 Last November, I began to declutter my material goods. I sold them through FaceBook Marketplace, or I donated them through Goodwill.
I first learned how to declutter from watching Netflix documentary, Minimalism. And reading Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. And reading Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. My mind was processing. Simplifying my life and other lives interested me. I challenged myself to understand, apply, and execute it. I started to run a business on junking and hauling. It did take time for me to pursue it. Because I was afraid of failure. I watched Minimalism in 2017. I was astonished by it. During the film, one person talking caught my attention: “The average American household has more than 300,000 items.” I was surprised. But I wasn’t ready to declutter any of my possessions at the time. I backpacked and solo traveled for the first time in 2018. I adjusted and lived their lifestyle. It’s not always about me. There’s more to the world than myself. I visited the Philippines, Spain, and China. I met locals, tourists, travelers, and others. Living an experience is more meaningful and powerful than buying a material good. That’s what I believe. We choose what we spend. I decided to start my own business on June 2019. This business can (possibly) work. America is a consumerism country. You buy and hoard. You are searching for your happiness. I junk and haul it one day for you. My job is to provide service for you. It’s a cycle. You are what keep the junkers/haulers as for myself at work. We are helping each other. Thank you. I expect my business to fail along the way. Running a business is tough, or else everyone would be starting a business right away. We shall see. I tidy your way.  I use part of my energy to have a fit body. It is the capacity and ability to exert any type of motion, action, power, work, or force through the mind.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, energy is defined as "the power and ability to be physically and mentally active." I heard about energy through playing video games during my childhood years. For instance, I played a Super Nintendo game, Street Fighter. I choose any character to fight against an opponent. Each competitor has an energy. Whenever my opponent attacks me, my energy decreases. Last person standing is the winner. I was defeated in combat whenever my energy was zero.  Summer Palace, Beijing, China "Habits often initiate routines. So for example, you might have a habit of answering an e-mail for an hour each day. And while you're answering e-mails, you're not totally on auto-pilot," James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, talks about habits in the Minimalists podcast. "You're thinking carefully about how to respond the message and so on. But it's often the habit. The automatic non-consciousness action of pulling your phone out of your pocket. That initiates the routine of responding the e-mail."
Clear also adds in podcast episode: "A habit must be established before it can be approved. And so the very first thing to do is to master the art of showing up. It's not to worry about the performance. It's not to worry about what the writing looks like." I like to nap and sleep. Because my body needs to rest, recover, and recharge in order to function and perform. I'm left with 14 hours in a day. I mentioned it in my previous blog entry, Priorities. I start my day by making my bed every morning.  Giving a pose to you at Real Alcazar de Sevilla, Espana It is an offering.
Many means and ways of giving. When I was a kid, I was taught to never talk to strangers. Because I might get kidnapped, molested, or killed. (They never said that. But you can see why.) I avoided beggars asking for help. (It made me look down upon them.) I only earned money through gifts, chores, and allowances from family, friends, and relatives. And received any brand new material goods, like toys, given to me from family, friends, and relatives. (Brand new material goods were purchased from money too.) I witnessed this way and mean of giving and receiving based on my childhood experience. I became what I saw and heard. "I think money is important. And I do really want to hear your reasons for that," Travis talks about it with his friend, Brandon, in their podcast episode, The Importance of Giving. "But maybe to just keep in mind as we move forward. You also can give up your time, effort, attention, love, and talent as well." I was told to give more than receive. Every time, I was offered a gift. I was taught to not accept it right away.  Wearing polarized shades at Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Napa, CA I sleep about 8 hours every night. I take a nap for about an hour or two every day.
One day is 24 hours. About 10 hours of my time is from sleeping. My body needs to rest, recover, and recharge in order to function and perform. And I am left with 14 hours in day. It is being able to train my mind every single day, or else I will not be able to prioritize and minimize my time efficiently. (That is now a top priority in my life.) Because I choose my time. Every day is a challenge. I was first introduced about priorities by reading Greg McKeown's book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. (I read it about a month ago. I am slowly applying it.) "Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done. It doesn't mean just doing less for the sake of less either," McKeown writes. "It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential."  Decluttering old basketball trophies from grades 5-8 I continue to declutter my room every day. It is still messy. My room is a work in progress. Decluttering takes time. It is a lifestyle. Because my mind is processing. (FYI, I plan on writing a blog entry about processing.)
In 2017, a movie, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, first introduced me to it. (My friend, Jon, told me about the movie.) I was astonished by this film, even though I was not ready to declutter at the time. I was on auto-pilot. I used to keep shopping in a consumerism country. I always bought a material good to fulfill my happiness. (I expected it would happen one day. But it never did.) The material good eventually gets old. I always bought a new one to replace it. Brand new items boosted my ego and confidence. I bought them to impress others. I was seeking validation and attention to others. My old items were left somewhere in home. Because I was still attached to them. Throughout my life, I did not realize I was always collecting "old and new stuff." Call it a cycle of cluttering.  Stinson Beach, Marin County, California I was playing a game of tag during recess in 1993. (I was 6 years old.) I tripped and fell. I lost control of my speed. My head hit the cement. I was unconscious. I suffered from a coma for about 2-3 days.
"WHY?" I asked myself. I was 16 years old. On Saturday night, May 17, 2003, my uncle killed my sister. My sister was my (first) best friend. My uncle and I always played and watched basketball together. (He loved the game.) "WHY?" 3 years ago, I was jealous. Because my dad always pleased his brother, nephews, and nieces. I was in anger. I decided to shove my uncle. Then I front-kicked my dad. (My dad signed me up for taekwando classes when I was a kid. I hated it.) And I felt guilty. I walked away from them. Then I held a grudge against my dad for a month. "WHY?" Last November, I received a voicemail from a friend. He told me his father has passed away. His father was my tennis/basketball coach, and friend. "WHY?" Welcome to life. I write about my thoughts and ideas. I share it to you (or the reader).
I am sending you a message. You are motivated to write now. (I wish.) Now, I perceive it differently. It is only a motivation to continue on reinventing myself at any time of the year. First and foremost, it is up to me. (You already know.) I used to think a new year will change me. (I would wait, until a new year comes.) One word: Procrastination. (Yes, I still procrastinate but it is not as worst as before.) Today, I told my Uber Driver about this. Then, I asked her, “How do you see New Year’s?” ”I do not start changing right when New Year comes,” she answered. “It takes time for me. Maybe 2 months in.” Be the change you want to be. Expect failure. Whenever you are ready, start your (up-and-down) journey.  When I was growing up, I always enjoyed watching my favorite NBA player, Kobe Bryant. Last night, we celebrated his jersey retirement ceremony. The Los Angeles Lakers retired both of his jersey numbers, 8 (wore it from 1997-2006) and 24 (from 2006-2015). Kobe retired at the end of 2015-2016 season. He is a 5-time NBA champion, and 18-time NBA All-Star. In NBA history, Kobe and Dirk Nowitzki (of the Dallas Mavericks) are the only players to play for one single team for 20 years. (I believe they will be the last.) Time flies. You already know. Video shown below of Kobe's heartwarming speech at Warriors-Lakers halftime. He improvised. (Not too long speech, not too short. Just right.)
During his speech, he acknowledged the past, present, and the future of the NBA. He gave full credit to the NBA hall-of-famers ahead of him, or else he would not end up being here. He was truly inspired. He was also grateful for the fans, media, and especially, his family. (The past is remembered.) He ended his speech with words of wisdom to his daughters. "Those times when you don't feel like working. You're too tired, you don't want to push yourself, but you do it anyway. That is actually the dream. That's the dream. It's not the destination, it's the journey. And if you guys understand that, then what you'll see is you won't accomplish your dreams. Your dreams won't come true. Something greater will, and if you guys can understand that, then I'm doing my job as a father." |
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