Last year, i lived through a profound experience where I got an insight into the meaning of my personal life. I saw that for me, happiness is found in the love we give. This is it. Period. Nothing else to add. That knowledge stayed with me and I tried to keep it alive, to liveContinue reading “Where true love and friendship are found…”
Author Archives: martinphamdinh
The simplest recipe to a happy meaningful life…
Every day, try to… say thank you to someone. Act in a way to receive a thank you. Find joy in the little things and simple moments of life. Gratefulness. Kindness. Simplicity.
DOES MIND-WANDERING MAKE YOU UNHAPPY?
This article is worth the 15 minutes it’ll take to read. The question is interesting, and how they found the answer is even more so. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_mind_wandering_make_you_unhappy
The one…
You are the one. You are the most important person in your life. Once understood, it is easier to make these choices. Love yourself first then others. Be kind to yourself and learn to say no. Do more of everything that makes you smile. Do less of everything that hurts you. Take theContinue reading “The one…”
Stoicism in our modern world…
Stoics understood much of our modern challenges, 2000 years ago. These are ideas that can help us add value and meaning to our lives. Taking some time away from the distractions of modern life to expose ourselves to such thoughts and reclect on them is a worthwhile exercise. Thank you.
Protected: Discovering Newfoundland
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
How we look at the world…
Sometimes, when I am in the right place at the right time, I see beauty and I humbly try to find a way to remember it. I don’t consider myself anything else but a regular camera guy who very occasionally is given a shot at capturing beauty. Whenever these opportunities arise, I am extremely grateful.Continue reading “How we look at the world…”
At the end of the road…
My friend, I have known you most of your life.I have been part of your family for the greater part of our lives.Not so long ago, we were teenagers and we shared our parents.My father took you to our cottage.Your father took me camping.They both brought us skiing. At every step, on the path ofContinue reading “At the end of the road…”
On the crypto tsunami…
A tsunami is hitting the crypto world. The recipe for this disaster was: greed + lack of humility/arrogance + no regulation + almost free access to credit Reality hit heavily leveraged companies offering unrealistically high returns to misinformed customers. The reality check was accelerated by inflation and the predictability of increased interest rates that basicallyContinue reading “On the crypto tsunami…”
Forty-two pounds of loving-kindness…
I wrote “My dear friend…” on October 10, 2020. At the time, I suspected you were sick with cancer… I have lived with the knowledge that you would eventually leave us, but with every passing day, the sadness faded away. I promised myself that I would enjoy and be grateful for every moment and everyContinue reading “Forty-two pounds of loving-kindness…”
On our intelligence in the age of information and social media…
In the age of the internet and social media, we tend to assume that we are more intelligent and wiser than our predecessors. This is not the case. Read Plato, Aristotle, and Seneca. They lived eons ago and they understood wisdom, humility, and what a meaningful life meant. Here is my take on this idea:Continue reading “On our intelligence in the age of information and social media…”
A new adventure…
I have been given a beautiful gift, the opportunity to be a participant in a “Cultivating emotional balance” trainer course. I will travel for a week-long retreat in San Francisco and start a training process that will last about one year. This course was created with the support of the Dalai Lama by Alan WallaceContinue reading “A new adventure…”
The courage to teach… a book review
“The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life” by Parker J Palmer I don’t think I can find the right words to recommend this book to all teachers, doctors and parents who strive to inspire students and kids. Here a few quotes: “”This book is for teachers who have good daysContinue reading “The courage to teach… a book review”
Just for laugh…
Typical teenager’s re-enactment of the pyramid of values and priorities, in 2022. Covid 19: War in Ukraine Economic crisis and inflation Zombie apocalypse Internet outage… Just to be clear, this was not inspired by my teenager… Enjoy your day!
On greed, the lack of humility, and the concentration of power…
These ideas are simple. They applied to long forgotten societies and apply to current ones. We can find examples of this in our modern world. Generalized greed is a poison to the economy. Greed is not sustainable. The lack of humility is another poison to politics. If one follows an idea, not because it’s goodContinue reading “On greed, the lack of humility, and the concentration of power…”
On recognition and empathy…
There is so much literature on empathy and compassion that I don’t have enough hours in my life to read it all. I have no new idea to contribute to this body of knowledge. The main challenge in the modern world is not the lack of knowledge or information; it is the lack of understanding.Continue reading “On recognition and empathy…”
On recognition in our workplaces…
I read this article this morning. Click on the photo, it’ll take you to Journal de Montréal The article is in french. The subject is recurring and not new. The owner of a business recognizes the work of his employees and rewards them with a company trip to Disney Land with their family. The mainContinue reading “On recognition in our workplaces…”
Are we facing extinction?
I watched this documentary on Youtube, and it is about the social status of young adults in Japan. This is not a subject that is in my habitual repertoire… Nonetheless, it is important and I had to write something. I am really affected and saddened… not by the video, but by the resulting reflection. IContinue reading “Are we facing extinction?”
When you love someone…
On this mother’s day morning, as I was driving home after visiting the two women in my life who loved me unconditionally, I was listening to the radio and I heard this song from Bryan Adams “When you love someone…“ Sometimes, music drives itself into my soul and inspires me. This morning, as I wasContinue reading “When you love someone…”
The stories we tell ourselves… and the petty pleasure derived from the suffering of others.
This morning, I am touched by this article on the story of Mrs. Jeanson. https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/cyclisme/2022-04-27/genevieve-jeanson/la-meilleure-chose-qui-me-soit-arrivee.php I remember … the child prodigy of Quebec cycling who fell in 2005 from a doping scandal. Like the majority of Quebecers, I probably judged without knowing. I am ashamed this morning to have participated in this collective judgment. IContinue reading “The stories we tell ourselves… and the petty pleasure derived from the suffering of others.”
Protected: To a beautiful soul…
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Plato’s demagogues…
More than 2000 years ago, Plato explained simply : “one person, one vote, a lot of legalities and you get demagogues, and the demagogues lather off the population, and pretty soon, you don’t have your democracy anymore” A demagogue is defined as a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudicesContinue reading “Plato’s demagogues…”
Where writing talks to our minds, music talks to our hearts…
When music and writing are mixed together in a harmonious balance, a story is created that almost magically inspires the listener. These pieces resonate with what that infinitely beautiful part inside us. “Ficelles” is a song by Ingrid St-Pierre that tells a story close to the heart of many; people say that it is aboutContinue reading “Where writing talks to our minds, music talks to our hearts…”
The house of cards, a separation story…
To my friend who’s heart is filled with sadness tonight… I mourn with you. As I witnessed your pain, I returned in my memories. I searched and found my writings, my thoughts, my word therapy during a difficult period of my life when my house of cards collapsed when we, me and my wife, decidedContinue reading “The house of cards, a separation story…”
Putin and our human archetypes, my worries and my hopes…
I know very little or close to nothing about geopolitics, modern urban warfare, the science of misinformation, international global financial interrelationships, nuclear risks, and the history of Ukraine and Russia. This ignorance doesn’t reassure me when I hear about Russia invading Ukraine. When a man chooses violence to affirm his views, this is always aContinue reading “Putin and our human archetypes, my worries and my hopes…”
Martin Pham Dinh 