Gaia Community: ~Matthew's Blog

Halloween Sobriety

http://matthew.gaia.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:45:20 GMT

You all remember Brian David? Here I am with him last night, recording a video... singing along with a Stuart Davis song.

Tags: ~Matthew, Brian David, Stuart Davis, Halloween

Single Women Ought to Move to Boulder ;-)

http://matthew.gaia.com — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:27:14 GMT

From Top 10 Hottest Guy Cities: Colorado Snags Three Spots On The List

Colorado, and more specifically Colorado men, have something to brag about.
TotalBeauty.com just ranked three Colorado cities, Boulder, Fort Collins and Denver in its Top 10 Hottest Guy Cities list.
According to the Daily Camera the list was compiled by data-crunching rather than people-watching.
They used census data and surveys on income, education and fitness levels, as well as rates of drinking, smoking and sexual activity to determine which cities had the most attractive men, at least in theory.

The list ranked Boulder's men the second hottest in the country, with Fort Collins coming in fourth and Denver seventh. Pretty impressive for the Centennial State.
Apparently Boulder's Smarts catapulted it near the top of the list:
Although the men of Boulder have plenty of qualities that make them eye candy (think: non-smokers, moderate drinkers, healthy bodies), they're also tops on our list for their cerebral attributes. It's the no. 1 smartest city, according to a Forbes survey. Simply put: they're highly educated, and few things are sexier than an intelligent man, right?

(Read More...)

Tags: Boulder, Hot Men

Friday Five of Alchemy

http://matthew.gaia.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:06:58 GMT

From The Team Blog (with my answers):

Alchemy.

What does it mean? Is it the transformation to lead into gold is it about something more magical, like a broken spirit or lost heart in the dark rising into the sunlight full of understanding and whole. Either way alchemy is a magical process and a journey of the hopeful, of those willing to believe in the miraculous impossible.

Many of you may have read Siona's post about our book giveaway to celebrate the famous book by one of Gaia's favorite authors, Paulo Coelho. It's been on the New York Times Bestseller's list for two years and a Gaia favorite since our launch in 2006. If you haven't read the book yourself, we highly recommend it, but even if you haven't you can share in this week's Friday Five about transformation, journeying, and turning darkness into light.

Please share with us....

1) Do you believe in miracles?
I guess it depends on how you define miracles. I believe I am alive. I believe in Love. I think these are miracles.

2) Name one place that you have been that has felt magical, brought you peace or comforted you?
Boulder is magical :)

3) Name one thing you treasure?
The fact that whether or not I am here able to share it in my own unique way... Love remains.

4) In one to five words, name one place, person, event or thing that has felt magical to you or cheered your heart.
My 30th Birthday Celebrations on Gaia.

5) In less than 10 words, if you had one wish to go to somewhere or be with someone, from any time where would it be or who would you visit? (Go with your instinct :)
I would choose to be with my future wife, so I could start now with telling her how much I adore her, how much I love her, how beautiful she is, how much her presence makes the world a better place, and how ten words could never even come close to adequately covering the depth and breadth of her importance to the universe.

Let's open our hearts and explore :)

Tags: Friday Five, Alchemist, Alchemy, Transformation, Miracles, Magic

Stage Three is Complete! Moving on to Stage Four...

http://matthew.gaia.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:25:53 GMT

Mwahahahahahaha!!!!

That's my cryptic way of saying that I have completed 3 decades of life.

Now dance!!

Tags: ~Matthew, Birthday, 30

Knock Knock!

http://matthew.gaia.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:25:25 GMT

This man's 2 minutes and 35 seconds inspires me to no end. I could go on and on about how in this small amount of time, he models the perfect way to become a strong, healthy, powerful adult, even as he is faced with seemingly insurmountable pain. But I won't. Instead I will take his advice as I knock knock the door open and enter my 30's: "Walk like a God, and your Goddess will come to you!!"

Love, ~Matthew

Tags: knock knock, love, god, goddess, pain, heal, health, power, strength

I Know One Thing... =)

http://matthew.gaia.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:15:57 GMT

Tags: I Love You

You Know I'm BAD!

http://matthew.gaia.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:47:12 GMT

Today is Blog Action Day!! That's right, today :)

This year's topic is climate change. It is a daunting topic. With the way it is reported, sometimes it is hard to know what is science and what is propoganda. But there are some things that we do know. We do know that our planet is finite. We know that the resources, such as oil, that we use for fuel took many years to be created, and we use them up in fractions of a fraction of that amount of time. We know that we are dumping trillions of tons of CO2 gas into our atmosphere every year. And we know that humans are affecting the climate. And when I think about all this stuff, my reaction is to do what I can in my own small way to make sure I am part of a solution, whatever that solution may be. And that means taking steps to off-set my own carbon footprint: Bike as much as possible, instead of drive; use CFLs throughout my home; rent out rooms in my house so space isn't going to waste; if I can ever afford it, I will get solar panels for my roof; and work for a company (GAIAM) that strives for health and sustainability.

This is what I am doing. What are you doing? Please take a look at what blog action day is all about, register your blog, and post away! Then check out what the rest of our community is saying by clicking here!!

Big HUGS!
~Matthew

Tags: Blog Action Day, Climate Change

Friday Five of Blog Action Day

http://matthew.gaia.com — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:14:54 GMT

From the Team Blog:

Thursday October 15th is Blog Action Day, but we like to spread it out and make it Blog Action Week here on Gaia. You can even see our lovely little logo marking us as participants on the main site.

Please join us and get ready to take part in this global conversation about Climate Change, one of the most important topics facing our planet today. It impacts each and everyone of us, from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the cars we drive. We're starting off early and making this Friday Five about climate change and the importance of taking part in this world-wide-web dialogue.

1) Do you drink bottled or filtered water?
Yes, I use a water ionizer in my house that also filters the water.

2) Have you ever used solar power? (for a calculator, your house, in a place you visited?)
Definitely for a calculator. I would love to get solar panels for my home but can't afford them yet. I also use solar power to create vitamin D :-)

3) Do you ever worry about polar bears?
I do get concerned about them and the sustainability of their habitat. I hope for the happiness of all sentient beings.

4) Have you ever seen or been impacted by extreme weather? (hurricane, flood, drought, typhoon, tornado, wildfire or freeze?)
I lived in MN for the first 23 years of my life. Enough said?

5) Do you like to recycle, save water or energy, compost, turn off the lights, etc.?
All of the above!

Let us know for this Friday Five...and get ready to share your thoughts with the world. on Thursday!

Tags: Friday Five, Blog Action Day

October Begins Today!

http://matthew.gaia.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:26:14 GMT

The smell of Fall is drowning me in memories. The activities of Autumns past float through my present recollection. Things have changed; they continue to do so. But the wind still blows. The leaves still drop. The clouds still decorate the sky.

I will be turning 30 this month--in just three short weeks. The 20's have been a time for me to truly become an adult. I have been tested. Emotionally. Physically. Psychologically. Spiritually. I still feel so young... but somehow also very old.

My body is a drop in the ocean. One day, it will disappear. But if the Love that flows through it makes a deep enough impact to those around me, then the ripples that it creates will be experienced long after it is gone.

October begins today...

Tags: October

To All of You Who Feel Like Giving Up

http://matthew.gaia.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:42:15 GMT

Please watch this...

Man with no legs and arms - Inspiring story

Tags: Inspiration

Update on my exercise training

http://matthew.gaia.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:43:37 GMT

I finished the strength training module about three weeks ago. Got down to about 12 - 13% body fat, so I didn't quite reach my goal on that this time. No worries though. Must move on.

So, now I'm in my third week of the endurance training module. Strength training gets pushed to the maintenance level, which entails a once-per-week circuit session. I may move that up to twice per week if I notice any strength degredation. But to get back to what I'm doing now for endurance training... I am hiking up and down Mt. Sanitas three days per week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm trying to improve my time, and hope to eventually be sprinting up the mountain. Coming down, I'm already going as fast as I can without tumbling, lol! So, my main speed improvements will likely come from the climb.

The path I am taking is up the West side and down the East. Coming down the East side of the mountain takes me to the top of Sanitas Valley Trail. This is a dirt road that is about a mile long. So, when I get here, I run the rest of the way. My base time was about 1 hour and 6 minutes. I'm down to 1 hour and 1 minute, for the round trip. My goal is to down to about 45 minutes, but it will be quite a challenge!

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One of the most amazing things I've ever seen!

http://matthew.gaia.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:43:32 GMT

blind kid echolocation

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What's the best thing about being you?

http://matthew.gaia.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:15:49 GMT

That I get to be a mirror for YOUR Beauty!!! :D

Tags: QaR, personality, character, life, self

The more Love I give the more I have to give

http://matthew.gaia.com — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:13:53 GMT

It is as if I am not giving MY Love at all. I am just a conduit through which Love flows. The more I open up... the more I let go of resistance... the more it passes through me. Contractions are painful. It is the pain of Love denied. Allowing Love to flow freely is a scary prospect. Love is SOOO BIG. And it seeks you out. It seeks me out. One cannot hide from it. We were meant to be the spigget through which it flows. We cannot hide from it. Open up to Love. Open up to your LIght! Face it! Have the courage to allow it to change you! Do not resist it!

Sometimes I cry because my firehose of Love is met by a dripping faucet. I overpower the other. They are not ready. I beg of you to open up and let the Love flow at the intensity it is meant to flow. Then we can go out, and we can drench the town with Love and Light together. Please..... join me!

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Friday Five of Perky

http://matthew.gaia.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:43:29 GMT

Well, I haven't been feeling all that perky recently, so I thought I'd give this Friday Five a go, and see what comes of it :)

1) What's one thing you can do today to make yourself a bit more joyful?
Hug a friend ((((((YOU))))))

2) What is one thing you really appreciate in your life/ the world/ the universe?
That people care deeply for me.

3) What movies or tv show can make you laugh?
Right now... Two and a Half Men (on DVD)

4) Do you have a favorite food that makes you smile?
I have LOTS of favorite foods! Ehtiopian food is one of those that always makes me smile =D

5) Who is one person you can hug to cheer up and be cheered up by in return?
Well, I've never actually hugged her, but Malena is really good at giving me subtle body hugs that cheer me up. Or rather, when she has recently helped me put my life in perspective, it has felt like a hug. And yesterday, at Lindsey's birthday party (Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!!), I got hugs from her, Jason, Brian David, and a few others who I don't think have profiles here. And of course, I'm always cheered up by the virtual hugs from ALL of you here at this gaia community. Most recently, I've received some warm, lovely hugs from Kala, Hummingbird, Meenakshi, Suni, Ladybear, Gia, Jodi, Zephyr, OM, and Jessica. And others, such as ~KES, Jaguar Goddess, Siona, Nicole, and too many to list, are always ready and willing to send hugs my way, too :-) I am very blessed. I hope that the hugs I give out mean as much to you as yours do to me!!!

(((HUGS))) and LOVE,
~Matthew

P.S. He'kili's pretty good at hugs too, but he prefers kisses ;)

Tags: Friday Five, Perky, Hugs, Love, ~Matthew, Joy

Two weeks of the TTC + some life thoughts

http://matthew.gaia.com — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:16:35 GMT

So, I just finished my second week of the Strength for Life Transformational Training Camp. I started a week later than intended. All seems to be going well. I missed one FIT session, so need to buckle down on making sure that I go over my program each morning so that doesn't happen again.

I'm feeling a lot of Love for Life right now. There's a lot of uncertainty in my future, at this moment. Yet, the stress that this may normally cause me is giving way to acceptance, bliss, and beautiful release. Every moment is a reminder that I have control over nothing but my own actions. I can choose to respond to life's obstacles with Love and Embrace and Healthful healing, or with fear and avoidance and shadowy denial.

If you are reading this, I thank you. Really. I have so much gratitude for your existence. I know my life's purpose is to serve you. It serves me when I serve you. I'm considering getting my personal trainer's certification, so that I can share my own success and love for life and accomplishing personal goals with the world.

But along with that, I want to hold space for you. I want to honor where you are right now and the beauty in the fact that you want to achieve something more. This is what I do for myself, and it brings me such great Joy on a daily basis.

My plan is to give free personal training sessions to as many people as possible while I work on my certification. If you're interested let me know, and I'll let you know once I get started on my certification program. My hours would be after work hours, obviously. Hopefully, that would work for you :)

Hmmm... what else? I'm sitting at Barnes and Noble right now with a Bill Bryson book on my lap. Have you read any of his stuff? This one is In a Sunburned Country.

Let me know if there's anything I can do to honor your beautiful existence, today.

Isn't Life just an absolutely breathtaking experience?? I think so!

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Finding Depth With Gaia Soulmates

http://matthew.gaia.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:48:09 GMT

So, I met this girl on Gaia Soulmates not too long ago, and I couldn't be more impressed. We e-met only a week and a half ago, and we both feel like we've known each other forever. It is quite astounding to me! Here I am, working for gaia, and I happen to find this person on a site that we run. And it's not like I'm not on other dating sites or that I'm not dating locally in Boulder. I AM doing all that! And yet, I discover this beautiful, amazing, deep person on our site!

I can't tell you too much about her yet. It is too soon. But I can tell you that I really am quite amazed that the intention of our soulmates site is working. It's nowhere near the biggest dating site on the web, but it may already have some of the greatest depth out there.

I hope others who are seeking deep connections with kindred spirits will join up. And when you do, I hope you will have similar experiences to mine :) It is truly wonderful to feel this way!

To Love!

Tags: Gaia, Soulmates, Love

Friday Five at Home

http://matthew.gaia.com — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:05:23 GMT

1) What is you favorite room in your house/ apartment?
My bedroom. It's where I work and play.

2) Who do you feel at home with? (friends, a partner, family, a pet)
My dog and cats and everybody who is kind enough to visit me at my home :)

3) What colors do you have in your home?
off-whites and browns and blues and greys and greens and hmmm... others.

4) If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Gosh, do I have to pick one? I would love to have vacation homes on the East and West coasts in the States, and in many countries around the world. But I like my home to be in Boulder :)

5) Finish this sentence in two to five words: Home is where the .....
~Matthew is!

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Measuring and Achieving Goals

http://matthew.gaia.com — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:21:39 GMT

On February 7th, 2009, I made a body fat % goal for myself. According to a pair of $3 calipers--that I purchased for the express purpose of keeping track of this goal--my body fat at that time was around 24%. So, I made a goal to get to 15% body fat by May 7th. The number is insignificant. My real goal here was to, over time, see that number decrease. And the more appropriate number to look at, in order to achieve that goal, was the skin fold measurement.

So, I fashioned a workout / nutrition program for myself. And once per week I took my skin fold tests. Once every three weeks I weighed myself to gauge how much fat I had lost and how much muscle I had gained. Here are the results (click the image to see the enlarged version):

I'm very proud to say that I met my goal :) I'm now starting the Strength For Life challenge (with a few minor adjustments--based on my experience--that I'll talk about at a later date) that Shawn Phillips has developed, and I'm in my first week of Base Camp. I'll be starting the Transformational Training Camp on Monday, May 25th. At that time, I'll try to blog regularly about my progress / struggles. It should be fun!

Tags: Matthew, strength, goals, measure, accomplish

Friday Five of Food

http://matthew.gaia.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:39:16 GMT

1) What did you have for breakfast?
Scrambled egg whites with tofu, onions, green peppers, carrots, and tomato. Two pieces of Spelt toast with Earth Balance. And a banana. Plus a giant glass of water.

2) Have you grown your own food?
Yes, last year I had a garden and we grew all sorts of veggies.

3) What is your favorite beverage?
Water!!!

4) Do you like to cook?
Yes, but I don't like coming up with what to cook.

5) What is your favorite vegetable(s)?
Hmmmm... it depends on how it is prepared. Ethiopian food is delicious, and I just love the way they make their beats at Ras Kassa's.

Tags: Friday Five, Food