From time to time some of us (including me) need reminders. An alarm clock to pull you back into this dimension, a shopping list to *not* forget the tabs for the dish washer, visiting a beloved relative in the intensive care unit in the hospital.

When the sun comes out after 5 rainy days in a row – an enlightenment. It brightens up our life, warms our soul – and still – I forgot to buy the tabs!

Next time you see the sun shining, look up, allow your-self a short break and smile back

Have you ever tried to be everybody’s darling? It’s an adventure spiced with stress. Maybe you succeed to please your world in dolby surround but most probably it will only last for a short while.

While you try to meet people’s expectations you stretch your-self like a hubba bubba. Worst case – or best case – your illusion one day just goes plop!

Life’s a beach so keep on to shell out the real you and get on your one hat! Chapeau!

The Tree of Life.

Yesterday I’ve watched the movie The Tree of Life. Maybe I wouldn’t call it a movie – it’s more like a journey. It might even unlock some unconscious stress in you. It’s a voyage through your hopes and dreams in slow motion.

Besides some stunning visuals there’s one quote engraved into my brain:

“You make yourself what you are and you have control of your own destiny. You can’t say I can’t. You say, ‘I’m havin’ trouble, but I’m not done yet. You can’t say I can’t.” Mr. O’Brien

Go, plant a tree! Even if it’s only your very personal one inside your mind.

What the Plus! is the new book by Guy Kawasaki about the social network Google+. Why?

“I hate when people don’t use the best tool. […] My goals are to help you to derive as much joy and value from Google+ as I do and that we can make Google+ tip.” Guy Kawasaki

Do you still drive your first car or live in your very first own room? Once in a while it’s time to move on or at least shift your focus. When Google+ was unveiled in summer 2011 I got an early beta invitation. I logged in, looked around and logged out. TMI, too much information – the days still only have 24h a day.

In the last few months I was looking around for a new way to handle my social media activities. Yes I know Tweetdeck and have a Hootsuite premium account – but still… I don’t know how Guy picks the release dates for his books, but What the Plus! came just in time for me.

After reading What the Plus! I decided to move over to Google+ and cross post from there to Facebook and Twitter. Hop to page #131 to see how to do that the Guy-Kawasaki-way. See you on G+!

Get the ebook at Amazon or iTunes

Sitting On A Spring is a short meditation by ZEN-MEN.

It was a great surprise to find this lovely dashboard monk in my hardware mail, thanks Theo!

How do I meditate? Its still a question people ask me from time to time. There are many ways – find the one, which suits you best. One easy way would be to watch this video for a while, even in FULL-HD if you like!

Try to relax, sit still and listen to the music if you like. For the music I picked a track, I wrote back then for Florent; “Le Petit Fleur” from the ZEN-MEN album “Rue Lepic”.
Chill-out, dude!

Back Home.

Do you remember the feeling when you come back home from a business workshop, from holidays or some lovely days camping? Five thoughts about our perception:

1. The size of your room, flat, house feels different. Is it still too small?
2. What do you really need for living?
3. Surrounding sounds; is your home too loud or too silent for you?
4. Minimize; treat your home with some Feng Shui. Do you really need all this?
5. TV; have a break. Consciously create new elements in your life to destroy your daily routine.

You are home. (Yes, that’s a tiny house made of wood in that tree…)

Sometimes you have no idea which direction you should take. Gravity tries to pulls you down but still your thoughts shoot through the roof top.

No matter through what kinda mud you have to crawl, smile – and carry on.

Help your friends, love your family (… I know…) and maybe one day you get a package via royal mail, undefined, wet – mysterious.

The manual just said: keep in a warm place, water every 2-3 days, germination in 7-10 days. Be a living smiley Thanks, Mikel!

“Without you, the universe is not pretty.” Yogi tea.

The years go by and tiny shells don’t catch your attention anymore. These days they have to be big, beautiful – perfect.

It’s okay to be picky unless it extinguishes your flames of joy. The good and the bad news are: you are the boss of your break-even point of happiness!

“One day a monk fell down in the snow and cried out for help. Another monk came along and lay down beside him. The first monk got up and walked away.” Zen Koan