My Passion « Ken Okazaki

29Jul/104

A Pot O’ Gold

My daughter asked me the other day: "How do you find the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow?" My first impulse was to tell her that it didn't exist, but she insisted that because she saw it in a story book that it must be real.

Then I got to thinking that as adults many of us have abandoned our dreams for our own version of "reality", and given up on constantly seeking out the pot of gold in our own lives.

When we were little, we didn't dream of growing up to become corporate CEOs or bank clerks. No, we dreamed of becoming jet fighter pilots, ballerinas, and sports celebrities but we eventually "learned" that it's just not possible for us normal people to achieve that kind of success.

An acquaintance of mine told me that he had always wanted to get into CG animation, but he's too busy and doesn't have enough money to learn. I had a look at some of his work, and it was rough, but he had potential, so I told him he should put more time into learning it and doing it full-time, but he just couldn't bring himself to make the commitment--there were too many reasons why he just couldn't. Most importantly he couldn't make a break with his old, comfortable, yet unsatisfying life. Trying to convince him that he could was starting to agitate him so I left it at that.

Like Tony Robbins put it - "The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't have it"

As long as you're breathing and your heart is beating you have the power to follow your dreams and to make them a reality.

I told my daughter while holding her hand and looking at the rainbow arching across the sky that when she finds her pot of gold to let me know and meanwhile I'll be finding my own pot of gold.

Tagged as: dreams, gold, pot of gold, rainbow 4 Comments

20Jul/102

Death Comes Unexpectedly

(cut to shot of chandelier rattling)

Now watch this TV commercial below if you haven't seen it already.

I don't think I would add to or take anything away from this sad yet beautiful piece.

Now wipe your tears away and go love those who are closest to you. Love those who you are not so close to, and to your children: Tell them you love them. They need to hear it, they need to see it, and most of all they need to feel it. Love is something that we just can't fake to our own children. They're smart, and they can sense a fake smile and half-assed hug before it even hits them.
When our loved ones mess up, even if it's really big time messing up, love them even more, hold them closer and forgive unconditionally--always!

What I described above is not me, this is simply what I want to be, and what I need to be, what by God's grace I will be.

And if you aren't crying yet, here's another tear-jerker:

Tagged as: children, Life, love 2 Comments

15Jun/102

So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore

I recently read the book "So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore" by Jake Coleson, except Jake Coleson does not exist, but is a pseudonym for the combined work of Dave Coleman and Wayne Jacobson.

Although this work of fiction creates a story which most people would agree is the epitome rather than the norm, it does so in order to very clearly illustrate the points the author wants to bring across. As I read the book, it sometimes reminded me of the very simple parables that Jesus used to illustrate his teachings.

In the story, Jake Colsen, a disillusioned pastor of a dysfunctional church meets someone who he believes may be John the Beloved from the New Testament. He repeatedly meets this man throughout the story and discovers new truths and observations comparing what Jesus had taught in the Bible versus the way most churches operate and teach their parishioners to live today.

If you haven't read this book yet you just might want to, because it's helped me to formulate so many of the thoughts that have been floating around in my head lately.

As many of you know and may be experiencing yourselves, I'm facing some pretty big changes in my lifestyle and the future of my personal family. As a Christian I want to be effective in my life and service for the Lord, while at the same time successful as father and financial provider for my wife and children.

This is nothing new for Christians worldwide, and I deeply respect those who have gone on before me and successfully found their balance between the two. I believe that I will find my balance by becoming financially successful with my business endeavors and through this new level of success I will be able to, as a peer, reach those who I would previously not have had access to.

Community, friendship, and support are some methods through which we modern-day Christians can demonstrate our love for our brethren and neighbors and at the same time show our love to Jesus.

"In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Tagged as: Christ, christian, church, Jesus, John, Life, So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore 2 Comments

25May/104

TRIPLE-X

Yes! I'm 30 now! I know that a few of my friends have had their 30th birthday recently too, so Happy Birthday to all those who are turning 30 this year!

Ever since teen-hood, the year 30 has always been the one I would say to myself, "by the time I'm 30 I'll …" During the years 28 and 29, I quit saying that because it started to feel a bit close, like scary! I think that that particular number, 30, has had a lot to do with my feeling the urge to change, to expect more of myself than I ever have before, to make forward progress in my life.
In short, to fulfill the broken promises I made to myself over the years.
I can't remember them all, but the ones I do remember still nag me, and I've gotten so used to putting them off "till 30" that the age 30 just crept up on me while I kept putting it off.
NO MORE!
I'm 30 now and I have a few belated duties, or maybe rewards would be a better word, to give to myself.
On the top of my list is: Master the Japanese language (seriously, when I get this one done then I'll be a very happy man)
Followed by: Skydiving and Bungee jumping. I'm not sure which comes first.
I'm making real steps and plans to reach these goals now, as opposed to thinking and hoping it will happen "sometime". Finding creative ways to make these things pay for themselves is the ticket for me, and I just need to find a school for teaching me Japanese now that I have a sponsor. I'm going to take a 1-year intensive course, and after that assess whether or not I need to take an additional course. I'm also attending Japanese seminars that require extensive interaction with other Japanese and this is giving me plenty of regular practice.
Whenever I find myself thinking that I should do something, I replace that thought with the words:

"NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME!"

If you have anything you've been putting off, STOP IT! Stop putting off stuff till whenever your "30" may be. Take immediate and drastic action. Tony teaches that every time you make a decision to not leave the site of the decision without first taking an active step in that direction.

Tagged as: 30, age, bungee jump, do it now, sky-diving, triple-x, XXX 4 Comments

6May/104

Stick That Label Elsewhere

Yesterday I spent National Children's Day with my kids at a local park and had a great barbecue--loads of fun! On the menu we had: onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread, potatoes, eggplant, fish, and sausages. We had 100% fruit juice for the kids and beer for my wife and me.
Now I know that some of you are thinking that I'm going back on my word about not eating meat and all that. I tried to figure out what name I should take on to describe my eating habits, but nothing I could find fit what I am doing.

I don't eat dairy products but I'm not vegan because I eat eggs.
I don't eat red meat and chicken, but I'm not vegetarian because I eat fish.

But people don't give up trying to label me! "are you really a vegetarian?" "you're not truly vegan because blah, blah blah!"

I'm getting tired of being labeled and put in a box!

I've met some people calling themselves vegetarian who seem to believe that their life's mission is to tell everyone else how badly they are polluting their bodies and preaching that their way is best and I'd imagine that many vegans may come across the same way.

I don't want to be like that. I respect each person's decisions about what they choose to eat, and I expect them to respect mine. I don't need a title to tell me what I should or shouldn't eat, because I can make my own rules!
Yes, I have cut down on alcohol, I've eliminated caffeine and eliminated all meat with the exception of fish. I've eliminated processed foods and anything containing MSG, which includes commercial curry. Potato chips and 99% of food found in a convenience store is out also.
BUT, the above is only MOST of the time. I want my commitment to be long-term, and I also want to have the freedom to give myself exceptions whenever I feel like it, such as a BBQ on children's day. When I'm a guest, then I'll eat what's served, I just might not take a very big serving of certain foods. I want the freedom to celebrate when I feel like it, and have a beer while I'm at it.
No rules or labels for me please! I prefer guidelines.
So far it's been a 90% / 10% ratio of times I am strict on myself about the food I eat, to times that I am not, and it's working out pretty well so far.