Musings: Quote Wednesdays…
Just a little mid-week food for thought as a follow up from this week’s episodic musing.
Hope everyone’s having a great week.
As always…
Stay cool.
– Rego
Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™
Yeah – touched on this a little a few episodic musings ago. Let’s expand a little.
Photo by Juan Di Nella on Unsplash
I was talking to a friend the other day about some things, like mostly just what’s going on in the news and what not.
I usually don’t like to watch the news too frequently – it’s boring and just a shit show of different depressing things.
When I say depressing, I mean it just amplifies the chaos that I know is already going on in the world.
But then it also tends to over-exaggerate things, too.
One thing I’ve learnt from travelling is that news is told differently, in different places. Different countries.
One country may minimise a problem, the other may blow it out of proportion, yet another may not even consider it news worth reporting.
Photo by Holly Mindrup on Unsplash
And that got me thinking – just how often do people do this in their everyday lives?
There’s a saying, “1st world problems,” usually accompanied by something like “using your smart phone to log onto your bank account only to see it has 0.16 pence in it” or something similar.
Or “1st world problems: Driving to the gym only to realise you forgot your headphones so now you can’t workout”.
There’s a lot of superficial problems floating around.
In the context of friendships, business, family, and relationships in general.
Superficial problems which people have a skilled habit of creating.
Superficial problems which are created, and while initially seemingly harmless, create larger, real problems for another party – rarely the party that ever creates them.
Why do we create so many superficial problems?
Is it because of convenience?
Of comfort?
Family “can’t” meet for the holidays because of -xyz.
Maybe it’s feeling like they all have to spend time with their new “extensions” of family, rather than making an effort to get everyone together under one roof.
So a superficial problem like that causes a real problem of family disconnect and discord.
Friends stop physically hanging out with each other because of distance.
And by distance I mean laziness of getting in the car and taking that “cumbersome 30 minute to an hour drive”.
So they opt for chatting on social media instead thinking this “nourishes” the relationship, which is nothing close to what they called just a couple of decades ago “socialising”.
A superficial problem like that causes, as the Chinese say “the tea to go cold”, or the real problem of not building a healthy, real social network of non-apathetic people that are there when you need them most.
Then people say they’re “lonely”.
Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
Not educated enough? Underqualified.
Go to university, get an education.
Got an education? Well, that’s great but you don’t have work experience.
No work experience? Get work experience.
Have work experience and an education? Not quite enough education, get more education.
Got more education? Now it’s too much education.
You’re overqualified, ergo not eligible for the role in fear you may “find something better”.
So you try for part-time work to keep food on the table.
Nope, sorry, try again.
Can’t get it because employers don’t want you sticking around temporarily.
So a string of superficial problems like that costs a person their human security – their dignity to live and enjoy life as a respectable human being.
No food? Go grocery shopping from your smart phone – and get it delivered.
Hungry? Cook what’s in the fridge.
Don’t wanna cook? Order out.
Don’t know what to eat? Say you’re “starving” then end up snacking.
The food you bought in the fridge goes off. Then you’ve gotta throw it away.
A superficial problem like that causes a person’s nutritional profile or daily diet to go down the tube, leading to a very real problem of long-term health issues.
Photo by Francisco Moreno on Unsplash
Or my favourite – this new “food shortage” everyone’s raving about.
It’s called over-consumption and waste, dumbass.
Convenience. Convenience and laziness. Convenience and laziness seem to be ruining the basis of human self-reliance.
Lack of self-reliance or independence causes a sense of dissatisfaction.
Have dissatisfaction? You’re not happy.
Find your happy place.
Join a yoga class.
Happiness isn’t yoga, motherfucker.
Happiness isn’t finding your zen.
It’s not meditating.
Meditating is about reaching a neutral place.
It’s not the quinoa in your fucking bowl or your morning chamomile tea.
If you have all the creature comforts and more in life, and you’re still not happy, well…
You’re not happy because somewhere…you’re disgusted with yourself.
Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash
Disgusted because somewhere you know you’re not really pulling your weight when it comes to your existence, which is affecting other people’s existences, through creating simple, silly, superficial problems, which turn into very real problems for other people.
Happiness is in your existence. It shouldn’t take yoga, or tea, or “woosah” or any of that other bull.
You’re not happy with yourself when you’re not being a decent human being.
You’re not happy with yourself when you know you’re creating superficial problems.
Sure you may know this – it may fester and eat away at the back of your subconscious, but you’ve grown quite comfortable with ignoring it by indulging in your little world of convenience, blowing the “news” in your head out of proportion thus justifying your actions and feelings.
I’m not saying convenience is bad – I’m simply saying indulging in too much of it can cause an absolute shit storm.
Get out of your bubble.
Realise you’re not the only one that exists in this world…
…and understand that your “superficial” problems, may very well be affecting other people’s lives on a very real, and very detrimental level, because you’re too senseless to realise it.
Think about it.
– Rego
Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™
Musings Episode 86: Problems… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life
They say money can’t buy happiness – but it sure does help with doing whatever you want that you can think up.
Kinda like these things.
Take a minute to pause.
Just soak up the silence for a minute (I mean, if it’s quiet around you).
…..
Hear that?
Yeah – that’s Mexico calling.
There’s a mansion with your name on it.
Well, maybe not your name – but it’s sure as hell booked in yours.
Yes, that is a giant chess board in the corner.
So now would be a good time to pack your bags, grab some friends, that special someone, and charter a flight to San José del Cabo International Airport. From there it’s a short 20 minute trip to what I like to call a little slice of paradise.
Or the whole pie, depending on what you book, at Las Ventanas al Paraíso.
You’ve got a few options…but like I said – there’s a mansion waiting for you already.
The Ty Warner Mansion.
Wait – this isn’t your typical, stuffy, boring, jesus-god-why-are-there-so-many-butlers-that-look-like-penguins mansion.
No, instead, this has a real south of the border feel to it (because let’s be honest, what’s referred to as the “Global North” can get pretty stodgy sometimes).
Think 28,000 sq. ft. of sexiness, with things like a glass bottom lap pool, sunken in-pool living rooms, an outdoor pool table, vibrant Indian silk sari upholstery, cinema room, a chess garden, and your very own tequila library.
1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila, floor.
Yeah – tequila library.
Here’s a silk paisley hankie to wipe those tears of elation.
While I’m not one to tell people what to do, here’s what I suggest…
Take off your wrist watch and take things slow.
Enjoy your time here – by starting with asking your personal chef to cook you up something nice post-flight. Hey, flying makes you hungry – plus it’s never healthy to drink on an empty stomach.
Because that’s what you’ll be doing…soon.
While your meal’s getting prepped, freshen up with a shower and change into something more chill – nothing touristy or nerdy *cough*crocs*cough*. Maybe even take a nap, if you’re feeling sleepy.
Once you’re freshened up and fed, rendezvous with your friends and head out to burn off that third serving you asked for (you greedy bastard), by doing a little quad biking across the Los Cabos desert.
Or some surfing. Bit of yachting. Your choice – just wing it.
When you’re tuckered out from doing that, come back and shower again, then feel free to hit up the cinema room (think the sophisticated version of “Netflix and chill”) with that special someone, and settle into a classic film with something of your choice from the mansion’s private cellar – tequila, wine, champagne…whatever your poison is, I’m sure you’ll find it all there.
Actual film watching optional.
Once you’ve had your fill of pop culture, head out to your infinity pool, but slip into the dual spas instead.
I think it’s pretty safe to drink and lounge in the water – it’s like chewing gum and walking, right?
If you’re into keeping things a little more low key, I’ve got you covered.
Maybe you just feel like keeping things local. It’s cool – globetrotting isn’t for everyone.
But maybe you’ve also run into a hitch – you’ve gotten all prepared to enjoy a quiet game of golf to yourself, when your friends and that special someone ring you up and ask you to chill on the same weekend, same day.
Saying no might make you come off as anti-social prick.
Shit.
No – keep your cool, don’t panic. In one glorious stroke of genius, you can pull this off, with Urban Putt.
If Tiger Woods, Mad Men, and Chuck E. Cheese somehow got bored and decided to adopt an orphan to raise it, it would turn out to be this exact activity.
Except after 8 p.m. Chuck E. Cheese and Mad Men would like…totally teach it to kick out all the kids after 8 pm.
Think cocktails, mini golf, and good food all in one place.
That’s right – a little piece of heaven does exist, right in San Francisco.
It’s pretty straightforward. Meet up with everyone, exchange some cash for magical tokens, get your very own height specific putter, and grab a drink and some snacks while waiting for your turn to tee off – mini-golf is a rigorous and popular sport.
They weren’t kidding about the gumball machine, by the way.
But please, refrain from trying to eat them.
While you’re waiting to tee off, I recommend having Rosemary’s Baby (the highball drink, not some poor woman’s actual child) and fried chicken and waffle skewers (topped with Vermont Maple syrup).
If you’re wondering what Rosemary’s Baby is, think Rosemary infused Aperol, whisky, honey, lemon, and soda water.
Yeah – you’re in for a treat.
Once your hunger’s partly satisfied and you’ve got a bit of liquid courage in you, prepare to break out your best putting skills – while your friends may not care how shit you are, that special someone might.
And this course is mechanically clever, to say the least.
Wait one damn minute…skeeball and golf…? You just made my day.
Here’s some fun facts to share around while you’re on the green:
The building you’re standing in is a Victorian one, with many of its historical elements left in tact.
It was vacant for a while before being reopened to house the ingenuity you see laid before you today.
Oh, and it used to be a mortuary.
Which probably explains some of the par-3 holes being skeleton themed.
But that’s just a hunch.
Once you’ve finished convincing that special someone that no, that gentle breeze that went past them wasn’t a ghost (but just your hand), feel free to head upstairs to the course’s restaurant, UP @ Urban Putt.
With the ingredients being organic and locally-sourced, you can feel a little better about stuffing your face.
Start with some UP Poutine (Kennebec fries, beef short rib gravy, garlic and herb marinated cheese curds), or some Tuna Ceviche Tostones – and maybe ask for a Mind Eraser shot if your score sucked.
Snack on those until the pizzas you ordered are ready, and maybe some dessert. I recommend The Birdie and The Back Swing for pizza, and maybe some warm chocolate challah bread pudding for dessert.
That is some thick crust, am I right?
Maybe mini-golf isn’t your thing.
Or you’re just looking for something a little more…edgy.
A little less innocent.
Less innocent being having all the fun, dangerous things in life at your disposal – a lot like those Bond villains you see on film.
Like some Volcano Sandboarding in Leon.
Or having a pet ocelot.
Maybe.
I mean – that’s what I’d do at least.
But if you’re gonna do that, you might as well do it up properly.
Think sandboarding, clay shooting, and your own private compound, at Nekupe.
What villain doesn’t have a compound?
Even if you’re not feeling very villainous, you can always just opt for La Residencia Doña Theresita – but don’t think you’re getting the short end of the stick.
It still comprises 24,000 sq. ft. to do whatever you want in, with the same discretion you’d get from opting for the compound.
Back to the compound.
You’ve got a lot to play around with here. Like the Ty Warner mansion, you’ve got staff at your beck and call, in addition to ATVs/quad bikes at your disposal, epic views of the forest, and much more.
For the adventurous among us, this means we get our share of clay shooting, exploring off-road trails with some quad biking, and having a go at the ropes course.
You can choose to dress for the occasion when it comes to clay shooting, but honestly – like I said earlier, try and keep the nerdy tourist look to a minimum.
Pull.
For the nature lovers among you, there’s bird watching, checking out the farm, a bit of horseback riding, and hanging out with the local monkeys.
Just refrain from getting jealous when one of said monkeys seems a little too keen on your significant other.
Da fuq you looking at bro? Yeah, I’m taking a selfie with your woman…and what?
When you get tired, you can always wind down at the Casa Club….and by winding down I mean checking out their rum room, getting deep with some poetry reading by the fire pit, and retiring to your room for a nice soak to loosen up all those achy muscles before the “real” fun begins.
Rose petals optional.
So sure, money may not always buy happiness…but it definitely buys some great cocktail stories.
– Rego
Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™
For The Weekenders: Sexy Baja Mansions, Mini-Golf Cocktailing, Monkeying Around in Nicaragua… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life
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