Yogan's Journey to Life

Yogan Who am I? What is my story? So I am trying to define myself, and place myself into words, categories, and descriptions, such that it encompasses my whole life, and all of my life experiences. I have experiences that cover spirituality, new age, gurus, christianity, philosophy, psychology, academics, living in the United States, specifically Miami, Florida, Hispanic culture, the Spanish language, going to public and private schools, being a guy, being an introvert, having dogs and cats, having divorced parents that get along, having a brother and a sister, being 24 years old, having a bachelors degree in psychology, having lived in Portland for 4 years, while studying at Reed College, being a straight A high school student, feeling lonely/alone, having crushes, being in relationships, having had sex, wanting to be married with someone forever, not knowing what to do with my life, not knowing or being sure there is a God, also not even caring because I hold myself to my own ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2015/01/05/20-states-just-raised-the-minimum-wage-it-wasnt-enough/ Minimum wage in Florida this year rose 12 cents, up from $7.93 to $8.05. The pay bump applies to an estimated 365,000 workers. Roderick Livingston, 27, said it won’t lift him from “modern day slavery.” “I work at Taco Bell in St. Petersburg, Florida. I work as much as I can, usually 25 hours each week. I sleep in my car. It’s an ‘87 Cadillac. It doesn’t work. So, I take the bus. I am the father of two sons: a two-year-old and a seven-year-old. Most of my money goes to child support. The rest goes to my bus passes: weekly most of the time, and monthly if the money is looking good. How do I eat? I take food from work and eat in the back room. And on the 12th of every month, the mother of one of my children gives me about $100 in food stamps. Me and my kids, we can’t afford the things that we need. Anything that we want is a no-no. I haven’t made more th...

Welcome to Miami, Florida, a place of Juxtaposition!  I am a native Miamian, I grew up here, graduated from public school here etc... Growing up I have heard Miami is like a Third World country in the United States. But you also have the super wealthy! So what's going on in Miami? http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/09/miami-dade_has_the_second_high.php "There are few places in America where the contrast between the rich and the poor are as stark as they are in Miami-Dade County. While the rich are popping bubbly on their yachts and going in on $400 bottle service, the poor black out their windows because they can't afford air conditioning. In fact, the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Miami-Dade has the second-highest income inequality of the 25 largest counties in the country. " So you have the poor black neighborhoods, with African American populations, and also the poor Hispanic populations as well. You also have the wealth...

I went to Art Basel today in Miami, Florida. I was asked what interested me, or what art drew my attention. I didn't really have an answer to that question at first. But later after I saw a picture that had a message of equality, I had an answer. Art that interest me is the content of the art, the message, the why. Because art otherwise, without that content, core and message, is meaningless. Its just entertaining, emotional, or, frankly, superficial. Art to have meaning requires depth, and to have that depth requires a message or principle, essentially the depth of your real being, which is your oneness and equality point, your connection to Life itself, to everyone. If you lack that point, what you do will be empty and superficial, not just art, but everything. So its important to see that yes, art CAN have that depth, through standing for a principle, the integrity of you, standing with and as everyone. Because what is art, but just a medium of communication. Writing is a...