It’s a broad question with no single, definitive answer. What does a black belt really mean? What is its value? I’ve been thinking long and hard about this lately, especially as I prepare for my own black belt grading. (more…)
April 19, 2017
April 16, 2017
As we start to dive deeper into Spring and my mind shifts to thoughts of warmer weather, I’m already thinking about my next trip. I haven’t nailed down where I’m going just yet, but I have a few places on my list: Machu Picchu, Okinawa, Hawaii, St. Lucia… lots of good options out there. In any case though, I wanted to share my packing list for warm weather travel. (more…)
April 12, 2017
I’ve said before that all arts have a tempo, a rhythm, a flavour to them. The very best performances evoke some emotion in their audience. So today we’re going to talk about cooking; specifically, cooking soup.
But first, let’s change gears for a moment to focus on something my karate sensei said. (more…)
April 10, 2017
Ever notice how, if you’re like most people, your bank account has this nasty habit of ending each and every month at zero? How are you supposed to save any money when you need all of it each month?
Time for a human psychology hack. (more…)
April 5, 2017
We’ve all seen great photography. You usually know it right away: you see a photo that makes you say “Holy crap, that’s good.” But can you explain WHY it’s good? Have you ever tried?
This post is the first in a series where I’ll try to do just that: choose great photos and outline in detail exactly what I believe drew me to the photo in the first place. (more…)
April 3, 2017
Life is pretty expensive these days. We have expenses for food, schooling, transportation, and don’t even get me started about housing. So it’s no surprise that there’s an appetite out there to make a bit of extra money to help cover the costs. I definitely do it, even though I’m also trying to simplify and spend less where I can at the same time.
This post will cover off how to make money taking online surveys. I’ll cover off which sites are best, which sites to avoid, and give you a few tips along the way too. (more…)
March 29, 2017
Ever heard of Maki-e before? Yeah, didn’t think so. Most people haven’t, and I think that’s a real shame, because in my opinion it’s one of the most beautiful forms of art in existence. This post is dedicated to bringing some awareness to the art. (more…)
March 26, 2017
It’s no secret that I love nature and greenery. During a recent trip to Bali, I realized that plants have far more impact on my general level of wellbeing than I originally gave them credit for. There’s science to back that up, too – give this article a read if you’re curious to know more! Since that trip, my wife and I have been working to add more plants and greenery into our home and our life.
Here, I’ll share five of my favourite plants that fit well with the clean lines and style of contemporary homes. These plants are more than just pretty faces though. Are you lacking a green thumb? No problem, these guys will survive despite your best efforts to kill them! Have asthma or allergies? These plants also remove common pollutants from the air, so you can breathe easy. (more…)
Be as hard as the world forces you to be, and as soft as the world allows you to be.
March 22, 2017
This post is part of a series on lessons I’ve learned through my studies of Karate that I’ve found apply well to other areas of my life. To read the first post of the series, click here.
As I’ve said before, I’ve been training karate for over three years now. Not long by any means, but long enough to have recognized that there are lessons I’ve learned in the dojo that apply to other areas of my life. Last time, we talked about the principle of Shu-Ha-Ri. This time, we’ll focus on the quote at the top of this post. It hangs on the wall in my dojo, and it’s a quote I find myself returning to over and over again. Heads-up: this one’s a little sappy, so brace yourself. (more…)
March 19, 2017
Some people remember their trips through photographs. Others remember them through storytelling. Still others do it through writing in their journals. I usually fall into the first camp, but for some reason I felt compelled to document my experiences in detail while in Bali. I outline some of my motivations for that in this post. Here though, I’ll share transcriptions of my journal entries on a day-by-day basis. Be warned though, these were written for my own enjoyment, so they may or may not be a little cheesy! (more…)