EnlighTea Cafe Sponsored MHF New Year’s Eve 2011 Extravaganza!

You are invited to EnlighTea Cafe Sponsored MHF New Year’s Eve 2011 Extravaganza!

Come celebrate New Year’s Eve with us in style. To guarantee 100% pleasure and fun, we are having an over the top New Year’s Eve party this year. Pure entertainment, fun and WILD!  Also, join us as we celebrate the LAUNCH of EnlighTea Cafe Tea products on the East Coast starting @ the Natural, 72-56 Austin Street, Forest Hills, NY 11375 for the first time ever!

We are giving everyone an all inclusive deal so you can leave your wallet at home. Hassle FREE.  Just come out and play.

THIS IS A TICKET ONLY EVENT.

The All-Inclusive premium package includes:

1. Delicious sushi dinner and hors d’œuvres being passed around (9-11pm)
2. Premium Open liquor bar – 4 hours
3. EnlighTea Cafe Tea Bar/Station, serving all the finest premium loose leaf teas - all night long! 
4. Burlesque show – watch the beautiful models perform live with an exotic dance as they strip down to almost nothing.
5. Dance the night away with our DJ’s music (this will be pure joy and esctasy w/out the drug!)

Cost
• $90 for 1 premium package,
• $160 for 2 premium package = $80 per person
• $300 for 4 premium package =$75 per person
• $560 for 8 premium package = $70 per person (BEST DEAL)

No waiting at the bar to get your drinks.  Note We have enough bartenders to give you all the drinks you need!

The All-Inclusive VIP fun package includes: (BEST DEAL) – Almost SOLD OUT!

1. Your own table and 1 bottle of our top shelf bottle of your choice. (Belvedere, Greygoose, Johnny Walker, Patron,or Hennessy)
2. FREE bottle Champagne 
3. Delicious sushi dinner and hors d’œuvres being passed around (9-11pm)
4. Premium Open bar – 4 hours
5. EnlighTea Cafe Tea Bar/Station, serving all the finest premium loose leaf teas - all night long! 
6. Burlesque show – watch the beautiful models perform live with an exotic dance as they strip down to almost nothing.
7. Dance the night away with our DJ’s music

Cost
• $440 for 1 VIP package – good for 4 people = $110 per person
• $840 for 2 VIP package – good for 8 people = $105 per person
• $1,200 for 3 VIP package – good for 12 people = $100 per person
• $1,600 for 4 VIP package – good for 16 people = $100 per person

CHAMPAGNE TOAST AT MIDNIGHT

Buy NOW for EnlighTea Special Prepaid Package

Premium Package for 1 $80.00 Premium Package for 2 $160.00 VIP Package for 4 $400.00 VIP Package for 8 $800.00 VIP Package for 12 $1,200.00 VIP Package for 16 $1,600.00

EnlighTea Cafe Executives have their own VIP table reserved, so be sure to stop by and say Hi, take a picture, toast w/ Champagne or tea to the New Year before it's 2010 is OVER!  

Location: Amber West Village 432 6th Ave (bet 9th and 10th street) NYC
Website http://ambernyc.com/
Date: December 31, 2010

Amber West Village is a trendy Japanese Fusion restaurant/lounge.  It has two levels that fit about 250 people.  On NYE, we will filled the first floor with 300 balloons and NYE decorations to created a festive atmosphere.  On the second floor, we will a create romantic upscale ambiance with lots of candles and flowers to give everyone the VIP feel they deserve.  After 12am, we will change it into a party setting with laser  and disco lights to set everyone up into a party mood.

Time: 9pm – 4am

Age: 21 to party and drink (sorry kids, you have to stay home for this one!:)
Dress Code: (Punks, Thugs, and Skanks are not welcome!)

Ladies – Dress provocatively upscale
Gents – Business casual welcome! Suit preferred

Contact us at contact@myhappyfinds.com and mentioned your w/ EnlighTea Cafe for our discount, 

or  you can prepay online. Hassle FREE.  Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door.  Just print out your confirmation.

EnlighTea Prepaid Package

Premium Package for 1 $80.00 Premium Package for 2 $160.00 VIP Package for 4 $400.00 VIP Package for 8 $800.00 VIP Package for 12 $1,200.00 VIP Package for 16 $1,600.00

Amber's second level. Private booth for VIP Package and the EnlighTea Bar & Crew

You can pray and meditate here. 

‎"It's not what you do once in a while; it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference." ~ Jenny Craig

This is a great quote, especially for many of us now who are busily going about trying to throw big end of the year, last minute, 1 time events, parties, get togethers, etc...myself included.  I mean it is nice to be able to do so, to have that big party, big event for all our friends and family and have everyone feel good and have even better memories of how great the event turns out...

However, once the party is over and that special day is gone, what do you have left and to look forward to for the remaining 364 days of the year!? Yes you bet, you have your every day, day to day life to live and to make the best use of and to look forward to.   You can't live these days once in a while meaning you can't have it once in a while, because your day to day is your day to day, get it?   It is in your day to day that your life gets created, forged, built upon, and ultimately is what matters most.  Events will come and go, but your day to day will be there forever... :)

So what are you doing everyday to help you create, build, and fulfill your goals, dreams, plans and vision?  Are you thinking thoughts, speaking words, and taking action daily that will lead you closer or further away from all that you seek, want and desire.  Are you spending time everyday focusing on your priorities in life, doing everyday what is most important to you, or are you waiting and postponing those moments for the BIG party, event at the end of the year?

I too am not immune to this wanting to throw a BIG last minute party and to have that BIG event for all my friends at the end of the year scenario, which I am still looking forward to having : D ... However, I believe that what we do on a day to day basis to connect, contribute, reach out, share, love, care, support, spend and invest our valuable time and energy for and with our children, family, friends, partners, supporters, customers, and/or world is what matters most in the end, and will make the greatest difference in our lives as well as hopefully others.  

So, yes go and throw the big parties, get togethers, events, etc...have fun, enjoy, have great memories, BUT remember "It's not what you do once in a while; it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

What we are is God's Gift to us; What we become is our Gift to God. - Eleanor Powell

We are Divine, Unconditional Love, Light, Freedom, Happiness, Beauty, Joy, Abundance, Full of LIfe, Full of Unlimited Potential...this is what we are born with, our birth right, God's Gift to us.   Go spend quality time with any new born, infant, baby, or child and you will see this and know this Truth for yourself.  I have so I know personally.

However, as we grow up, gain experiences, learn, developed skills, gain knowledge we start to become more than just potential, we become who we ultimately choose to be.  This person, man, woman, character we grow up to be is our Gift to God because it is what you made of the LIfe force you were giving that you turned into what you have become today.  

Don't worry God doesn't judge, so I've heard, and is happy with whatever you have become no matter what, at least in the end.  Because in the end, it doesn't matter what you have become it only matters that you have lived your life fully and have made something of yourself, of the Gift of Life you were given.  This is perhaps the perspective of God, our Creator.

Now let me give you my perspective, it's a little more judgemental and opinionated.  I believe also that we were given an amazingly, great, awesome, miraculous gift of Life in all its Potential, Love, Light, Blessings to start, so why settle for anything less in our lives.  Why not, BECOME a GREATER, more Loving, Light Filled, Happy, Beautiful, Joyous, Rich, Free, Secure and Full of Life Person with this Unlimited Potential we were initially given to us? Why settle for anything less?  Why not give back what we have received to show God, yourself and everyone else how GREAT your Life can and will BECOME.

I mean, yes, whoever you are and choose to become is fine in the end, but really? It's like if you were given a billion dollar as seed capital to start a business what would you do with it?  Wouldn't you go alot further and become alot more than if you thought you only received say a thousand dollar to start?  Well that's like how you started in life, with at least a billion dollars worth of potential/seed capital to go and live out your LIFE.

Now if this was the case, ask yourself, how have you spent that Life?  But don't be sad if you haven't lived up to your potential.   The great news is you still have that potential there, perhaps buried away deep in your soul.  But it's there nevertheless and is waiting for you to take it out and spend every bit of it in a way to BECOME anything you want and choose to BE.  So don't doubt, hesitate and delay any longer, get out there and become your Ultimate Gift to God today!

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

"People are Lonely because they Build WALLS... instead of B R I D G E S" ~Joseph F. Newton

We all have walls we build for ourselves called our identity, ego, self image, reputation, persona etc...but those walls become prison walls trapping the real YOU inside if you do not build bridges to let yourself out, and more importantly, let others in...

So many of my family and friends live lives of pain, and suffering, tolerating their lives and enduring the pain every day because they spend all their time building up that wall and not sparing anytime or neglecting time to build what is equally if not more important, their bridges.

What builds our bridges is the love we share with those around us, the love we receive, the love in our hearts and in our actions towards others continuously and unconditionally.  It is the love we feel towards our children, family, friends, communities, and the world we live in.  Every time we love someone, we build and strengthen the bridge from our wall to theirs.  The more we build our bridge and send out our love unconditionally, the more those bridges will strengthen, and the more the love will come back.

Connecting deeply with others, being a friend, caring for a child, living and loving your life daily, are all ways we build the bridge that will set us free, free from the walls that keep us inside, trapped, feeling all the unnecessary pain, that by loving and feeling the love, takes away.

So if you're feeling lonely, stop focusing on your Wall, your self, your problems, your pains, your mistakes, and simply put, You.  Focus on building your bridge by loving and accepting yourself, then your children, your family, friends, all the people in your life, your partners, your neighbors, and your world daily, and keep in mind that the greater your wall, the greater your bridge will need to be.

So start today by taking the time to send out some love, even if it's just a word, nice thought, friendly gesture, a positive quote, feedback, or comment, on Facebook, via email, twitter, phone, in person, in every form, in every way, and ideally in everything you say and do.  Because in love as in life, every thing counts, and is never a waste of time.

So let me start by saying I love you my family, my friends, supporters, and readers, not because you are reading my blog, but I love you because you are my bridge, without you my life would be lonely, and would cease to exist.  Thank you deeply with all my heart for being in my life, circle, world, today, tomorrow, and hopefully, always...

In Love, Light, and Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe Publish Post

‎"You are What you Choose Today, NOT What You've Chosen Before!" ~Wayne Dyer

This is a great quote in theory but in reality, so few of us can truly master this.  Why? Because we allow our past to ruin our lives, our futures, our ability to choose today who we can and do become tomorrow.  I've touched on this topic in previous blogs but for me this is the corner stone and foundation to what we believe is the the American Dream.  To BECOME whoever we set out to BE based on our freedom to choose in this country is what sets us apart from probably most of the world.  Although, all individuals have that right whether or not the country/government allows them to or not! : )

We are such creatures of habit relying on our past to dictate our future, and although who you are today is based on who you were before.  Who you are tomorrow is based on who you choose to be today. Does that make sense!? Of course it does, but it's just so much easier for most people to do the same old thing, be the same old person, and choose the same old things as before, when clearly they want and need to change!  Not change themselves into someone they don't want to be, but the change that needs and must take place to truly BE who we choose, want, and need to be for ourselves and the world around us.

For example, let's say before you had kids, you were a young, carefree, always about me personality, who never liked children, in fact didn't even know why people had them...and I'm not talking about myself, although I do know someone close to me who was that way... : )  Then you had kids, well, sorry, but that type of person is not going to work with kids, and you know it. So everyday when you wake up and the kids are still in your life, you have to make that conscious choice every day to be a better, happier, more fun, loving, caring, selfless, and not just about you, personality you've chosen over and over again in the past.  Otherwise, you suffer, your kids suffer, your family, friends, and everyone and everything around you does as well... ; )

You're life as you know it will not work with your new life today.  Oh yes, you can cling on to your dear old life, but let me tell you, the sooner you let go and let God, oops I mean, you change your life based on your new choice, the better everyone will be and of course, the result will be a happier, more free, and everything you wanted, need to, and will be YOU.  Remember choosing who you are today, doesn't mean choosing someone that you don't want to be, but it's choosing to BE a better, more improved, happier, hopefully more loving, caring, supportive, fun, rich, free, secure, and everything else you decide to choose to be today for you tomorrow!!! That's all.

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response. ~ Mildred Barthel

So are you happy? But the real question is do you truly desire, want and more importantly, choose to be happy? Most people don't.  They think that if they automatically respond to others in a happy way they are happy; and although a little bit of happiness does come from this, long term long lasting happiness always comes from making a conscious choice every single day or at least, constantly and consistently in our lives...this is the only security to being and having a truly happy life.

The other way always depends and changes like the tide upon current circumstances, other people, places and things, always outside of ourselves, out of our control. Consciously choosing to be happy puts all the control, power, and creation back into our own hands and allows us to BE it always through the ups and downs, good times and bad times, till death do you part. Sounds like marriage right? Well, exactly, marriage is the same way, a conscious choice and commitment to being together ideally to the end as well. So what's the point, I guess the point is stop relying on others for your happiness, and start relying on yourself to get it, have it, choose it for you, today, tomorrow, always, then watch and see how much more greater your life turns out to be!

I'm recommitting and consciously choosing to BE HAPPY right now for me. How about you, what do you choose? If you're serious, leave me a comment of your personal declaration to consciously choose to be happy today!  Oh, and BTW, our choice to be personally happy will not only benefit you, but everyone else in your life as well. But don't worry about everybody else right now, worry about you and make it your conscious choice to be happy today!

In Love, Light, and Luxury,

James Pham : )

‎"You cannot undo what you did in the past, but who said you cannot start building a new future?" ~ Unknown

Seriously, this has to be one of the most powerful thought and idea I've heard in so long, if only we can all live by it.  We as individuals, community, nation would be so much better off if we stop regretting, living in, and worried about what happened in the past, that we lose sight and precious time in actually creating, working and building a new future for ourselves and those we love in our lives.  Yes it's important to take time to reflect and learn from our past experiences whether good or bad, but to allow it to stop or be afraid of living our lives, going after our dreams and building a new future is just no good.

No matter where we are, what we did in the past, and the consequences that follows because of our past actions, it doesn't matter.  We can start today, right now to begin choosing, thinking, being and building the person, the family, business, life we want to fully realize and have in the future, today!!  It's never too late to work right now on ourselves and our future, if we are alive, can breathe and have a will, then we can always take that next step no matter what our current circumstances, reality, or where we want to be.  That's our gift, the gift of Life, the gift of Creation, the gift from God to us forever to choose and have.

But what about people who's done really bad things or experience alot of bad things, like huge failures, losses, sins, crimes, etc... you might ask?  Well, nothing, they have the same choices like us...to choose each day today what to do to create and build the life they choose.  What if they are in prison serving their time or stuck in a property they can't sell due to the bad real estate market? How can they start building a new future, right? 

Well, yeah, they had it tough in the past and probably in the present, but we're talking about the future, and the future is created by those who do whatever it takes today, whether it be changing their attitudes, mindset, thought, word, and deeds to be in alignment with who they wish to be and where they want to go in the future.  This is their choice as well as ours.  Doesn't mean they are going to be free from their past karma/consequences, i.e. free from jail or their responsibilities as the property owner.  But they are free to work on their minds, consciousness, reality within themselves until they eventually manifest that reality on the outside eventually with patience and perserverance (see my previous blog for details on this)!

Okay, enough, I think you get the point and hopefully believe that ‎"You cannot undo what you did in the past, but who said you cannot start building a new future", right? ; )

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham : )

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. ~ John Quincy Adams

This might be a tough one for some of us to swallow or believe.  Since most people believe if they want something, success, rewards, dreams, and fulfillment they don't have to wait or can't have it without going through so much difficulties, challenges, and pain to get it!

 Yes, on one level we do need to experience and BE present to whatever it is we want to have and there are what appears, mostly by others, to be tons of challenges, difficulties and obstacles that you may have to go through in order to get it, achieve it...However, there is another way of looking at it, another way of being, knowing...that is also truth and the secret to your long term, lifetime success in everything you do and choose to be.

It's called the way of patience and perseverance that when truly embraced does and will conquer and smooth all the rough spots and obstacles that everyone else who does not have that skill will fail, be discouraged, and will give up before seeing their results, fruit, and the full realization of their goals, dreams, plans and vision!!  This is intense right, but think about it, how many people just give up on their dreams before it was a success?  According to the latest or at least most common study, 9 out of 10 businesses fail within 3 years, and why, for whatever good reasons, and they are all good reasons, they gave up, threw in the towel and called it quits.  Bottom-line, they didn't have the patience and perseverance to stay in the game and chose to allow all the difficulties, challenges, obstacles to stop them from being the success they could  of, would of, should of been whether consciously or not!

 Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's easy running a business, going after your dreams,  while paying the bills, supporting a family etc...It's really tough, especially if you only focus on the short term or what's in front of you and not the long term, BIG picture, Lifetime journey/Plan.  Not the day by day to barely getting by plan, I'm taking about the BIG Plan, the ones that dreams are made of and the ones that no matter what happens to you in life, like if you die, you would be okay with it because at least you died going after your dreams, goals, plans and can feel completely at peace knowing that you did whatever you could to go after it based on who YOU truly ARE and CHOOSE TO BE!  Wow, that was a mouth full, right?

It's getting kinda late for me, I had 4 cups of premium high grade Dragon Well loose leaf green tea, the good and strong stuff, so hopefully I'm still making sense...Anyways, try to follow me again here. : )  So most people fail because they give up, get tired, fed up, or can't handle it any longer.  Basically, their attitude is one of despair, hopelessness, sadness, depression, etc...let's just call it all really BAD feelings shall we.

So the people who do succeed, well chances are they are the opposite, positive, feel good, focused, hopeful, faithful, believe, and not at the point ever where they give up unless it's for God, Universe truly leading them of course(but we'll get to that at another blog topic ; )  The people who fail and give up, don't believe they have anyone else they can lean on or can rely on that can help them get them through it all, and ultimately get into feeling so bad and hopeless about their situation that they have no other option but to quit, give up, and maybe start something new.  This maybe a good thing for them and maybe what they need to do, but not for the person that wants to succeed and see their seeds sown, their goals, dreams, plans and vision that have been planted for probably a long time, mature, rip, and bear fruit!

Okay, so what does it take again?  Patience and preserving which is being in a state of peace, calm, hopefulness, faith; having an attitude of gratitude,  and thus, the magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanishes, is because you choose to keep you attitude in check, maintain that positive, hopeful, faithful outlook always, and be in that good feeling place that no matter what happens you remain there and are unaffected by the waves that are sure to come crashing, washing all other non believers and unrealized, and unfulfilled people away.

Thank you all for reading and entertaining my thoughts on this quote...

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham : )

Quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you. ~Rumi :)

I LOVE this quote cause it really helps remind me that we are all surrounded by blessings, good deeds, opportunities and abundance being planted all around us waiting to blossom, unfold, discovered and recognized by you!

Many times I get sad thinking about all the problems either I have or more importantly all the problems my family, friends, businesses and world have around me.  It's natural and very compassionate thing to do, but if I get caught up in it and let it effect my mood, attitude and way of being then I'm screwed.  Another words, getting sad over the problems doesn't really make me happy, feeling good or be all the things I want or have to be for myself and others.  

It's okay to sympathize and feel compassionate for others and what's happening around us, but it's better to look around, see, hear and experience all the goodness in our lives, our children, family, friends, health, home, work, businesses. Even better to experience the everyday things in our lives, like sunsets, long walks, smiles, laughter, joy, facebooking ;-), the little things that add up to be great things....You know what I mean, count your blessings, look around, and you will see what I'm talking about.

It's easy to get caught up in our problems, issues, frustrations, seriousness, making a living, making a life, and losing our perspective.  But take time everyday to give thanks and look around you right now at your life and make a choice to see and hear all the good, gifts, and blessings dropping their blossoms around you, and watch how your life goes from sad to happiness, problems to opportunities, mundane to  amazing, fortunate and down right GREAT in no time at all!!

Thank you my family, friends and supporters for listening and thank you so much for being a part of my everyday blessings as well...

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham : )

 

‎"In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?" – Siddhārtha Gautama

How well did you love yourself, your family, friends, partners, communities, world?  How full did you live your life, your dreams, your Vision of your world, your reality no matter what the circumstances?  How deeply did you let go of your pain, your suffering, those who hurt you, those you hurt, your mistakes, failures, all the money and fortunes you gain or lost?

In the end these things matter most. But until we get there, what are you doing now, today, in these circumstances, current condition,  marketplace, economy, and reality to make those things important and a top priority in your life?  Are you stuck in a job, in your routines, in a rut to realize what is important, to realize how precious life is now, and how no one really knows when their end will be.  So why put it off, why procrastinate, why live your life as if your end will not come because it will, and when it does, will you be prepared, will you have spent your life on what matters most or not?

Am I asking too many questions, is this too confusing, are you unclear with the answers? Then I suggest you take time to meditate, have some tea, and gain the clarity you need to really focus and know who you are and choose to be in this life.  That's what I did tonight, had some tea, meditated via cyberspace with a friend (although alone is great as well) and the answers for me to all those questions came.  Meditation help me to get off the wheel, you know the wheel of your life that goes around and around, aka the trend mill, stop the distractions, and released me from the cares and burdens of my world. It awaken in me my deeper, more profound and Truer Nature, and allowed me to be free.  In this space, the answers came, clarity realized, and awareness of the purpose and truth about my Self and what is important to me manifested.

Now it's your turn, take the time now while you still have it to find your clarity, peace, freedom, and begin living your life based on the things in the end that matter most...You will never regret it!!

In Love, LIght, and Luxury,

James Pham : )

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu

Well this right here just about sums it all up for me, the way of life, secret of success and the ability to do anything in life, business, real estate, you name it without fear or failure.  When we feel and are loved (which is always by the way), we have the strength to go out there and within us to stand up and conquer any obstacle, threat, challenge or fear that gets in our way.

Knowing that we are always loved allows us to keep on fighting and not fear rejection or failure because there will always be someone who accepts us and never rejects us no matter what happens.  This may sound like I'm talking about Jesus, and maybe I am, but I really mean just the love we receive from anyone in our lives (i.e. our children, spouses, family, friends, customers, supporters, partners, communities, etc...)  It's always out there to receive if you're open and willing, so let that be your strength, knowing that it is always there, then go and conquer your world!!  But wait, the quote mentioned something about courage as well!?

 Oh yes, strength allows us to stand up no matter what our challenges, but loving someone deeply gives us the courage to go into battle and actually get what we want.  When we love someone we are willing to do, for lack of a better word, crazy things! : D Well, it's not really crazy, maybe to others, but our loving someone allows us to do more for others and not just think or focus on ourselves, in order to expand our lives and be more successful.  You see people who don't love others deeply only think about themselves so don't usually have the courage to take risks because it's always about just keeping themselves alive, secure and safe.  Get it?  Nothing wrong with that, I don't think...

However, people who love others deeply and not just themselves, are willing to do what others are afraid to do because it may seem like too much risks or danger for what they can handle personally.  They fail to act, get ahead, and  become a Bigger Person and better off.  Courage when loving someone deeply allows us to grow, expand, develop and especially be more successful at who we ultimately ARE and can potentially Become.  It's easy to play it safe, not act, and be selfish, it's far harder and riskier to love and lose yourself in others.  But the real secret is that when you do love deeply, you lose yourself, only to discover yourself to be an even greater, more fulfilled, happier, wiser, powerful, rich, free, secure and successful person you ARE meant to Be, and not that small self that clings to security, afraid to risks, take chances and exists only to survive, get by for another day to day.

So go out there and LOVE someone deeply, if you don't have anyone...anyone will do, for now. ;-) Because this will give you the courage to go out there and do what you have to do, to be all that you can be, and that is the better person that you are.  You will feel unstoppable in the face of your challenges, especially when it is coupled with the knowledge and experience that you are being deeply loved as well...

In Love, Light & Luxury,

James Pham

“Love isn't finding someone you can live with; it's finding someone you can't live without” ~ Unknown

This at first may seem like a very romantic, ideal, and limiting statement and it is, but to me this means so much more.  When I first read this quote, I too thought it probably meant to find that one person in your life, you know a spouse, significant other, soul mate you can't live without, right!?  And It does mean that on one level, but to me again, that is a very limited, narrow and to be honest, frightening at times way of looking at it! : D  

I mean don't get me wrong, I love my significant other/wife and would die for her and probably can't live without her I don't think!? : )  But on a much deeper, broader, greater sense, this quote to me doesn't just include your spouse, significant other, partner, etc... it includes all the people in your life, including your children, family, friends, partners, and world that you can't live without either.  Not that I mean you would actually kill yourself if they weren't around, but meaning they compose the fabric of your existence, your world revolves around them, without which you could not live.  Another words, can't live without!

We all can tolerate and live with many things and other people in our lives, for example, we live with the people who share the same commutes as us, we live with all the other customers who eat, shop, and do business with us, we live with the world when we watch the news or connect with others on any other level in our lives all the time...but the love ones in our lives, our children, family, friends, supporters that we also live with either day by day or not, we can't live w/out because w/out them our lives will be meaningless, lost, and a life probably not worth living.    

Well anyways, that's what I think and get when I read this quote...what about you, what do you think? 

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham : )

Publish Post

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

So which one do you focus on more, making a living or making a life!?  Of course, the obvious or best answer would be BOTH equally!  But unfortunately for many of us, we end up focusing, spending and consumed by working for money to make a living that our Life seems very insignificant in comparison.

There's really no judgment here, since both are important, both are essential, but personally I rather have a Life than simply make a living, so that's what I do.  I give to my children, my family, friends, businesses, and communities constantly.  I give them my love, support, care, and respect, I give them what they would call work but not just for the money that would be making a living ; ) but for the Life it creates for myself and all those around me.  I do make a good living and do live off my making a living, but I choose to focus primarily on creating my Life, a life worth living, and from there I get all I need to make my living.

Most people, however, do the opposite, whether they are aware of it or not.  They constantly work, work, work to make a living, to pay their bills, to keep food on the table, but at the end of the day, find themselves too tired or worn out to have a Life, not a work life, a Life beyond work, beyond making money, beyond making a living.  No they work so hard for money they forget about making a Life for themselves, a life full of love, joy, happiness, freedom, security, abundance and fulfillment, a Life far worth living by giving than by simply getting and making a living.

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham : )

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off" ~ Gloria Steinem

At first I hesitated to post this quote because maybe it would be a little too much to hear. But then I thought, that's exactly the point, the truth is hard to hear or read about most of the time.

This is a particularly tough one to swallow for us Dreamers whose reality are beyond the current day to day reality we are force to deal with.  It's not rocket science, but let me explain. There is day to day reality which is the truth to many and there is the Dreamers' reality which is the truth to mostly themselves and hardly anyone else, at least for today.

Nevertheless, fellow Dreamers don't be discouraged because the truth about our current realities will set us free to do and figure out exactly what we need to do NOW, in order to ultimately manifest and make our reality the reality all around us.  This discrepancy between the realities will piss us off, but more importantly, it will motivate and empower us to work harder, smarter, and better at living and manifesting our dreams which is the ultimate reality, if we never give up! ;-)

At least this is true and what motivates me.  When someone says how bad things are with the economy, marketplace, real estate, it gets me upset then it gets me really focused on what I can and need to do to make it better for myself and others. And when this hard truth is personally served to me,  for example,  if a close family member tells me I'm not making enough money or how come I don't have a regular 9-5 job, that gets me really upset, but it is the truth about my current reality.

Fortunately, by confronting and dealing with this reality, I get to go deeper into why I do the things I do, who I really Am and Choose To Be.  Also this challenges me to clarify and recommit to my goals, plans, and priorities, and gets me more serious about my life and the purpose of it.  It allows me to become smarter, wiser, more aware about what needs to be done so that I am more happy, fun, fulfilled, rich, free, secure, loving, light filled, and luxurious in everything I do every single day.

By seeing and hearing about the truth, it doesn't discourage us, it sets us free to be the Dreamers we ARE who WILL get pissed by the current realities, but takes that emotion to propel forward to do what is right and necessary to manifest and make our dreams not only a reality for ourselves but for all those around.

In Love, Light, and Luxury,

James Pham : )

Introducing EnlighTea Cafe's Loose Leaf Premium Tea Collection, Fall, 2010

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. ~ Douglas Adams

I think this may be a hard one for many of us to deal with, especially the Alpha types, especially myself.  We like to believe that once we intend on doing something, that intention will turn into getting it done, if not then wasn't it a waste of time?  As achievers/over achievers, we love to set goals, meet deadlines, have a plan, implement and complete it successfully, meaning do whatever it takes to get it done.  This can be a very successful way of being, but it is often a very stressful, unintentionally painful, and costly way of being.  Meaning what you sacrifice in return could be far greater then what you gain in return because what we sacrifice is what we need in our lives, to live, be happy, survive long term, and be overall, more successful, productive, joyful and abundant for the rest of our lives.

For example, I didn't intend to have 2 children, but having 2 children ended up being the best thing that ever happen in my life.  I didn't intend to leave NYC after living there for 16 years very comfortably and securely, but moving to San Diego, CA is probably one of the best decisions for my life, children, family and businesses.  And for many of us, we didn't intend for the economy, businesses, the market place to be in a recession, and be so bad, but whether you see it now or later, this period may be one of the best periods of your life.  If not in wealth, in experience, knowledge, perhaps a life you never intended, but that you enjoy more, makes you happier, feel better about, and mean more to you now then ever before.  A place where you didn't intend to be, but instead, you ended up where you needed to be...

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham

EnlighTea Cafe : ) 

‎"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" - Plato

So many times we focus on ourselves that we forget we are not the only ones struggling, working, and fighting a hard battle.  In life and especially in this day and age, to live the way we choose to be, for what we represent and stand for, is not so easy, in fact, it can be one of the toughest jobs you will ever do.

It's easy to do what the crowds do, the popular thing, or be whoever the people around you want you to be. However, far more difficult to be your true Self, live, love, and even die for what you believe in on a day to day basis.  You know what I mean because you make that choice everyday when you wake up. In fact we all do this when we wake up, it's called living our lives, whether we consciously make that choice or not, we all face that choice everyday to do and be who we are.  Then we go throughout the day living, working hard, and suffering willingly for our choices.

Now doesn't that sound daunting, overwhelming, and a bit too much at times!? Well it can be without the proper support, beliefs, and systems in place (which I will hopefully get to share later).  But nevertheless, now that you understand and see the choices that you and everyone else has to make every single day for the rest of their lives, maybe then can and will we show and express more compassion for ourselves and others.

Bottom line, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"!  Wishing you all the best on your long, hard, and prosperous Life's journey, and may God continue to bless us all...

In Love, Light, and Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

 

Art of Living: Meditation Then and Now

Patience is the only strength you ever need.~ Hindu Saying

Dear friends,

Let me explain. All good to great people and things in our lives come to be because of the patience, love, and commitment someone had to reap the results, the fruit. Life is love and love is about patience.

What about forcing or making things and people to happen? Well it might work short term but pretty weak when it comes to long term, long lasting and good feeling results.

For example, try forcing a baby to walk or go potty before their time, try rushing a flower to bloom, try falling in love with the right person or winning big in the lottery or anything you do! ;-) The point is, some things can't be rushed before it's time, and to stand firm, unwavered by all the pressures to take short cuts, the naysayers, not seeing with your own eyes the results or being straight out impatient, requires strength, the greatest strength.

I'm no Hindu, but I have to say, they got this one all figured out!

In Love, Light and Luxury,

James Pham : )

Work is love made visible - Kahlil Gibran

It's interesting this quote I posted the other day and thought this would be very popular since everyone works and can relate.  But no, the saying turns out not so popular.   So I asked myself why?  The practical answer I'm getting is because not everyone thinks about going to work for love or more plainly put, not everyone thinks work is love!

However, from my perspective, what this quote means to me is that all that we do in our lives is work, some may call it play but to me that is just a different kind of work (i.e. working on oneself to be happy, have fun, and feel good, etc...) If you agree so far with this, then lets focus on why we work or do the things we do.

The obvious answer is because we get paid, it's our job, to put food on the table, and pay the bills right? But the not so obvious, more subtle but meaningful and truthful answer is we work because we want to take care of our lives, living, children, family, friends, dogs, cats, cars, homes, and communities. We do this because we love these things and the people in our lives and want to make sure they are supported, provided, and well cared for.

So when we work it's not just for the paycheck or anything else, it's what that work does, represents, and ultimately allows us to DO and BE, which is to show, make visible, those in our lives and the world around us, how much we love, care, and support them and ourselves. Hence, the quote, work is love made visible!  Wouldn't you now agree? ; D

In Love, Light & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. ~Pema Chodron

For every adversity, problem and incident in our lives, their is a seed of equal or greater value waiting to be discovered and learned.  It's our karma, consciousness, old habits that keep coming back to haunt us when we do not take advantage of the opportunity to learn, grow and be better off for the experience.

This is something I hope to instill in my children and to reinforce in myself, that experiences in our lives are there to learn and grow from, to help us become better people and more successful in everything we are and choose to do in our lives.

I am a long way from perfecting this lesson, but with constant reminders like from quotes like this and the discipline to analyze, reflect, and have my meditation tea moments, I find the time necessary to learn, grow, and be a better person not only for myself, but for my family, friends, and world as well!

Hope you find your time as well...

In Love, Light & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was "Thank you" -- that would suffice. --Meister Eckhart

So many times In life we face challenges, problems and what seems like overly bearing circumstances in our lives, family, real estate and/or work that causes us to want to throw in the towel and proclaim out of fustration, I don't care! Well, it's ok, we're all humans, but a better way of Being is being Thankful for it all!

This quote reminds us that in Life and in the end it doesn't matter what we go through throughout our lives, as long as we are grateful and say thank you for life, the miracle of our existence, which is ultimately our gift from above.

In the end, there's no room for regrets, only thanks! At least that's what I think...Now thanks for reading and being a part of my world!

In Love, Light, and Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. ~ Mother Teresa ♥

I think we can all agree that Mother Teresa was and is by many definition a saint, so what she says is definitely true in my book.  However, most of us are not saints and we do judge alot, including myself. I judge my kids behavior, my lifestyle, disciplines, my way of life, my goals, dreams and way of doing things all the time.  But what I mean by judging, I also call analyzing, calculating, and planning in order to make good and right decisions and be better in all aspects of my life.

Luckily for me after reading the quote carefully, I realized that Mother Teresa wasn't talking about judging things,  she was talking about judging other people and this is what I definitely agree, because who are we to know what is best and right for any one except maybe ourselves and our children! ; )

We are all born unique, have our own unique and valuable life experiences that teaches us and molds us to be who we are today, so who is to say that others experience is less valuable than any one else. In God's eyes, we are all equal and equally blessed with the precious gift of LIFE. Let's let God be the Judge of others, since he knows best, and let us continue to be the judge of other things...

In Love, LIght, & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )

Love is Energy.... Pass it forward !

"My heart forgives and releases. Inner peace is my goal." ~ Louise Hay

As I post and reflect on the meaning on this, it humbles me to be reminded that inner peace of mind is my goal without it my world is crazy, chaotic, and full of what on the surface appears to be meaningless distractions.  When I am able to let go and allow my heart to forgive and release all the pain in the past, whatever it is, I am free again, find clarity and can live fully in this moment and experience the clarity, calm, and inner peace this wonderful quote gently reminds me of.

What's your experience, what does this quote mean to you?

In Love, Light, & Luxury,

James Pham
EnlighTea Cafe : )