When we’re walking, running, riding, driving, cooking, eating, working … rather than focusing on what we need to do when we get where we’re going, focus on the process of getting there. Feel the ground .. feel the rhythmic movement of your legs as they carry you, notice the way your feet touch the ground. Or the way the wind presses against your jersey as you ride in 35 degree weather … or the way the ground moves around you as you crest 120mph … or the way the spices lay upon the eggs as you cook them for your family … or the way the lettuce crunches in your mouth … or the way you feel as you continue to solve complex problems of the moment.

Pay attention to how your body feels with each step. This can be done at any pace. Just focus your thoughts on your body’s natural movement and feel the sensations as travel. Can you feel the seconds tick … can you enjoy each of those precious moments? If so, you will arrive at your destination (be it the door of your house, the drop point where your car is located, the office, the dinner table, the moment when everyone toasts to a great meal or when you’re logging the days list) calm and centered.

Simple but complicated. Our minds rush constantly rush toward “the future.” BLEH!

Lately I’ve been caught up in my calendar and the enormous work load in front of me. This week I’m going to enjoy the ride, the food, the air, the music, the steps … the time.  Tick oneth.

North Koreans don’t need DVR technology any more. The most important purpose of these devices — to fast forward through commercials — no longer applies, now that the reclusive Communist state has banned television commercials from the airwaves.

According to the Yonhap news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was upset when he saw commercials showing up on Korean Central Television in early July. The report quotes a source close to Kim as saying the ruler’s response to the ad was: “What is this? That kind of rubbish appeared when China started reforms and openness.” He was obviously pissed and hasn’t been open to suggestions that he follow China’s lead in embracing a limited form of capitalism. Cha Sung-Su, head of the station, has been fired, and the last commercials were shown on August 31, 2009.

No one has seen Sung-Su since.

Since Kjil is always looking at his country with eagle eyes, it seem that (maybe) the U.S. and China should cooperate to encourage North Korea to adopt economic reform. The most effective way to make North Korea more responsive would be to initiate a free trade agreement between South Korea and China. If so, such an FTA would represent a big shock and by extension a stimulant for North Korea. Obviously, China will never allow North Korea to become an American-led democracy, but will welcome KjIl if he reforms his country along lines acceptable to China. IF and WHEN that happens  – let me know.

I do believe this — South Korea, the U.S., China and Japan had best create a cooperative unified strategy for the post-Kim Jong-Il era … cause it’s coming. Most of us who are reading the back-story on Kjil recognize that when he passes there are likley two competing survival scenarios: 1)  adapt to a Chinese-style capitalist economy,  and 2) remain mired in Kim-style socialism. I vote for door #3 > give the people some protein, the children of North Korea the clothing and medical attention they deserve along with free iPods for anyone under 30, and cell phones for everyone over 18. Oh … and give the entire country access to the Internet so they can play catchup with the rest of the world. Nuf said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il declared Friday that the country will maintain the goal of de-nuclearization and work to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Kjil also said North Korea wants to “solve related problems through bilateral and multilateral dialogue.” China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported this as Kjil’s response to a letter he received from Chinese President Hu Jintao during a meeting with State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who is visiting North Korea as a special envoy for Hu.

Analysts interpreted Kim’s indication of his intent to return to the six-party talks as a method of simultaneously addressing pressure from both China and the U.S. The analysts believe that North Korea is giving priority consideration to China’s role as the chair nation for the six-party talks that has consistently called for North Korea’s return.  At the same time, Kjil is expressing NK’s plan to resolve the issue of its return to the talks as a factor potentially limiting the breadth and depth of its upcoming bilateral dialogue with the U.S.

This feels complicated. The fact is, no-nukes is no-nukes. Kjil, you need to learn a new tact in life: chillaxing.