My Window To The World…

I will in the future definitely write some posts regarding financial (and other) matters when co-operating with people.

Today let me just tell you: whenever anyone offers you money (that you are now or in the future entitled to), do not hesitate, but take it.

A couple of years ago, a guy I knew was supposed to move in with me and share my house for two months. January I paid the rent, and told him to pay the rent for February (directly to the landlord), since I knew I would be abroad. He said he was okay with that, but would also not have a problem paying his share for January on the spot.

After just ten days, he moved out, because he found a more conveniently located place. I told him that we had agreed on two months, but that I would be nice and charge him for the first month only. He felt insulted and could not understand why he should pay for one month. (When we had agreed to two months!)

To this day, I have not seen the money. Had I taken his January share, he would have had to make me understand why I should partially refund him. Now I have to waste time and energy to get the money that he owes me.

The importance of writing a contract when dealing with other people is a topic to be covered at a later date.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Money Matters, Lifehacks, Food For Thought

A lovely friend shared this with me late last year. Again: something I cannot forget, something I simply love.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use when “getting”
rewards, status, praise, or any kind of happiness,
so as not to indulge, forget ourselves, or be foolish.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use when “losing”
rewards, status, praise, or even wife and kids,
so we aren’t weakened, confused, or distraught.

“They arise, manifest, and then cease”:
this is the main mantra to use “at the end”,
the best weapon for dealing with death,
fully at peace having gone beyond Mara’s snares.

Today I recommend books by the Dalai Lama, as well as “The Tibetan Book Of The Dead”.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Buddhism, Supreme Buddhist Mantra, Philosophy, Food For Thought

Cannot remember where I first heard this one, but it’s never left my memory.

We - at least the majority of us - were born with one mouth, but two ears. And I think there is a reason for that.

I do believe that listening is more important than speaking.

Way too many people just babble on and on, oftentimes just for the sake of making some noise.

You even get some f***ing bible bashers who stand on a streetcorner and insult your intelligence with screaming their beliefs at all and sundry. I will post more about them in another entry. For now, I just recommend you listen to Frank Zappa’s “Heavenly Bank Account” (which can be found on his “You Are What You Is” album).

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Philosophy, Food For Thought

I have been into computers for a long time. My whole working life has pretty much been dominated by Apple Computers and the Macintosh Operating System (I started out on system 6).

Since I went freelance and became my own boss, life without my laptop seems like an impossibility.

On one level, however, taking my laptop everywhere I go, is a strange thing.

Whether I am in Zurich (Switzerland), Bangkok or Chiang Mai or Ubon Rachathani or Koh Samui or Koh Samed (Thailand), or Penang or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), or Vienna (Austria): I pretty much visit exactly the same websites, and listen to the same music on my beloved Sennheiser HD25 headphones.

While it is cool that I am able to do this, it is also weird… I travel half-way around the world, and am still confronted with tons of familiar stuff. When I sit in a cafe, listen to music, then take the headphones off, it is like stepping out of a dreamscape.

After saying that… today I recommend you check out Placebo. Fantastic band. Their latest album, “Meds”, is a must-have.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: iPod, iBook, Laptop, Computer, Travels, Food For Thought

When reading books or surfing the world wide web, I often come across words and or sentences that inspire me to reflect on them for a while.

This one I wrote down not too long ago:

Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.

Or shall we believe good ol’ Canadian avantgarde-punk band NoMeansNo: Forget your life. It’s nothing.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: Philosophy, Food For Thought, NoMeansNo, Lifehacks