Blogging Break

The boys are out of school, so we are doing something that many kids don’t get to do nowadays–playing. For the first three weeks of summer, we are going to swim, bike, watch movies, and eat Popsicles, so I won’t be blogging too much.

In addition, after the shootings in Isla Vista, SPU, and Vegas, I’ve also dedicated a large part of my life to spreading compassion for boys. I’m completing an audio series called Raising Compassionate Boys. I believe that compassion is the missing piece that no one is talking about. Everyone is talking about gun control, but we forget that Elliot Rodger killed half of his victims with a knife. If we instill compassion in our boys, there would be less shootings, rapes, bullying, viral humiliation, suicide, and suffering.

I’m also starting a Compassion for Men’s Group. We meet every second Monday in Cupertino, CA. If anyone is interested, email me at everydaygurus@gmail.com

Lastly, I’ve been writing for The Good Men Project. It is a great website that is redefining what it means to be a man in the 21st century. Here are a few of the articles I’ve written lately:

• The Good Men Project: How to Use the Force in Soccer and 5 Other Crazy Things I Teach My Sons: http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/use-force-soccer-crazy-things-teach-sons-js/
• The Good Men Project: Five Reasons Why I’ve Quit Being Cool: http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/five-reasons-ive-quit-cool-js/
• The Good Men Project: Elliot Rodger, Tiger Woods, and Acts of Self-Hatred: http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/elliot-rodger-tiger-woods-acts-self-hatred-hesaid/
• The Good Men Project: Dear 15 Year Old Self: Shower Naked in The Locker Room Now: http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/dear-15-year-old-self-shower-naked-in-the-boys-locker-room-now-js/
• The Good Men Project: Every Boy Needs a Bull Elephant, and You’re the Elephant: http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/every-boy-needs-bull-elephant-youre-elephant-js/
• The Good Men Project: Yes, You Can Teach Compassion to Your Son (and Yourself!): http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/5-ways-teach-compassion-sons-hesaid/

Hope everyone has a peaceful and joyful summer. See you after the July 4th weekend. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo

 

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Blogging to Self-Actualization

I’m shifting my perspective on blogging. The reason I started blogging was to build a platform for my writing and counseling services. Yet after blogging for over a year, I’m starting to realize that blogging has more important lessons for me to learn.

Wayne Dyer once interviewed Abraham Maslow about self-actualization. Maslow gave four characteristics of self-actualized people:

1. Independent of the good opinion of other people
2. Detached from outcome
3. No investment in power or control of others
4. See the unfolding of God in everyone they encounter and treating them that way

I can’t think of more noble characteristics, so I’m going to start blogging for self-actualization.

1. I’m going to publish authentic and radically honest posts that are free from the fear of how others will judge or praise. I’m going to eliminate any fluff or rhetoric that is meant to cater to others wants, desires, or tastes.
2. I’m going to give up all attachment to outcome. I have no idea of what my blogging will bring me in life. I have no idea if I will ever make any money from blogging. I blog simply because that is what I do.
3. I’m going to give up any power or control I’m holding onto in relation to others. This comes in the form of judging other bloggers or writers. Comparing myself with others. Being jealous of others success as bloggers, counselors, writers, spiritual leaders, etc.
4. I’m going to treat everyone who I encounter on the internet and in real life as a manifestation of God. Like Mother Teresa who saw Jesus in everyone she met, I will see the Christ Consciousness and Buddha Nature in everyone and treat them in the same way I would treat Christ and Buddha, with dignity, respect, and gratitude.

I realize that there are a lot of “I”s in the previous paragraphs–certainly some ego to be dealt with. On the other hand, I like the intentions and personal responsibility of these new resolutions–do I dare call them covenants?

Thank you for reading, smiling, and/or sharing.

Do you blog for a higher purpose? Please share.

Beautiful Blogger Quotation: Geo Sans

Geo Sans is an amazing poet/blogger. Check out his poetry here: http://geosans.wordpress.com/

The best thing about being Blog friends with Geo Sans is that he comments on your posts with poetry. How amazing is that? This was a comment to “Letter to My Enemy Within” post for the Monthly Peace Challenge. I see this poem as a recipe for love and happiness. Thank you, Geo Sans.

This post is part of BBQ—Beautiful Blog Quotations.

Feel free to join the fun.

• Take a quotation from a favorite blogger
• Create a BBQ post with the quotation
• Link back to the blogger you quoted
• Tag your post BBQLUV
• Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Related articles

• A Peppered BBQ (rarasaur.wordpress.com)

Beautiful Blogger Quotations: Rarasaur’s Brother

I know you must be sick of how much I crush on Rarasaur on this blog, but this is actually a quotation from Rara’s brother in Rara’s Post for Peace last month. I love this idea of opening to love especially on the heels the Love Thy Enemy Monthly Peace Challenge. I’m discovering that Blogger Quotations are just as profound and life changing as anything Eckart Tolle, the Dalai Lama, or Brene Brown says. You guys are amazing.

This post is part of BBQ—Beautiful Blog Quotations.

Feel free to join the fun.

• Take a quotation from a favorite blogger
• Create a BBQ post with the quotation
• Link back to the blogger you quoted
• Tag your post BBQLUV
• Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Related articles

• A Peppered BBQ (rarasaur.wordpress.com)

Monthly Peace Challenge: Party On, Garth!

Hurray! This is the last challenge of the year. Those of you who have been here since January have one more post to get your FREE B4Peace T-Shirt! I will continue posting challenges next year for a different prize (to be determined), but this challenge ends an incredible first year of Bloggers for Peace. Before I give you the challenge, I want to thank everyone who participated in B4Peace this year. I can honestly say that you brought more peace in my life which means you brought more peace in the world. Special thanks to Rarasaur who designed the B4Peace logos, badges, and T-shirt (hint, hint).

After last months challenge of loving thy enemy, I want to give you a party.  So this months challenge is to plan a party that will ripple peace to the world. Use everything in your imagination for this peace party. Here are a few ideas:

• You can hold your party anywhere. Where would you host your peace party? How many people would be at the party?
• You can invite any guest you want from the past, present, or future. Who will play music at the party? Who will contribute artwork for the party? Who will give speeches?
• What food can you serve that would bring peace in its consumption?
• What about a group activity at your party? Would you have everyone at the party participate in one action for peace?
• Feel free to use images, videos, or music in your post to give others the idea of what your party would be like.
• What combination of events, people, and place would bring about the most peace at your party? What if you had Bob Dylan perform a duet with Ysuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)? What if you had a panel on compassion featuring Jesus, the Buddha, Muhammad, and Mother Teresa? Let your imagination run wild for peace.
• What would you have at your party that would bring more joy, smiles, love, and peace into the world?

Don’t forget to link to at least one other B4Peace post and add your post to the Linkz collection. Here is how:

• Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the link below. It’s the drunk blue frog smiling for peace. Click on it and follow directions.
• Go visit this site to read and comment on other posts related to this Monthly Peace Challenge.

Related articles

• Monthly Peace Challenge: Love Thy Enemy (everydaygurus.com)

Monthly Peace Challenge: Love Thy Enemy

We only have two challenges left this years, so I’m going to ramp it up.

To help inspire the Bloggers for Peace (B4Peace), we will have a Monthly Peace Challenge. To participate, tag your post with B4Peace and make sure you copy your URL to the Linkz collection. Anyone who completes all twelve Monthly Peace Challenges will receive a Free B4Peace T-shirt.

This might be the toughest Peace Challenge for many of you, but I want to take us out of our comfort zones for true peace. This month, I want you to open your arms to your enemies. Think of a person, a place, a nation, a culture, a religion, a gender, or an ideology that you view as a enemy.

• Write a letter to this enemy explaining how you want to make peace. How you want to let bygones be bygones, and start from this moment forward on a new path of peace and understanding.
• Write a letter from the perspective of your enemy explaining how they feel about the conflict or disconnect. Why are they hurting? How have they been hurt? What makes them want to hurt you?
• Write a story in which the main character is your enemy. What would they do in the story? Can you make this a story with a happy ending?
• Construct a dialogue between you and your enemy. Try to express to each other how you feel and what you really want. Can this dialogue remain respectful and open-minded?
• Post a photo, piece of art, or collage that offers a vision of peace between you and your enemy.
• Write or sing a love story about two lovers from different sides of your conflict. Can they love each other in spite of their differences? What can we learn from these lovers? Will your story be a comedy or a tragedy?
• Post a quotation or a group of quotations that relate to loving one’s enemies.
• As objectively as possible, tell the story of how you became enemies. The goal here is to understand rather than blame. This prompt is for experienced peacemakers.

I know this is a very difficult challenge. I honor your intention to do whatever you can to meet this challenge. Maybe you can just post of photo or a quotation. Please know that I am here to support you in any way possible. {{{hugs}}} kozo

Don’t forget to link to at least one other B4Peace post and add your post to the Linkz collection. Here is how:

• Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the link below. It’s the drunk blue frog smiling for peace. Click on it and follow directions.
• Go visit this site to read and comment on other posts related to this Monthly Peace Challenge.

Related articles

• Monthly Peace Challenge: I Have a Dream (everydaygurus.com)

Monthly Peace Challenge: Quote This

We heading into the last quarter of the year of Blogging for Peace. When I think back on all the posts and all the positive energy that Bloggers for Peace has brought, I am truly grateful. I feel like we have brought peace to each other. That is the first step to peace on earth. Thank you for all the peace you have shared and spread.

To help inspire the Bloggers for Peace (B4Peace), we will have a Monthly Peace Challenge. To participate, tag your post with B4Peace and make sure you copy your URL to the Linkz collection. Anyone who completes all twelve Monthly Peace Challenges will receive a Free B4Peace T-shirt.

I love reading an in-depth post on peace, but sometimes I need a quick fix. At these times I love seeing an inspirational quotation posted in an artistic manner. For this month’s Peace Challenge, I challenge you to post a quotation that will bring peace to the world.

Quotations can be:

• book quotations
• poems
• sayings
• song lyrics
• mantras
• personal sayings
• scripture
• movie lines
• anything you heard, read, saw, or created

Feel free to put the quotation on a fancy background to attract readers. Let’s inundate the internet with a peace collage of powerful words and images.

For those of you who remember having to get up to change channels on the television and who can’t get modern day remotes to even turn up the volume, Rarasaur gave me the link to a great website that makes beautiful quote images. Quozio.com is easy, fast, and FREE. Give it a try.

Don’t forget to link to at least one other B4Peace post and add your post to the Linkz collection. Here is how:

• Copy your URL to the Linkz collection. You’ll find the link below. It’s the drunk blue frog smiling for peace. Click on it and follow directions.
• Go visit this site to read and comment on other posts related to this Monthly Peace Challenge.

Related articles

• Monthly Peace Challenge: One Good Thing About Music… (everydaygurus.com)

Blogging Break–Summer Vacation

I’ve taken both my sons out of school/daycare for the whole month of July. After forcing my son to do 21 pages of “optional” homework per week in kindergarten, I decided that my boys need a break. I’m following quantum physicist Amit Goswami’s advice on how to promote a creative mind by alternating doing and being–“do, be, do, be, do.”

Our attitude this summer–Just BE

So we are just going to BE in Nature, BE with family in Hawaii, and BE together.

Due to limited internet access and BEing with my sons 24/7, I will be taking a blogging break. I will still fulfill my responsibilities for Bloggers for Peace–reading and commenting on Peace Posts, creating and posting a Monthly Peace Challenge, and posting for Peace. I will probably be able to post a new article once a week, but I might be absent for days at a time as I teach my sons how to body surf, lay in the grass and wonder where clouds go to when they disappear, or go on bear hunts secretly hoping that a real bear never crosses our path.

I’d like to wish everyone a peaceful summer with lots of BEs and honey.

{{{Hugs}}} Kozo

Busy, Busy Bee–ing

So much is going on this week that I don’t have time to catch a breath.

First, I will be a guest video poster at The Outlier Collective. For those of you who don’t know, TOC is a blog created by Le Clown and Madame Weebles. Each week, they choose a topic and invite bloggers “to weigh in on the weekly topic, in whatever way they choose. The results are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, sometimes passionate, always thought-provoking.”

Dear Darkness, You Light Up My Life

Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. The individual pieces seem incoherent, trivial, and chaotic. Step back, and we see beauty, unity, and meaning.

— Kozo Hattori (@everydaygurus) May 15, 2013

I tweeted this a few weeks ago and got a few favorites and retweets.

As someone whose been through his fair share of chaos, I can honestly say that I am grateful for all the dark puzzle pieces in my life.

I’ve learned that darkness brings out the light. Those of you who are artists, photographers, or filmmakers know that nothing highLIGHTS more than contrast. If we look at the dark parts of a piece of art, we quickly realize that these dark spots allow us to see the Light.