From my perspective, this is one of the most significant questions to deeply contemplate. 

Who am I, really? 

This question can prompt deep existential inquiry into the nature of reality and our experience of it.  On a grand cosmic level, from my current perspective, this is THE question.

Having said that, this piece will zoom IN, to a more conventional, tunnel visioned approach to the question for the purposes of helping you gain context of some life experiences that have guided me towards offering this Self Remembering Facilitation Practice.

D2KS

My given name is Daniel Kirk Kiyoshi Skinner and that is not who I AM.  I am NOT my name, however, that is a common reference point to describe who I AM. 

This given name is what spawned the acronym D2KS. D2KS was something I thought of as my mind was flooding with ideas in a very expansive state of awareness.  I was typing my different sub-groups of D2KS on the newly released BlackBerry Bold as I took the bus back and forth to work at my new job, post graduating from university.  The world was my oyster, I was told, and I was only beginning to grasp what that meant.  I was flourishing in my job and energy was flowing through me as I learned about entrepreneurship and building wealth through real estate.  D2KS Real Estate, D2KS Consulting, D2KS Fitness Training, D2KS Holdings, D2KS this that and the other.  My mind was filled with possibilities and little did I know what my next two years would be like.

Great Learning

I proceeded to self destruct the budding life and career that was in its infancy and found myself in a two-year abyss that turned into a deep Dark Night of the Soul.  I did not know the term at that time but I can look back with certainty to say it is an apt description.  I recently heard a wise man say something along the lines of, our “worst” things turn out to be the best things.  Those two years informed my Being in indescribable ways.

Looking back, I realize I was mastering the art of self hypnosis, except I was unconsciously hypnotizing myself to create a terrible life of self loathing.  The effect on my psyche was incredibly deep to the point that years and years later, in my own process of Self Remembering, I observe the remnants of such deep stories.  The beautiful realization is these effects on my psyche, or the programs that I installed, CAN be changed and uninstalled.

Rebirth

What brought me out of my slumber was catalyzed by several things that all had the theme of re-connecting with my LOVES from childhood.  I began to create regular exercise routines which brought me back to my LOVE of sports.  I had the opportunity to work at a fishing lodge on an island that brought me back to my LOVE of nature and outdoors.  Working at the fishing lodge created many opportunities of connection with people as we completed construction projects or were on the lake fishing.  This brought me back to my LOVE of people and connection.

As I continued to rebuild my life, the most magic occurred as I tuned into those first LOVES of sports, outdoors, and connection with people.  On the sports front, I played regular pick-up basketball and continued to train my body by learning from the trainers of the best athletes in the world. 

After several years of slo-pitch, I decided to join a men’s baseball league and that really sparked my inner child in a beautiful way.  I started playing organized baseball at the age of 4 and played throughout my whole youth.  The inner bliss on a baseball diamond was a wonderful solace even in some times of difficult vocational transitions.

Rebirth Again

As I transitioned through various paths on the vocational front, I was drawn to find a balance between outdoor physical work and utilizing my cognitive and analytical abilities.  I knew I had no desire for a Mon-Fri, 9-5 type job and so I worked for several years in the Canadian Arctic in the mining industry.  It was a rotational work situation, meaning I worked for 2 weeks straight in the Arctic and then was flown home and off work for 2 weeks.  It was a wonderful situation that allowed me to pursue many interests with diligence and focus during my time away from site.  The connection with such remote parts of this world, above the tree line, coupled with the many hours of flights to and from work, really started to awaken within me, some deeper questions such as the one at the top of this piece.

In more recent years, I have really delved deep into many avenues of inquiry both externally and more importantly, internally.  I continually experience rebirth type moments that really unlock suppressed parts of my Essence. 

This process of rebirth has led me to creating this Offering of Self Remembering Facilitation and I feel incredibly excited to continue this journey!

Of course, what I have described here is but a tiny snippet of context of my life experience.  I expect to continually be inspired to share more as I feel called. 

I appreciate YOU for reading what I have shared here.

Much love,

Kiyoshi