Eye of the tiger with shades.

I've never really cared for spending 200 dollars on a pair of peripherals that you can only use when the sun is out.  Fashion statement was not even an afterthought.  I am one to be the most comfortable in a white cotton t -shirt, basketball shorts, and slippers.  However, I did purchase sunglasses recently.  I came to the realization that the blinding camera light we use at work was a strain on my eyes directly.  I decided it would be best I get some kind of shading accessory like sunglasses or a hat.  I look terrible in most sunglasses and even worse in hats so I decided the lesser of two evils will suffice. 
I tried practically every pair of sunglasses at the store in Waikele and found one that fit me and looked half way decent.  I would have bought it right away because the salesperson was really helpful and informative but it was no polarized.  Weeks later, I looked again for the sunglasses I found and my friend told me I should get a pair that protected the side angles of my eyes from the sun.   So on the search again for another pair.  My friend asked me to try another pair on and I said "Are you serious?  That's gonna make me look like a drag queen."  I tried them on and I indeed looked like a drag queen.  I found a pair that had slightly smaller frames and it looked good but just didn't fit on my face.  I asked for help and I found the golden pair that worked.  I bought the pair of Revo Overhang and took it out for a drive.  After weeks of using it at work, during tennis, and walking, my eye health improved drastically.  I felt my eyes were less strained even using a computer for most of the day. It was a worthwhile investment. 
Some tips on buying sunglasses.  Do some research on the styles that you think would match you.  Do some research on the technologies you might like (like moisture wicking for sports).  Don't knock it till you try it.  I never thought I would look good in the style of sunglasses I got.  Ask for help.  Some salesman really do know what they are talking about.  Protection is key but it has to match your face.  As with all big purchases set a price range for yourself.

Path to Inner Peace on a Daily Basis

Three questions to ask yourself at the end of the day.  If you can answer yes to all three, you are probably mildly to extraordinary peaceful. 

1.  Have you done your best you could've done with the hand you were dealt? (Effort)

2.  Have you positively influenced someone's/another's life besides your own? (Compassion)

3.  Have you lived out your internal moral beliefs today?  (Action)

Barefoot - a step towards going green.

My barefoot walking began from running.  I thought running was one of the few exercises I could enjoy by myself.  I did some research on what kind of shoes to buy based foot type/how the foot naturally moves during a walk.  I got my Gel Cumulus 11 from running room.  I started running maybe twice or thrice a week.

I was really getting into it and decided to buy a book about running.  Born to run was the perfect book.  It was about several races and a journey in extreme long distance running.  The book mentions some evolutionary concepts on why we were born to run and without much padding.  Some thoughts about barefoot walking/running emerged from reading the book.  Naturally the foot is suppose to move the way it wants to move and over time learn to adjust.  To me the energies of walking barefoot is another way to get closer to the spirit of the earth.  The energies from the ground travels up the nerve sensors connected by our foot.  In my opinion the stronger our feet are, the stronger our knees, back, spines, neck, and head will become.

I remember hearing about vibram five fingers from two friends a while back and after some convincing from the book I decided to give it a try.  I looked up where to get them on yelp and I proceeded to go to Wheatgrass Store in Kaimuki.  The place is very friendly.  After struggling to get my toes in the fingers, I made my purchase of the Sprint model.  I went overboard in the first two days of trying it.  I did two days of 7 hours of walking.  The top of my foot hurt like hell.  It was not the muscle but the bone.  The third day, I took it easy wearing well padded shoes and I notice the difference in foot strength right away.  I was walking like 3 times faster from the foot strength I gained the last two days.  After wearing these for a month, I enjoy walking barefoot in these but I have a few complaints.  1.  The foot gets sweaty after a while and I have to wash it each day I wear it.   Toesocks are an option but mines fit snug so I will have to buy a size up if I buy socks for it.  I'm thinking it will get hotter with toesocks.  2.  I have to look out for glass and gravel because the roads/sidewalks are terrible in Hawaii.  3.  I cannot wear these everywhere.  I feel it is a little too informal for a nice restaurant or even work. 

Due to reasons 2 and 3 I looked up alternative options to having the barefoot feel.  I found on tennis and running forums a new shoe called terra plana aquas.  These aquas fit smaller then the normal shoe but it fits well because it is wide.  The blue pair I got corresponded with me going green.  Straight from the site: The Aqua navy is 100% Vegan! Navy upper made with Abrasion PU and Eco Nylon. The dark grey and red upper is made with Nubuck and Nufoam.  The soles are Latex Rubber.  I feel very light on my feet and they feel awesome.  The shoes work well in the rain.  The moisure dries fast and there is plenty of ventilation.  I've had them for a week.  The only drawback to these shoes are the price.  Other then that, one step closer to going green.

The food in my life.

Those who know me knows I live to eat.  My five favorite foods in this specific place in time is from five different places.  From Phuket Thai, I would almost always have to get the Tofu Green Curry medium spicy.  From Spices, I would have to get Pad Thai medium spicy no peanuts!  From Teddy's Bigger Burger I would have to get a 5 oz burger with onion ring toppings and french fries.  From Pho Bistro II I would have to get the Combination Pho regular or large with no brisket.  From Da Kitchen I'll get the Teriyaki free-range chicken. 

Naturalistic Simplicity

Naturalistic Simplicity simply put is being nature and being simple.  It all started with me being concerned about my health at the age of 27.  I was out of shape, pushing 200 lbs and just felt burnt out too often too fast.  I decided I would lose some weight.  In that process, I changed my eating habits and lost 30 lbs.  Great?  Not really.  I did not exercise on a consistent basis so all the weight loss included fat and muscle.  I felt lighter on my feet but my energy level was sub-par.

I researched further ideas about energy levels.  Basically the keypoints I found out was I didn't eat enough good foods to maintain water in cells, I was not breathing in clean air, and my muscles and bones were not strong enough because I did not used them enough.  My friend recommended I watch food inc on netflix.  Instantly, I changed my views on the foods I was eating.  I did not want to eat as much beef that was not organicly raised through grass feeding because beef is not suppose to be fed corn or injected with hormones to make them grow really fast.  I did not want to eat filthy chicken in a cage with thousands of other chickens being forcefed corn to grow 3x as fast.  I learned what were the best fruits and vegetables to get the minerals and vitamins necessary to sustain water in cells for it to be efficiency.  I learned about walking barefoot and how that affects others parts of your body.  I bought an air purifier so I can breathe in my dirty room.

After a year of thoughts Simple and Natural is the way to go.  The problem with the world now days is everyone is geared towards getting more and doing more.  In the capitalist society our focuses shows in the celebrities and sports stars.  We spend so much time looking at fame and fortune we forgot about the world.  We spend our time spending money on football games, sports gear, movie tickets, makeup that we did not care where it came from.  Carbon emissions is killing us.  Materialism is killing us.  Lets all get the next Iphone right.  Whats the point?  The more we get the more we want.  Where does it end?  Simple is good.  Natural is good.  To me that's what matters to my health and that's what matters to the earth's health. 

Don't get me wrong.  I'm working towards this goal.   I'm not a vegan and I love to eat meat.  But the meat I do eat I try to be more conscious about.  Today, I ate a local grass fed beef burger at Umeke Market, a burrito at Down to Earth, then two burgers from Jack in the Box.   I do go out and spend more then the minimum in food purchases.  I do spend money to buy tennis accessories and pool equipment.  I am still materialistic but I try to purchase things I can use to promote what I love to do as well as better my health for the world and I.