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 : )