Out of your Comfort Zone and Ron Artest

During our rounds to visit Kenny's Oahu msitresses (KicksHi, Leilow, In4mation, and Fitted) I picked up this month's issue of Contrast magazine. I whole heartdly agree with the Editor's note as he introduced this month's theme and described the reason he travels. I couldn't agree more. It's like he took the words out of my mouth. Here's the excerpt:

Out of Your Comfort Zone

by:Daniel Ikaika Ito

"One of the simpliest ways to make your dream tangible is to travel. It really doesn't matter what you want to manifest. Career. Knowledge. Wisdom. Enlightenment. Love. Passion. Friendship. Family. The realization of what you aspire to be, see or do can easily be achieved by traveling.

To others, we are lulled to remain stationary, sustaining ourselves with a sense of security in a familar setting, avoiding as much risk as humanly possible. We settle for a job that keeps us 'just over broke' as we lament in routines. It's so easy to stay stagnant because it's safe and relatively inexpensive-- financially and emotionally.

Craving this type of safety is detrimental to personal growth and creativity. The human spirit naturally wants to get weird, but we distract it with luxuries, media and other trival pursuits in order to remain comfortable wherever we are. Being away from home allows people to live in a world of possibilities. Uncertainty abroad is pure joy because a journey's ambuiguity feeds the same inquisiitive nature that we used to go from childhood to adulthood.

Curiosity is a natural part of the human experience. At a certain point in our maturity, we need to further stimulate our brains' curious nature in order to evolve. The best way to do this is to take a trip somewhere. Traveling is one of the best forms of education. Our society frquently conditions us to believe that a college degree is the ideal way to ensure financial success. While there is a great amount of knowledge an individual can gain in four to six years in a university setting, it's a different type of learning that the life lessons and wisdom that can be achieved on the road. A journey away from home is an eye-opening, firsthand experience of other cuisines, cultures, religions and ways of life that is far richer an experience than anything read in a book......"

Wow. Love his reasoning. Love his words.

Anyway, on a totally un-related topic, but how about the 2010 NBA championships? During the championships rounds, everyone would ask...what team do you want to win? It was more like rephrase that question to "Which team do you hate less?" I was rooting for Lakers, partially because they're on the same coast (left coast!) but mostly because I wanted Artest to have a championship ring. I think he keeps it real and deserved it!!

"Say it...say Queensbridge!!" :D