Bootcamp pays off!

 Most of you know that I took my son on a weeks bootcamp training out in Tenerife last week. We intermittent fasted every day only eating 2 meals a day, one at around 1pm and another about 6pm. We trained hard everyday in the outdoor calisthenics gyms first thing in the morning. Then it was up to the mountains doing workouts with rocks. In the afternoons we swam in the sea and hung out on the beach stretching.

This past week my son has been saying how much his physique has changed with just one week training fasted. He says he's carried on this intermittent fasting from he's came back. Eating all the right foods and training harder in the gym than he has ever trained.

My son grew up seeing a lot of bad stuff around me, bad habits and lifestyles that he seen as just normal. He then went off the rails himself for many years, got into all sorts of drink, drugs and trouble.

Give me a boy and I'll make you a man is a quote thats so true. We dont realise how much our parenting effects our children. Like my dad was one of the dodgiest dudes in Belfast who was up to all sorts of underworld activities. And what did I do? I became just like him! 

For the past 7 years I've been trying to change me for the better and parent my son in a better way too. Getting him to the gym every day and involved with my wee business and tree planting. I share my life's wisdom with him daily.

Yesterday he called me up and said he's just finished some Karma Yoga as he was out helping a friend plant trees. I couldnt stop laughing. Karma Yoga is a Buddhist practice which is a form of selfless service. I was like WTF son your growing into a decent man.

Proud of the kid so I am. It's not easy at all for young people these days, the amount of drugs and temptations around is way different than my day.

Get the body fit, respect it, keep it clean, connect with nature and plant some trees. Keep the diving suit for the soul firing on all cylinders.

Attachment and craving as the Buddha says is our root cause of suffering. The first time I ever sat in meditation I seen that I was not in control of my own mind. I did not own me. I was ruled by outside BS that was stealing and controlling every part of my existence. If it wasnt being attached to revengeful thoughts about some scumbag that robbed me who was living rent free in my head, it was chasing my next fix that was just temporary and passing and that always left misery in its wake.

You gotta really analyse at times what you want from life, I want inner peace and contentment. 

So much of the way of our world is the polar opposite of this though. If we aren't dividing ourselves with the next big circus show the news puts out, we are scoffing our faces with greed and gluttony. 

When you look through history no matter what side gets the upper hand they all resort to the same evil. Our problems arise from our minds. Its a human thing and not a tribal thing. We are all just as bad as each other and we can all be just as good as each other too. 

People really need to study the Bhavachakra wheel of life. At the centre is the tree poisons that keep us stuck in the cycle of suffering. These three poisons is what the way of our world promotes. The first step out of this is good deeds and generosity.

And my good deeds is phantom planting fruit trees for nature and community. 

I challenge you to do the same. 

Peace and love 

The Phantom Planter and Wee Betty