Jul

29

How to Become Gay. [Video]

July 29, 2010 | 23 Comments

Based on a great quote by Karen Williams, I bring you “How to Become Gay”. Enjoy:

Jul

28

Do You Love My New Logo as Much as I Do?

July 28, 2010 | 74 Comments

Though I am a graphic designer by trade, it’s always nice to get a new and fresh perspective on things. As such, I worked with an outside firm to develop my new logo. I needed something that could work on many fronts: this blog, my youtube videos, my fitness videos – and even my apparel. I needed something that was fun, versatile (hehe), expressive, simple and me.

I think the new logo does all of that – and more. And I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Since you’ll be seeing it here and there, I wanted to share a few things about it.

Most obviously, the new logo is an abstraction of my initials, “DW”. For branding purposes, this made sense. But you might also notice another similarity – the logo is actually derived from the om symbol.

If you’ve ever been to a yoga class or studied Hinduism, you’re probably familiar with chanting, “Ommmmmm”. Om doesn’t have a traditional definition, but this is as good as any:

When we chant Om… it’s as if we’re tuning our own vibration to be able to resonate with the consecrated vibration of the Universe. We invite the deeper experience and awareness of our connection and participation in the whole. Imagine no longer feeling lonely or separate, but knowing you absolutely belong and you are an essential note in the grand symphony of it all!

That is om, and that’s the inspiration for my logo.

Moreover, the logo is fun. I think it’s whimsical and creative and maybe even a little silly. I like that. I’m excited to use it in my work.

And no, the new logo has nothing to do with the countdown on my blog – but good guess! For the record, no one has correctly guessed what the reason for the countdown. :-P

Anyway, do you like the new logo?

Jul

27

Oh, the Insanity! What the Military Can’t Seem to Learn.

July 27, 2010 | 76 Comments

Can you imagine not being able to learn from your experiences? If you answered yes, then you must be the U.S. government or a branch of the military.

As tensions increased on the Korean peninsula months ago, North Korea responded by torpedoing a South Korean warship – killing 46 sailors. Now, the South Korean and U.S. militaries are counteracting with a high-profile show of force in the East Sea. Ships, planes, submarines and helicopters are practicing maneuvers to send a message to North Korea.

Surprise, surprise: North Korea is threatening to retaliate. Except, it’s not a surprise. Violence begets violence and aggression begets aggression. It’s a concept that the U.S. government and military seem unable to learn – despite the numerous opportunities to do so. If the goal here is peace – or even the prevention of future acts of North Korean aggression – then raising the military stakes doesn’t seem to be the path.

In a world as interconnected as ours, I reject the notion that you can better your plight by negatively impacting another. When we maim, injure or attack another, we maim, injure and attack ourselves.

Jul

26

Oh Yes I Did!

July 26, 2010 | 66 Comments

Jul

26

Things I Learned in NYC. [Video]

July 26, 2010 | 19 Comments

With only a few days left in New York City, the time feels right to do a debrief on my second YouTube channel, Davey Wavey Raw. Here’s what I learned living in the Big Apple:

Jul

25

The Heart of a Dog.

July 25, 2010 | 56 Comments

My dog, Chipotle, is a greyhound that was rescued from a race track in Massachusetts. On Chipotle’s 100th race, her hind leg fractured from the run. Chipotle’s handlers kept racing her – perhaps knowing that she would finish last and thus betting on the other dogs. 17 races later, the fractured leg shattered and Chipotle collapsed on the track.

Luckily for Chipotle, a greyhound rescue organization had a foster home for Chipotle and a volunteer veterinarian to rehabilitate her. The rescue group quickly intervened to save Chipotle’s life. Once Chipotle’s cast was removed, she was placed with me. I like to say that Chipotle’s accident on the track was her “lucky break” – though I’m quite certain that I’m the lucky one.

Here’s what has impressed me the most: Chipotle doesn’t hold her past experiences against the life she now lives. Despite being beat, caged 23 hours a day and abused, Chipotle is the most gentle, loving spirit that you could ever meet.

I immediately think of people I know that require decades of therapy for much less traumatic experiences. Medication. Doctors. Baggage. But not with Chipotle.

It’s no secret that I think we can learn a lot from our dogs. But Chipotle’s heart – and her capacity to forgive, move on and love – is truly one of my life’s greatest treasures.

Jul

24

Pure Magic in NYC: The Cloisters.

July 24, 2010 | 34 Comments

I decided to spend yesterday afternoon at a local monastery in the countryside of France. Since an intercontinental flight seemed a little excessive, I decided to do the next best thing: I visited The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

At the recommendation of a blog buddy, I took the train up to 180th street – and then followed the winding trails to reach the museum’s entrance. The structure is imposing; it is perched atop a cliff and overlooks the Hudson River. Ultimate sugar daddy John D. Rockefeller had the museum built by shipping in rooms, stones and various pieces of architectural interest by presumably pillaging monasteries from around the world. Nonetheless, it’s a masterpiece, and it took my breath away.

Moreover, it’s the most peaceful space that I’ve encountered in the last two dizzying months.

Words – and even pictures – can’t do justice to The Cloisters. If you’re EVER in New York City and have any interest in art, spirituality, gardening or architecture, please promise me that you’ll check it out. It’s a true wish you were here moment.

Jul

23

5 Things that I Love About YOU.

July 23, 2010 | 54 Comments

The internet often seems to be abuzz with anger and hate – people complaining about this or that through Twitter, the belittling of others at the expense of a cheap laugh or the occasional Facebook status message that takes things just a little too far. But the Internet is also ripe with higher level emotions like acceptance, love and enlightenment. With the exception of this paragraph, I generally choose to focus on the latter.

Here’s a fun fact that you may not know: According to David Hawkins’ book Power Vs. Force, each emotion has a quantifiable vibrational frequency. Emotions that vibrate below a score of 200 (like pride, fear, grief, guilt and shame) are considered draining. Anything above 200 is empowering.

Enlightenment vibrates at a score of 700 – 1,000 – and Hawkins claims that it takes just one individual at 700 to counterbalance 70 million individuals that are below 200. In other words, Deepak Chopra may be holding together one fifth of the nation. Good for him.

So, in the name of love (which vibrates at 500), I’ve decided to pen a non-exhaustive list of the top 5 things that I love about YOU:

  1. I love that you are all so diverse. Though I joke about blog buddies being gay and male, some 685,436 women watched my videos last month (compared to 2.4 million men). Blog buddies represent 177 countries and 107 different primary languages.
  2. I love that you disagree. Your perspectives are as varied as your backgrounds, and I love that you’re not afraid to disagree – and let me know about it. I enjoy entertaining beliefs, thoughts and ideas to which I do not subscribe.
  3. I love that you share your life with me. So many of you take time to send me notes or e-mails, and to let me know about the challenges and triumphs in your life. Your e-mails, comments and video responses shape the topics of my blog posts and videos. Thank you for sharing so much.
  4. I love that you don’t take things too seriously. It’s easy to get caught up in the seriousness of life and the things we do, but it’s a lot more fun to be a little bit silly every now and again. I appreciate your silliness and humor.
  5. Most of all, I love that you are as equally obsessed with foreskin as I am. Whenever I write or video blog about foreskin – love it or hate it – the commentators come out of the woodwork. Who would have though that an inch of skin could elicit so much passion?

    I invite you to share in this love-fest and radiate some 500-level energy out into the world by leaving a comment. What do you love about the blog buddies?

    Jul

    22

    Do You NEED Sex? [Video]

    July 22, 2010 | 44 Comments

    Is sex a human want or a human need? Can you be happy, healthy and well-adjusted without getting your rocks on? Here’s what I think:

    Jul

    21

    I Love Me. Therefore, I Love You.

    July 21, 2010 | 13 Comments

    Someone asked me through e-mail: How can I make the world a better place?

    While I reject the idea of “better”, there are some things we can do to make this planet a more loving place. In fact, I think it comes down to two simple principles:

    1. Love yourself more deeply.
    2. See yourself in the world around you.

    We all have room to deepen our self-love. It’s always a work in progress. But if we deeply love ourselves, and see ourselves in the world around us, then it’s inevitable that we’ll treat the world a little bit nicer.

    I love me. I see the world as an extension of me. Therefore, I love the world.

    What are the implications of loving yourself and seeing yourself in the world? Recycling. Charity. Equality. Service. Compassion. Conservation. Respect. And gratitude, just to name a few.

    What do you think? What can each of us do to make the world a more loving place?


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