25 Things I've Learned in Thailand

I've been inspired by a person from my cohort in graduate school, Sabrina, to make a list of 25 Things I've Learned (or have spent a considerable amount of time thinking about) in Thailand. She recently sent me a 25 Random Things List.

1. I love Thai food. I eat Thai food every meal. I can count the number of non-Thai meals I've had on one hand since I've been in Tak.

2. Traveling is underrated. If it weren't more people would travel.

3. Giving is better than receiving. I feel more fulfilled when I am helping someone else as opposed to receiving. Simply, good karma. I am so glad I am going to be entering the helping profession. But...

4. Helping yourself is just as if not more important than helping others. I am learning and will continue to learn how to take care of myself. The better I take care of myself the greater capacity I have to help people.

5. I am more satisfied or content when I read instead of watching movies or television

6. Smell the roses. I have made a concerted effort to slow down and try to enjoy life instead of rushing from one thing to another. I have only begun to understand how to slow down and the quality of my life has already increased.

7. No matter how far I go or where I go the same problems and insecurities will follow me because I myself create the negative thoughts not my environment. Therefore...

8. I believe the answers to the greatest challenges in my life thus far are all found within myself.

9. Happiness and contentment are not the same. Happiness is fleeting. It comes and goes like the weather. Contentment can last much longer. I believe I always new this, but never spent enough time thinking about it to make a distinction. When I make decisions based contentment instead of immediate happiness I am more content and as a result happier. I am finding instant gratification is overrated.

10. From now on whenever I get to a new country I am going to plan on being overcharged the first few days I am there. I am going to give myself a grace period. When I first got to Thailand I paid $25 for a two-hour taxi ride. That is roughly 850 baht. For 850 baht I could take a bus from one end of Thailand to other and still have enough left for a hotel room.

11. The first step in personal growth for me has been awareness. Being aware of my feelings, the consequences of my actions, and the consequences of my thoughts. The second step...

12. Forgiveness. Forgiveness centers on the person who want to forgive not the person receiving the forgiveness. If I want to forgive someone that takes place inside of me not in the external world.

13. I spend too much time thinking about things (like a DSLR camera) that do not lead me any closer to contentment or my Quality World (Reality Therapy from my theories class in graduate school. One of the most useful classes I've ever taken).

14. My two years of graduate school has had a profound affect on my life. Going to graduate school was one of the best decisions of my life. I will always treasure those last two years at Cal Poly. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was afforded.

15. Self-reflection takes practice. Was tired of self-reflection in graduated school. I felt that every class I was writing a paper or doing a project about myself. I am glad I was forced to do this. I was forced to start acknowledging things that I did not like about myself. I believe people usually get what they really want one way or another. Therefore, my life is a reflection of my wants and desires. All of it. The good and the bad.

16. Come to Thailand during the "cool" season. The hot season is awful.

17. Dr. Kane was right! Keeping a journal is very satisfying.

18. Materialism is not the way for contentment. I've tried hard not to acquire too much stuff while I am here and I find myself not wanting as much.

19. I want to move back to Sacramento. I have not been able to say this since I left for college eight years ago. I have always said someday I want to move back to Sacramento. I want to go back to Sacramento and discover the place I grew up as an adult. I want to coach high school baseball with my brother. I want to go backpacking with my Dad. I want to watch chick flicks with my Mom.

20. Chanting is hard. Buddhist chanting is in the Pali language. Pali is similar to Sanskrit. I have to memorize three pages of chanting for the ordination ceremony and it is a challenge.

21. The bus system in Thailand is amazing! Tak to Chiangmai, 4 1/2 hour bus ride, 175 baht! That is $5.50. If buses in the states were this cheap, more people would take the bus.

22. I don't sleep well in Thailand. Too many dogs, roosters and other animals at all times throughout the night.

23. I have learned to enjoy time spent alone a lot more since I've been in Thailand. But...

24. At times I really wish I could be sharing this experience with someone else, particularly everyday life in Tak.

25. I will keep traveling to new places abroad and domestically. I am going to make a point to go camping/backpacking at new places and explore the states including California. I want to drive up Highway 1 to Oregon and Washington. As soon as I get a job I will begin to save money to travel. Traveling will be an important part of my life.