Dear Readers,
I have recently been neglecting my travel blog as I have focused my creative spirit on my new blog Enlightenyourday.com. My new blog encountered tremendous initial success lately by gaining well over 33,000 visitors in only three months of publication. I have listed below my top ten posts that readers have enjoyed and commented on over time. I hope you will take the time to explore this new endeavor with me and find yourself smiling, laughing and gaining useful information to brighten your day. A daily cup of enlightened Zen for the soul anyone? Interested, subscribe today!
Funny Zen story of two monks and a lovely girl
Timeless Relaxing Zen quotes to soothe your being 
Great lessons and a little Zen I have learned on Stumbleupon
Wise and inspiring Zen instructions on life from the Dalai Lama
Wonderful Proverbs complimenting Beautiful Photos
Use the power of positive affirmations to change your life
A photo definition of cute and some Winnie the Pooh wisdom
Deliciously Healthy Juice Recipes for the Heart and Soul
Shambhala the Sacred Path of the warrior Part 2
The Pink Bubble Technique a simply beautiful meditation
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Tags: , blog, enlighten, inspiration, zen
Cheers Biggy, I guess you think of me as a real friend. LOL
Actual post: This made me think of you at the loft….
“FAKE FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you’ve had enough.
REAL FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say “Bitch drink the rest of that you know we don’t waste.”" that pretty much sums it up…lol
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Tags: , college, drink, drinking, drunk, friends, humor, loft, roomates, stumbling
I recently wrote a post in Enlightenyourday.com that I wanted to share with my readers here on I Dream now. The post contains some insights and wisdom on creating a success strategy, or as I like to refer to it as: a battle plan for success. I have listed some steps and inspiring quotes on how to turn your dreams into obtainable goals today. “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” Victor Hugo 1.) Do it today, not tomorrow, or on the weekend, nor next week. Today…Today…Today… “I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau. 2.) Start by writing an introduction stating why you’re writing this plan and what you hope to accomplish. “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith 3.) Break the list down into categories, such as: Body, Mind, Social, Work, Finance, Travel, Family, and of course Pleasure. “The most pitiful among men is he who turns his dreams into silver and gold.” Kahlil Gibran 4.) Be as specific as possible, but never be reasonable. Don’t limit yourself, no matter how crazy the dream seems, if you turn it into a goal, it becomes a possibility. “Some men see things as they are and say, “Why?” I dream of things that never were and say, “Why not?” George Bernard Shaw 5.) Write what you hope to accomplish, but don’t stop there. Keep writing about who you want to be, who you want to meet, what you want to feel, see, and smell. Let your imagination run wild on the page, this is your letter to do with whatever you desire. “Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” Goethe 6.) Conclude, by writing how you will accomplish this: hard work, will, desire, kindness, love, meditation, perspiration, etc. “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” James A. Froude 7.) Finally, sign it like it is a legal contract with yourself, then sit back reread the list and smile knowing you now have a plan for happiness and success. “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one.” John Lennon 8.) Put the letter someplace safe and forget about it. When the rollercoaster ride of life brings your spirits up or down, and you feel you need a boost. Pull out the letter and proudly check off all the dreams that have become accomplished goals. “A man’s dreams are an index to his greatness.” Zadok Rabinowitz 9.) Always remember….Write another letter…. “Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.” Anais Nin The story behind this article: “Nothing happens unless first we dream.” Carl Sandburg The first life changing experience I encounter came in the mail. I was sixteen, it was the first real letter I received, and it changed my life. Coincidently, it was written by me and addressed to me at the same time. One year prior to this letter, a friend invited me to a leadership camp called YLCC, I wasn’t a leader at the time, nor did I ever participate in leadership functions. His catch was the girl to guy ratio, about 10 to 1, a great way to meet new girls and have some fun. I won’t delve to long in the details of the camp, but it was an oasis for the free spirit, a place to dance like no one is watching, be silly, and share everything you where afraid to share. Later, I would liken it to a Rave without the chemicals. “Dreams are the touchstones of our character.” Henry David Thoreau Before the three day charade came to a conclusion, we were asked to write a letter to ourselves with all our dreams and goals for the next year. So there I stood one year later with this letter in my hand, face to face with the power of the unconscious mind. I realized in one year almost every single one of my goals. Some were very farfetched and unlikely, but I achieved them nonetheless. People always write and talk about the power of goal setting, I experience it, and it was undeniable. “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo I still have that first letter, and the many that I have written since then. I call them my Battle Plan for success. Before I write a new one, I must reread all of the old ones again. Each time, I find myself checking off some forgot goal that I have since accomplished. With each new plan, the dreams that I turn into obtainable goals become more elaborate. “If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.” Martin Luther King, Jr. If you would like to contribute some insights, experiences or knowledge to this post, then please leave a comment below.
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Tags: , accomplish, dreams, goal, how, insight, inspire, reach, strategy, success, today
I love The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I have listed here my favorite quotes from this beautiful book. This book is an inspiring and motivational read that I love to share with everyone. I hope you enjoy!
- “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
- “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
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“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.”
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“When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. “
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“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
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“Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
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“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
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“The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”
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“When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force.”
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“Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.“
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“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
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“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.
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“When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.”
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“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity
- When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.
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Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. “
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“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.”
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“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
- “I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald.”
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“In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.”
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Tags: book, coelho, favorite, inspiring, list, paulo, quotations, quote, the alchemist
As a writer, I feel it’s my duty to live the biggest life possible by experiencing new uncharted waters. It’s no secret that Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, I heard the Beetle Bar was the most notorious spot to see the action first hand. With no idea what to expect walking through that door; I was both apprehensive and curious. The inside had a classy sports bar feel to it, lots of satellite TVs playing a variety of sports, NFL being the main attraction. There were about 150 guys; mostly Fisherman, Businessman, and Travelers. The catch was the 350 scantily clad Putas roaming around with a predatory look in their eyes. I must admit, the majority of them were very attractive, some were downright gorgeous (Maxim cover girl hot), and of course there was the C line up (C standing for Cheapskate I guess). I wasn’t expecting to see so many of them, nor was I expecting such beauty to be able to be purchased at the price of 100$ an hour. Interestingly, it was a complete roll reversal, the men sat around leisurely chatting, while the women aggressively eyed, pinched, rubbed, and did whatever possible to get the men’s attention. If only real life were this grand, I would have never left Jaco. I got a real kick out of this; one girl after another would come up and touch me while trying to start a conversation. It was a huge ego boost, this coming from someone who has never lacked confidence a day in his life. I must admit, I was having one hell of a time; it was a little surreal; almost a little hard to believe (emphasis on the word Hard).
I needed to find the source, the man behind the curtain. It wasn’t long before I was talking to the owner. He looked every bit the part, greasy, slimly, with constantly running coke inflamed nose. He would have made the perfect character for a Quentin Tarantino movie. He broke down the rules for me as follows: always negotiate the price before you leave, never leave any valuables around the room, never leave them out of your sight at your room, and treat them with a respect. Putas would leave with these men one after another; most of the men were married, and then they would return an hour later to find another willing husband seeking infidelity. Note to Wives: if your husband and his friends are regularly going on fishy trips to Costa Rica each year, be warned this is why most of them go to Jaco. The thought of over 75% of the men proudly wearing their wedding rings with no shame was disgusting. I had no intention of actually leaving with one of the Putas, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. I left after a couple hours to try my luck at a real bar, semi aroused with a grotesque feel in my stomach. I couldn’t help but feel pity for all the poor wives of these degenerate men who pay for sex on vacation. I never returned to the Beetle Bar again.
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Tags: , beetle bar, costa rica, dirty, hooker, Jaco, legal, married, men, prostitution, Puta
Carmen told me her name was fitting because she likes both Cars and Men; I told her to call me Beer Sex from now on. So let’s get to it, here are some funny jokes, warnings, and bar translations for those who love to drink. First, please rise for the Beer anthem. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder… “All right, brain, I don’t like you and you don’t like me - so let’s just do this and I’ll get back to killing you with beer”. –Homer Simpson Beer Anthem: Our lager, Which art in barrels, Hallowed be Thy drink, Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk), At home as I am in the tavern. Give us this day our foamy head, And forgive us our spillages, As we forgive those who spill against us, And lead us not to incarceration, But deliver us from hangovers, For thine is the beer, The bitter and the lager, Forever and ever, Barmen. “He was a wise man who invented beer”. –Plato “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” –Benjamin Franklin A Few Warnings for Alcoholics: Warning: Consumption of alcohol may actually cause pregnancy “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut”. –Ernest Hemmingway Warning: Consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a wanker, may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your clothes, may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at 4 in the morning, may make you think you can logically converse with other members of the opposite sex without spitting, may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary (whose name, and/or species you can’t remember), cause of inexplicable rug burns on the forehead, may lead you to believe that people are laughing with you, “I drink to make other people interesting”. –George Jean Nathan “You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on”. –Dean Martin A few quick Bar Jokes: Two blondes walk into the bar….You’d think one of them would of seen it! Two friends were out drinking when suddenly one lurched backward off his barstool and lay motionless on the floor. “One thing about Jim,” his buddy said to the bartender, “He knows when to stop.” Where does an Irish family go on vacation?
A different bar. What is the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish funeral?
One less drunk. “If you ever reach total enlightenment while drinking beer, I bet it makes beer shoot out your nose”. –Deep Thought, Jack Handy “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools”. –For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemmingway BAR ROOM TRANSLATIONS
- “You get this round and the next round is on me.”
(I’ll be leaving before the next round.)
- “Hey, where is that friend of yours?”
(I have no interest in talking to you except as a way to get your attractive friend into a compromising position.)
- “Can I get a glass of white zinfandel?” (Female)
(I’m easy.)
- “Can I get a glass of white zinfandel?” (male)
(I’m gay.)
- “Ever try a body shot?” (Male to female)
(I am even willing to drink tequila if it means that I get to lick you.)
- “Ever try a body shot?” (Female to male)
(If this is how wild I am in the bar, imagine what I’ll do to you on the ride home?)
- “I don’t feel well, let’s go home.” (Female)
(You are paying more attention to your friends than me.)
- I don’t feel well, let’s go home.” (Male)
(I’m horny.)
- “Who’s got the next round?”
(I haven’t bought a round in almost 3 years, but I am an expert at diverting attention.)
- “Excuse Me.” (Male to male)
(Get the hell out of the way.)
- “Excuse Me.” (Male to female)
(I am going to grope you now.)
- “Excuse Me.” (Female to male)
(Don’t even think about groping me, just get the hell out of the way.)
- “Excuse Me.” (Female to female)
(Move your fat ass. Who do you think you are anyway? You are not all that, missy, and don’t think for one minute that you are. And get your eyes off of my man, or I’ll slap you like the slut you are.)
- “What do you have on tap?”
(What’s cheap?)
- ”Can I have a white Russian?” (Female)
(I’m *really* easy.)
- “That person looks really familiar.”
(Did I sleep with him/her?)
- I don’t have my ID on me.” (Female)
(I’m 16.)
- “I don’t have my ID on me.” (Male)
(I don’t have a license since I got pulled over and blew a 0.4 after my last visit here)
“The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind”.–Humphrey Bogart DRUNK TEST A police officer pulls over this guy who’s been weaving in and out of the lanes. He goes up to the guy’s window and says, “Sir, I need you to blow into this breathalyzer tube.“The man says, “Sorry, officer, I can’t do that. I am an asthmatic. If I do that, I’ll have a really bad asthma attack.”“Okay, fine. I need you to come down to the station to give a blood sample.”
“I can’t do that either. I am a hemophiliac. If I do that, I’ll bleed to death.”“Well, then, we need a urine sample.”
“I’m sorry, officer, I can’t do that either. I am also a diabetic. If I do that, I’ll get really low blood sugar.”“All right, then I need you to come out here and walk this white line.”
“I can’t do that, officer.”“Why not?”
“Because I’m drunk.” “Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink”. –Lady Astor to Winston Churchill
”Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it”. –His reply “Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me”. –Winston Churchill I found most of these at this website, I think, the memory is pretty blurred. http://www.lifeisajoke.com/alcohol22_html.htm
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Tags: alcohol, Alcoholic, Anthem, bar, beer, drinking, drunk, jokes, quotes, Test, Translations, traveler, warnings
I heard Jaco was unsafe, dangerous, and a non-stop party; translation: my kind of place. Although, I seek all the beautiful enlightened things in life; it’s when I am scared shit-less that I feel most alive. Some people find character on Mountain tops and Ocean floors, others in the dark recesses of the night; very few find it in both. To quote Andre Gide “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore” The moment I got off the Tico bus, I looked up and saw a huge 420 sign; I guess you can find omens anywhere you look. For the first time in Costa Rica, I actually had a reservation; one laundry room stay was enough for my trip. The main strip was more commercialized then I expected, it had everything you need to feel close to North America, from KFC to Pizza hut, the choices were endless. Referencing my Lonely Planet guide, I booked a room at La Cometa, primarily because the description said it was located in the heart of the city and was one of the original hostels in Jaco; in addition it was owned by a friendly French Canadian. My first night out never ended, I met crazy Louis at the Jungle room, he asked me what I did, “Internet stuff mostly”, and you I replied, “I am the black sheep of the family, I consider myself an entrepreneur of sorts”. Louis had an entourage of party fiends that followed him around like the second coming; he was a great local tour guide and host who made sure everyone found their vibe. From place to place we roamed like kings of the city; no cover, no hassles, no worries. He was jovial and intense at the same time; we shared some common themes when it came to living the Pura Vida life. I pulled the chute when the sun came up, but made plans for another adventure tomorrow. My first night in Jaco was everything I thought it would be: shady, dangerous, and loads of fun.
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Tags: 420, bus, costa rica, dangerous, Jaco, La Cometa, Mecca, party, Pura Vida, surf, tico
A second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran
Loneliness
“Life is an island in an ocean of loneliness, an island whose rocks are hopes, whose trees are dreams, whose flowers are solitude, and whose brooks are thirst.”
Merit
“A man’s merit lies in his knowledge and in his deeds, not in his color, faith, or descent. For remember, my friend, the son of a shepherd who possesses knowledge is of greater worth to a nation that the heir to a throne, if he be ignorant. Knowledge is your true patent of nobility, no matter who your father or what your race may be.”
ON LOVE
“I was eighteen years of age when love opened my eyes with its magic rays and touched my spirit for the first time with its fiery fingers, and Selma Karamy was the first women who awakened my spirit with her beauty and led me into the garden of high affection, where days pass like dreams and nights like weddings.”
OF THE FIRST LOOK
“It is that moment that divides the intoxication of Life from the awakening. It is the first flame that lights up the inner domain of the heart. It is the first magic note plucked on the silver string of the heart. It is that brief moment that unfolds before the soul the chronicles of time, and reveals to the eyes the deeds of the night, and the works of conscience. It opens Eternity’s secrets of the future. It is the seed cast by Ishtar, goddess of Love, and sown by the eyes of the beloved in the field of Love, brought forth by affection, and reaped by the soul. The first glance from the eyes of the beloved is like the spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, giving birth to heaven and earth, when the Lord spoke and said, “Let there be.”
OF THE FIRST KISS
“It is the first sip from the cup filled by the goddess of with the nectar of Life. It is the dividing line between Doubt that beguiles the spirit and saddens the heart, and Certitude that floods the inner self with joy. It is the beginning of the song of Life and the first act in the drama of the Ideal Man. It is the bond that unites the strangeness of the past with the brightness of the future; the link between the silence of the feelings and their song. It is a word uttered by four lips proclaiming the heart a throne, Love a King, and fidelity a crown. It is the gentle touch of the delicate fingers of the breeze on the lips of the rose-uttering a long sigh of relief and a sweet moan. It is the beginning of that magic vibration that carries the lovers from the world of weights and measures into the world of dreams and revelations.” Take from A Second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran
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Tags: beautiful, 
