Attitude of Gratitude

If you’ve been following my blog – first of all, thank you very kindly – you’d know that I thought my Hawaii/Lemuria days were finished toward the end of 2015. My calling there this time feels like an even more final completion than previously. Although by now, I’ve learned to never say never 😊

Along with the incredible beauty of the Big Island and constant perfection of climate, I was showered with more blessings than I could count. At the same time, I was presented with more mysteries at every turn.  That request I put out to the Universe decades ago is still unfolding. I asked for help to live fully in each moment. Be careful what you wish for haha! Just when I think I have something figured out, I get presented with a plot twist which takes me even farther down the Rabbit Hole!

You’d probably agree, things don’t always go exactly as planned. More like, much of the time that’s the case. That’s when an attitude of gratitude as my daily modus operandi makes all the difference in my world. It nudges me to find the blessings even when it feels like the world is crashing in. It reminds me to express thanks for the gifts I am about to receive….the miracles unfolding for me simultaneously - sometimes beyond my human comprehension. Less than desirable situations remind me acutely of the way I desire things to be. Then I have the opportunity to appreciate “that world”. Unless I vividly align with the energy of it, the desired cannot BE in my current world. Yes, that requires conscious choice, much vigilance AND living in the moment!

With enough going on to write a book, but hardly enough time to even write what I have, I've decided to share some of my experiences in pictures. I hope you will enjoy 😊

This month many folks in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. I am grateful for that as it reminds them to notice and celebrate their blessings as well as be a blessing for others. Ever grander than the precise Day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the myriad of beautiful people I am privileged to know who live their lives as a prayer….an attitude of gratitude is part of their daily life – part of who they are. Thank you all for blessing my life with your presence/presents no matter what the capacity for our agreement this time around 😉

Since tomorrow is uncertain, Wellness Coaching by Phone is available for an indefinite amount of time. If you’d like to live your life more fully, vibrantly, in more colors/flavors/feelings…..make an appt for a complimentary consultation and find out if this is right for you now!

Trick or Treat

Celebrating the holidays like I used to with parties and having the house decked to the hilt with theme appropriate decorations definitely occurred in another time and place. It was such a lifetime ago, in fact, I no longer have photos from those fun events. Yet the warm images live on in my mind and heart as I hope they do for my kids and others who were part of the merriment.

Halloween has found me in a number of states and even countries now. This year, Hawaii gets the honor. As I think back on the months here so far, “Trick or Treat” seems apropos. So many interesting situations evolving into developments I could not have fathomed before. Some felt like tricks while others were sensed as treats. But is everything truly that black and white? Perhaps there is a bless in every mess. Perhaps what we think we want comes with side effects we’d rather pass on. Reminds me of the tale of the farmer and his son. It goes something like this (thanks to http://www.rainbowbody.com/newarticles/farmerson.htm)

One day in late summer, an old farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The farmer felt compassion for the horse and desired to lift its burden. So he let his horse loose to go to the mountains and live out the rest of its life.

Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited, offering their condolences and said, "What a shame.  Now your only horse is gone.  How unfortunate you are! You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?" The farmer replied, "Who knows? We shall see".

Two days later the old horse came back now rejuvenated after meandering the mountainsides while eating the wild grasses. He came back with twelve new younger, healthy horses which followed the old horse into the corral. 

Word got out in the village of the old farmer's good fortune and it wasn't long before people stopped by to congratulate the farmer on his good luck.  "How fortunate you are!" they exclaimed. “You must be very happy!"  Again, the farmer softly said, "Who knows? We shall see".

At daybreak on the next morning, the farmer's only son set off to attempt to train the new wild horses, but the farmer's son was thrown to the ground and broke his leg.  One by one villagers arrived during the day to bemoan the farmer's latest misfortune.  "Oh, what a tragedy!  Your son won't be able to help you farm with a broken leg. You'll have to do all the work yourself. How will you survive? You must be very sad", they said.  Calmly going about his usual business the farmer answered, "Who knows? We shall see".

Several days later a war broke out. The Emperor's men arrived in the village demanding that young men come with them to be conscripted into the Emperor's army.  As it happened the farmer's son was deemed unfit because of his broken leg.  "What very good fortune you have!!", the villagers exclaimed as their own young sons were marched away. "You must be very happy." "Who knows? We shall see!", replied the old farmer as he headed off to work his field alone.

As time went on the broken leg healed but the son was left with a slight limp. Again, the neighbors came to pay their condolences. "Oh, what bad luck. Too bad for you!"  But the old farmer simply replied, "Who knows? We shall see".

As it turned out the other young village boys had died in the war and the old farmer and his son were the only able-bodied men capable of working the village lands. The old farmer became wealthy and was very generous to the villagers. They said: "Oh how fortunate we are, you must be very happy", to which the old farmer replied, "Who knows? We shall see”.

During my months in Hawaii, I was faced, once again, with many “horrors” reflecting situations in my past….child neglect, cult religion, woman abuse, a psychopathic individual deviously controlling others, legal inequity, and isolation to name a few. But were these really all awful? Actually not. I was able to celebrate how much I’ve grown and remembered. This time, I was not personally caught up in the drama and pain although I was an active part of the solution. I was able to see objectively through the eyes of unattached compassion. And, who knows? Perhaps other benefits may unfold yet unbeknownst to me. We shall see. Sometimes we don’t realize until much later in life the full extent of how certain uncomfortable circumstances were actually bright blessings in disguise. 

Oh, and some of the obvious treats? A surprise helicopter tour of the island sure qualified. Although my second helicopter trip of the area, everything seemed new again as I was observing both on a different day and from a brighter attitude. Magical views included verdant valleys dripping with waterfalls and volcanoes and lava fields complete with bright orange molten flow. Idyllic beaches and majestic cliffs made up some of the shoreline and where the lava entered the water, clouds of steam arose. The bird’s eye view helped me put various locations I was aware of on the Big Island in perspective as far as their relationship/distance to each other. I was also gifted with a last-minute entrance to a luau that one of my hosts danced. She is extremely talented as well as gorgeous and I had a front row seat! The rest of the performers were amazing too and really seemed to exude the joy of their presentation. A visit to the Four Seasons was decadent as well. The glorious sunset unfolded before me as I walked on the beach. In a remote beach area past the resort grounds, I came across so many of my turtle friends on the sand. Silently the gratitude welled up inside me for such an encounter as they all lay there resting. The rest of my experience was delightful…..including Hualalai Mud Pie and an enchanting “jeweled” jacuzzi all to myself!

The inimitable Lokelani dancing story through a beautiful hula. 

If you are interested in private party performances on Big Island, contact for info.

So, the answer to Trick or Treat?....... YES!!

ALOHA Land

Moana - the movie – floated in my awareness before it came out due to previews at least six months prior. However, seeing/hearing/feeling this precious little princess singing How Far I’ll Go is what really fired me up to just have to see it. Like the line "where the sky meets the sea"……it called me. 😉Alas, a crazy series of events prevented me for a while - like many situations in my life! On the waiting list, for weeks, of the library in Florida, it finally became available two days before my departure. This could have been fine except when I stopped by the library to check if there was anything waiting for me they said no. A call came close to closing time that the DVD had been there but by then I was too far away. Debated the various ways I could possibly see it the next day. A bit disappointed, I realized it wouldn’t be peaceful with my planned driving departure time of 4:00am the following morning. Finally got to watch it for the first time in California with my “perfect daughter”. My senses stirred as I profoundly related on many levels! Later I shared this video with my parents. The result? They wanted to see Moana so we rented and watched together. In Washington, I showed my sis the video during my surprise visit for her birthday so ended up viewing the movie with her and my nephew. Eventually it came out on Netflix and something told me to experience it again. Found out later my sister had re-watched it the same day. Once I see a movie, I generally don’t like to view it again so this was a significant exception.

Meanwhile, in April I got Windi's reading I shared in post I AM HOME which guided me to look for a work exchange in the Hawaiian Islands. Reaching out to my Hawaii connections – about fifty or so, I hoped for a personal need or introduction. Mahalo to all who encouraged with ideas, introductions and bright energy. Nothing viable came to fruition via that avenue so I went the route of social media and craigslist. A number of back and forth communications ensued, yet nothing blossomed. Reluctantly I resorted to a resource I wasn’t thrilled about as you may recall from WORKAWAY – Not So Ethical? Workaway performed with its usual majority of hosts not getting back to me and those that did saying they didn’t need help now even though their profile page indicated they were actively looking at the time. So often I was tempted to make the “wrong” situation work just to make something happen. I’m very thankful I didn’t.

After investing hours on workaway reading through hundreds of host profiles – making notes, I sent a few dozen inquiries. True to prior experience, no one even responded save one who right away politely said he had enough help through January. I sent a second request to 5 who really had positive looking situations. Again, these didn’t pan out. After waiting a while, I spent more hours looking at secondary possibilities and sending more inquiries. One of these resulted in a very strange interaction that could be a whole blog story in itself about a place on Big Island previously known as Whalesong Sanctuary…..but I will Let It Go.

June was puzzling and full of wonder literally and figuratively. Among other activities, there was much puzzle-making with my parents…many colorful, interesting puzzles. There were more birthdays, including Yours Truly, and celebrations. As we know, everything happens for a positive reason. We may not be privy to that reason at the time or ever. I really thought I was going to be in Hawaii by the end of June. As July rolled in I was blessed with three powerful situations which clearly identified themselves as part of the reason I was still in California and not Hawaii. While challenging for those involved, I am grateful and honored for the part I was able to play in assisting.

Back at the Workaway Saga….I sent out a third round of queries. Since these were now not my first choices, I was prepared to be a little flexible with some of my wants. I asked a host(ess) if their place was walking distance to the beach as I was desiring to get back to my morning beach run ritual. Naomi replied promptly indicating it was a 40 minute walk but that beach was rocky although the water could be good for swimming. The are several beaches within a 10 minute drive as well. She left her phone number asking if I’d like to talk. Incidentally, her number included a combination of 4 of my magical numbers see ALOHA  A sign? Of course I wanted to talk! Babycare, midwifery, massage, yoga, meditation, fruit and vegetable garden, nestled in nature? Oh yeah! We seemed to click right away as we spoke although, at the time, neither of us completely realized the wealth we had to offer each other. So many amazing pieces fell perfectly into place one right after another. When I booked my flight there were only 2 seats left – one more than enough for me. From the time of our call to when my travel arrangements were all lined up was about an hour. Total synchronicity!

So July finally found me in Aloha Land. Of course, there will be more to share down the road. Where has Life found you? I am still in range for Telephone Wellness Coaching for those readers in the United States. Whether you live where you are or a traveler like myself, perhaps my gifts can enhance your journey? If wellness guidance seems appropriate for you, our biggest puzzle will probably be coordinating time zones. Swirling much Aloha your way. Mahalo nui loa for all your love and support as we all continue to evolve into Higher Versions of Ourselves!

P.S. Just wanted to remind folks that Freeworlder is now live and functional! It is a worldwide “place” of energetic flow. Join today to start giving and receiving….FREELY!!