Life is Experiences
And Retreats
Taking time off for interesting experiences, retreats, and excursions will enhance your perspective and well-being.
Experiences
America loves to work, make money, and see progress. By focusing on this incessantly, we may lose track of what else is out there and how it, too, can enhance our lives and well-being. Life is full of experiences. In this category, an experience encompasses an activity, retreat, or class that can help rewire our brain, change the way we think, and give us that “Aha” moment. This may include a 10-day meditation retreat, going to a seminar or class, doing a Yoga training program.
Experiences
National Service, Part 3: Austria, Rwanda, and the American Potential
Part 3: National Service – American Potential If you read Part 1 and Part 2 of my series on national service, you know I believe it can heal the open wounds of divisiveness that are tearing our country apart. Just as military service is a great equalizer, bringing together individuals from disparate backgrounds on a common…
Read MoreNational Service: Instilling Pride, Purpose and Proficiency
National Service: Cultivating Unity, Meaning, and Skills I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the concept of national service. I realized that national service was a great way to cultivate unity and belonging (pride), finding a sense of meaning (purpose), and getting trained in useful skills (proficiency.) The rifts that have formed…
Read MoreIntroducing National Service as a Way to Give Back & Unify
National Service – Giving Back and Unifying Now more than ever, cultivating a sense of unity, pride and empowerment is of vital importance. Citizens are calling for national service programs, and in CA-03, we know they stand to benefit us too. They can provide skills-training, new experiences mid career, and a way to give back…
Read MoreEmplasticity: Layers of Empathy
Emplasticity: Three Layers of Empathy Empathy, we’ve all heard, “Put yourself in another’s shoes.” But do we ever really do this? I know I haven’t. For many years I was a tourist, just looking out the window as the car drives by impoverished places, taking pictures of the situation only to go back to the…
Read MoreBlack Lives Matter (BLM), Racism, and Ultimate Well-Being
Black Lives Matter (BLM), Racism, and Ultimate Well-Being Recognize and unlearn the racism that lies within you and Black Lives Matter (BLM) “We are living in a racism pandemic.” Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association We cannot talk about well-being without addressing Black Lives Matter (BLM). The events of the past…
Read MoreSpeak with Wisdom and Intent
Speak with Wisdom and Intent Communication is essential. I recently went to a workshop in Spirit Rock that helped me articulate myself with sageness and purpose. This knowledge emerged from the spiritual writer Donald Rothberg who taught me the value of communication with intent. Communication can affect your well-being, but did anyone ever tell you how…
Read MoreLearn from Oprah Winfrey: Be the Highest and Truest Form of Yourself
Learn from Oprah Winfrey: Be the Highest and Truest Form of Yourself Learn from Oprah Winfrey and her formula for wellness Key Take-Aways to learn from Oprah Winfrey: Oprah’s wellness formula is mind + body + spirit. Mind = Emotions, learning and work Body = Nutrition and movement Spirit = purpose and relationships Focus on…
Read MoreConnecting Authentically with Great Conversations
Connecting Authentically with Great Conversations Learn how to connect quickly and have meaningful conversations Do you know how to have engaging conversations that lead to meaningful interactions, even with a stranger? Hi, I’m Clarence! I’m one of the new contributors to KDAlive. Recently I went to a workshop called the Art of Charm. The AoC is…
Read More3 Day Vipassana Review in Canada
3-Day Vipassana Retreat in Canada Sometimes, one needs a retreat to reset Most Meaningful Experience: Getting back into the process I just finished a 3-day vipassana retreat at a nursing home turned Vipassana center in Youngstown, Canada. My original vipassana post is here. This place is a very modern facility, unusual for a vipassana center,…
Read MoreWant to Write a Book? Here’s How.
Want to Write a Book? Here is How. I visited Kauai Writer’s Conference and learned from some amazing authors. Most Meaningful Experience: Hearing established authors speak about his/her own experience inspired me to do more and push through the process. So you have always wanted to write a book, and you don’t have >$100k to…
Read MoreVipassana: If You Meet the Buddha, Kill Him
Vipassana: If You Meet the Buddha, Kill Him This is an account of my first 10 day silent meditation retreat in Yangon, Myanmar Most Meaningful Experience: All of it. Unfortunately, I only had a few of my original notes – this is my best effort to account for a transformational experience. I have posted a…
Read MoreMy Experience in Kakuma Refugee Camp
My Experience in a Refugee Camp in Kakuma Kakuma is a small city of 200k people where displaced people want to create opportunities through entrepreneurship by building companies Most Meaningful Experience: Understanding that refugee camps are like cities within themselves, filled with people who want to create a better life through business opportunities. Situated in…
Read MoreThe Emerging Startup Scene in the “Lone Star State”
Learn About the Emerging Startup Scene in Texas. Texas has access to technical universities and large corporates making this fertile ground for startup success Most Meaningful Experience: Meeting new friends and contacts in Texas When I signed up for a startup bus tour of three Texan cities, I did so primarily to gain an insight…
Read MoreTrekking to Everest Base Camp Day 5 – Descent
Mount Everest: Trekking from Day 5 to Descent Reaching the Summit with Friends was our Pinnacle Check out the first 4 days here. https://kdalive.com/trekking-to-mount-everest-base-camp/ Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche That night it dropped to around -15 degrees C and I had my sleeping bag zipped over my face, with only my mouth exposed to breathe.…
Read MoreTrekking to Mount Everest Base Camp Days 1-4
Mt Everest Base Camp: Trekking from Day 1 to Day 4 Over time we could withstand the cold and conquer the mountain Most meaningful experience: Becoming one with our mountainous environment and the altitude is a powerful experience and I think why so many people strive to reach the summit. It is a feeling that…
Read MoreTop 10 Things I Learned Road Tripping Across the Northern Part of the USA
Top 10 Things I Learned RoadTripping Across the USA To Be An American is a Broad Definition Everyone should travel across the USA to experience our country, to have a better understanding of it. When it came time for me to make my move to San Francisco in the summer of 2018, my friend Clarence…
Read MoreDiscover the Multi-Pronged Wellness Approach of Wim Hof, the Iceman
Discover the Multi-Pronged Wellness Approach of Wim Hof, Iceman Breathe, Cold, and Fasting is the way to reduce stress and stay mindful Key takeaways from my Iceman retreat: Intermittent fasting helps with mental clarity, fat burning, and hormonal health. Deep breathing can help to oxygenate your body and warm it up, enhancing your performance…
Read More10 Things I Learned from the WimHoff Method
Top 10 Things I Learned from WimHof Breathe, Cold, and Fasting is the way to reduce stress and stay mindful Know as the “Iceman”, Wim Hof is spreading his methodology of breathing, cold, and focus around the world. Here are 10 things I learned from a weekend retreat. More in depth here. https://kdalive.com/discovering-the-multi-pronged-wellness-approach-of-wim-hof-the-iceman/ 1. Meditation…
Read MoreWorking on Political Campaign in the Thumb of Michigan
Working on Political Campaign in the Thumb of Michigan Everyone should help on a political campaign to get the experience. The most fun I’ve had in the last 10 years is helping my friend run his political campaign. Giving all that I’ve done, you wouldn’t think that, would’ya? You hear,’ Politics is evil. Politics is…
Read More10 things I Learned at the Science of Happiness Retreat
Going forward, I’ll be writing more about Well-Being and the intersection of well-being and travel. At the start of May, I spent a long weekend at Multiversity 1440 the Science of Happiness gathering, which was being held in partnership with 1440 Multiversity at UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. They have a beautiful college campus…
Read MoreWhat I learned at Burning Man + 2 Dope Videos
Top 10 things I learned at Burning Man (with 2 Dope Videos) One piece of advice I got before I left for Burning Man was: “You can get what you want out of it, so decide what you want before you go.” But I didn’t really know what I could get out of it until…
Read MoreTop 10 Vipassana Takeaways & Original Vipassana
Top 10 Vipassana Takeaways Sometimes, one needs a retreat to reset Please see the original vipassana here! Vipassana: If You Meet the Buddha, Kill Him How You react to external stimuli is the most important thing in life Bringing yourself back to breathe and in the moment. Anxiety is self-induced, wants to create anxieties. Thinking…
Read MoreSeeing the Face of Hard Work and determination of the Batwa People in Rural Uganda
Volunteering in the Rift Valley of Uganda See Lake Bunyonyi and Mount Muhabara Most Meaningful Experience: Working with Reaplifedig.org and learning about the Batwa Community Top tips: – Volunteer with ReapLifeDig.org in southwestern Uganda – Explore the spectacular landscapes of Lake Bunyonyi – Trek to the volcanic peak of Mount Muhabura Meeting Lauren in Rwanda…
Read MoreAn Intro to Yoga & Meditation the Isha Institute in Tennessee
Intro to Yoga & Meditation at the ISHA Institute Tucked away an hour from Nashville, Tennessee is one of the largest meditation retreats in the USA. Before we began our road trip from Nashville to San Francisco, Clarence and I were interested to experience an Inner Engineering session at the Isha Institute. We’d heard good…
Read MoreBrazil: Arriving in Rio & Tiradentes
Brazil: Arriving in Rio & Tiradentes My initial arrival to Rio de Janeiro Most Meaningful: Experiencing my friend’s wedding and seeing old friends Travel Tips: Minimize your time alone at night in Rio de Janeiro In August 2016, I took my first trip to South America. Within hours of setting foot on the continent, I was kicking…
Read MoreDiscovering more Questions than Answers in the Congo
Discovering the Mysteries of the Congo The Congo is a mysterious place deep in history and filled with color Most Meaningful Experience: Travel to see the live Volcano Travel Tips: – Trek to see the mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park – Hike to the volcanic peak of Mount Nyiragongo – Cruise the Congo…
Read MoreRun With and Like The Kenyans
Running With the Kenyans Learn How to run, train, and eat like the marathoners Most Meaningful Experience: Understanding the regiment of the best runners Most Meaningful: Visiting the home of a Kenyan runner at 6 am before a run to see that he slept on a wooden mattress and had only had two pairs of…
Read More10 things I learned by observing Ramadan as a non-Muslim
The 10 Things I Learned by Observing Ramadan As a non-Muslim, I learned a lot by obsevering Ramadan. Anyone else can too. Every year in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. While it’s commonly known as a month of fasting, with devotees abstaining from…
Read MoreLandmark Forum Addresses Relationships, Communication, Meaning of Life
Landmark Forum Addresses Relationships, Communication, Meaning of Life It’s a great way to work on old relationships and start with a fresh outlook Their relentless marketing is off putting to be honest The Landmark Forum is a 3-day communication and life help workshop that is held around the nation. The last day the main point…
Read MoreAlcatraz Swim for Sight 2016
Today we participated in the 5th annual Alcatraz Swim for Sight, started by Ron and Lorie Hirson. Lorie suffers from a very rare eye disease that is causing her to go blind. This event is led by them and sponsored for thatmanmaysee.org. The day starts at 530AM where we register for the swim, get ready,…
Read MoreTransformation at the Hoffman Institute & Process
Transformation at the Hoffman Institute & Process The Hoffman Process is a week-long residential and personal growth retreat that helps participants identify negative behaviors, moods, and ways of thinking that developed unconsciously and were conditioned in childhood. The transformation at the Hoffman Institute is a paradigm shift. My career and relationship coach, Tessa advised me…
Read MoreMy Day At Wimbledon 2010
I started my day off at 5AM to get the tube to Wimbledon but the tube didn’t open till 6AM. So I killed an hour with work. After alighting at the tube stop, I caught a bus as instructed. The bus’s 2nd stop was Wimbledon Stadium. I was watching everyone on the bus but no…
Read MoreReunion at Davidson +15
Paul’s blog post inspired me to write a quick note about my thoughts of our reunion weekend and reflections of Davidson College. I do agree with Paul that I wish we were able to find a way to keep in touch more regularly with Davidson friends and acquaintances. Even with increasing communication mediums like Skype,…
Read MoreReunion at Davidson +15
Paul’s blog post inspired me to write a quick note about my thoughts of our reunion weekend and reflections of Davidson College. I do agree with Paul that I wish we were able to find a way to keep in touch more regularly with Davidson friends and acquaintances. Even with increasing communication mediums like Skype,…
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