FITNESS IS A LIFESTYLE.

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Fitness is a lifestye. It is a lifestyle when it becomes a habit and part of life when done routinely with a purpose.  Lifestyle is expected to be "comfortable" for the person exhibiting and practicing it. In other words, we do practice a certain lifestyle because we are used it, and, I may say....we are happy doing it. 

All persons has his/her own lifestyle. Of course, each one is different from the other to a certain degree.  Lifetyle can be "communal," but still, there are differences between and among the "participants." 
 
Lifestyle has something to do with mind-setting and with feeling of comfort. One's mind is set to certain ways of life or lifestyle that he/she follows, regardless of who the person is. The feeling of comfort relates to the non-apprehesive feeling in practicing a certain lifestyle, i.e., I may shall connect it to the state of  satisfaction. Comfort leads to satisfaction.

Fitness becomes a lifestyle once a person is mind-set to a certain patterns and routines to be conscious about health and/or physical looks and physical well-being  --- and I directly relate it to being in shape.  Fitness routines, regardless of what modalities (running, swimming, weight training, yoga, tai-chi, martial arts and many more...), involve "scheduled" events in a day, every other day, every week and any other regularly recurring fitness activity with a goal.

Chill Out

Chill out...
It's a slow and quiet Saturday weekend here in Los Banos. I love the country-side feeling where this house is located. In the corner of a very quiet and nice neighborhood. I spend the weekends here, and this week I will be here until Monday - Presidents' day.
Chill out...
I cannot I cannot imagine how fast this week went by. Each day had a stress at work to a certain point, but all leveled out well and manageable, plus the fact that time flew by. Students in my classes are more focus and many have shown some degree of improvement both academic and behavior (crossed-fingers), but still, a few were the same and turned worst - they are students who do to care...Now what else can we do? I called a parent the other for help - guess what? The student said the next day: "Why did you call my parents and told them that I do not behave in class? ... Now what else we can really do? End of story....don't wanna say anything ... I will just chill out as think of it as history and tomorrow is a new day. And, not to forget...school is ending soon.
Chill out...
Someone needs to chill out and should take things lightly and should be happy. A happy mind is a clear mind. What is a clear mind? As for me, it's a worry-free mind. In other words...a cool man.
Chill out...
Life is a chill out. What do I mean? Simply taking each event or problem one moment at a time and not putting tomorrow's cares into today's concerns. I let tomorrow take care it itself, but making sure that I am ready to face tomorrow while facing the current situation.
In Nepal, Spring Break 2011

Random Thoughts... Feb 2012

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It's been a while that I had the time to write. It's Lincoln Memorial Holiday and I am at home in Los Banos chilling out...literally...it's cold and I am using the high rise suede winter boots my sister gave me. The day has been productive so far...gone to the gym, met with the tree cutter, and the fence contractor did an estimate and the work...and all came to unfold as I expect. I am so grateful that all that I prayed for and planned has been coming along.

Last week unfolded well..there were many challenges with students, but with patience and prayers for them to shape up at least at the moment, all went well! Dealing with adolescents require so much patience but it pays afterwards. They are growing...firm structures with gentle reminders work together with appropriate rewards and consequence. This is also true with adults like us...but we have more accountability with what we do (our cerebral cortex's decision making have been well developed!)

My colds have been going away...thank God. Due to colds, I had to taper my swimming - at least reduce yardage and frequency. I skipped swimming after workout today. It's getting better, and or course, I am into full recovery. Is this a sign of aging? Hahaha..don't want to think about it...It's the life it each year that matters and how one enjoys and fully use the life in each year. Clear mind is one of the keys of living young and productive. What is clear mind for you? As for me, clear mind is thinking about things and situations in life the way they should be thought.

Counting days now before the trip to Jamaica. Yahoo! Another trip is coming up soon and I am going to a "fun" country - the way one of my colleagues describe Jamaica. I guess she is right. As I watch some on-line videos about his country, it looks like that life is full of events. Of course, the way travel, I stay away from anything that will place me in trouble...and this is one of the reasons my all my trips to different parts of the world have been pleasant and with positive experience...with the feeling of wanting to visit the country again. There is always NO regrets!


Last week, while I am eating sandwich inside my car parked in 7-11 store, a guy counting coins in this coin purse from of my car asked if I have spare coins. At first, I felt uneasy eating and someone is needing money...I assumed needing food. I popped my head up from the window and asked him if he needs food. A big "yes" was the answer I received. I left my food in the car and took him to the store and asked to get himself something and I will pay for it. I glad to see him smiling. :) Help with a happy heart.

My swimming has been good. It's only this weekend that I reduced the frequency and yardage due to colds. I am glad that I am recovering from it. Tomorrow should be the beginning of the normal practice. I have been in the enhancing stage of the four strokes. Lately, my favorite is the backstrokes (with the water bottle on my forehead). I am loving it. Techniques, power and speed are greatly focused. Keep on movin'.....

I am back to practicing the piano...

Random thoughts...

I miss the Bermuda Islands... It was a great trip with my mother.

The trip to Jamaica in March during spring break is all set and ready! Next trip this summer ----> India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

I want to see the "Underground River" in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in the the Philippines --- one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World 2012.




Ger Camp in Mongolia, Summer 2011

Durbur Square - UNESCO World Heritage, Nepal Spring Break 2011

Crystal Cave, Bermuda Islands Dec. 2011

Me

For The Beauty Of This Earth - Underground River and Jeju Island

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Underground River, The Philippines


Jeju Island, South Korea

I'm so fascinated to see two official New 7 Wonders of the Natural World. Of course, I am so grateful for the Underground River in Puerto Princesa in the Philippines won. I feel so proud and honored for my country. As I watched the video, I greatly understand why she won and very deserving...it's not because it's my native land, but because of the reasons presented. Now I understand the the balance between nature and safe human interference are few of the essential keys factors in decisions...in other words, not just merely beauty but how she supports life and still continue to flourish and preserves diversities.

Congratulations to the Jeju Islands in South Korea. I have been wanting to see this island since I heard about it three years ago from one of my colleague who is from South Korea. I am not able to say so much about the Jeju Island since I have not been there (yet), but, indeed, the natural beauty and balance of nature are evident, too.


Photo taken in Hamilton, Bermuda, Dec. 2012

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Christ The Redeemer Monument
November 2012

Random Thoughts....New Year 2012

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It's the New Year and I was driving from home to City of Merced, a distance of 37 miles, and this phrase came to my mind...

"Peace within ourselves." ...a phrase I've heard from Dr. Charle's Stanley in one of his messages this season. Do we have peace within ourselves? What is this all about? The first thing that comes to mind are those people who suffer from anxiety and depression. I believe that all of us have been to a situation that made us anxious or made us depressed - a lost of love one, broken relationships, personal problems...you name it and there are many more possible reasons of anxiety and depression, specially in this ever-troublesome world.


The question is: How did we handle it? Take an anti-depressant pill, see a counselor, seek medical help, talk it out with a confidante, or leave it as is and let time heals...As for me, the best help is to talk it with God through prayers. It's tested! There are many instances in my life where the the most immediate sure help I had is prayer. One instance was when I was in Cairo, Egypt two years ago and I could not cross a very dangerous street. Cairo is known for chaotic traffic situation (no highly marked pedestrian lanes, very rare traffic lights, vehicles of any kind including animals (cows, camels) that move in every direction in a one-lane road and cars that won't stop for pedestrian...I see all these as parts of their culture. A prayer that time helped me...an Egyptian local suddenly came by without asking for money and offered to help me cross the chaotic road. What a relief!


At work, each time I will not forget to pray about difficult students, the day in class will pass by even smoothly. A problem student will turn out behave, at least for that day! It's the middle school environment with "challenging" students...hormones, hormones, hormones...They are growing...hahaha

I'm my travels, with planning and fervent prayers...each time I leave the country, which is very frequent (at least 5 times per year), all happen as planned. It's always a WOW for me and I always have a feeing of "missing" the country few days after my return. I believe this feeling is a sign of overall positive experience. Of course, there are things that are off tangent from reality but it's expected in traveling. Leave out the ethnocentric tendencies! Cultures in the world are of many variety.

There is always something to remember positively in every country I visit. Of course, not to forget, the opportunities God provided me to travel and see the world. This has been a vessel of learning about other people's culture and ways of life by observation. I do not need to actually practice what others do because many of them are not the way I am. As for me, it's the broadening of perspectives is the one that matters the most. Regardless of what culture we are in... we are all "somebody."

The year 2011 has been a great year for me. All my prayers had answers - at work, travels, and personal life. There is always something that fills up my time. There is always something that I do - work, workout, swim, travel, driving, gardening, There has not been a boring moment.



Work keeps me productive...
Work-out keeps me healthy...
Swimming keeps me relaxed...
Travels keeps my adventure passion going...
Driving keeps me moving...
and Prayers keep me in touch with my Father in heaven...

Another year of good health is what I would like to ask for this year. As the old saying goes, "Health is wealth." Take away all but good health. Good health is integral part of living.

Random thoughts...

What do I miss this beginning of 2012? My afternoon naps..specially on a weekend after the swim. Zzzz

Swimming, Swimming, Swimming...longer distance in less time this year...

Travels...Jamaica in Spring Break 2012 India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia in the summer 2012...

What am I thankful for? My parents, siblings, work, travel, and good life, and more importantly, Jesus as my Lord. He is all and everything.

Moving on...

Battlefield in St. George, Bermuda - 12-22.11

It's me in Bermuda 12.21.11

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Location:W K St,Los Banos,United States

As The Year 2011 Unfolds....

Nomadic Swim_butterfly's travel to the world

My latest travel to the Islands of Bermuda, this time with my mother


As the old phrase says "Time flies," my mind takes me back to the places I've been this 2011. To name the countries I visited this year, they are as follows:

Nepal - April 2011

Hong Kong - April 2011

Mongolia - June 2011

Israel - June 2011

France - June 2011

Brasil - November 2011

Bermuda - December 2011

Traveling is my passion and it is something that I envisioned to do when I was in high school. I thank the Lord for the He the fulfillment of my dream and prayers to see His creations in distant countries by the opportunity to travel. This is like living in my dreams. I remember one of my favorite songs back in the 80's entitled "Reality."

Click here to listen to the song "Reality"


Which is the best country? This is a question that people always ask me. My immediate response: "The last country I've been is the best." I take all the countries to be different from each other in terms of geography, people (of course), traditions, and culture (language, food, verbal and non-verbal gestures, clothing, and other ways of life).

I totally eliminate my ethnocentric tendency when I travel, which always makes me enjoy the country I visit. As a result, I feel no regret while in the country and when I'm back home in California. As a matter of fact, I start missing the country few days after I left. Missing her is a good sign of positive experience.

Learning by observations has provided me an understanding of the diversity of the places in this planet, though I have not seen all the countries (yet), which I'm not thinking that it is impossible, instead, I'm doing my best and taking time, as it is made available, to see as many countries I can. Aside from the countries above, other counties I've visited are:

Canada
China
Egypt
Cambodia
Netherlands
Vietnam
The Philippines (my heritage)
South Korea
Peru
Galapagos Islands
Bangladesh (for short time)
Ecuador
Palestine
Israel
Costa Rica
Japan
Panama
Colombia
Laos
USA (I've been to 35 states out of 50) where I currently live.

Each country has her own "twists and styles." It's like people who have different taste of clothing and different ways of doing things but have the same result. The "the same result" is what makes all people similar, I think, apart from other commonalities. There are many differences, indeed! I look at the differences as variability and forms of diversity, which makes life here on Earth "exciting" to live. I cannot imagine all people look exactly the same (hoping all good-looking, hahahaha) and all places on Earth to be all flat lands...Aren't that so dull and boring?

My travels move on...My next destination is in Jamaica this coming Spring Break in April 2012. In the summer 2012, I plan to visit India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Seeing the world is the best investment. It will never be stolen nor rotten but the memories will remain!

In Bermuda, 12.22.11

In Copacobana, Brasil 11.20.11

Inside the Crystal Cave with large stalactites in Bermuda 12.22.11

In Crystal Cave in Bermuda with my mother 12.22.11

In Bermuda 12.22.11

In Ipanema, Brasil 11.22.11

Happy New Year!

B-R-A-Z-I-L in a nut-shell

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My trip to Brazil this Thanksgiving break (November 2011) is almost ending...This is the time I want more but I gotta go. I'm just waiting for my tour guide and I'm exploring tropical forest in t this big city of Rio de Janeiro. No doubt to have rainforest in Rio...just the fact that this is where the Amazon Rainforest strectches from Venezuela down to Ecuador.

In my few days of stay here, I could summarize my impressions as|

B - Brave

R - Relive

A - All life

Z - Zesty

I - Invigorating

Brazil is one of the countries I've been that I have an aspiration of returning!

Viva Brazil!

Obrigado!


Copacobana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Nov. 23, 2011

L - Lovely