Community

Airbnb Travel Style: Living Moments

Technical Innovation and Response 

Airbnb has started to get a lot of traction and I am a big fan of it so far, for anyone that travels frequently it is a nice alternative to the traditional means of booking hotels, motels etc. I think the great recession of 2008 challenged the world to come up with solutions on how to generate additional income but also on what is most important in life. The soul I think is a global citizen, connected online and offline we all desire love, appreciation, friendship a healthy meal and environment. Out of all the online platforms that has gained traction in this new digital sharing space, I think Airbnb has clearly come out as a leader. Great value, quality price and engineered pleasant experiences with gracious kind host who share your values. Investors are watching this company very closely as a potential public offering might be in the works in the future. 

Saving Ted: Supporting SPCA’s

SPCAIn honor of my old dog and buddy Ted, I’ve decided to give an annual donation to an SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) organization once a year in his name. Ted was not an unwanted dog, nor unloved, actually he was the complete opposite of what most people might think of or associate with a dog that was given up for adoption. The idea of forever homes are idealistic in nature, however  rigid and not completely honest in some circumstances. There are different types of dogs, some are family, short-term rescues, long-term rescues and more. Having Ted felt like all of the above. I could have kept him however our time together had come to an end.  Some people thought he was holding be back, but I realized I was the one holding him back, I had to trust the system. The SPCA represents the best qualities in humanity, and it is for that reason I’ll forever be a supporter. 

Outwitting the Devil – Napoleon Hill

Removing Fear & Thinking Clear 

Image Source: Shutterstock

Image Source: Shutterstock

The nature and discussion of how to overcome fear is prevalent in many modern day spiritual enlightenment movements.  The idea of conciseness and old saying “mind over matter” has never been more popular or accurate in my opinion. Breaking down the concept of reality conciseness at a quantum level we come to realize that almost everything we think of as solid is really just empty space, the universe itself is considered to be made of over 70% dark matter.  

Removing fear is like exploring dark matter, you know it exist yet it is difficult to understand and easier to just simply ignore. I’ve always enjoyed tackling fears, however only when I was aware of them. When not aware of the roots of fear, negative thoughts and suppress feelings you cultivate a perfect environment for fear to manifest. The following audio book below called Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill is over 70 years old and it contains wisdom and positive teachings that have never been more relevant today.  

The New Year & Psychological Time

Moving Forward While Being Present 

I’ve officially started referring to conscious popular calender time as Psychological Time (external time), Eckhart Tolle, is considered a contemporary Spiritual Teacher his book “The Power of Now”  has sold over 5 Million Copies and has been translated in 36 languages, I finished it in 3 days and walked away  feeling many of the things he discussed as legitimate, very repetitive but legitimate non-the less. 

Great Thought Leader: Milton Friedman

During my undergraduate studies Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics was vilified as though it was the root of all evil. The neo-right on the political realm took up many of his theories however through study, experience and my own research I’ve come to realize I think  Mr. Friedman was misunderstood in many ways. I was particularity impressed with the emphasis and responsibility he placed on the individual in society and the citizens relationship and role with government. As a thought leader Milton Friedman’s legacy runs deep and looking forward it would not surprise me to see his perspectives pick up popularity within the emerging Global Social Enterprise sector, putting the responsibility on individuals and free enterprises to solve problems and not governments. He challenged John Maynard Keynes the king of western civilization economics for well over a generation, I respect that. 

72

Milton Friedman (July 31, 1912 – November 16, 2006) was an American economist, statistician, and writer who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades. He was a recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and is known for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory, and the complexity of stabilization policy.[1] As a leader of the Chicago school of economics, he profoundly influenced the research agenda of the economics profession. A survey of economists ranked Friedman as the second most popular economist of the twentieth century after John Maynard Keynes,[2] andThe Economist described him as “the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th century … possibly of all of it.”[3]

For The Love of Jazz

That First Memory 

As long as I can remember I’ve had a deep fascination and love of Jazz Music. I don’t recall how and or when was the first time I realized how much I loved the genre; however if my memory servers me right it was when I was a little boy maybe 11-12 years old. It was quite evening in Mississauga my mother in the living room watching television and brother asleep in his room, we just moved from Downtown Toronto, Mississauga only a population of 200K + at the time. I was in my room cleaning and organizing my cloths and random toys I was beginning to outgrow. During a break I was beside the window in my room fiddling around with the AM/FM radio trying to get a signal… and then this sound came through the haze and fuzz of radio the signals crossing, I adjusted the dial with surgical precision until, wow that…. flute I knew the instrument because in my grade 4 music class we learned about them and heard the sounds. At that time I was becoming a master of “Hot, Cross, Buns on the Recorder”, the pride I had playing that simple melody you would think that I was Miles Davis prodigy with the grin of achievement and satisfaction on my face once done. However this sound on the radio was a lot different, It defiantly wasn’t  Mrs. Burnett’s music class of a bunch of out-of-tune elementary students blowing recklessly on recorders, this sound was, it was….  it was world class! So smooth anyone who was blessed with the ability to hear could realize it instantly.

Photograph: Redferns Redferns/REDFERNS / Redferns via http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/aug/09/john-coltrane-giant-step

Photograph: Redferns Redferns/REDFERNS / Redferns via http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/aug/09/john-coltrane-giant-step

Introduced To A Classic

Then  the radio announcer said as the music slowly faded the radio honed in super clear, “you were just listening to John Coltrane’s Classic “Favorite Things”, from his 7th studio album in 1961″. That very moment time stood still, it was only 1994-1995, and in between playing my NHL 94′ on Super Nintendo (arguably the best video game ever) from that moment on through the years I would make time in the evenings every weekend to stay up late and listening to Jazz music played on CBC Radio. 

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH3JpqhpkXg” width=”250″]

Great Thought Leader: Earl Nightingale

“We can let circumstances rule us,
or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.”
–Earl Nightingale

As a Depression-era child, Earl Nightingale was hungry for knowledge. From the time he was a young boy, he would frequent the Long Beach Public Library in California, searching for the answer to the question, “How can a person, starting from scratch, who has no particular advantage in the world, reach the goals that he feels are important to him, and by so doing, make a major contribution to others?” His desire to find an answer, coupled with his natural curiosity about the world and its workings spurred him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on success and what makes people successful.earl-nightingale1

His early career began when, as a member of the Marine Corps, he volunteered to work at a local radio station as an announcer. The Marines also gave him a chance to travel, although he only got as far as Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Earl managed to be one of the few survivors aboard the battleship Arizona. After five more years in the service, Earl and his wife moved first to Phoenix then Chicago to build what was to be a very fruitful career in network radio.

Great Thought Leader: James Allen

jamesallen

James Allen is a literary mystery man. His inspirational writings have influenced millions for good. Yet today he remains almost unknown.  None of his nineteen books give a clue to his life other than to mention his place of residence – Ilfracombe, England. His name cannot be found in a major reference work. Not even the Library of Congress or the British Museum has much to say about him. Who was this man who believed in the power of thought to bring fame, fortune and happiness? Or did he, as Henry David Thoreau says, hear a different drummer? James Allen never gained fame or fortune. That much is true. His was a quiet, unrewarded genius. He seldom made enough money from his writings to cover expenses.

Allen was born in Leicester, Central England, (November, 28, 1864). The family business failed within a few years, and in 1879 his father left for America in an effort to recoup his losses. The elder Allen had hoped to settle in the United States, but was robbed and murdered before he could send for his family. The financial crisis that resulted forced James to leave school at fifteen. He eventually became a private secretary, a position that would be called administrative assistant today. He worked in this capacity for several British manufacturers until 1902, when he decided to devote all his time to writing.

DSCP: New Project Development

Uniting Canada’s East & West dow023

Since re-establishing myself back in Ontario I’ve spent a considerable amount of time reflecting, meditating, and organizing my thoughts. Since the great recession of 2008 many families continue to struggle financially. Ontario has been particularly hit hard and although the future is bright with the positive prospects of the Cleantech & Renewable Energy sector emerging the reality is in a globalized competitive market we need to unite and work together as a country.  

Why Downey Social Capital Partners

Our ability to work together inter-provincially to advance the common good of our nation will be vital to surviving and thriving in this  globalized economy. That is why it is more important than ever to make solid direct investments into our countries Human Capital. Inspired in an effort to help others in their journey west and to support projects in the east of our country as well as globally, we’ve developed Downey Social Capital Partners (DSCP) a Federal Non-Profit Social-Enterprise that focuses on 3 core values and characteristics of personal development that lead to success, Financial Literacy, Education and Health Promotion, these core values come from the principle that an individuals family, hard-work and health should always come first. Sometimes that might require delayed gratification (sacrifice) but putting in the work is necessary to achieve and live a happy lifestyle that is to your unique individual desires and satisfaction. It is the organizations belief that this is the foundation to a quality life that creates the conditions for prosperity and happiness. 

Modern New Age: Cottage Inspiration

Modern Cottage Inspiration 

Nature is my Church where the soul truly feels at home, I’m a fan of the city grew up in big urban environments but nothing feels more natural to me than being surrounded by awesome trees, hiking trails and lakes. I’ve been listening and reading a lot of  personal development and motivational authors such as Brian Tracey, Alana Watts, and my personal favorite James Allen this year. As a result of this growth I’ve re-engineered my personal definition of success, happiness and true contentment. 

 I’ve been researching and looking at cottage lots in Ontario and they are reasonably priced between $7,000 – $20,000 for over an acre of land. The container-ship style of Cottage-Home has really caught my eye, I think it is awesome. The name of the project below was called Containers of Hope I could not agree more with name. 

The Architect of this development is Benjamin Garcia Saxe. Designed and built for under $45K!