One Hand Speaks

This is a personal contemplation about the life long costs of buying prosthetic arms and my my perception of those costs. I am mostly referring to my parents and how they were able to buy my artificial arms.

Here is part #2 of my story for this week. This half is more about my excitement in getting my old prosthetic arm upgraded and potentially about getting a brand new arm. I kinda feel like a young boy about to get a new toy.

Three years deep and still going strong! This is my 3rd Anniversary celebration podcast. It was May 19, 2017 that my first podcast hit the airways. I have been putting out a podcast a week for the past three years and have truly enjoyed myself while sharing my stories (mostly) about my one handed life. I have also learned many things about who I am and how I share my life. Additionally, I hope you, the listener, have enjoyed, learned, and laughed along the way. For this podcast I am going to keep it simple and kind of short with a story in there about a recent interaction with a 5 year-old and her family I recently met at the park. I will also share some of my visions for where I will be taking the One Hand Speaks Storytelling Podcast. Changes in the production, the stories, and the direction of my one handed podcast. I might even give some thanks and shout-puts and maybe even drink a beer. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or leave some feedback. Show Notes: 3 Ye

I have destroyed countless Zip Fly buttons on my blue jeans over the span of my one handed life. Those are the buttons at the top of jeans that keep the fly fastened. It took a moment of contemplation just before standing in front of a toilet to realize an interesting truth about my one handed life.

Traveling a planet of over 7 billion people with countless countries and I run into this same person twice is the most unique of places. I love solo international travel. There is such a beautiful possibility to meet all kinds of people from all different places and cultures. Not just the people who live in a particular country. But also the people who are also traveling from other countries. It is one of the true joys for me as an international traveler of one. I recently returned from a two week trip to Nepal. While I was there I had some very interesting encounters. A person I know from my home town of Boise, Idaho. A lady I met once at a dinner in Malaysia in 2014. Two different guys who saw me online who were also in Nepal. But then there was this one lady who I could not believe we saw each one another again along our travels. First in the United States. Then a few years later in an isolated area of Eastern Tibet. Then just six weeks ago in a small town in Godawari, Nepal. Such a small world for such a

We are all learning things about ourselves living with this global coronavirus pandemic. One thing I have heard a number of people say is, "I cannot believe how many times a day I touch my face." For me and my one handed life I must say it is how many things I put in my mouth and use my mouth to do things. I have become so aware of how often I use my mouth as a substitute for the left hand I do not have. We do not pay as much attention to something we do all the time until we cannot do it. Touching our face, staying inside, and keeping 6 feet apart are just a few of the things. I use my mouth to hold things, to open bags of potato chips or candy, and even to help zip up my coat. One day I realized when I was about to use my mouth to manipulate something, my one-handed life can make me more prone to get "The Rona!" Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or leave some feedback. Show Notes: How many times do you touch your face in a day? Noticing the things we have done

I arrived back from Nepal on March 14, 2020 and the United States was making extreme Covid-19 social changes. Two weeks earlier (when I left for Nepal) the feeling in the United States was a "not-so-concerned-about-the-Coronavirus." All that changed incredibly fast. I cannot express how weird it was to leave under one social consciousness only to return to the frenzy of transitioning in a global pandemic restructure. Three days before leaving Nepal I heard the United States was starting catch up to the pandemic situation after a late start. Then three days after arriving the entire Federal Bureau I am employed with went into "Max Telework" status. We are not allowed to gather in groups, large events are being canceled, activities are going online video, and we all are in a "stay-at-home" quarantine day to day lifestyle. I recently met a good friend of mine and we discussed the current coronavirus situation. We had a very candid conversation in the backseat of his car. We went to get some coffee and decided t

When I was departing the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal I had a one-handed experience with a number of Nepalese people. As I have done a bit of international travel I have podcasted and spoken about a number of positive experiences. I have also spoken about some somewhat negative experiences based on a nation's cultural perspective of my one-handed life. International travel with one-handed life has shown me many different aspects of many cultures. It is one of the great qualities about living life with one hand, I get to see a side of people and a culture most people do not see. Amidst the current global pandemic I recently spent the first two weeks of March 2020 traveling, shopping, and engaging in Buddhist pilgrimage activities in Kathmandu, Nepal. My flight was at 11:30 pm in the evening. I was a tired from my travels and a bit haggard with the Covid-19 overtone. Not to mention I was carrying home more than I came to Nepal. I was a bit disorganized and not well packed with something special happened to me a

Kathmandu, Nepal is a beautiful city. But as one local girl was telling me, "There is no shortage of grit in Kathmandu!" She said this to me while slightly laughing with a tone of experienced acknowledgement. She was a local who grew up in Nepal and was a friend of a friend of a friend. She wanted to show me a bit of the "real" Kathmandu. As we were eating she asked me what I thought of Kathmandu. I told her it was a beautiful city and culture especially being Buddhist. But after spending four days in the Thamel area, I told her that, "Kathmandu can be a little bit 'gritty' at times." That is when she laughed and said what she said. This podcast is about some of the uncool and "gritty" experiences I had in Kathmandu. Overall I had a great time and felt very safe. And in general I am a very positive person and look for the good in all situations and people. However, some weird experiences did happen and they are kind of funny and therefore worth sharing. I thought it best to put them all in one podcast. Than

Basically I heard this was the Monkey Temple for good reason. There are a lot of Monkeys at this stupa/temple. I visited Swayamdhunath Stupa the day after I first visited Boudhanath Stupa and booked my next three nights at the Bodhi Guest House. Once I arrived at this temple I knew this was something special about this temple. So much so I thought I should get a hotel on near this location because I know I would be spending a great deal of time in at this holy Buddhist stupa. In the end I realized my best place to stay is near Boudhanath Stupa and at the Bodhi Guest House Hotel. The Monkey Temple is so much different than Boudhanath Stupa. It is more than the monkeys. It is the energy, the people and the general size of the complex. I was completely stunned by it all. The more I go the deeper I go into the coolness of Swayambhuanth Stupa. There is something very special for me at this temple. I knew it the first time I arrived. Each time I go this realization is only deepened. Despite staying near the Boudhan

In March of 2029 I spent 14 days in Kathmandu, Nepal. My original intention was to go there for a week long Buddhist retreat with my Buddhist Teacher, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. However, due to the increasing spread of the Covid-19 virus around the world my retreat was canceled. I had already paid for the entire trip and booked the needed flights and hotel stay. I would lose about the same amount of money I would spend if I canceled my flight or if I went. In the end it did not take me long to decide to go on a solo Buddhist Pilgrimage to Nepal despite the (at that time) increasing situation with the now global pandemic of the Covid-19 virus. This trip was an experience I will never forget and I am so glad I. decided to go. I left the United States at just the right time (February 29) and I was able to return at just the right time (March 14). I am looking forward to visiting again. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or leave some feedback. Show Notes: Taking a

My visits at Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal has been amazing to say the least. I first came to this stupa when I was doing my first four days in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Once I first arrived here I knew I had to spend more time at this location. I had only booked four days at a hotel just to get rooted and stabilize. I knew once I was here in Kathmandu I would find another place to stay. I wanted the trip to unfold organically as far as where I was staying. This was such a good idea. After my fist visit to Boudhanath Stupa I started to look for hotels in this area and came across the Bodhi Guest House. Come to discover this is a very popular spot for tourists on Trip Advisor (.com). In the end I will have spent 6 nights at the Bodhi Guest House and near the Bouhdanath Stupa. I am able to do some quality Buddhist practice, get in some shopping, and truly enjoy the real comfortable family vibe here at the Bodhi Guest House. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or

After spending nine hours in the Dubai airport I started to contemplate how international travel is kinda like interstellar galactic space travel on a much smaller global scale. Please keep in mind I am a huge Science Fiction fan. This avenue of thought began by realizing how little I know about the Arab Middle East area, people, and culture. Everything was so different and unique. The food, the clothing, the people, skin color, smells, and the languages. I felt like I was on another planet. Plus Dubai is a huge international airport of a completely different cultural base and experience. I felt like I was at some interstellar space station with people from many different worlds. I can only image what it was like for a global traveler to visit other parts of the world over a thousand years ago. Some cultures must of seemed alien in so many ways. So much of our world is accessible over the internet and yet I still felt like a stranger in a stranger. An alien lost in translation at some planetary docking bay. I

I just spent 21.5 hours on planes flying from Boise, Idaho to Seattle, to Dubai, and finally to Kathmandu, Nepal. It was 36 ours of total travel time from when I left my home until I landed in Kathmandu. With the time change is was a 48 hour shift. I left my home in Boise at 9:30am and I landed at the Kathmandu airport at 9:40am local time. This was by far my longest amount of time spent on a plane with travel time. It was the 4.5 hours in Seattle and the 9 hours in Dubai that really out me over the top. This podcast is about me just checking in from time to time as I make my way around the world. I have 5 installations as I have layovers in airports, quiet times to record, and just having the inspiration to speak. My first one was recored at the Boise Airport. Then I have one at Seattle airport, two just straight hanging in the Dubai airport, and finally my late night concluding podcast safe and sound at my hotel room in Kathmandu, Nepal. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a com

I recently earned the rank of 4th degree black belt (4th Dan) in Aikido. Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) in Tokyo, Japan accepted my recommendation and I was officially promoted on January 12, 2020. This is such a special milestone for me in my life and in my aikido world. My sensei called me a few days before the promotion was announced. However, I was unaware of when that was going to happen. Then one day I started seeing all these Facebook messages, posts on my FB page, and numerous emails offering me congratulations. I guess I was unaware of how many Aikidoists read the yearly listings of all the authorized black belt ranks called the Kagami Biraki. It was really cool to get so many notes and congrats about my new rank. Fourth degree black is not an easy was rank to acquire. The timing of the promotion is perfect as I started teaching again and this will really support our school. Now that I am 4th Dan, 7th degree black belt does not look so far away. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share th

Well what can I say? The Corona Virus has affected my travel plans. The Buddhist retreat I was planning on attending in Nepal this March 2020 was canceled. I found out about 5 days ago. Now the big question arises about whether or not I still want to go to Nepal. The main reason for going was to attend a week long retreat with my Buddhist Teacher, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche. This is the beginning of Losar and the first of the Four Great Buddhist Holidays. This would be such an incredible time to be in Nepal on a Buddhist retreat. Then I had to think about how much money I would lose canceling my reservations as everything is already paid. Then I though about all the leave I could save at my job and maybe do a "stay-cation" here in Boise. I kept going back and forth between going or staying. But then I realized I would be such a fool by not going. I love solo traveling and I will a Buddhist in Nepal. So I decided to go and do a solo Buddhist Pilgrimage to Nepal.   Thanks for listening! I invite you to sha

This February 29th I will be making my way to Kathmandu, Nepal. My Buddhist Teacher, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche will be teaching a one week retreat in Nepal and I decided to attend. I am en days aways as I write these words and I am slightly apprehensive. Not so much about the Coronavirus though I am paying attention and getting prepared. I am more concerned about getting all the logistics in-line and getting ready to leave the United States. I am preparing to move apartments as soon as I return from Nepal. Our Dharma Center in Boise Just got dedicated space and we are starting to move and plan to finish before I leave. With my job, teaching Aikido, taking care of my mother, and finalizing a website build for a client  Therefore, I am very short on time to prepare and do research. Most likely will throw a bunch of clothes in a backpack, grab my passport, and take some cash. I guess this will add to the adventure of it all. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or leave

"You guys in a band?" This question was asked of us when we stopped for lunch in Bend, Oregon. We were returning to Boise, Idaho after a 3 day Buddhist retreat for men. It was the 2020 Dzogchen Daka Retreat. Each year the Dzogchen Retreat Center, USA hosts a retreat just for the men (Daka Retreat) and another for the women (Dakini Retreat). This will be my second year attending the Daka retreat. Last year there were just two of us going and the driving conditions were not great. Such is the case driving through central Oregon in the middle of winter. This year there was a crew of 6 coming from Boise in two vehicles. It was a grand drive of nine hours in both directions as the weather and conditions were excellent. We stopped at Rockin' Dave's Bistro and Backstage Lounge in both directions. Dave is famous for his Ruben sandwiches and I want to share these eats with my friend. One the return trip, Dave himself popped out of the back and asked the group of us if we were all in a band. We thought that question wa

Yes, it is true. I am my own worst enemy. I believe most people think this is a reality for themselves at different times in their lives. But for me it was a huge part of how I thought about myself for the first fifteen years of my life. Not only have I been my own worst enemy, I am the person who has treated me the worst in my life. In a very real way these two activities go hand-in-hand (no pun intended). I think I am my own worst enemy because I am the one who has treated myself the worst in life. When I am speaking to kids and young adults I often give time for Q&A. The younger the kids the more questions they want to ask. There are a set of questions most kids ask most of the time. And there are a few questions that do not come up often that really dig deep about the quality of my one-handed life. The answer to this question is not what most kids, youth, and adults, would expect. “Who has treated you the worst in life because you have one hand? Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast,

Yes, it is true. I can cuddle forever! Over the years I have spoken greatly on the benefits of a one-handed life. At first it may seem very tragic. But I do get 50% off all manicures. Life is what we make it and I want to make it joyful for myself and others. Therefore, I have decided to look at life from a position of positivity. I look for the good!! Over the years looking at my one-handed life I started to notice some very cool qualities. Half-off all manicures is not too bad. But the quality of being able to cuddle forever is a benefit in my life I believe is absolutely priceless. Not to mention being pretty special for lady I am "spooning." As hard as it my seem, my one-handed life has some deeply unique and priceless qualities. Thanks for listening! I invite you to share this podcast, offer a comment or leave some feedback. Show Notes: Living a one-handed life had many benefits. I can cuddle forever. Changing how you think changes your perspective and therefore your universe. Resources: Ben