In the last year, my objective has been to slow down. I have written over and over about the frenetic pace of our lives. Honestly, i gave it a try. Honestly, i failed miserably. I do and i am involved in more stuff than i did last year. I am like this, passionate about manyContinue reading “An understanding of now…”
Category Archives: A meaningful life
Love in the post modern world…
Love has not changed. The way to get there has. More choice, more freedom, less shame, more time. “In an age with too many choices, very little fear of pregnancy and disease and no feeling of shame, people are taking their time to love. There is an expansion of the pre-committment phase. Marriage used toContinue reading “Love in the post modern world…”
The end of fairy tales…
With the passage of time, I have learned to no longer believe in fairy tales. I am at a stage in my life where the couples around me are in difficulty. Some are separating and many are questioning themselves. People of my generation got married in their twenties. After a more than decade of livingContinue reading “The end of fairy tales…”
A gift for my son…
The best gift I can give to my child to help him grow up well and become a good person is to find my happiness, to be honest and generous with myself and the people around me. Original post Facebook, 2016
The cycles of life…
On the last hour of the last day of a memorable 10 day family vacation, as i’m driving between Montebello and Gatineau, i am thinking…The late afternoon sun is slowly setting in the sky. We are listening to classical music in the car. Zack and Liam, the young cousins, are reading quietly. After an entireContinue reading “The cycles of life…”
On slowing down…
I was a cottage yesterday evening. I was drinking a glass of good Cuban Rhum and talking with a good friend while we were hypnotized by the flames dancing in the fire and warmed by it’s radiant heat. We had a cottage day with the kids: no TV, no internet, no cell phone, no emails,Continue reading “On slowing down…”
On kid’s happyness
Happy kids are all about love and time. Love them. Spend time with them.
The pearls of solutide….
One evening last week after dinner, i took my mountain bike and headed for the Gatineau park. It was a beautiful spring evening. The sun was low in the sky and the light was creating a magical atmosphere in the forest. The colors were vibrant. The woods felt alive. I felt alive. I remember vividlyContinue reading “The pearls of solutide….”
The great canadian bungee…
Again, let’s visit the discomfort zone. This second time, i am much calmer than 10 years ago. It is always an intense feeling to look down 200 feet and just throw yourself down, feel the acceleration, see the ground coming then feeling the strength of the elastic band pull you up. Why bungee jumping? ThroughContinue reading “The great canadian bungee…”
On longevity, happiness and the people of our lives…
80 years ago, Stanford researcher started to follow 1500 children to determine what would make them live longer. 80 years later, the longevity project finds health has more to do with happiness than cholesterol. http://www.howardsfriedman.com/longevityproject/ 75 years ago, Harvard researcher started to follow 700 young men to determine what would make them happy. 75 yearsContinue reading “On longevity, happiness and the people of our lives…”
The risks of extreme sports and my road to recovery…
I have always been a risk taker. I’ve always enjoyed adrenaline sports. In the last year, i’ve been taking more and more risk. I love life and i believed that risk is the spice of life. I don’t do crazy things but still, i like to go fast, jump, etc… This morning, i had anContinue reading “The risks of extreme sports and my road to recovery…”
In the flow…from mountain biking to the practice of medicine.
Yesterday i was mountain biking all day in Mont St-Marie. When i practice something that is very challenging and at the same time very pleasurable, i enter a flow state. Flow is a state of mind when our consciousness is deeply involved in what we are doing. Time perspective changes, it can accelerate or itContinue reading “In the flow…from mountain biking to the practice of medicine.”
The pace of our existence….
It’s 20:30. The kitchen is clean. Dishwasher is running. I’m quietly ending my day with a nice warm cup of lemongrass tea. This is a nice moment for me. Liam is asleep. Nadine is running downstairs on the treadmill in our gym. I enjoy this moment because i have time to think, time to writeContinue reading “The pace of our existence….”
The great migration…
All the members of our family have embarked on an unexpected journey. The call was predictable but this kind of invitation always surprises us a little. We crossed Quebec from west to east to go to the bedside of an ancestor. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are all going to say goodbye to Brigitte who, atContinue reading “The great migration…”
On conflict resolution and how to build bridges…
Let me tell you a story. We bought a pure bred dog last year. A nice and presumably healthy Vizla from reputable breeder. It was our first dog. We fell in love with her. She is so sweet. Our main reasons to have a dog was to provide companionship and balance to our only child.Continue reading “On conflict resolution and how to build bridges…”
On being happy and gratitude
Be grateful for what you have. Open your heart and appreciate the many gifts in your life. Stop and look… then smile. Happiness is right here, in front of us. It is not there on the hedonic treadmill. It is too easy to forget and get caught up in the little frustrations of daily life.Continue reading “On being happy and gratitude”
On Zen and Flow…
I practiced Zen for a short time. I now practice the art of flow. Both are about enjoying the moment, being open and present. But where zen is about stillness, flow is about movement. Where zen is about full consciousness, flow is about getting lost in the movements of life, in work, in what weContinue reading “On Zen and Flow…”
Pure joy
Playing hide-and-seek with my son. Running behind him in the woods. Hearing his laughter. Seeing the sun shining in his hair. Catching him in my arms to kiss him. A real epiphany: these are the most beautiful moments of my life. A deep gratitude overwhelms me because it’s a privilege to have this joie deContinue reading “Pure joy”
Why do you run?
(Excerpt / inspired from a discussion with someone who loves dancing but can’t run because it is hard, painful, etc) When you dance, you just dance and enjoy the flow, the music, the movement. When you run, you think and expect something, you want result and, like most people, you are convinced that pain mustContinue reading “Why do you run?”
Life advice in 46 words, 252 characters
My first book… Thank you to everyone who inspired me, this has been a long process. I started dreaming of this a decade ago. I worked so hard for this. Here is my book published for free, for all to read. It’s the smallest book ever published. The title is almost as long as theContinue reading “Life advice in 46 words, 252 characters”
On flow, mastery and balance
I find it interesting that the word Zen is often used to illustrate the perfect mastery of an art and the state of consciousness and calm that entails. As in the example here in the video Miyoko Shida is a master of balance and stillness. This is truly beautiful. But calm, stillness and balance areContinue reading “On flow, mastery and balance”
The space where our freedom is found…
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom” – Victor Frankl
Warm autumn saturday at Luskville falls
A picture is worth a thousand words. I am grateful to be here.
The fabric of happiness
“Friendship is one essential thread in the fabric of happiness.” This is not a quote. This is from me. This came to me as we were eating outside, sharing the first BBQ meal of 2012, 3 families sharing a moment of togetherness with our kids. Originally posted on Facebook, March 18, 2012
Some things you just can’t buy
The luxury i love: The afternoon nap. It makes the design of your day perfect. It’s an absolute pleasure. Some things you just can’t buy. Originally posted on Facebook, March 2, 2012
Martin Pham Dinh 