .  .  .  A few friends got together for "Happy Hour" in late afternoon .  .  .  Everyone was a little naturally high to begin with, and then proceeded to get a little happier as drinks flowed and food was consumed .  .  .  At one point, the topic of conversation got around to body types, and there was discussion about this body type and that body type .  .  .  Then, out of the blue, Maria blurted out, Work makes my ass fat!  Good thing I'd swallowed my red wine two seconds before her bold pronouncement!  Maria is on the shorter side, with a tendency to gain weight easily .  .  .  She also seems to lose it easily .  .  .  She attributes her occasional weight issues to her southern Italian heritage, and references it often .  .  .


What made me think of this?  Yesterday I came across an article on Yahoo News about the sad state of health of the majority of Canadian adults .  .  .  In a nutshell, two thirds of Canadian adults are overweight or obese .  .  .  It's even worse in the USA .  .  .  Resulting from this is a spike in Type II diabetes, and of course, more cardiovascular disease, more cancer, more this and that .  .  .  the list is endless .  .  .  One of the things mentioned in the article is that so many people are working such long hours, then go home tired and often to kids who need attention, housework and so on .  .  .  So, no desire or motivation to be terribly active after a long, hard day on the job .  .  .  And, as my friend Maria so eloquently stated, some jobs in and of themselves (a lot of sitting) contribute to fat asses .  .  .


What to do?  Clearly, the general adult population is under-exercised and underactive .  .  .   I wrote an entry in December titled Gym Rat, in which I made a plea for people to get active in 2011 (if they aren't already) for the sake of overall well-being, and also improved quality of life .  .  .  Yesterday at the gym, I saw exactly what I knew I'd see, which was, a packed place and lots of new faces .  .  .  Happens every January for the first two weeks, then it's back to normal as most of the new bodies fall away .  .  .  But of course, I DO hope that most of them won't .  .  .  The truth is though, most of them WILL .  .  .  It's a sad state of affairs where the overall health of our adult population is concerned .  .  .


All we can control is ourselves .  .  .  We make the decisions to exercise or not, smoke or not, eat healthy or not, and so on .  .  .  We can't do that for others .  .  .  But, if we start with ourselves, our behavior may have a positive influence upon just one other person, and motivate him or her to make some positive changes in activity level, diet, or what have you .  .  .  We should never underestimate our power to influence others by setting a good example!  We never know where or when something we say or do will plant a seed in another's consciousness, and then a profound change begins to take place over time in that person's life .  .  .  The power of ONE!!  Never doubt it!




Life is beautiful baby!


Peace and love .  .  .


Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!

When pigs fly . . .

We've all heard that .  .  .  How about, When snakes fly .  .  . ?!

Given my name, you gotta know I have a soft spot for snakes .  . .

It seems, snakes CAN fly, or at least, glide pretty damn well .  .  .



Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!

The Spiritual Path II

In the previous post, I described a bit of what a spiritual path means to me .  .  .  However, there's more to say on that subject .  .  .

As I said, this is absolutely the path I was meant to pursue .  .  .  Did I necessarily realize that from day one?  Definitely not!  But, as I look back on the events in my life, I can clearly see that everything seems to have pointed me this way .  .  .  Maybe pulled is a better word .  .  .  One thing needs to be said though, and it's that some of my behavior in this life could be described as, shall we say, decidedly non-spiritual .  .  .  Oh yeah, there just might be a skeleton or two in Snake's closet .  .  .  But, amazingly, the gods have for the most part kept me out of trouble .  .  .  I've been spared from most painful repercussions .  .  .   I can think of a time or two though where, if things had played out differently, my life would NOT be what it is today .  .  .  So, of all the things I'm consciously grateful for, that's up there on the list .  .  .  Do I have a guardian angel?  Maybe I have (and have needed!) more than one!   At times, it seems as if I was being protected .  .  .  Just no other way to explain it .  .  .   :)

Over the years, I've been on and off the spiritual path .  .  .  Early on, quite frequently I'd fall off the bandwagon .  .  .  But always, something would happen that would draw me back .  .  .  I can only look back and shake my head in wonder, that everything seems to have played out perfectly, and continues to .  .  .

People have many misconceptions about what a person's life might be like if a spiritual route is taken .  .  .  It does not mean giving up life's pleasures .  .  .  It does not mean losing interest in sex .  .  .  It does not mean going to India to find a cave in the Himalayas to meditate one's life away .  .  .   For some, it might mean those things, but certainly not for me .  .  .

The vast majority of people who pursue the path appear quite normal, in fact .  .  .  There is no mark on the forehead to identify them, no clothing to give them away, no code words they use to communicate among one another .  .  .  They appear quite normal, and in fact, ARE quite normal .  .  .  They do the same things everyone does to get through life, but .  .  .  And this is the kicker .  .  .  They have a different attitude, and a different view of reality than most .  .  .  However, there isn't any one specific view that defines the path, as everyone is unique and so is their Journey unique .  .  .

All I can describe is my experience .  .  .  There's a calmness about things from moment to moment .  .  .  I've done so much meditating in my life using many techniques, that I'm certain I'm one of those people whose brain has been altered by it .  .  .  That's been proven scientifically to happen to some people .  .  .  And then, their brain waves undergo a change as well .  .  .  It's all for the better however .  .  .  These are positive changes .  .  .  My view of people is a bit different .  .  .  We all have the Divine spark within us, and when we feel it ourselves and see it in others, it can't help but change how we deal with other human beings .  .  .  We become more accepting, less judgemental, more loving and understanding .  .  .  In my case, it also means that there are certain types of people I'll try to avoid .  .  .  That could seem contradictory, but it really isn't .  .  . 

Although there are always going to be challenges in life no matter what path we pursue, my life has a flow and a sense of ease that is very peaceful and calm .  .  .  I'm not talking about being sedated, but just a feeling of ease .  .  .  Perhaps a better word is balance .  .  .  Balance and ease sounds just about right .  .  .  That comes from meditation, which I always joke is the best drug I've ever taken .  .  .  In fact, most of the time, I feel like I'm in an almost permanent meditative state .  .  .  Which is good!  My intuition is highly developed, and I always listen to the voice .  .  .

It amazes me how everything seems to fall into place .  .  .  Along with that, I've had some profound experiences that I'd never discuss with anyone else .  .  .  Some things are meant not to be shared .  .  .  But they happen, and the further I go, the more powerful they become .  .  .  The last few years have been mind-blowing!

Yes indeed, life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!
   

The Spiritual Path . . .

"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together .  .  . "

Recognize that?  Can you hear the song playing?  I'll come back to it .  .  .

A conversation occurred three weeks ago about the spiritual path .  .  .  This is a post I've wanted to write for a long time, but it didn't happen .  .  .  I always wait for the inspiration, the voice of intuition .  .  .  It happens when the time is right .  .  .

Shall we begin?

If you met me on the street, or at a party, a conference, or wherever .  .  .  What would you see?

Male .  .  .  Blue eyes .  .  .  Six feet .  .  .  One eighty two .  .  .  Laid back .  .  .  Calm .  .  .  Grounded and centered .  .  .  Easy to be with .  .  .  No agendas or drama .  .  .  I want nothing from you, except what you choose to give me .  .  .

From the moment of my conception, there's no doubt I was meant to pursue a spiritual path .  .  .

But, what IS a spiritual path?  Truly, every path is unique .  .  .  All I can do is talk about the one I'm experiencing .  .  .

Wishing the best for every human being .  .  .

Asking for what I need to fulfill my higher purpose .  .  .

Being consciously grateful for everything in my life .  .  .

Thinking thoughts that add to the LIGHT .  .  .

Understanding that, everything won't happen on my timetable .  .  .  Right time, right place, right reason .  .  .  We can't speed up destiny .  .  .

There's more, but much of it is very difficult, if not impossible, to articulate .  .  .  So, you're thinking, this guy is crazy .  .  .  Hmmm?  

Going back to the original line .  .  .

We are ALL connected .  .  .  More than we can possibly understand intellectually .  .  .

Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .   Ciao!!

Off to a rockin' start . . .

How long does it take to get a bead on the New Year?  A week, two weeks, a month?  What?  Well, I've been up for three hours and so far, so good .  .  .  My resolutions are solidly in place .  .  .  More HtwoO in 2011?  Two big glasses already .  .  .  More stretching?  Done .  .  .  Of course, what human being isn't able to maintain two resolutions for three hours?  But, I'm committed to this, and really, if I can't make these two simple, boring resolutions work, then it's pretty sad .  .  .  


I've read a few blogs people have written about resolutions .  .  .  Some are inspiring .  .  .  Some are humorous .  .  .  And some make me think, Good luck to you!  But you don't have a chance of doing all that in 2011 .  .  .  Not by a long shot!  Why?  Too many things on the list .  .  .  A person can only multi-task so many resolutions at a time .  .  .  My thinking is, two is about it at any one time .  .  .  Then, once those are in place, move on to something else .  .  .  But if we try to make ten changes from day one, the average person is doomed to fail .  .  . It's OK to have ten, but spread 'em out over the year .  .  .  That's 365 days to get it done .  .  .  Or most of it done .  .  .   It's a marathon, not the 100 m dash .  .  .


Not a doubt in my mind, 2011 is going to be a terrific year!  Why?  Because I choose to make it so .  .  .  We ALL have that power, and it starts with thoughts .  .  .  THOUGHTS .  .  .  Negativity starts with thoughts .  .  .  Everything starts with thoughts .  .  .  Getting back to resolutions, people tend to focus on behaviors .  .  .  The problem is, behaviors don't occur in isolation .  .  .  Behaviors come from emotions and thoughts, but it all starts with thoughts .  .  .  Want to change a behavior, or a habit?  Look at the thoughts driving it, and that's where the work has to be done .  .  .  Take control of thoughts, and the rest comes easy .  .  .


OK, it's 11 am on January 1st, 2011 .  .  .  And this song is going through my head from out of nowhere .  .  .  Is that significant?  Is this an omen of what 2011 is going to bring my way?  Hah!  Somewhere in this song is a metaphor .  .  .  So here it is .  .  .  Nothing like a little redneck rock to start the year .  .  .  And ya gotta love the use of chainsaw-as-musical instrument creativity!





Life is beautiful baby!


Peace and love .  .  .


Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!

Things I'm looking forward to in 2011 . . .

We should look forward, right?  So, let's do that .  .  .  What am I looking forward to?  Here we go .  .  .


1.  More tantra .  .  .

2.  Getting to Fla .  .  .  Beaches and palm trees in three weeks .  .  .  For ten weeks .  .  .

3.  Gold's Gym in Tampa .  .  .  Love that place, and the gym buds who help to pass the time between sets .  .  .

4.  Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup .  .  .  I know, I know .  .  .   That's low probability .  .  .

5.  Finding unexpected sources of inspiration .  .  .  The best inspiration is unexpected and out of the blue .  .  .

6.  L'air making a full recovery .  .  .

7.  Sacred sites .  .  .

8.  Sacred sexuality .  .  .

9.  New friends, new people, new lessons .  .  .

10.  Challenges .  .  .  What better way to learn more about ourselves?

11.  Zen reality .  .  .

12.  Another great Halloween party .  .  .  The return of Snake Vegas!

13.  Moving further along the path .  .  .

OK, I'm stopping there because thirteen is a lucky number .  .  .

One more thing .  .  .  The local newspaper printed predictions based upon astrological sign .  .  .   Mine was very so-so .  .  .  Are you f***ing kidding me?  2011 is going to be a GREAT year!  I'm in control, and that's all that matters!!

Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next year .  .  .  Ciao!! 

Thanks Jeff!

I had my doubts whether I'd post anything today .  .  .  Then this morning, Jeff called me and wanted to chat .  .  .  Jeff was in an introspective frame of mind, party because his butt has been parked on the sofa lately because he's dealing with the chest infection from Hell .  .  .  Hey Jeffy, sending good vibes!  Ten minutes into the conversation, I knew what I wanted to write about .  .  .

The topic is "Stuff" .  .  .  Have you ever seen the classic George Carlin routine dealing with "stuff"?  If you haven't, I'm including the video here .  .  .  it's brilliant!  However, the thing we were talking about made me think about all the needless, useless crap we all accumulate as we follow the routines of our lives .  .  .  We all do it, and then at some point we have a realization .  .  .  And then we try to simplify and unclutter, only to start the whole accumulation of stuff all over again at some point .  .  .  Is that just something that human beings are programmed to do?  Hmmm .  .  .  I hope you enjoy the video!  If Jeff hadn't called, you wouldn't be reading this, and you wouldn't have the chance to experience some of the comedic genius of George Carlin .  .  .  Ya gotta love how life works at times!

On another note, I wrote a few days ago about my ONE New Years Resolution, which is actually the first one I've EVER made .  .  .  My resolution is to drink more HtwoO in 2011 .  .  .  But, I'm going way out on a limb and will make a second resolution .  .  .  Which is, to do more stretching .  .  .  At the gym yesterday, I finished a little ahead of time, so stretching seemed like a good idea .  .  .  The truth is, it was sad and pathetic .  .  .  My hammies are as tight as a drum, my traps are rock hard, and I developed an ab cramp that was beyond belief .  .  .  So, getting back to some stretching and yoga is resolution #2 .  .  .  Can I handle two?  Hah!  Send good vibes my way so I can make this happen!

Happy New Year everyone!  And enjoy the late GC!!  And BTW, I was reminded yesterday of a great quote from Victor Hugo, while reading a blog about love .  .  .  Life is the flower, love is the nectar .  .  .  Think about it .  .  . 



Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time in 2011 .  .  .  Ciao!!

Ten (questionable) New Year's Resolutions

I'm not advocating any of these resolutions, but I AM recommending that you watch this video and laugh!

Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!

Grateful . . .

This is the week for reflection .  .  .  So, let's reflect on gratitude, and what I'm grateful for from the year about to end .  .  .


1.  I'm sincerely, consciously grateful for my life .  .  .  


2.  The challenges .  .  .  We all have them .  .  .  Some complain, and some deal with them and learn .  .  .


3.  My family .  .  .  Not big, but high quality .  .  .  I'll take quality over quantity anytime .  .  .


4.  My friends .  .  .   I can't imagine having a group of more loyal people around me .  .  .


5.  2010 .  .  .  A GREAT year .  .  .  2011?  Even better baby!


6.  Steve in Oakville .  .  .  Hey Stevie, in 2011 I'm going to show up on your doorstep .  .  .  Just have that pool WARM, 'cause this Snake despises cold water!


7.  Blogs I enjoy reading .  .  .


8.  The angels .  .  .  


9.  My gym buds, especially the guys at Gold's in Tampa .  .  .


10.  Veronicafish .  .  .  Hoping you'll be writing regularly .  .  .


11.  The inner circle .  .  .


12.  The Journey, and all the life experiences that have brought me to this incredible place  .  .  .


13.  My intuition .  .  .


Life is beautiful baby!


Peace and love .  .  .


Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!       

To resolve or not to resolve . . .

Tis the season for those annual resolutions .  .  .  I'll be completely honest .  .  .  I've never in my life made a New Year's resolution .  .  .  Not one, not ever .  .  .  Maybe that should change, so this time around I'm going to make just ONE .  .  .  Yeah, start small, and make it something where I'm guaranteed to keep it past January 3rd .  .  .


I was at the gym yesterday, and two people I chatted with brought up the whole resolution thing .  .  .  They were both quite set on giving up some "vices" .  .  .   Interesting that both used that word .  .  .   Vices .  .  .  Which made me think about MY vices .  .  .  Honestly, I have no desire to give them up .  .  .  I quite like them, and am quite attached to them .  .  .  So, I'll be more than happy to keep them for another year .  .  .  Life is beautiful baby!  And honestly, if a person's life is completely devoid of vices, doesn't that sound like a boring existence?

So, my one NYR going into 2011 is simple and boring, but highly achievable .  .  .  Virtually guaranteed to meet with 100% success .  .  .  Here it is .  .  .  I'm going to drink more water .  .  .  That's it and that's all .  .  .  Consume more HtwoO .  .  .  Eight twelve ounce glasses per day .  .  .  I know I have your moral support in making this work!   I can feel the good vibes coming my way .  .  .  

And now, what are YOUR resolutions?  Good luck with 'em, and remember, the fewer we have, the greater the chance of success .  .  .  

Life is beautiful baby!

Peace and love .  .  .

Until next time .  .  .  Ciao!!