Goodmorning Viet... Laos??

I break my latest streak of blogosphere absence with a posting from the People's Democratic Republic of Laos (silent "s"). It has only been two days, and I have to admit that I already feel the laid back lifestyle of the people creeping into my travel weary bones. After pushing through India and Thailand, it is a relief to find a calm, relatively quiet place in which to enjoy the finer things in life again... news magazines, beer, espresso... and the depths of one country's experience with pain and suffering.

Laos is a country yet undiscovered by the vast majority of citizens of the country that has had the single most influential role in its modern existence as a state. I have to say I was certainly in that category until just a few hours ago. Amie and I took a visit to the COPE extension of the government operated National Rehabilitation Center (rehibilitation from what I first thought). The COPE center held a free (key word for budget traveler) exhibition about the modern travesty of UXO in Laos - or UneXploded Ordinannce - and its still central role in Laotian life, even after 40 years of its first misguided spread across the majority of the countryside. The exhibit proved to be a rude awakening to the less than benevolent role of my country, which stirred once again a resentment and confusion about the forces that be - even in spite of my newly rekindled respect and hope for the coming administration (read Obama).

I bring all of this up mostly out of hope that things can be different, and that we as a nation can avoid being the catalyst for such tragedies in the future. And yet I am troubled by the legacy that we will leave in Iraq - but cautiously hopeful that a change in our collective direction can offer to proactively heal wounds without tearing out the stitches.

Hoping for good things to come.

The Gulf’s Family Living Room

I’m sitting at Muscat International Airport, about to end the chapter in the place it all started. I said goodbye to the two gentlemen who have accompanied me throughout, and who will be carrying the torch onward until they too make their move to continue on their own paths.

There is a mix of emotions, sitting here with the woman I love, about to start our own journey that I know with certainty is the one that must be made. But still aching at the imminent goodbye to a place that I have called home. It was a journey to get to that home feeling too, but once it was made, I felt like I was in a comfortable family living room.

To me, that seems most accurate description for what Oman really is. It is at once a beautifully ornate, warm and accepting place, where you walk right in and feel at ease. I will never forget the way Oman welcomed and accepted me.

In my final posting in Oman – the last of the posts that have expressed quite closely every aspect of my emotional and physical state in Oman – I must express my gratitude and eternal respect and love for two of the finest individuals I have ever met. Jihad and Hassan, you have made my Oman experience what it is, and left me forever with a warm place in my heart for you and Oman. Rest assured that I will be Oman’s biggest advocate wherever I go.

To my team, Brett, David and Katy – you will continue to do incredible things in your work for AIESEC and for anything else you choose to dedicate yourselves to. It has been an honor to work with each one of you. Thank you for your friendship and support throughout this adventure.

My love and respect will be with you all.

Ready for the Release

Unsettled is the best word for it. I am sitting at a cafe in Muscat, the same cafe where I brought myself to the decision to move on, to once again begin living my life through the guidance of my Soul... contemplating. Contemplating my search for understanding here, a search that at times was fruitful, and other times futile. Professionally, so much made sense in Oman. The regional development, embodied by the hyper-development of Dubai... The professional possibilities for AIESEC, and the sensible opportunities that it opens up for the students here... My personal and profound dedication to see to it that I did everything in my power for its success... The practical experience of developing a chapter of an international organization, and figuring intrinsically into its global leadership... What did not make sense, never truly so, was what my Soul could see.

I have struggled to characterize what I have been experiencing inside for some time now. Is it good, is it bad? Did I fail, did I succeed? It all depends on what the terms are.

Overall, I can already say that I am happy I made the decision to come to Oman. I hope to start to see the rewards coming gradually. I am equally happy to have made the decision to move on to other endeavors. What I am about to release to is an experience that is even more unknown to me. What destinations will it bring me to - not physically, but mindfully, spiritually... Soulfully.

My decision to go with Amie to India to study yoga for six weeks makes no logical sense when I look at it with my analytical mind. When I allow my Soul to guide me, it simply is... right.

Blogging Psychology - Blogchology... ?

Is it the mind that molds the heart that pulls the Soul to wonder at the present status of the state of the world?

I've removed myself from the Blogosphere as of late for the simple reason that I have been entirely too unsettled to breech the barrier of my mind swirl to come afresh with words and phrases that inspire me further on my current search.

Amie arrived and everything changed. She opened me up to help me to see the state of myself and my Soul. I was not surprised by what I saw, but I was at first to proud to admit that it was not was I wanted, but something that I had watched happen. It turns out that all of the effort and energy that my Oman experience has demanded of me almost completely removed me from taking care of myself. I didn't even have the foggiest at the time to know what that even meant, at least in this context.

So here I am again, back at a crossroads of choices. I have decided to move on from Oman with Amie, to continue our journey East to India, and delve into the depths of Soul and Self through the channels of Ayurvedic Yoga. And then on to Southeast Asia, or...

Energy is the ultimate goal. Energy and the most accurate reflection of well-being. Something Amie and I have termed Soul Entreprise... the beginnings of a company or philosophy or movement. Or perhaps something even bigger, embodied by the sense of pure Being

And so it Begins

Where My Soul Ends and Yours Begins

Beneath the Scrubs

The last month has been a path to revelation. Revelation big and small, redefining purpose and direction, refining understanding and identity. Crisis forces clarity, strength ensures persistence, faith is eternity in being.

I have come through my own deficit in character, understood and challenged my demons, and in my critical personal estimation, I have succeeded.

What is integral to my experience over the last two months is the peace of mind that I have been able to establish.

Where my Soul ends and Yours begins...

... is the point at which I agree to enter into a personal communion with the people around me; I agree to lower my barriers and challenge myself to understand, to empathize
, to look with my heart and live with My Soul; I agree to let go of the competition, to not try to prove you wrong, insist that I am right; I agree to simply be.

... are the conversations about life, challenges, defeats, triumphs, pain, joy - the details of what it means to be human from the individuals living it, not letting ourselves get lost in diversity, celebrating it - not letting it become another status quo.

... are the investigations of culture amongst friends, Jihad opening himself to my questions, trusting me completely that basic respect is true - and that these questions will produce only more value in friendship and trust.

... is where I release myself to the deepest love, making myself vulnerable to be hurt, but also enabling myself to fully enter into sublime peace - is Amie, My Beloved Friend.


We are capable of surmounting greater challenges than we could ever imagine. Human strength is infinite when we agree to never foresake our Soul...

Our International Day of Love

My Sweet Amie-

Today I remember the most powerful moment of my life when the foundations for a life to come were laid. I didn't fully understand their significance then, and I am still learning about it now, for the influence that this love was to have on the subsequent events of my life were monumental. I reflect now on the course of my life over the last four years, and realize how much different it would have been without you. Honestly, I question whether or not I would actually be in Oman if I hadn't of met you - for you inspired and pushed me to search for something greater than I was, and to continually improve the man I was trying to become.

I remember falling in love with your beauty - your beautiful eyes, your beautiful hair, your beautiful smile, your beautiful skin... but before all that, I remember falling in love with your Soul - a purity like nothing else I had before experienced, yet unmatched throughout my travels and searches ever since.

April 7, 2004 was the moment that my world came alive, through the eyes and heart of another - through you Amie, My Beloved Friend.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

With some Soul.

I just got back from a long weekend in Dubai attending the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The experience was enlightening, invigorating, inspiring, motivating and above all else, empowering. In fact, if there ever were just the right medicine for what was ailing my drifting Soul, this was it. And right at a time when I was feeling dragged down and deflated in Oman.

I have so many things to remember and take away from this Summit - but I choose to sum it up with one statement. Living with a purpose.

This statement is what drove the spirit of the three days from April 1-3. Straight from the mouths of a sampling of the worlds movers and shakers including business leaders, government ministers and officials, NGO leaders, entertainers and spiritual motivators - all gathered together with a common interest in Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a purpose - Innovation for Peace. People spoke with such passion and energy, determination and foresight, about gathering together around each others' goals and initiatives to drive further innovation for the benefit of the global society. They spoke so passionately and intently that I actually believed them. More importantly, they asked the right questions and gave the right answers that I actually began to believe again that I too, am working for and have a purpose driven by the same things.

AIESEC representatives were invited to provide a youth element to the conversations. It was truly a privilege to represent AIESEC and simply to be present in such an engaging environment. Thank you to AIESEC for that opportunity, as well as the Global Leadership Team for recognizing the value that AIESEC can bring to such discussions and gatherings.

What I think I will remember the most out of this experience is this single phrase that the Minister of Information Technology from Mauritius kept repeating. It was throughout his conversation with the Executive Vice President of Deutsche Post - himself an AIESEC Alum - about the costs of leadership on the people that choose to rise through it. The Minister kept repeating, "What we need is more value-driven people in this world." It was clear through the conversation tone and setting, that the values he wanted were basic respect and understanding for life and humanity supported by the will to serve your neighbor, and to do good for good's sake.

I am reinvigorated and ready to approach my life renewed. I am bringing this energy and passion that I have rediscovered back to Oman with the commitment to live my life here with purpose, and to never overlook the opportunities here for discovery and learning - about myself and the world that surrounds me. Yes, I am brining it back with some more Soul.