SHORT & SWEET: DAY ONE HUNDRED WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

There are times in life or even in your day when you are completely overwhelmed with all that is presented to you or all that is on your TO DO LIST or all that you are obligated to do. How do you deal with this emotion? Do you tackle it head on and barrel through all that you face? Or do you pick and choose, avoid here and there, put off, and then find yourself behind and more overwhelmed? I struggle with both facets, but have realized if I can find a trigger point of action that keeps me focused, eye on the prize of completion that I can maintain throughout the day, then I can push forward. Discovering that push and leap of faith isn't always easy for me at least. I struggle with the internal body flow of motivation and thorough effort, but strive to constantly improve to initiate clever ways to take the plunge each day allowing me to stay on course to go about my day with follow through. For me it really doesn't take much, many times its a very sweet and simple gesture, or just getting outside, standing up, or making it into the shower. Discover what triggers your motivating factor of making your day a productive one- RVB

GOT TO SWEAT: DAY NINETY NINE WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

I was truly blessed to be brought up by two parents that were athletes that provided me the playing field of competition, dedicated drive, and the fun of team sports. Through my experiences I gained the skills of a deep deep 3 point shot, a tenacious powerful tennis serve, and the determined heart to compete with focused fierce vigor like no other. I was on championship teams, and experienced the cellar, but as an athlete it is what your perspective of the game and what your intentions are that truly determines the outcome of its affect in your life. In my life it was a place to release, gain self confidence, interact with others, and understand the abilities of how to win, prepare, practice, and truly fight for common goals with other striving individuals. I played intensive sports from the age of five to about fourteen (baseball, basketball, American football, futbol (soccer) & tennis) and then went onto high school just focusing on American football and one year of basketball (where I learned endurance that is still with me today). Sports has also taught me the importance of fitness. If any of you know me throughout my life I have struggled with fat cells/my weight. Even though I was a tall and big kid it was always an inner struggle since I LOVE TO EAT. I am a savory sweet kind of guy that binges and can mack with the best of them. In the exercise world it is so important to understand the know how of the body and how to maintain goodness throughout your life. In fifth grade I believe,  my PE class was introduced to Ironman TriAthlete Ms. Leslie Skow. She put us through the fitness tests. BMI, flexibility, pull ups, sit ups, agility, and the treacherous mile run that I truly loathed. It wasn't until someone stole my mountain bike 15+ years later that I actually enjoyed long distant running, but that mile run was a place that I was stuck in the back of pack for all to see and I couldn't doing anything about. I have overcome all that embarrassment and am an avid runner knocking of daily 4-7 mile runs no problem and love it (discovered the RUNNERS HIGH). Through that experience and ongoing self observation/experimentation I have finally understood and got in control of my metabolism. This has allowed me to celebrate a delicious diet, know where my limits exist, and maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I can't stress enough though the significance of providing oneself the opportunity to have the ability to LET GO with exercise. To push yourself to a place that is energizing that will assist your body to shed weight, get rid of unwanted toxins inside and out, and freely let the flow of the body nurture your glowing soul bringing an inspired peace of mind to you every day. I believe its a MUST to sweat. So many of us bottle up all our stress through over thinking, over working, over analyzing and never give the body the time to BE FREE and really drain out all the nonsense we seem to store in our vessels. Discover your release. Prioritize Time For You. Keep Moving and Shaking People. Be Good to Your Bodies- RVB

One thing I constantly struggle to deal with is consistent sleep. Sleep is so so so important to give your body rest and peace to do its thing.

SWEET & SPICY: DAY NINETY EIGHT WHAT IS MY PURPOSE

I come from a famous Los Angeles (Pacific Northwest) Dutch baking family: VAN DE KAMP. Some know the story while others don't have a clue. I learn new things about my family legacy each year and its always an amazing inspiring reality of what runs through my blood of where/how one side of my family endured to survive in LA from the 20s-late 70s and onward. A Jewish family (Lawry) and a Catholic family (Van de Kamp) decided to create a partnership (somewhat of a NO NO in the day) and start simple. Starting simple is always a wonderful piece of advice that I never seem to grasp since I am a big dreamer/picture Aquarian that strives to build the masterpiece, but many of us know that to get on top of the mountain we can't just go straight up, we have to switch-back dealing with all the elements and fight onward with endurance, patience, and perseverance. It started in downtown with a small potato chip stand called Saratoga Chips. The business then expanded with the vision of bringing freshly daily baked goods into local markets establishing Van de Kamp Bakeries. From there restaurants were created and then eventually a line of frozen foods were provided to the public near the end of my family reigns in the business. This was a very brief description of a wonderful story about two striving families who believed in quality and excellent success. What it taught me was to believe and act upon your passions. Live through them and enjoy the journey. I believe this is why I love to create and celebrate in the kitchen. Never feared it, have delicious senses, all about preparation, presentation, and lots of color on my plates. I have picked up things here and there from my mama, other mamas around the world, cooks in restaurants, and backyard barbecues, but really have to honor my own love for food, taste, and the service of others. My philosophy is "EVERY BITE IS A NEW BITE" with a sweet and spicy flare. My specialties are Mexican, Sunday Brunch, Greens & Grains the Vegan way, Sauces, Argentinian Parilla, ans salads all in a flavor-filled savory sweet and loving way. It is true, cooking can be oh so loving and perfect in many many ways. The kitchen is a place where I shine and blossom. A place where I can be me in my own unique way...Bon-Appetito- RVB

TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED: DAY NINETY SEVEN WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

There are so many things in our lives that we are obligated to follow, understand, deal with, remember, take responsibility, and overcome, but it is HOW and WHAT style/approach we decide to move forward with that truly creates our soul and how we live. There is an energy that evolves around our aura that is constantly moving us. It keeps us up or drags us down. It allows us to be confident or it brings us doubt. What the real issue is our willingness and ability to be aware of how we feel, if we are happy with the affect of our surroundings and actions, and do we have the dedicated desire to transform from the inside out. Do you spend time in your day or week asking yourself these types of concerns of making improvements in your life? Are you discovering ways to bring more goodness and peace your way? What types of actions (ie; exercise, meditation, eating, music etc...) do you take to bring yourself (mentality, physically, emotionally) balance and keep you motivated. How do you make sure your stress level doesnt disable this process? What brings you stress? How does stress physically make you feel? I put a lot of self pressure on myself. In the past I was surely more impatient, had a poor diet, was a "NO" man, and spent a lot of my time negated situations that deprived me of opportunity. Physically I deal with ADD. If any of you can relate, IT DOES EXIST in a physical way. Its never an excuse but only a barrier to face and overcome. Its an amazing gift, but also brings me daily challenges and changes of mood throughout the day. I have done my best through diet, intensive exercise, and meditation to fight on through and bring more productivity and Light into my day. We surely are too blessed to be stressed in allowing it to control, change, and crutch our lives. So check with yourself when feeling "stressed" realize that you dont enjoy that feeling and then create a game plan of how to tone it down and utilize its realization of its NOT FOR ME..No mas por favore..We are put on this Earth to celebrate our gifts. I know I DO NOT do this with all my heart and to the best of my ability. That is a strong, but true statement that I am here willing and able to move away from and become what I want to be; sharing my gifts, bringing the best out of others, and creating peace in my surroundings. Is that my purpose? I believe its part of it, but surely have to be more specific this year and get to the cause/cell root of me  RVB

FIRST JOB: DAY NINETY SIX WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

My first job wasn't a paper route or being a lifeguard at a local swimming pool, but it was to go into my step-dad's high end men's clothing store called P.O.S.H and become a seasonal MAIL LABELER.  Yes my fingers went through sticky pain as I unraveled sheet after sheet of client labels and applied them to front of envelopes of seasonal catalogue envelopes getting paid 6 per/hour in the mid 80s. I was stuck in a little back room with an ADD focus of making some cash to pay for my movie and candy bar baseball card habit. It was a twice a year gig where I pulled in some major dough for a little doughy kid from Newport Beach. I was paid under the dinner table and provided a bank roll where I even saved some cash at the Bank of Newport that no longer exists. It was a job that required patience, a little unsticking skill, and lining up hand&eye coordination that I learned on the ball fields in town. Never recognized for my service by the community, never got a raise, and never got demoted. It was a responsibility and a story to share of where a passionate soul had to begin making a buck out there in the big working world. It brought me closer to the employees and tailors that already knew me at the store and opened doors for future work of doing house cleaning at the local sales guy's bachelor pad. Do you know what happens to five day old left over lasagna that sits underneath a pile of dirty dishes? So when looking back at your first job, realize its current impact remembering we all had to start somewhere- RVB

PLAY IT LOUD SING WITH STYLE: DAY NINETY FIVE WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

When I was seven or so my papa got me a drum set and my stage name was Jeff "TheBeat" O'Brien. Jeff O'Brien was my imaginary friend living on the mountains in Lake Arrowhead. He was my most challenging opponent, loyalist adviser, and focused critic, at a time I was the most confused, frustrated and out of control soul. (My great-grandmother Amah last name was O'Brien but had no idea until I was 17.) My sister would present me as I would hide upstairs in HOUSE#2 in Lake Arrowhead (#2 to my memory since I know it was really #3) and she would announce slowly, "NOW COMING TO THE STAGE JEEEEEEEEEEEEEF TTTTTTTTTTHHHHEEEEE BEEEEEEEAT OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEN..." I would run down the long flight of carpeted stairs jump on my little stool, and belt out any recent Scooby Doo song. The most memorable one was "Pretty Mary SunLight" and I would add in "I think you're  such a HUNK...Pretty Mary Sunlight...." At the time my sister transformed herself into Annie doing gigs with local concert pianist at the Lake Arrowhead Hilton and around town. She fit the part like a gem red haired wig, locket, dress and all. Only thing she was missing was her dog SANDY. Since I was born my exposure to music was beautiful. Such an amazing eclectic variety of wonderful 50s-80s musical creations. I even got my sisters wig out of storage once to enter a lip sync contest in the 5th grade. I was too chubby to fit in the dress, but I got in front of the whole school auditorium and brought the house down (literally- even got all the mean teachers to release their perma-frowns for a few minutes) singing the classic "TOMORROW. The Sun Ull Come Out Tomorrow...Bet Your Bottom Dollars that Tomorrow They'll Be Sun.......?  Even ended the song on one knee with arms wing-wide. Always love attention. Always love performing. Always love to celebrate with music. Drive intensely at night with windows down blasting the bass and treble. There is something about the sound and drive of musical notes that reach your ears that bring the best out of the soul. It can soothe, motivate, inspire, wash away the pain, keep you going, and bring peace and harmony to your day. It can also bring up wonderful memories giving you the strength to keep enduring and believe. I am all about foundational structure in my life and I desire to bring MORE MUSIC BACK in my life. Ever since I sweat out my Ipod nano my ears with music has been limited. Dont have a smart phone or a car to be attached to, but I do my best to enjoy it live and loud with amazing style. Smiling thinking of the beauty and peace I feel with all the great music people have within them. Go out and seek the soul within all the instruments people play, strum, and drum. Peace- RVB

PUTTING YOUR FOOT DOWN: DAY NINETY FOUR WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

I was gifted some large (flippers/water skis as my papa would) 13DD feet my friends. Some Dutch Irish exploring vessels that have gotten me from point A to B and back to A via LAX or Union Station in LA plenty of wonderful times. Analyze that number (13DD) and I must have the widest flattest fattest skinniest set of knockers/feet west of the Mississippi (so kidding). It took over 3 months for my mama and I to find the first set of dress shoes that would fit my feet when I was put into a fancy cotillion (dress up teach kids how to dance with manners) group in the 3rd grade. To this day my feet are oh so picky. Wide with sensitive toes and so so so soft. No I don't have a foot fetish of some sort, but if you put focus on it, boy have my feet walked some amazing paths, decks on boats, up and down train aisles, boarded Trans-atlantic flights, on worldwide ball fields, and across sandy beaches. They are healthy strong feet and never give up hope with them. I know through time and turmoil my feet will weather and breakdown, but I have the determination to keeping putting one foot in front of the other with passion and intention to continue my legacy to striving and thriving with all that I pursue and believe in. There are those who don't have feet or those that have lost their legs, or even those that can't feel their feet, but still climb mountains and swim across rivers. What kind of feet are under you? How do you make sure you have your feet firm on the ground moving forward? How do you celebrate life with the feet that keep you going? Just remember everything in life is temporary. Live with purpose while taking yourself to places that you never thought you would go by taking the risks and facing your fears. Here For You- RVB