Time for a change…

It took some hints from life (unhappy, lonely, finding myself less like-able), from my body (tennis elbow, shortness of breath, pudding around the waist and a painful achilles tendon preventing any running) that a change of lifestyle was necessary. Besides the hints, inspiration for change came from the fruits of our culture:

• The universes greatest PUA (short for pickup artist) Neil Strauss chalked up his adventures in The Game, the book made me laugh lots and realize to not take life too seriously, be more daring and adventurous, approaching women isn’t all that hard. And ofcourse I’m trying to master some techniques like eliciting values, anchoring and peacocking but I will never admit it publicly
• Friendly camaraderie in de Rijnstraat aka the Pit with Bou, Jacco and LonnieBonnie talking about entrepreneurship, crazy new ideas, bitterballs, sls-free shampoos and watching 24 after 24 after 24 after 24. Jack Bauer is da man! Friends, family, loved ones, regularly surrounding yourself with them is pure happiness.
• Stress, busy head, 20 hour working days and thus a fucked-up day-night rhythm… Well David Allen with his classic Getting Things Done is helping me clear my head. Pull all the shit from your head and pour it into a todo system be it paper, be it an excel sheet or like me, my private wiki. Face the nagging projects and formulate the steps it takes to successfully round it up, don’t let your brain occupy its precious time with endless meandering, worrying, thinking, about stuff you need to do but don’t know how. Get in control! Mr. Allen is definitely helping me getting my zen back.
• I was in the shower some time ago (no… I do shower more regularly) and looking down at my body, thinking “I have a pretty nice body, funky toolbox, but I’m never putting it to use!”. Why in the hell am I not making love to a woman and fully experiencing the pleasures physical intimacy can bring? I know I’m good at the intimacy thing! Well… My wandering massaging hands finally managed to convince a lovely funny girl of sharing exactly that. I’m very happy, I’m released from my one-itis, from my ex, the world has opened up and so has my body!
• Healthy food, my darling mother got me a mini blender, my laziness is no longer an issue when preparing a fruity meal. Just shove those kiwi’s, banana’s, oranges and apples in and gulp your way the healthiness. My favorite for the moment is 2 kiwi’s, 3 mandarins, half a banana and cup of water to dillute it, wonderful breakfast. PS. Don’t put any lemons in, for me it ruined the taste and reminded my of the Lemon Cayenne Pepper Maple Syrup diet I once did. Thinking of it actually triggers goosebumps.

• Last but definitely not least Yoga. My friend Valerie took me to Go Yu Me specifically to a vinyasa power yoga class. The class was so full I had to go all the way forward right next to the teacher. Not a good place to be for an amateur. Asana after asana I tried keeping up, quite aware of all the pro’s looking at the teacher but also glancing at my goofing up once in a while. Legs, arms, belly-muscles trembling from exertion, tendons aching from the brutal stretching, sweating and smelling profusely. Jezus this Joshua guy was really pushing it! In the end though, it activated me like no drugs can replicate, for 2 days I was energized beyond belief! So now I try to follow Yoga classes 2 times a week… I love it!

So the times they are a-changin’… like Bob Dylan sang:

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.

Finally… You are the director of your life, direct it!