Coach Kenji

Jalaluddin Rumi

"Thankfulness brings you to the place where the Beloved lives." - Jalaluddin Rumi from Camille and Kabir Helminski's Rumi: Jewels Of Remembrance

Baal Shem Tov

"Everybody is unique. Do not compare yourself with anybody else lest you spoil God's curriculum." - Baal Shem Tov

St. Isaac of Ninevah

"The beginning of divine wisdom is clemency and gentleness, which arise from greatness of soul and the bearing of infirmities." - St. Isaac of Ninevah from On the Harm of Foolish Zeal that Has the Guise of Being Divine

Howard Thurman: come alive

"Ask what makes you come alive and go out and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~ Howard Thurman

The Promises of the Big Book of AA

"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them." - The Promises of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 83-84,

Pema Chodron on Compassion

"As we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others -- what and whom we can work with, and how -- becomes wider." ~ Pema Chodron from When Things Fall Apart

Kathleen Bashford: mortality

"It is when we are confronted with...poignant reminders of mortality that we become most aware of the strangeness and wonder of our brief life on Earth." - Kathleen Basford from A New View of the Green Man Sculptures,” Folklore, Vol. 102, No. 2 (1991)

Daily Grace of Graititude

"Grant me daily the grace of gratitude, to be thankful for all my many gifts, and so be freed from artificial needs, that I might lead a joyful, simple life." ~ Edward Hays from A Book of Wonders

A recipie for living: pick more daises

Sometime ago someone gave me this quote. I read it, and liked it, but when I got to the end it slammed me. Why?  While I'm reluctant to push this point it's one of the greatest treasures that you can ever embrace: you are mortal, this life ends – carry that with you, lovingly, throughout each day and see if it changes your appreciation for what is important and what isn't. In Buddhist teachings I learned to think, "What if this was my last day on earth?". What if? What if there was a meteor hurtling towards earth, and we have a 50/50 chance that we're all going to be annihilated? Who would you call? What would you do? So, each day plan to live another 50 years while also planning to live another 50 minutes. If you do this I can guarantee it makes each moment more vibrant, it makes you appreciate what you have, and it magnifies the gold mine we live in: our simply daily lives.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies. - Nadine Stair, 85 years old.

Love your calling: or eat the wheat paste of resentment?

Back when I moved to SF 16 years ago, working at API Wellness Center, I was blessed with 2 distinct jobs: Facilities management and national gay Asian HIV prevention organizing. Today I spent 7 hours working with a computer client, yesterday coaching clients, tonight making this posting, and tomorrow, reading and assisting with communion. I love my calling and I either volunteer doing things for fun or get paid to do what I do? Wow.

"Love, yes, love your calling, for this holy and generous love will impart strength to you so as to enable you to surmount all obstacles." ~ St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier from Embrace the World