Finding Swamy

#77 Dutch Bros

Founded in 1992, Dutch Bros is a coffee chain started by two brothers that grew up working on a dairy farm.

What started as pushcarts around town, is 300 locations strong in the Western United States today.

When I moved to Oregon, it was no surprise that Dutch Bros is more than just a place to get your morning Java. It’s an institution of the highest magnitude, with a cult-like following that rivals the Church of England.

During one of my morning rendezvous visits to this caffeinated shrine, I talked to the morning barista.

#76 The Simple Pleasures

As I sit on my kitchen table, enjoying a simple coffee, I think about this day.

My family immigrated here from Fiji Islands.

I was born in the US.

I have had opportunities that others would only dream of. I am no better than the others, just lucky.

#75 Tuna Skin

About 40 miles South of Tokyo, Japan you’ll find the small fishing village of Misaki.

There, the Misaki Tuna Center is where neighboring chefs gather every morning at 7 am to get their hands on the prized Maguro, or Bluefin Tuna.

Master Chef and Artist, Yoshio “Oyaji” Yamada owns a restaurant called Kurobatei.

Like many of the chefs, he’s eager to get the best tuna he can for his customers.

#74 The Pandemic

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world. Politics and its leaders are less trusted.

Who’s right is a tough question to answer, when everyone is sure they’re right.

What’s going to happen when things go back to “normal?”

#73 Deadlines

Everything has an end. It’s Nature’s Law.

As much as we’d like to prolong life, we are imminent and that’s ok.

Every breath, cherished memory, and experience is precious because it’s not forever.

Do you have deadlines at work? You probably do.
Do you have deadlines outside of work? Maybe.

#72 On The Hook

In Turkey, the bakers have a practice called, “on the hook.”

If a customer comes to the bakery, and they are feeling generous and have a few extra shekels to spare, they will buy an additional loaf of bread and put it, “on the hook.”

Almost always, someone will come to the bakery, perhaps a family that’s down on their luck, and will ask the baker if there is anything “on the hook.” If there is, the baker will give them the additional loaf.

Giving without acknowledgment in this way is special.

# 71 The Dishwasher

When we use the dishwasher, there is a reason we put our silverware, glasses, and dishes in the same place. It saves time and energy because we know where things are.

I am taking this simple idea and trying to spread it across as many areas of my life as I can. I am making it a point to be more organized. It took me a long time to learn about the importance of knowing where things are until I started breaking down the idea of time.

#70 The Cookie Jar

When Michael Jordan was playing for the Washington Wizards, he faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant who was in his prime.

Ironically, Kobe wore some Jordan brand shoes as admiration for his idol.

Jordan said, “You can wear the shoes, but you’ll never fill um.”

After the game, the Laker room was silent. For the next two weeks, Kobe was quiet.

The team asked former Lakers head coach, Phil Jackson, “what’s wrong with Kobe, is he mad at us?”

#69 My Biggest Fear

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

I have many loved ones that will never understand self-awareness.

That there are two people inside of you. One that does the talking, and the other, the listening.

#68 How to Live a Simpler Life Today: 7 Things You Can Do to See Immediate Results

I wrote this because it is much needed during these interesting times.

We are dealing with a virus that’s affecting the entire globe. We see media outlets’ constant onslaught of fear-mongering tactics that have been giving rise to conspiracy theories and have overwhelmingly created separation and distrust in many arenas.

We are a nation that is divided and each side is absolutely sure they are right.

While the world feels smaller because almost everything is real-time, it also does seem a bit more chaotic.

Peace and joy are within everyone’s reach, but the onus is on us to do the work and the path is a solo journey.

Below are a few tactics that have helped me turn down the noise of negativity and division: