Living in Flow

I’ve never met any person who is more TRULY Pooh than Hein.

I got “initiated” into the world of Winnie-the-Pooh around three years ago by my friend Hein. He said that in his entrance test to become a flight attendant at (now defunct) Sabena, some of the questions in the written psycho-tests he had to answer were something like these:

“1) Choose one figure / character (real or fictitious) who you think describes you best.

2) Why did you choose this figure / character?”

Hein said that his answer to question # 1 was: “Winnie-the-Pooh.” Frankly at first I thought that it was kinda childish (I couldn’t imagine why an adult male would identify with a pant-less, smiling bear), but it was enough to make me curious to ask how he answered to the second question.

Hein paused for a while, as if in deep thought, and then carried on with his response. He said that he chose Pooh because firstly, he’s his all-time favorite character. Moreover, Pooh is such a constantly happy fellow. On the surface, Pooh may look like as if he’s dumb, but he’s actually a resource of simple wisdom. This, in Hein’s opinion, is the only real wisdom there is. Connecting Pooh to Hein’s own perception of himself: He is a certified constantly happy person. He’s not dumb at all, for sure, but he’s an ongoing seeker of simple wisdom. In fact, “Voluntary Simplicity” is one of his main interests, along with “The Psychology of Happiness” (lately he’s returned to school to study psychology {am proud to say that I’ve played a role in his process of deciding towards this! ;-)}. He’s planning to make a thesis to link voluntary simplicity with happiness).

I’ve learnt a lot from this guy. Recognizing and then experiencing happiness out of the simple is one of them. He had also helped me face up to my “Heffalumps” at that point in time. It is indeed true that the hidden teachers in life would appear when the hidden pupils are ready for the lesson.

One of Hein’s favorite Pooh quotations (more or less):

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“What day is it now?”

“It’s today.”

“Really? Then Today IS my favorite day!”

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That is just sooo Hein!

I feel so lucky to have encountered such friends in my journey. Hein is one of many. We could just sit and talk for hours about everything (from puns, stupid banal and funny things, how best to feed the ducks at Kasteelpark Arenberg’s ponds, to the beginning and end of the universe, the nature of happiness, spirituality and atheism, philosophy, etc. etc.etc…) and suddenly it’s already 3.30AM! Those were very enriching discussions, honestly.

It’s like I pick up treasures along the way, marvel at their beauty, put them into my backpack, and continue with my journey. And magically, those pieces of treasure do not add up to the heavy weight on my shoulders. It actually makes it lighter. And as friends are, I hope he’ll always keep in mind that whenever he needs help in facing his “Heffalumps,” I’ll always be there to help.

Keep on flying. Keep on traveling. Stay happy!

PS: Check out: http://groups.msn.com/JustHein

An existential bomb has just exploded for me on June 7, 2005.

Whoa.

That is all I can say for now.

My dear cousin Aldo’s birthday is on June 1. He’s exactly ten years and two days older than I am (Yes, kozzen A, matanda ka na! You’re old already! He he he…)

The best part about Aldo is that he’s not normal. Well, you can’t be, when your parents give you "Erwin Rommel" as a name, and on top of that also give you "Aldo" to call you with on a daily basis.

From that quirky beginning of an existence, springs out this person who becomes my favorite cousin. To me he’s the very embodiment of creativity, a true free spirit, a fellow traveller –physically and otherwise–, an unhibited genius, a restless soul, a spiritual seeker, an existential jester, etc.etc… all rolled into one. His mind jumps from one thing to the other like a Mexican bean on speed, with the ability of Shinkanshen trains.

Nowadays he finds himself in that sandbox called Dubai, churning out bright ideas to help convince people do what big companies want them to do.

I’m pasting below here his e-mail in response to my "Happy Birthday" SMS. Read it, and you’ll get a taste of what kozzen Aldo is about.

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dear loved ones, friends, ex-loves, various beloved scoundrels and
other usual suspects (this is where you fit in, kozzen! hi-hi-hi)

hello and thank you for remembering. although i was hoping that i’d be remembered for something else by this time (maybe a nobel for advertising),
it’s still nice to be remembered for simply maintaining my breathing functions for all these years (do they give awards for that?)

as you may know, i like doing new things to kick off my birthday. this
time’s no different. a female client who’s a fitness buff asked me to come
on her morning run along dubai creek. yeah, let’s, i said! i figgered, why
not? i haven’t been out that early for some time, it should feel good to run
again, flush out the toxins and excessive good living, blah-blah-blah.

she called me up this morning and said to get my butt down and i did.
(an aside: i now know the smell of dubai at 5:15 in the morning) the warm-up to
the creek was refreshing and i remember thinking that i should’ve done this
sooner. then we started jogging.

and reality crashed. on me. hard.

i lasted for 45 minutes and had to brisk-walk the last quarter. (well, actually, i was already running on sheer pride back there after the first 15 minutes) how the mighty have fallen J you should’ve seen me sucking air like it was running out.

it was pathetic. to my credit, the breathing and endurance are still there somewhere, just not in the legs (an embarrassing admission for a guy who actually trekked the lengths of kennon & naguilian, binan to project-4, etc.)

legs now aching a bit but i’m pushing on with this. daily. and to help me along, she’s taking me to a thai spa this weekend. so i’ll take this as far as i need to. some consolations though: my metabolism is still on ‘high’ and i can burn stuff overnight and still party non-stop and work the next day - plus there’s my still-flat but not-so-firm belly.

so that’s my new thing this year. i’m getting back into shape.  just thought
i’d let you know.

and of course, there’s gonna be a big bash starting on the eve. it’ll prob’ly last up to friday noon. where? general vicinity of dubai. i’m serving my own aldo’s khemical klash. for the uninitiated, they have everything in them…except for inhibitions.

so thanks again. and lift one for me. because i’ll be doing the same for
you.

much love, A
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Yeah, how I love this dude!