IILG: A new (ancient) relationship to Mother Earth

I wrote the following paragraph a couple of days after I left the IILG: International Indigenous Leadership Gathering near Lillooet, BC this spring. I will be writing more posts concerning my experiences and realizations there, but what follows expresses an idea and a feeling that I think is of central importance to our way of being in the world today:

"It has become evident to me in listening to the wisdom of elders, healers and visionaries that creating a truly harmonious, sustainable, and meaningful future on this planet requires a view of this planet as our Mother Earth, and all that entails. This is a full endorsement of the living Gaia perspective, which demands a sacred personal relationship with all that is in, and of, our world. This means also embracing and honoring the female principle in all of life, including our flesh-and-blood relationships. It requires a commitment to ongoing healing for self and all, and a commitment to honor and protect the sacred - all of life."

What's your version?

I've had this concept for a few years now, I got it from my friend Adam. It's the idea of upgrading yourself. More specifically, if life to this point has all been version 1.x, this is about launching "Mike version 2.0". Just as "web 2.0" is a metaphor, more than any one application or feature, for the evolution of social media and the internet, Adam 2.0 or Mike 2.0 or Elle 2.0 is a metaphor for our personal growth, for learning new functions and abilities, for a new level in the evolution of our selves.

For me, this metaphor has proven useful in clarifying a vision of how I might define "success" in the next chapter of my life. It has also clarified that some of the behaviors holding me back are simply like bugs in the software; vestigal remnants of mostly unconscious programming when I was younger. These I need to eliminate or effectively work around for next-level vitality and productivity.

Of course, perhaps web 2.0, or Mike 2.0 for that matter, is just an illusion anyways. I just found the World Wide Web's inventor (I didn't know it had one) doesn't put much stock in the term, regarding the new expression that web 2.0 supposedly embodies: "World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, who called the term a "piece of jargon"[4] — precisely because he specifically intended the Web to embody these values in the first place."

If Tim Berners-Lee feels this way as the World Wide Web's inventor, then to extend the metaphor, I could hypothesize Man's inventor... "Mike 2.0? Ridiculous. You were always intended to embody all of this, and more. There are infinite versions available to you."

But I digress. I don't believe in an anthropomorphic God anyways. I recently came up with a prayer to "everything, everyone, and everywhere." It's a bit more inclusive, and relevant to my life. For me, prayer is primarily an act of gratitude and blessing.

But I digress again. Mike 2.0, right. Anyways, I was saying that I like this metaphor; it's been useful and inspiring to me. Especially when you listen to WalkOn's great positive hip-hop track, "Next Level" ("There's a light in me and it's time to let it shine. Whether or not I'm ready or not, I'm gonna take it to the next level. Just so I can say that I never settled, I'm about to take it to the next level"). It makes me wonder what version I'm at, though. If I look at my whole life, there have been many evolutions and levels. Still, I think I'll stick with the simplest version of the metaphor, and make my goal a Mike 2.0 which entails mastery of all my bad (negative or counterproductive) habits. I can only imagine what I'll accomplish when I'm consistently clear-headed, confident, peaceful and vital.

In a sense, looking at the evolution to 2.0, version 1.x implies both a foundation to grow from, and all that I want to leave behind.

So, who is Mike 2.0?

- Self-disciplined: I'm referring to any habits or vices which I've done compulsively and excessively. This includes a few personal habits over the years which are also included in my goal of self-mastery, but mainly refers to smoking too much weed. I need an extended break from toking; I will be more productive, focused, and connected with people.

- Vital, happy, and strong: of course I'm training and CrossFitting regularly, sleeping enough, practicing peace of mind, eliminating unnecessary stress, and eating consistently well.

- Financially successful: starting at $4,000 a month after tax and business expenses deducted, from work in my areas of passion and expertise: snowboarding and physical fitness. Other passions which could produce profit might be videography, websites, writing, life coaching, product development, craft and art production, music, and more.

Of course, these are the "problem areas" of my life, which I want to improve; bad habits, stress, and being broke. There are many more areas of life which already do work for me; these I will continue to develop and integrate into the "new and improved" Me. That's the plan, anyhow.

CFJ - Greg Glassman talks fitness

Just watching a new CrossFit Journal video clip of Greg Glassman lecturing to Marines. One thing I really like about his style is how he'll define terms rigorously, and then repeat and expand in everyday language. There is consistently strong use of pauses and emphasis. This is a very effective approach for conveying technical information.

I enjoy the art of instruction.

Brief review of Stamina and Cardiorespiratory Endurance:

"Cardio" as it's commonly known, is about gas exchange. That means O2 and CO2 through the lungs and blood. Stamina is about localized muscular endurance - not fading, muscularly. The phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative energy pathways.

"You can't develop stamina in the lower extremeties without taxing yourself in terms of cardioresiratory endurance. You with me? How can you get your legs so they can go forever without making your heart beat hard? You can't." Greg Glassman

Coach Glassman's quote above is in the context of the broad domain of ten general physical skills, or adaptations, namely:

• Cardiorespiratory endurance
• Stamina
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Power
• Speed
• Agility
• Coordination
• Balance
• Accuracy

These distinctions are useful, but man-made. Nature has no respect for this distinction. That is what Coach Glassman is getting at (and states in the video). To be most fit, ie. ready for anything unknown or unknowable, is to be most broadly developed across these ten physical adaptations.

It’s a path, and other insights

Some thoughts which just occurred to me sitting here after smoking some hash oil, interacting with my housemate, and resisting wasting time on a computer game. At the same time reflecting on my career plans and my conversation with my father this evening.

 

It's a path, and the method is one step after another. Forward, not backwards, if you want to get there quicker.

 

I've just realized that one of the defining moments of my life was when I was 17, and my dad busted me for having stolen stuff in the garage, froma B&E some friends and I had done, looking for some easy cash. I've long remembered the impact of that moment, for having lost his trust. But just now I reflected, did I not also lose my trust in myself? My trust that I was acting in my own best interest, that I could trust myself to make the right decisions.

 

This time-wasting thing, these devilish habits of mine, they're not necessarily bad in and of themselves. It's the compulsion I feel with them, it's making the choice to do these in favor of other, more productive and fulfilling pursuits. It's when they impact the balance of my life negatively.

 

I wonder how much I've bught into a disempowering story, the story of the "hard livin' man". What if life were just easy – I mean, short of having my face ground into the dirt or my loved ones violated – life is easy.

Testing, testing

Just exploring technicalities, MS Word has an option to write blog posts locally and then upload them for me. We'll see. I should let you know that I've been busy researching and planning career options, I've gotten registered for a CrossFit certification July 25-26 in Vancouver (woooHAH!), and have been making good progress on my snowboard training project. And I've renewed my interest and commitment to doing some writing – how much, we'll see, but some.

That's it for now. Over and out!

Version 2.0 and other stuff

Mike version 2.0 ("two point oh")... it's like Web2.0, see? An evolution, a deeper dimension, a greater context. Anyways, the idea is to reach a new level in my satisfaction and achievement in life. Covers areas like career and business, nutrition and fitness, eyesight, snowboarding, relationships, social life, wisdom, spirituality, awareness etc.

Now that that's out of the way, (I'm sure I'll return to the subject) why did I start writing this anyhow? Oh yeah, because I've just been smoking weed and drinking (moderately) all day long. Snowboarding in there too. So, having a bit of a mini-vacation here at home I guess. It's good, everything changes.

I feel like I'm well in-tune with the seasons of my life; I like that. In that I have more interests and commitments than I have time for, so knowing how to relax and accept the flow and shift of my projects and priorities.

Our dual nature in love

In the absence of a good woman in my life, though I still do feel like a man, it's often painfully clear that I'm a man alone. I feel I belong in love, sharing life with my mate. In the absence of a good woman, my own womanly side comes out. When I'm with a good woman, I can truly express my maleness, which is really our maleness - as she expresses our feminine side. We both share the duality, and express what is natural for us. It's almost as if we are two halves of one, and we express our polarity on behalf of the both of us.