Stories By Van

The story of King Midas is a myth about the tragedy of avarice and narrates what happens when true happiness is not recognized. Midas was a man who wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. However, he had not thought that this wish was not actually a blessing, but a curse. His greed invites us to think and realize the consequences that may lead us to become slaves of our own desires. The phrase the Midas touch comes from this myth and is usd to say that somebody has a good fortune. The Wish Midas was a king of great fortune who ruled the country of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. He had everything a kind could wish for. He lived in luxury in a great castle. He shared his life of abundance with his beautiful daughter. Even though he was very rich, Midas thought that his greatest happiness was provided by gold. His avarice was such that he used to spend his days counting his golden coins! Occasionally he used to cover his body with gold objects, as if he wanted to bath in ...

Having a surplus of gifts and talents seems cool and exciting. You’ll never get bored, you’ll always have something new to talk about, and you’ll always have something to look forward to. It is a dream come true for some people but how are you going to follow the advice, “Focus on you passion,” when there’s just too many things you want to do? For most of us, this is an inevitable phase in high school or college when you’re exploring a lot of things and deciding which one is worth your time and energy. Some will be able to decide a little later and will give up on all the other things they thought were their ‘passion.’ A few will realize later on that they want to do more than one thing in their lives and leaving something behind just isn’t an option. “You have limited time.” “Focus on what’s important.” “Why are you wasting your time in something that’s clearly just a hobby?” You must have heard these a million times and you must be tired of hearing these things already...

At this time of year I wonder how many Americans reflect very deeply, if at all, about the meaning of Thanksgiving. Of course, as a national holiday most of us likely have at least a vague understanding of it as a commemoration of the meal shared between the pilgrims and Native Americans. Beyond this, I’m sure that for many it provides a reason to get together, particularly with family, enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and watch football or parades on television. But I think that we need to ask what it is that we are really celebrating in our Thanksgiving rituals. Is it turkey, football, television? For how many of us does this holiday mean nothing more than a nationally-sanctioned justification for over-eating, indulgence, and escaping into mindless entertainment? Hopefully enough of us are genuinely and consciously thankful for our good fortune, the many blessings we have received in terms of life necessities and comforts, and especially family/loved ones. Per...

Inner peace is the state of being connected to the deep internal knowing that everything is okay, and always will be. The concept of finding one’s “inner peace” has been part of spiritual and metaphysical practices for centuries, and has just recently become more mainstream with the development of popular psychology. Albert Camus once said: “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” That sums up the entirety of what inner peace really is: the understanding that no matter what is happening around you, there is a place of total knowing and calmness within you. Not only are you capable of returning to that place when you need to, but it’s possible to live your entire life from there. The challenge is learning how to connect with it in the first place and learn to rewire how you respond to your monkey mind, which is always jumping from one worst case scenario to the next. You know when people reference knowing something “deep down?” They say things...

Archimedes was born in the city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily in 287 BC. He was the son of an astronomer and mathematician named Phidias. Aside from that, very little is known about the early life of Archimedes or his family. Some maintain that he belonged to the nobility of Syracuse, and that his family was in some way related to that of Hiero II, King of Syracuse. In the third century BC, Syracuse was a hub of commerce, art and science. As a youth in Syracuse Archimedes developed his natural curiosity and penchant for problem solving. When he had learned as much as he could from his teachers, Archimedes traveled to Egypt in order to study in Alexandria. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria had, by Archimedes' time, earned a reputation for great learning and scholarship. Euclid was one of the most well-known scholars who lived in Alexandria prior to Archimedes' arrival in the city. Euclid was a renowned mathematician, perhaps best remembered for co...

Do you remember when RFID Microchip implants were considered conspiracy theory? Do you recall Christians mentioning something about scriptures that warn of “ the mark of the beast “? This is a supposed mark on the skin having to do with end times, and the devils final takeover? The mantra warning was “ don’t take the mark or you’re doomed. Don’t get an RFID Microchip planted under your skin or else… From what I remember, many people thought the idea was ludicrous. Oh, that’s just a kooky conspiracy story some said. RFID Microchips? Mark of the beast? The end of the world? Say what? There goes the fanatic Christians having meltdowns trying to scare the living daylights out of the populous. But lo’ and behold.. Somethings a’ brewing. Whether or not the world is ending is not my point. Apparently, people have been predicting end time dates for eons. The doomsdayer’s have cried wolf way too many times. But… What is an RFID Microchip? RFID Microchips for human beings and animals are dev...

“Death is the tyrant of the imagination.”—Bryan Proctor “For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”—Khalil Gibran “Without health– life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering” – an image of death.—Buddha  The ancient Greek writer and thinker, Euripides, said, “No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.” You are reminded of this truth every day. For instance, you read about a successful Hollywood actor who dies from a heroin overdose. You watch the news on television, learning of a man who died accidentally, driving his Austen Mini into a tree. He wasn’t paying attention or wearing a seat belt. A friend tells you of a co-worker who passed away after a long struggle with cancer. You recall the time when the telephone rang in the middle of the night, waking you out of a relaxing sleep. You’re told that your elderly grandmother has died unexpectedly from a stroke. Each of these events reminds you that death ca...