Wishing for and celebrating other people’s happiness boosts our own happiness!
#happiness #wellwishes #others #innerpeace #peace #mindfulness
Monthly Archives: March 2018
Wishing for and celebrating other people’s happiness
Filed under Compassion, Empathy, Happiness, Mindfulness, Positive Living
Omelette with Mushrooms, Onions, and Cheeses
Today, I made an omelette with Bunashimeji mushrooms, Enoki mushrooms, onion, green onion, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, Asadero cheese, and Queso Quesadilla cheese. Served with brown rice with a sprinkle of furikake.
#omelette #bunashimeji #enoki #mushrooms #cheddar #montereyjack #asadero #quesoquesadilla #cheese #brownrice #furikake #cooking #breakfast #mindfulness #gratitude #hawaii
Filed under Cooking, Gratitude, Mindfulness
Pull Me Into You
Pull me into you.
Blending feelings with flavor.
Pulsating pleasure.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #118, 3/25/2018 –
#poem #poems #poetry #haiku #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #writing #creativewriting #art #author #expression #mindfulness
Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Poems, Writing
Happiness is fueled by a combination of positive practices.
Happiness is fueled by a combination of positive practices. I have 70. I’m going to write about this for one of my fun projects.
#happiness #happy #joy #howto #howtobehappy #practices #positivepractices #writing #starbucks #waikele #hawaii
Filed under Books, Creative Writing, Happiness, Life Coach, Mental Health, Positive Living, Uncategorized, Writing
Keep Going
Sometimes it’s hard to produce work. Forcing myself to keep going, and it becomes fun again as the momentum builds. Reading and writing this afternoon and evening of Saturday March 24, 2018.
#habits #tenacity #persistence #determination #goals #writing #reading #business #entrepreneurship #fiction #novels #creativewriting #starbucks #waikele #hawaii
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Fiction, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
My Swiss Army Pocket Knife
My Swiss Army Knife from my parents when they visited Switzerland as they toured Europe some years ago. It has my first and middle name on it. I made the leather knife holder with my initials on it when I was a Cub Scout in Pack 75 of Pearl City, Hawaii and used it through Boy Scouts of Troop 75 and Team 75 of Pearl City, Hawaii and up to now. Scouting taught me about learning, teamwork, and perserverance. I had to use my knife’s scissors to open up a small package of snacks from Japan while I typed and read last night at Starbucks. Grateful for these useful items!
#swissarmyknife #switzerland #leatherknifeholder #cubscouts #pack75 #boyscouts #eaglescout #troop75 #team75 #scouting #learning #teamwork #perserverance #mindfulness #gratitude #macbookpro #starbucks #waikele #hawaii
Filed under Gratitude, Happiness, Life, Positive Living
Wrote 71,343 Words for My 2nd Novel
For one of my projects, my second novel, a historical, suspense and romance story, I have to do a lot of research and reading on Iraq from 2003 to 2011. I also got input from my female friend who was born and raised in Iraq and endured the war. I wrote 71,343 words so far. My goal is to have 80,000 to 100,000 words. It took me 8 years to finish my first story, a historical, suspense, paranormal and romance novel based in Honolulu, Hawaii and the spirit world, that received some interest but it hasn’t been picked up yet. This one is taking me 4+ years so far, much faster. Maybe I can finish my third fictional writing in 2 years? Here, I’m writing at McDonald’s in Waikele on the evening of March 20, 2018.
#writing #research #reading #read #iraq #iraqwar #book #books #novel #novels #fiction #historical #suspense #romance #creativewriting #mcdonalds #waikeleoutlet #waikele #hawaii
Filed under Books, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Fiction, Love Story, Motivation, Novels, Study, Writing
My REI Backpack
Switched to my REI backpack today since my other backpack started to fall apart near one of the straps. This was my backpack during law school. Lugging too much stuff. Got R2D2 (my Macbook Pro) and my samurai umbrella. Ready to do some evening work!
#backpack #rei #walk #walking #exercise #work #writing #business #entrepreneurship #hustle#grind #tenacity #macbookpro #samuraiumbrella #mindfulness #gratitude #hawaii
Filed under Consistency, Entrepreneurship, Exercise, Gratitude, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
Habanero Chili Peppers From My Dad’s Garden
On Sunday March 18, 2018, I picked some Habanero chili peppers that my dad grew in his garden in Pearl City, Hawaii. Motivated to cook!
#habanero #habanerochili #habanerochilipeppers #chilipeppers #garden #gardening #homegarden #homegardening #farmtotable #gardentotable #dad #pearlcity #hawaii #mindfulness #gratitude
Filed under Family, Food, Garden, Gratitude, Mindfulness
Music plays a big role in my life.
Music plays a big role in my life. I listen to instrumental or classical when I need to do deep thinking. To evoke my creativity, I enjoy pop, EDM, alternative, and reggae. When I’m feeling down or stressed, EDM is my favorite. When I think about it, EDM is my favorite for a lot of things: exercise, dance, chores, and writing.
#music #edm #pop #alternative #rock #reggae #hawaiian #instrumental #classical #musictherapy #mentalhealth #health #mindset #positivemindset #positivity
Research and Writing
Trying to pull off a 6-hour session reading and researching for one of my favorite projects that I’ve been working on for over 4 years. Wrote 70,881 words for content I hope to pitch to agencies in April 2018. Scared but feeling motivated.
#writing #researching #grinding #hustling #tenacity #work #starbucks #waikele #hawaii #motivated #creativewriting #book #books #novel #novels
Filed under Business, Career, Computer, Consistency, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Writing
My Fading Starlight
My fading starlight.
Brighter stars are in her eyes.
A spaceship is in sight.
In it, a cute girl with big eyes.
“Why are you taking this flight?”
She laughed, “To get you out of your disguise.”
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, 3/19/2018 –
#poem #poems #poetry #writing #creativewriting #art #author #expression #mindfulness
Filed under Creative Writing, Creativity, Poems, Writing
Appreciate the simple things in our lives!
Simplicity is in our core. If we lose our appreciation for this, we lose our being.
#simplicity #basics #mindfulness #gratitude #innerpeace #peace #quote #quotes #grateful #thankful
Filed under Uncategorized
Corned Beef Cabbage By My Dad
Last night, Sunday March 18, 2018, for my family’s weekly video conference with my sister Mia and her family, my dad made corned beef cabbage with a slow cooker.
#cornedbeefandcabbage #slowcooker #cooking #dad #family #mindfulness #gratitude
Filed under Cooking, Family, Food, Gratitude, Mindfulness
Homegrown Habanero Chili Peppers By My Dad
On Sunday March 18, 2018, I picked some Habanero chili peppers that my dad grew in his garden in Pearl City, Hawaii.
#habanero #habanerochili #habanerochilipeppers #chilipeppers #garden #gardening #homegarden #homegarden #dad #farmtotable #gardentotable #dad #pearlcity #hawaii
Filed under Food, Garden, Gratitude, Happiness, Mindfulness
Build Value and Peace
Our “why” is what will motivate us to provide value for others.
Our desire to learn and ability to work with others will give us the “how.”
Our daily work and patience towards the long game will determine our “when.”
The above is our sweat equity for our vision.
If . . . no, when we build our own abundance of capital, we can add it to our sweat equity to power a value-making system that creates jobs, services, and products for others.
Another influential practice for a human is to always be mindful and grateful, and consistently loving, compassionate, and empathetic towards all beings and the universe. Enlightening oneself to transcend beyond the suffering of life and death.
Building value and peace. May they both be with you.
#vision #value #learn #relationships #work #capital #peace #mindful #grateful #loving #compassionate #empathetic #practices #dailypractices
Filed under Uncategorized
Samurai Sword Umbrella
Got my samurai sword umbrella with me from my friend Kyoko Arai who I became friends with when I was a student at Gonzaga University as I walk to my fun office, Starbucks. So much gratitude for my unique umbrella!
#umbrella #samuraiumbrella #omiyage #friends #mindfulness #gratitude#waikele #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Business, Career, Entrepreneurship, Exercise, Goals, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Positive Living
Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back Glasses
My mom dropped off Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back glasses that was part of a promotion with Burger King when I was a kid. After, we did some errands together and had lunch at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers.
#starwars #empirestrikesback #burgerking #glasses #mindfulness #gratitude #honolulu #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Gratitude, Happiness, Mindfulness
Stay on the Offense
We can stay on the offense by working on things we can control. Reacting and panicking to things we can’t control will put us on the defense, destroying our mood, which in turn, kills our productivity.
#positivemindset #mindset #positivethinking #productivity #offense #innerpeace #clarity #focus #work #business #businesslaw #entrepreneurship #quote #quotes #starbucks #waikele #hawaii
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Concerts, Creative Writing, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Success, Writing
Do the Work
Using my backpack instead of my briefcase more recently since I walk a lot. Here, I’m about to enter a meeting to present my latest content for a project. Quadrupling down on my offense as I wrote several thousand words a week and read even more on relevant material for 4 projects on the front burners that have converged.
Not as bad as when I was campaigning as a politician, walking door-to-door to over 66,000 homes, burning holes into my pants until you can see my underwear, and losing 10 to 20 lbs. every election year.
Focusing on what I can control and executing on my ideas. Sometimes it can be lonely. As many say, hustling is about doing, not just talking. If we want it, we have to do the work. So have fun doing your work my friends!!! I’m feeling you.
#dothework #work #hustle #read #write #learn #business #entrepreneurship #law #transactionallaw #exercise #walk #walking #meetings #presentation #honolulu #hawaii
Filed under Business, Career, Consistency, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Law, Mindfulness, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
Happy Office at Starbucks
Getting pulled in different directions at the same time. How do I resolve this? By working day and night at my happy office, Starbucks. In my days as a politician or litigation attorney, I would have difficulty doing this. But working in business development and law, in-between my meetings, much of my work is reading, analyzing, and drafting content and transactions, thus, my mighty MacBook Pro computer can keep me mobile, productive, and connected. Why are coffee shops my happy office? (1) Positive energy from people working, studying, reading, or meeting; (2) I’m fixed to a table to work and just using the restroom takes effort, so I keep working as much as possible with fewer breaks; and (3) Beverages and food are available so I can remain working.
#productivity #work #starbucks #coffeeshop #coffeeshops #macbookpro #apple #computer #positiveenergy #positivevibes #positivity #law #transactionallaw #transactions #content #documents #research #analysis #business #businessdevelopment #attorney #entrepreneur #mindfulness #gratitude
Filed under Business, Career, Computer, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Laptop, Motivation, Productivity, Writing
Fade Into My Eyes
Fade into my eyes.
I will be at the starlight,
between life and death.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #117, 3/12/2018 –
#poem #poems #poetry #haiku #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #writing #creativewriting #art #expression #mindfulness
Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Poems, Writing
My Mom Is My Greatest Teacher!
My mom is my teacher of mindfulness, gratitude, empathy, and compassion. Throughout my life, I’ve met and befriended powerful masters, healers, individuals with different spiritual powers, and religious leaders of different faiths, however, my greatest teacher has been with me all along. My mom is truly a master on the positive side. I learn from her by observing how she lives. I love her so much! On Monday March 12, 2018, I had breakfast with her at Big City Diner in Waipio, Oahu, Hawaii.
#mom #mother #teacher #master #influencer #family #mindfulness #gratitude #empathy #compassion #love #positivity #positiveliving #peace #innerpeace #joy #happiness #bigcitydiner #waipio #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Compassion, Empathy, Family, Gratitude, Happiness, Influencer, Life, Life Coach, Mindfulness, Peace, Positive Living, Positivity
Working @ Coffee Talk!
Chaired my board of directors meeting for Jodo Shu Hawaii earlier and now working at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki, Hawaii while my mom attends a meeting for wellness products. I’ve been in the zone for the past week, pulling off nonstop writing and learning sessions of up to 10 hours straight at coffee shops. I snapped out of a low and depressive energy period caused by stress and anxiety – partly because life and death became very real when I had to save my cousin-in-law from choking on food. There’s so much I want to accomplish before I die. I want to play a small role in providing value to others, especially in products and services that can help others find peace. So excited to work!!!
#coffeetalk #coffeeshop #work #macbookpro #writing #jodoshuhawaii #jodomissionofhawaii #stress #anxiety #inthezone #motivated #inspired #life #death #mindfulness #gratitude #kaimuki #honolulu #hawaii
Filed under Business, Career, Computer, Consistency, Entrepreneurship, Inspiration, Motivation, Writing
Red Cup Nation Concert @ Hawaiian Brian’s, Honolulu, Hawaii on March 29, 2018 from 8 P.M.
Kaimana Productions presents a concert with DJ/Music Producer Red Cup Nation “Best Times of My Life Tour” and opening set by Hawaii’s own, rapper Osnizzle on Thursday March 29, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. HST at Hawaiian Brian’s located at 1680 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Must be age 18 and over. Presale concert tickets available at Eventbrite.com linked below:
Get Eventbrite presale concert tickets for Red Cup Nation & Osnizzle here
#kaimanaproductions #kaimanaproductionshawaii #concert #concerts #livemusic #music #musicevent #musicevents #event #events #entertainment #liveentertainment #entertainer #entertainers #talent #artist #artists #redcupnation #dj #djs #musicproducer #musicproducers #edm #electronicdancemusic #dancemusic #osnizzle #osna #rap #rapper #hiphop #hawaiianbrians #honolulu #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Concerts, Dance Music, DJ, Electronic Dance Music, Entertainment, Events, Hawaii, Music, Promoter
You Owe Me
I don’t really say this often.
But there’s something that the papers forgot
Every time I read them, I know I feed them but I know
They’re painting but they can’t leave a mark
Every time I read them, I know I feed them but I know
They’re painting but they can’t leave a mark
‘Cause my friends don’t read the papers
And they don’t really care if we’re awesome or not
So every time I read them, I know I feed them But I know,
They wanna see me hang on the wall
And they don’t really care if we’re awesome or not
So every time I read them, I know I feed them But I know,
They wanna see me hang on the wall
You don’t know me
Don’t you think that I get lonely?
It gets dark inside my head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
If you’re lonely
Don’t you think you’re on your own
When it gets dark inside your head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
Don’t you think that I get lonely?
It gets dark inside my head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
If you’re lonely
Don’t you think you’re on your own
When it gets dark inside your head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
Say it to my face if you mean it
Say it to my face, but you won’t
I know I’m not losing, but I’m losing my mind
Does anybody know what that’s like?
Say it to my face, but you won’t
I know I’m not losing, but I’m losing my mind
Does anybody know what that’s like?
You don’t know me
Don’t you think that I get lonely?
It gets dark inside my head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
If you’re lonely
Don’t you think you’re on your own
When it gets dark inside your head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
Don’t you think that I get lonely?
It gets dark inside my head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
If you’re lonely
Don’t you think you’re on your own
When it gets dark inside your head
Check my pulse and if I’m dead, you owe me
“You Owe Me” by the Chainsmokers.
#chainsmokers #cover #jfla #song #music #edm #electronicdancemusic
Filed under Electronic Dance Music, Lyrics, Music, Song, Uncategorized
One Last Hug. Sunset.
We walked on the sand.
Felt the brush of your soft hand.
One last hug. Sunset.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #116, 3/10/2018 –
#poem #poems #poetry #haiku #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #writing #creativewriting #art #expression #love #mindfulness
Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Love, Poems, Writing
Solitude, Deep Self-Reflection, and Meditation
Solitude, deep self-reflection, and meditation can bring us great power by opening up our energy towards the basics of our existence: love, empathy, compassion, mindfulness, and gratitude, which transcend our physical existence. Everything else is either a bonus or unnecessary noise.
#solitude #reflection #selfreflection #meditation #meditate #selfdevelopment #love #empathy #compassion #mindfulness #gratitude #peace #innerpeace #honolulu #hawaii #quote #quotes
Filed under Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Love, Meditation, Mindfulness, Motivational, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Kaimana Productions presents a concert by DJ/Music Producer Red Cup Nation “Best Times of My Life Tour” and opening set by Hawaii’s own, rapper Osnizzle on March 29, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. HST at Hawaiian Brian’s
Kaimana Productions presents a concert with DJ/Music Producer Red Cup Nation “Best Times of My Life Tour” and opening set by Hawaii’s own, rapper Osnizzle on Thursday March 29, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. HST at Hawaiian Brian’s located at 1680 Kapiolani Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817. Must be age 18 and over. Presale concert tickets available at Eventbrite.com linked below:
Get Eventbrite presale concert tickets for Red Cup Nation & Osnizzle here
#kaimanaproductions #kaimanaproductionshawaii #concert #concerts #livemusic #music #musicevent #musicevents #event #events #entertainment #liveentertainment #entertainer #entertainers #talent #artist #artists #redcupnation #dj #djs #musicproducer #musicproducers #edm #electronicdancemusic #dancemusic #osnizzle #osna #rap #rapper #hiphop #hawaiianbrians #honolulu #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Business, Concerts, Dance, Dance Music, Electronic Dance Music, Entertainment, Live Events, Live Shows, Music, Performances, Performers, Pop Music, Promoter, Rap, Talent
Got Me On Replay
There is no escape.
Haunted by the whole culture.
Got me on replay.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #115, 3/7/2018 –
#poem #poems #poetry #haiku #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #writing #creativewriting #art #expression #love #mindfulness
Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Poems, Writing
Happy 3rd Birthday to My Niece Sophie
Happy 3rd birthday to my niece Sophie! Here we are on January 11, 2018 in San Mateo, California.
#birthday #3rdbirthday #march7 #niece #family #love #grateful
Happy Place and Peaceful Walk
Walked home at 11 P.M. on March 6, 2018 after Starbucks closed. There’s a peacefulness in walking alone while listening to an educational podcast after a day’s work at a place that helps me to attain a level of peace, happiness, and productivity.
#starbucks #coffeeshop #work #walking #walk #exercise #educational #podcast #peace #innerpeace #happiness #productivity #mindfulness #gratitude
Filed under Business, Career, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Exercise, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Law, Life Coach, Mindfulness, Positive Living, Positivity, Productivity, Quotes, Study, Writing
Saved My Cousin-In-Law’s Life With The Heimlich Maneuver
Last night on March 2, 2018, I used the Heimlich maneuveur to save the life of my cousin-in-law who couldn’t breathe because he was choking on food at my home. The piece of food shot out of his throat on my second attempt. I’m so happy my cousin-in-law is alive. Below is information I gathered in case if you need to save someone from choking to death. Live every day to the fullest.
Performing abdominal thrusts involves a rescuer standing behind an upright patient and using his or her hands to exert pressure on the bottom of the diaphragm. This compresses the lungs and exerts pressure on any object lodged in the trachea, hopefully expelling it. This amounts to an artificially induced cough. For example, WebMD recommends the rescuer placing his or her fist just above the person’s bellybutton and grasping it with the other hand. To assist a larger person, more force may be needed. The Mayo Clinic recommends the same placement of fist and hand and upward thrusts as if you are trying to lift the person.
If the victim is not upright, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends positioning the person on his or her back, then straddling the torso and using chest thrusts.
#heimlichmanuever #choking #chokingonfood #can’tbreathe #neardeathexperience #neardeath #health #boyscout #eaglescout #relieved #gratitude
If we have compassion, empathy, and fairness, even our extreme opposition may work with us.
If we have compassion, empathy, and fairness, even our extreme opposition may work with us. They may hate you, but like you. They may hate you, but respect you. They may hate you, but work with you. Better than them hating you and fighting you. Take the higher ground!!!
#business #law #politics #entrepreneurship #career #life #opposition #deals #compromise #mindset #compassion #empathy #fairness #quote #quotes
Filed under Business, Career, Compassion, Empathy, Entrepreneurship, Life, Life Coach, Motivation
End Ourselves With Everything We’ve Got
We know what’s our means and what’s our end. Build up our closure and end ourselves with everything we’ve got.
#tiger #yearofthetiger #quote #quotes #eyeofthetiger #mysign #means #end #death #life
Filed under Career, Death, Goals, Happiness, Life, Mindfulness, Motivation, Quotes, Writing
We know what’s our means and what’s our end.
We know what’s our means and what’s our end. Build up our closure and end ourselves with everything we’ve got.
#tiger #yearofthetiger #quote #quotes #eyeofthetiger #mysign #means #end
Filed under Business, Career, Entrepreneurship, Friends, Life, Motivation, Quotes, Writing
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 