Dharma Bum

Here If You Need Me

Some of you may not know that one of my favorite places in the world is any book store. Well before I left for Dallas last week I ventured over to Barnes & Noble and was walking through the aisles when a certain book called out to me, stopped me in my tracks, and said READ ME. I tend to follow directions when books talk to me like that so I picked it up, gave it the once over and took it to the counter. Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup is a true story and that's about all I'm going to tell you about it. I was a little concerned that this book was going to be "churchy" but it is everything but that. For a small sample please view the video below to hear her definition of God and then go out and get the book. Two Thumbs Up! It's a very powerful book.

$$ From Blogging??

Looks like I might have to take a look at this book. Six figures from blogging? You mean I could sit in my room all day on the computer? Isn't that what I do here at the office all day anyway?? Don't I really need to get off the computer and go outside? hmmmm

Whole New Mind

Have no fear artists, the future is yours!

Tomorrow I'll be attending a luncheon put on by Arts Orange County that will feature Dan Pink author of the recent book Whole New Mind. I've been a fan of Mr. Pink's since he wrote the book Free Agent Nation so I'm looking forward to this talk.

In his new book he makes the argument that "the workplace terrain is changing yet again, and power will inevitably shift to people who possess strong right brain qualities."

Looks good for you artists. More info can be had here.

Hope & Gratitude

I was driving around at lunch today and caught the interview of Andrew Bridge on NPR. He was also in the LA Times this morning. You can catch the NPR interview here. If you are feeling down and in a little self pity, take a listen. Powerful.

Monocle

I first picked up a copy of Monocle at the newsstand in South Coast Plaza a few months back and was impressed right away. For those interested in art, design, culture, business with an international focus you can't go wrong with this fairly new magazine. And as someone who still prefers a newspaper or magazine to the Internet I'm happy to support the new endeavor. Although the $150 subscription rate was a first. For those that don't want to fork over the steep subscription rate there's always your local newsstand or their informative website.

The List

I tell people all the time that I'm usually reading about 5 different books at the same time. That's just how I do it.

Below is a pic of my nightstand. Tonight my wife mentioned that one of the gifts I can get her this Xmas is an agreement that I only keep 4 books/magazines on the nightstand at any one time. This drives her crazy:

Guess what she's not getting this year??

The Present Moment

Want to know why you aren't happy? According to Dan Gilbert Author of Stumbling on Happiness it's because you live in the future. A future that you try and control but that really is uncontrollable. Maybe there is something to Thich Nat Hanh's meditation instruction to breathe in "present moment" and breathe out "wonderful moment" in an attempt to focus our minds on the present.

I just started reading Dan Gilbert's Stumbling on Happiness and have found it to be a fascinating read so far. Last night I learned why someone that has undergone a lobotomy goes from crazed to calm. By damaging the frontal lobe of the brain you lose the ability to plan the future. Thereby losing all the fear and trepidation that comes with trying to control an outcome. Interesting stuff.

Judging by my own experience when I start to go out in the future it never really seems to be anything positive. My mind always goes out to what are the worst things that can happen. Now as a business owner, husband, etc. I understand the need to plan but over the years I have really been trying to see the limitations of living in the future and in turn hopefully live more fully in the present. I still have a long way to go.