20 years ago. Remembrance with a smile to the expected Millennium bug.

Time flies. I still remember well the world nearly in panic facing end of 1999 the Millennium bug.

At that time, I was commander of the fire-brigade of the cities Kerkrade and Landgraaf in The Netherlands. And although there was regional and national coordination on this expected crisis, I was the executive commander and coordinator for our area in case things would go wrong.

World- and nation-wide people came up with the in my opinion most crazy ideas of all that could go wrong and we, with our full-time and part-time professional staff, were prepared to ‘solve the problems’ that could exist. I still do not know what we were prepared for although we got several regional exercises to deal with all the problems. In my eyes it was all a big show.

That New Years eve we had a special crisis team at the city hall. Our mayor, Thijs Wöltgens, and municipal secretary, Chris Kuikman, the chief of police, etc.. were in charge as well as the main spokespeople. And many government staff were available that night, sad not with their families, to organize things nobody could ever organize. Actually, it was a big joke and, looking back now, in my opinion again a kind of multi marketing campaign. Tremendous amounts of money were earned by the IT-industry. It must have offered lots of bonusses for people working in that sector in 2000.

The remembrance with a smile is due to the fact that both mayors of the cities, so also at that time Bert Janssen from Landgraaf, liked a Burgundian lifestyle. So actually, our crisis and disaster team and all the people at work got lots of good food and drinks. It was a kind of party. Watching the news with a smile to the island Kiritimati (where a new day in the world starts) and Australia.

And yes, exactly at the Millennium bug moment in our country, change of the year, there was champagne as well. And… nothing happened. Not due to the fact many offices and private people got a new computer.

Good old times to remember with a smile.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

The energy of your environment and the influence on your wellbeing

In the footsteps of my mother, I followed an actor training about ten years ago. People who know me will probably get a smile on their face now and think that I didn't need it. Perhaps also because my "root talent" of my talent tree is the Jester. And for sure I received that humor from my mother. But still, as an honor to my mother who was an actress in the Dutch “Haarlem City Theater”, among other things, I obtained my certificate of being an actor.

One of the things I learned in that field was anticipating the energy of the theater hall and the audience. Another thing I learned was how you can share your energy through attitude and body language with only the stage (staying within yourself), with the first row or rows, with the auditorium, or with the entire theater including the balconies. It was an interesting experience and... a feast of recognition. I am an emotional person and pick up energy around me, say the atmosphere, quickly. And I know what an impact that has on me. It even made me sick in 2010.

The basic energy of the audience that comes to a show is completely different on the Friday evening, the Saturday evening, during the matinee on Sunday and on Sunday evening. And although you yourself have the assignment to perform in the same way, you notice that it differs. One of the major factors of influence is the energy of the audience.

In my former job as a director I had to perform on stage often and addressed groups of people of all levels. Naturally feeling free, a gift that I got from my father. I always enjoyed speaking in public about matters I knew about or was responsible for.

People who regularly read my blogs know that I am active here in Chiang Mai on Sundays in the cathedral. Almost every week I am there "on stage". One time I read the scriptures, the other time I am a cantor and I sing psalms.

And last Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, I was again confronted with that energy feeling of my theater education. That Sunday I was in the schedule for singing the psalm. Nice to do.

And when I stood in front of the microphone, I felt the community of around 300 visitors, in one word "flat." Totally different than 'normal'. Perhaps, as a comparison, a bit like the picture on the right, although the energy there could be very good. It felt like there was nobody there at all. A feeling that did not encourage or invite you to sing. Not singing of course was no option. So, I did it. And you know, that is really very hard working, not feeling any energetic response. As if you throw your energy in a deep well and it is gone.

When I asked a few people afterwards, they said, indeed, it was very different than usual. They were amazed I noticed it so strong.

A female colleague told me that she felt it very strongly as well, or actually felt nothing, and thought it might be because of the Christmas meeting and the buffet that we had with four hundred people the night before. Who knows?

Your environment has a huge influence on your well-being and behavior. For example, if there is enthusiasm or pleasure, it gives you energy. It is an encouragement and things flow simply out of yourself when you want to share things. In the situation that I described above or in an environment that does not allows or grant you to succeed, it’s hard working. An exhausting activity.

Be alert. Feel and try to avoid that energy drainage wherever possible. Better for your health.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Mindfulness is selfish?

A short while before I got my burn-out in 2010 I was already practicing meditation and mindfulness. So far is it part of my current lifestyle. I have often written about my enormous lifestyle change. For me it is much more a move along with nature and the rhythm, often the cycle, that you encounter in it. Certainly, many times it gives a delay and you have to get used to it. The culture here in Thailand helps a bit, although I can still get a bit rebellious for all that great at ease. Anyway, just to be honest, stress for me now is something that I can only vaguely remember from the past. And with more attention, or perhaps I should say less distraction, doing things is much more satisfying and delivers higher productivity than all the former multitasking that I once did.

A few weeks ago, reading an article, the writer mentioned mindfulness actually is a very selfish activity. And when I thought about that, I didn't think that was such a strange statement at all. It's just a little too short for me. Not finished yet.

With mindfulness you try to do things in such a way that you are completely present. No skipping steps (much fewer mistakes too) and following the natural process of things and situations. It brings you closer to your own being. And with regard to meditation, the training of your mind, it is indeed all about you. For me, among other things, it makes me feel better as an individual. But to call it selfish?

During my meditation, yoga and Buddhist philosophy classes I regularly mentioned all kinds of topics. Guests also asked about all kind of life themes and backgrounds. In my blogs I often wrote about those matters.

I remember the fright that often appeared on the faces of participants when I stated that you first have to take good care of yourself and that it is not selfish. I do not mean the material matter but the healthy mind in a healthy body. Your holistic health balance (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and causal (the contact with your environment with energy givers and energy drainers)) must be in order. And that requires attention and time. Indeed, for yourself.

Isn't that selfish, as stated in that article? Not so. The story is not finished yet.

In my lessons I always added: If you don't take good care of yourself in the first place to be in optimal condition, how can you optimally be there for other persons and the world around? And I think that completes the circle again. Yes, you start working on yourself to finally share the best of yourself with the world around you out of that firm balance. And that is a growth in relationships and a taking steps in helping each other to act together stronger than individually. Giving the best of yourself in it.

Not so selfish in my opinion.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.

Lifelines and the future. The (your) plan becoming visible.

No don't be afraid. This is not a blog about future predictions or hand palm reading.

After a morning meditation a while ago, I wondered if 62 years ago, if I had already understood it as a just born baby, I would have believed the future prediction of my life that I have had so far. If someone, with full conviction and with the best intentions, had tried to tell me this, I think I would have laughed a lot, and in particular with disbelief, would have run away. I had a lot of fun about it but believe and trust in it, well…no way. Let’s be serious, I think my thoughts should have been that I would never survive that all.

Starting back from the now, all kinds of lifelines sprang up in my head. Nothing special of course because every person has such a set of lines. We hardly ever think about it.

To mention a few: The lines of health, education, friendships and peoples who inspired you in life changes, relationships, children, places you have lived, faith, work, career & career, fun & disappointments, creativity, talent fulfillment, money, animals in your life, encounters, opportunities, and so much more. The list and the total number of lines, for every person is the same. The courses of the individual lines are different. And that makes lives different, or life paths different.

Those lines, or life experiences, start at birth (or who knows maybe even before that, the Buddhists would say) and stop when you stop breathing (or who knows, they may be the beginning of a life cycle to start). An interesting theme but not for this blog.

Some lines are almost straight and rising. Others curvy, boisterous, sometimes falling. Every line in any case actually unpredictable. Also in the future. If, for example, there is a significant change in your health, this can cause serious effects on your life and lifestyle (as once happened with me).

Every line has a specific story. Fortunately for me personally so far almost all peppered with fun and pleasure.

It is literally incredible that with all those experiences of all those lines, now, here in Thailand, I live the life I live. Actually, a miracle. And again, I am not unique in that because it applies to everyone and has nothing to do with living in Thailand. Looking back, did you ever thought it would be like this?

And from that experience now I really believe, no even more trust (by the way nothing to do with religion although perhaps it has a spiritual touch), that there is a life path or a plan ready for you from the beginning. Step by step the plan becomes increasingly visible to you.

My sister was very sad despite the fact that her son had not been hired for a job that, she thought, was tailor made for him. He did not get it…

Sure, I can understand the feeling of disappointment at the moment you hear it is not him who got the job. On the other hand, you can see this "rejection" as a message that something else is waiting that will bring many more development and growth. By the way, for two parties, including that new employer that did not deserve him. It only needs time to discover this.

Many people strife for "security" in life. Well forget that because that does not exist or does it ...?

When I look back on all those individual lifelines in my life, I realize that there is another, main line in them. That line is my lifepath. And out of thinking and wanting I can put a lot of energy to try to influence that specific (personal) line but unfortunately ... I have to follow the plan.

This interim evaluation, as I see and call it, after that meditation, indicates that I can just trust that path and that it certainly all will be "OK". Don't worry too much if things don't work out the way you would like to (influence) them.

Just as far as possible, enjoy a good life and, above all, enjoy as much as possible and be optimistic. That’s a life attitude. Because you can be sure, at some time the end of all those lines definitely will become visible. Just a natural process.

Gangey Gruma (Frans Captijn)
email: captijninsight@gmail.com 

Foto blog: http://franscaptijnhisworld.blogspot.com

Captijn Insight. Catalyst in developing tranquility & in-sight to get in a sustainable way real connection, purpose, pleasure and flow in life, love, family, business, career and work again.