Daily Tip: When you know you're getting older...(maturity?)

I'm listening to the "throw-back lunch" on Area 93 from home. I feel old. They're playing songs every once in a while that I remember as a kid listening to and singing along with. I feel older every time that happens.

time to think

It's been really nice to have time to think. I feel like i've been busy with activities, but at the same time, I'm being more and more consistent with my practice. The funk of summer 2007--the inconsistency from week to week in my practice, emotions, and all other aspects of life--seems to have receded. But, I'm realising more and more that it means that I have to work hard to make sure that it doesn't happen again.

I enjoyed dinner with Justin and Sachiko--who's spending the next few days at our apartment--we had Hiyashi ramen/chuka soba. It was good. Had pomegranate chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. Oishi! Very good.

Justin and I talked about the future of the chapter and set goals. it was nice to sit down and start planning out our thing. So far what I have down is that:
(1) Shakubuku, member care and guest care (soka care).
(2) Connect with non-student YMD members
(3) Daimoku--chanting daily and tosos weekly.

I think those are three solid areas to work on.

It's nice to really sit and think about what to do in your life--it puts things into perspective.

I received an e-mail forward from Daito a few days back as well--from Nathan G.--reporting a victory for kosen-rufu that members in SE Virginia created. I was thoroughly impressed. It spurred on my desire to help connect the guests that we've had in the past years in my district and chapter to the organization and strengthen that bond--the bond of members, the bond of mentor and disciple.

Living life patiently...confidence and patience.

j'ai fini

J'ai fini, c'est pas "je suis fini." Aunque pienso unos dias al final del dia laboral--he muerto.

Today was pretty good--at least as far as work is concerned--it was quite quiet. It's making me stir-crazy kind of. But all is good. Plans for Labor day weekend are coming together. I don't know about anything on the plans for Uyennie, but I hope those come together soon.

I would love to say g'bye to her, even if I don't see her often, it's more as if she's going to be leaving for a while and I won't be able to just call her up to go out and do something. Thus, I'm sad.

I'm realizing a lot of those people around me are leaving for other places--for their dreams. I'm happy that they're going. That also means, that there's now space for more local people in my life now too. Sad, but I now have to make more friends from around here, becoming more and more townie and not in the FoCo sense of 'townie.' (Beware! I may start making my hair look like something from DragonBall Zed, if I become too townie.)

sitting here at work on friday five minutes before i have to jet

i was thinking...

that the mountains here are beautiful, because I still get to see mountains. Though the montains aren't the same as on the Front Range and that usually you can't see them because the greenery they've installed here blocks the way and that you have smog that usually obscures the view. At least I have two whole peaks to look at, every once in a while.

Obviously, i'm starving for mountains.

It's amazing how much your life feels different when your practice is regular and when it's not. it's like building upon quicksand or building upon bedrock.

on one hand, it's nice to make jokes. on the other hand, wit can be a time-bomb which bites your ass when you least expect it.

things, things, things!

So, i haven't written in this for a long time.

A combination of doing a lot of things leading to an intense July and travelling back home for early August.

Lots going on, but not much movement. Some moments in the past 6~8 weeks have been pure bliss and utter tiredness. It feels like my life has grown in ways I can't explain yet, or may never be able to. At the sametime, I'm feeling like I'm losing grip on what I'm aiming for.

One thing that was inspiring to me--considering all the chatter that has been going on in the SGI about the Second Act of Global Kosen-Rufu--is what it means to have my own Second Act. I was reading the Human Revolution at home and one of the characters had a realisation about herself--that she complained alot to her leaders about members or fellow leaders. She made the determination to stop complaining about the people in her life. I want to make that a determination for the "Second Act" of my life as well.

I've turned 23 this year. It's an amazing time to be living in this world--for both good and bad. For the bad, we can turn on the television and see how bleak the picture is in our world. For the good, you turn to your friends and see the hope that they have for their own futures--even if they can't explain what they are.

Hmm...stuff to ponder...and write it out.