It’s 2019, and we spend more time than ever on our smartphones, computers, and basically any kind of gadget that connects us to the web. We’re always posting, reading, commenting, sending Tweets, taking pictures and videos, checking e-mails, messages, and notifications on half a dozen social networks. We go on Tumblr for a few minutes […]
via Try This Crazy Trick to Become a Better Blogger — The Art of Blogging
I am tough and sensitive. I am deep and light-hearted. I am serious and funny. I am loud and quite. I am confident and humble. I got a smart mouth and a cheap sense of humour. I am specific and easy-going.
–Written by Kasturi Sharma
I don’t count my sit-ups; I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count. –Muhammad Ali
So many things we only do based on our mood- and we hear a lot of them say – I don’t want to do things because there is no mood for it etc…
If the whole world would revolve around doing things as per the mood we would be doomed…
Imagine a pilot saying in the middle of the flight I am in no mood for flying and decides to leave the cockpit while in air. Or when a child is hungry and the mother tells the child I am not in the mood of giving you food.
In relationship we can call it ‘unconditional love’ or at business we can call it ‘stick with it’ or in normal language perseverence. Whichever area you talk about, the wisdom remains the same..
I think the quote in the beginning of this post by Muhammad Ali is enough to motivate us.
What is it that you will do today to push yourself beyond your limitations of “mood”??
-Paul Fernandes
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around”. – Willie Nelson
Gratitude has always been a bridge which has helped me to travel from where I was to where I wanted to be. I realized that the more I am grateful, more comes my way to be grateful for. Over 8 years I have kept a gratitude journal and when I look back it amazes me to see that the things which were not a reality in my life back then, today they are. Lot of the credit goes to the power of Gratitude.
What are you going to be grateful for today?
Tips to write your Gratitude journal.
You can write it in your phone or do it an old fashion way of pen and paper. I have tried both and I would prefer pen and paper, but it’s good to try the other way too..
May you have a gratetul life ahead of you…..
–Paul Fernandes
“Rahul, Raj, Govindda, Ajay…..” the audience blabbers as they were asked to guess the host of OBR (One Billion Rising is a global movement, founded by Eve Ensler, to end rape and sexual violence against women (onebillionrising.org)
“It is Aishwarya”, says the host finally.
“My name is Aishwarya and I was born a girl.”
I am a 17 year old student and at the age of 9 started applying the concept of gender fluidity. It started when my mom and dad separated, and my dad was fed up of tying up my waist long hair, hence, got it cut short. I was told by many that it suited me, and that I was looking cute. That was the reason I didn’t return to my long hair, but this of course is not the reason that I am identified as a boy. I have an elder brother and sister and since childhood my brother was allowed to go out, be it day or night, was allowed to hangout with his friends, and take all serious decisions and responsibilities of the house, this used to confuse and annoy me because I too was a human and I used to wonder why was I treated unequally. That time I didn’t know anything about gender equality, or that women were equal before law, I became sensitised only after 6 years when I joined NINEISMINE (http://www.nineismine.in)at the age of 14.
Although I was being treated equal as my brother, by her father, I was sent for grocery shopping or any other important work in the absence of my brother; I was given a phone before my elder sister. Although it made me happy but it also made me realise the level of discrimination in our Indian families and I started fighting for my sister’s rights with my father, and now all the three children of my family are treated equally.
When I got opportunity to speak in public, I spoke on gender equality, and everybody used to think that I am a boy because of my attire, my voice and my built which I had due to the gym, and once I tell them my name the hall used to echo with applause.
Now, everyone refers to me as beta(son), bhai(brother) and my sister looks up to me, as the so called protector, rather than my brother. I know this concept of protector too needs to be eliminated and that’s my vision: I want to become a professional dancer, and by being be the real me on private and public platforms, I know I am fighting gender stereotypes and inequality.
Now that I recall the times I used to apply my mother’s lipstick I laugh, and continue doing my dumbbells. There are lot of people who come to me and say that they want to be just like me and have the same courage. You know what? I am going to fight for all of these people.
My family, friends, neighbours, teachers all have accepted me like I am, and why shouldn’t they?
I am just another human.
Paul: If today, I tell you to pack your bags and go for holidays, where will you go and why?
Gideon: That is always a hard question, there are many places I would like to visit, but I guess it will all depend upon what kind of a holiday or trip would be needed the most, I think it would be to go on a long walk and I probably would pick the 88-temple trail on Shikoku Island in Japan (1500+ km).
Paul: What surprises you about traveling?
Gideon: I will say that an ongoing surprise or appreciation that I have for traveling especially when traveling without a real plan is when getting into the groove of having faith and trust that things, all things,will work out and be alright.
It’s amazing the kind of people you meet, opportunities you attract and experiences you get on an ongoing basis.
Paul: Tell me little bit more about your enterpreneurial journey.
Gideon: My first real investment was buying into a network marketing company and that journey didn’t last. I worked hard and gave my all, which was not a healthy thing as I gave up many other positive things, but I guess it got me going.
That is more than 10 years ago now and since then I have continued to pursue entrepreneurship, which has been a journey of many learnings, both when it comes to how I spend and invest as well as what I am pursuing….. and still learning.
Paul: Do you have a bucket list?
Gideon: I don’t have a bucket list per say, although I write down my goal everyday. I definitely have countries and places I want to see like Shikoku I mentioned before, run a marathon, be a father etc.
Paul: You are an author of ‘Your Unique Journey’, What is it about?
Gideon: The book I wrote ‘Your Unique Journey’, is a self-help book about the understanding our uniqueness and that we are all unique as well as on a unique journey through life and that has a huge value due to that we can all share and learn with each other because none of us are the same.
Here is the link to my book: Link (UK) Link to US-Amazon:
Paul: What does it take to follow your passion?
Gideon: To pursue ones dreams and goals you need courage, because what you face all the time will be new and uncomfortable, and to endure that will take persistence, will and trust that what you do, what you are in is what you are meant to learn to grow into who you are meant to be. That often is frustrating and you can often feel confused, but that is what growth is – to consistently be in new territories of yourself and life.
Paul: I see you have got involved in ‘Ocean Clean’ campaign. How did it all start?
Gideon: Clean Ocean is a project I got involved with at the end of my last semester at my school called The Kaospilots, here in Bern in Switzerland. It’s a school for entrepreneurs and our business exam for my little group became this project.
It’s a project that revolves around an app that will make it possible to report trash and plastic and enable individuals to start and join clean up events and all of this will be visible on the interactive map.
The idea started with Aidan, who at that time was 11-years old who had a school project that was about the environment. He picked the ocean as he loves the ocean and his parent went to Sardenia in Italy at a turtle rescue center and set a turtle free as well as started to clean a beach from trash, which inspired locals to join in and then the idea came out, that if more people did this and were more aware of it more would probably do something about it, and that is where the app comes in.
Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CleanOceanApp/
Paul: Any advice for young passionate travelers?
Gideon: It is never too late to start traveling and the people who regret it are always the people who didn’t do it when they had the chance to do so.
So go! Explore the world, because the more you explore the world the more you explore yourself and we are as aware as we are of ourselves as we are of the world – it goes hand in hand in my belief and experience.
Paul:What are your future plans?
Gideon: I will rather answer that question with the idea of dreams and what I am pursuing… and that is to establish myself as an entrepreneur and make a difference within the sustainable field of projects and businesses. Clean Ocean for example and interesting products that are healthy for people
and the environment is something I have a passion for and then writing and DJing and music is something I enjoy very much too.
Gideon, we wish you all the best for your future endeavours.
-Paul
There are still people who care for the Earth. There are still those who want to come forward and spread awareness in the society about protecting the ‘Mother Earth’.
I met these fine young men (picture below) who were French by origin, who had named themselves as The FrenchChips were riding an auto rickshaw from Kerala, India to Rajasthan, India to raise awareness about the Environment.
Their passion for the Environment was contagious and though I did not get much time to interact with them – the message was loud and clear, If we want to save the planet no matter where we are from we have to play our part in rejuvenating our rivers and nurturing our mother earth.
I wish the organisations COOL EARTH and THE ADVENTURISTS RICKSHAW RUN all the best for their endeavours.
There are thousands of people around the world doing their part.. What about you?????????
You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.
– Michael Jordan
Often times we are stuck where we are.
We find it so difficult to move to the next level. We all want to change our life for betterment and want the things which we most desire in our life. But do we have the courage, determination and willingness to do the things that are required to get what we want?
Raise your standards, let no one put limitations on your capabilities to succeed. You are in total control of your life and only you can define your standards. Raise it so high that you love yourself totally and love the work you do. When we raise our standards, we are met with people, jobs and situations of raised standards. After all we are vibrant beings and we only attract what is in tune with our frequency.
So, here we go with an affirmation….
Today, I AM GOING TO RAISE MY STANDARDS.
Best wishes,
-Paul Fernandes
Do not take your friends for granted (Friendship day/week special).
I take this opportunity to wish all well-wishers of Imagination Breathing a Happy friendship day/week.
Every friend is unique, some like to listen, some like to talk non-stop, no matter what, they are still our friends. Hope you have wished your friends a Happy Friendship day/week. Some take this small thing of wishing someone for granted, you never know – may be that particular friend of yours was just waiting for your wishes.
There are some who do not have friends.. Can we identify some and bring smile to them in this coming week….. (It’s a challenge, are you ready for it?)
Below are some quotes on Friendship. These quotes may ignite a feeling of friendship in you.
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow. – William Shakespeare.
A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. – Elbert Hubbard
Do not save your loving speeches
For your friends till they are dead;
Do not write them on their tombstones,
Speak them rather now instead. – Anna Cummins
Regards
Paul Fernandes
Founder
Imagination Breathing.(inspiring lives)
Photo by Kaboompics on Pexels
I always loved writing. It has always been my trustworthy companion for as long as I can remember. I write on every occasion but mostly when life gets too tiring and when my heart feels too heavy to bear. I write when I am happy- to capture that joyful moment with pen and paper. I then read it when I feel bored or sad to cheer myself up. It helps more than anything else. I also write down all my sorrows and pains, my aching and heartbreaks.
Writing is how I cope with my despair and hurt. I feel lighter when I pour all of my hardships and shortcomings down in a paper. It by no means solves the problems but it helps me calm down.
Sometimes I like to write stories, create characters and put all my fantasies into the story. I lose myself in my own created world and for a few moments everything feels alright. I feel that I express myself better with writing than speaking.
Writing is not just my hobby; it’s my passion, my life. Things that cannot say, pains that I cannot utter and desires that fails to find its way to the lips flow down from my heart, to my fingers and find its home in a piece of paper.
I find solace and peace in writing when there’s a storm raging that threatens to swallow me. Even as I write this small piece I feel a sense of calmness settle over me and smile that forms on my face assures me that I am okay as long as writing leaves me not.
Chitsiarho Po
