Unit 8 redo

Ever since I can remember, I have been playing sports. Among all the sports I have participated, basketball is by far the most enjoyable sport to me. Now that I am a senior at college, I don't play basketball as much as I used to. Honestly, I miss playing a lot.

I was never the best player the best player on the team. But i can proudly say that I cared much more than other players did. I did so many extra works to be the best player I can become. Visualization is one of the methods I found it very useful and beneficial. I understand that for this week's assignment, visualization was used to bring peace in one's mind. For me, the mental practice helped me prepare every single day. Typically, I just closed my eyes and visualized how I want to move my body in the game. Personally, I believe that the mental exercise increased my awareness and preparedness. I think this exercise is very useful for those who tend be panicky. Also, everyone can do this exercise and you can do this by yourself with no money needed. So this is a great exercise.

Loving-Kindness exercise is another exercise I find it valuable. As obvious as it sounds, we have been involved in so many other people's lives as have they ours. Oftentimes, people tend to forget that they are supported by others and can't live alone. Thus, it is very helpful to remind them how people have been good to them. I have already mentioned the implement strategy, but it is simply to have participants think of people whom they think valuable.

Unit 8

For this week, I read a few chapters about being a pet owner and how animals can create positive influences in human life. Personally, I have only had hamsters and a few other small animals. So I don't quite now how it is like to own a dog or other big animals. One of my close friends own a dairy and he's gotten all kinds of animals. Dogs, cows, cats, you name it. Just comparing Joey(my friend) and I, it is very apparent that he can handle the flow of life much better than I can. Of course, there are some other variables that contribute to the tendency such as personality, family structure, and relationships with others. But he is definitely better at loving others and show his feelings.

As a nutritionist or even psychologist, I don't think I can recommend my client to have a pet. Because it just doesn't seem very ethical. But I think it would be reasonable to bring it up and mention to clients. Especially, for older clients, they might be able to finically afford for one but they don't really think about it. Once kids move away and start living on their own, having pets is definitely a good option to maintain healthy life

Unit 7

- The execise was very interesting to me. I'm a huge sports guy and I love playing sports. So I had never tried to sit still and think about stuff. Whenever I had something on my mind, I just went to the gym and played basketball with guys. That's always been my way to cope with stress and conflicts. So it was definitely a new approach to me. One thing I thought I could was that every time I get done working out, I usually sit, and try to catch my breath. I usually just talk to people and kill some time. But instead, I can do the meditation and correct my thoughts at the same time.

- It means that you have to actually experience what you preach. You can recommend people to do things to improve their heath, but they may not believe the effeteness of the exercise if you have never done it before. Personally, I feel obligated to be developing my health because I'm supposed to be a healthy figure for them, so I feel like it is my responsibility to stay in shape. Typically, I go to the gym several times a week, and go to church every Sunday. And as simply as it seems, that's how I take care of myself.

Unit 6

After participating in the practice, I came to reaize that te univesal loving kindness exercise is a lot like what the Bible teaches us; Love your enemy as yourself". It is not the most appealing thought you would ever have, but God loves everyone and he never abandons his creatures. I think that is the kind of understanding that we need to keep in mind. Personally, I found it somewhat helpful. I probably wont see a drastic change unless I practice it for awhile

The integral assessment discussed in chapter 11 is very helpful. In fact, I have been a similar exercise for years. Im not really sure if it is a good thing or not, but I have been told that Im an ambitious guy. As a matter of fact, every time I hit the wal, I always do a little self reflection to make sure where I am at the point in life. I feel like I always have something to improve and also something to work on. So this probably was one of my fovorite exercise so far in this class.

I have come to realize that Im not a huge fan of closing eyes to implement some thoughts that other people tell me to do so. I found it kind of stressful. On the other hand, I really like self reflection based exercises. It gives me more freedom in thoughts and I can face myself more easily

The First Marriage

On August 14th 2010, one of my best friends got married with his high school sweetheart. They dated since high school, so in a way, it was about time and we knew that was going to happen. But when they actually got married, I felt very gracious.

I have been telling my close friends that God has put some great people in my life, and I make sure to thank them for being a part of my life. Ever since I came to the states, I have gotten so many helps. Without the generous offers, I don't think I would have been able to become who I am today. Sometimes I wonder why God has been so great to me and got to know all the people I love. But I guess that is what it means to be a Christian. You get what you do not deserve to get.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. It was the very first wedding I have attended. For some reason, I had never gone to a wedding before, so I was pretty nervous that I was actually in the wedding. To be honest, time flied and I do not really remember anything except I talked to lots of people. I really wish I could have talked more, simply because I may not see half of the people there for a long time. Sure that is a part of life. People come and go. Despite the fact, there was a part of me wishing that we could stop time for once.

I was honored to be a part of the wedding. I love the couple so much and I would do anything for them. So I was very gracious that I was able to be there.

Meanwhile, I knew that was the point of life where I realized that people are growing up, and moving on to the next stage of their life. I understand that it was going to come sooner or later, but I will definetely miss having all of my friends around. My life would have been nothing without friends, and now that they are leaving out of my life, I am not sure how my life will turn out in near future.

But again, God is good and I hope he has great plans for me. I have faith in him

Anyway, congratulations to Joey and Monica. I have loved you guys since I can remember. Wish you guys the best!!

Shoot for the Moon So That You Will Land Among Stars

When I was a sophomore in high school, one of my close friends' dad told him to "aim high".

Honestly, the advise is nothing special.

I grew up in Japan and my parents told me the same thing. So I kinda think it is a universal thing to tell kids to have a huge expectation from themselves.

It has been 7 years every since I heard the advise. I turned 23 a few month ago. I'm officially an adult, having only one semester in college left.

Where am I going?

Where is the path leading to?

What does God expect me to do?

Well, the answer is still uncertain. But lots of people have been telling me I will do something great. Nobody knows what I will exactly do. I'm neither smart nor clever. I'm really an ordinary kid. If there is anything that makes me different from other people, it would be the fact I'm very ambitious. Even though I have no plans in future, I'm very ambitious to do something great, not because people told me that I can, but I think I can do something unordinary once I find out what it is.

Life is great. God gave each of us a great life.

A great thing about is, you can make it greater if you care.

I wanna be a great person.

Knowing myself, I have a long way to go.

But I'm aiming high.

I think I can do it.

I think I can.........

Unit 5

Loving Kindness exercise focuses on someone you are close with, such as a family member and friends, then bring positive thoughts and images from outside your own brain. Subtle mind exercise focuses on breathing and its technique. Those who practice subtle mind exercise believes that if calming breathing technique helps calm one's mind.

In a way, these two exercises are very similar regarding calming nerves, and simply relaxing. But they are both very different styles. Loving Kindness exercise need participants to think of someone they care about. On the other hand, subtle mind exercise just wants them to think of the way they breath.

I use both exercises. When I want to pray and read the Bible, I would like to use Loving Kindness exercises so that I can think of what God has done for me very sincerely. But when I play sports or work out, I tend to use the breathing skills to settle my breath. So I use both exercises depending on the situation.

Secondly, spiritual wellness to mental and physical wellness are deeply connected. Simply because the mind and the body are connected. Human has this routine of "think and act". We think to act. We act to think. So they can't be separated. As I write this post, I'm thinking what to write next or how to convey the message that I want to emphasize. Thus, they are both deeply connected.