Dear Friends,
I find it interesting that a number of bloggers are wondering about my health or are wondering why death seems to be in the back of my mind. First of all, I am perfectly healthy. However, when I was thinking of getting life insurance during this past legislative session, a nurse came over to my office to take some tests right after I had to painfully say “no” to a senator who wanted a bill that had some legal concerns. Stress can cause a lot of problems. My blood pressure was high on the first try. After about ten minutes, it went down to an average reading. Then after about another 10 minutes, my blood pressure was much better than the average person. I have always been a very determined person in goals I really believed in. However, determination and work needs to be balanced by eating healthy, exercise, and mental relaxation such as meditation, or we can get a heart attack or stroke. Living unhealthy and/or stress can cause future problems. Not only must we work hard and do all we can before we die, we must enjoy life and live healthy. I had one unusual early morning shortness of breath and one early morning pain in my chest this Spring. That could very well be caused by stress. Although a number of people believe it was one of those spiritual attacks against me because I am healthy and regularly exercise.
On January 6, 2009, I wrote: “Let’s do all we can to keep the balance tipped towards the positive. We only have a limited time in this world. We need to be faster than “death.” We have to say what we need to say and do what we need to do before it catches up with us because sooner or later, it will. We can only do the best we can before our destiny is revealed to us.”
When I talk about “death,” I am really talking about life. Knowing that death can happen anytime, sometimes sooner than we want, that makes it all the more important to live life to the fullest now. My hope is that we all live a long and happy life. But life is not always like that. I have seen so many people die way before their time. I look forward to everyday. Even in my darkest days, I try to make the most of life. So many people are sad and depressed or worse, angry, jealous, impatient, and full of hatred. There are many people who criticize others. A number of people hide behind code names on their computers and send negative statements on the Internet. At the extreme, there are those who harm, rape, and kill. We must always strive to be positive and that will result in a positive affect on others as well as your soul, mind, and body. Our impermanence is an incentive to live life the best we can.
I am fortunate to be healthy. I lift weights, walk, and run regularly. I try to eat healthy. I pray and meditate occasionally to relax my soul, mind, and body. My “Peace” page on this website lists my strategy to attain peace within ourselves to help us to live positively and healthy.
Like you, I am racing against time, the time left in our lives in this physical world. My “Farewell” page on this website is another way of me being ahead of my death. I can thank my loved ones and all of you, just in case I don’t have the last opportunity before my death. Live positively and healthy!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 