~ Pali Lookout ~

"To jump . . . or not to jump"

In celebration of "Aloha Friday" - I bring to you one of the very most interesting places on Oahu.

Not only is it popular for it's magnificiant view and extremely high winds, but the history of this very spot is so fascinating!

For those of you who have been to this location, you know how strong the winds can be.  You can completely lean right into the wind and not fall over because it will hold you right up!

Have an "ono" day on the Aloha Friday! : )

p.s ... King Kamehameha told those he captured, that they could either become one of his soliders, or jump off the edge of the cliff at Pali Lookout, and if the winds blew him back up - he would be set free.

p.s.s ... kinda cool!

~ Blossom ~

"And the day came
when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom."
~ Anais Nin

As I've mentioned before - I was painfully shy when I was young.  My heart would beat a ga-zillion miles an hour, feeling like it was coming up through my throat choking off my air supply - just from the simple task of asking a question or making a comment in a public setting.  I did not like the feeling of eyes looking upon me, and my face would turn scarlet red if there was any sign of being put on the spot.

It wasn't until probably around my senior year in high school, that I somewhat felt as if I was coming out of my "shell."  I became more involved with school activities and had a great group of friends.  Though I was still completely terrified to speak in front of people - in any way shape or form.

And it wasn't until probably the last 5 years that I feel as if I've blossomed a little bit more, and am not so painfully shy anymore - in the sense I mentioned.  I am able to speak in public without feeling like I'm going to die at any second from a heart attack - (though sometimes it does creep in a little once in awhile), and my confidence level has surely progressed  This is because I either forced myself to blossom or was encouraged to with certain events in my life.

When the above quote found me last year ... I totally "got it." 
I related to the message completely.  Because I can honestly say from all these years of my life - that yes!! ... It IS more painful to "remain tight in a bud" than to blossom.  But I didn't discover it until I went through life's experiences of it.  Stepping out of our comfort zone is a little scary.  But once you do it and do it often ... the "pain" is replaced with a feeling of joyful freedom really.

I try to involve myself in things that compel me to continue practicing "blossoming" and I can assure you, the more you practice at blossoming, the easier and less painful it becomes - even speaking in public which I can pretty much do now without increase in heart rate - and THAT is definitely a step in progression for me!

I love the quote: "Our Deepest Fear" and a couple of the lines that touched me to the core when I first read it are:

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure ...

Your playing small does not serve the world."

Wow!  Look how poignant just a few words can be?! I strive daily to blossom  and not "play small" -because those in my life who blossom, truly bless me with their amazing spirit and my life is without a doubt, the richer for it.

I have discovered that if I - we - all remain "tight in a bud," how in the world are we to share our God-given talents and our extraordinary beings of creation with each other if we don't blossom?  I can't tell you how many countless times I have been blessed because of the many, many people in my life who have blossomed in so many ways.  I have also come to realize that by blossoming, I just might be able to give back a little to what I've been so abundantly given in my life.

Challenge yourself to blossom this week.  Start small.  Even baby steps can get you to the top of a grand staircase.  Take that first step.  There are people out there that only you can touch where no one else can.

Here's to a great Monday ... a new start and clean slate for the week ... a time to blossom! : )

p.s.... I am featured in the http://thebusymomblueprint.com/ site for my blog!!  Wow!!  Seriously it is an honor and a privilege.  Check out the site - it's a pretty amazing one and so informative! 

~ Rent You Pay ~

"Service to others
is the rent you pay

for your room here on earth."

My mom is the perfect example and definition of service.  As long as I can remember, she has constantly served others - including us her family.  There have been countless ways in which she has served and continues to - and by doing so has become such an amazing and loving woman.  She reaches out to anyone in need and is always there for everyone.  Her smile, touch, hands, hugs, laughter, wisdom, advice - has etched her footprints upon the earth, wherever she walks with whomever she is with.

Let us all give a little more service today.  Seek those opportunities out.  It doesn't have to be a grand event - a simple smile, hug, shoulder speaks louder than any words or money ever could.  It's amazing when we're in the act of serving how the heart expands within.  Not only for yourself - but for the one you're serving.

This quote by Albert Einstein sums it all up just perfectly:

"Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living."

And if you're not sure of how you can serve others ... here's 100 ideas that can get you going today!  Make it fun, enjoyable and memorable in your journey of life.  : )

p.s... A wonderful example of service!

One more amazing quote that I just read from a friend.  I've always loved this and forgot until she reminded me of it.  Ready?!! ....

"If you're not happy with your lot in life

build a Service Station on it."

: )

~ Diamonds ~

"Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains
or in younder seas;
they are in your own backyard,
if you but dig for them."

-Russell H. Conwell

There is a story Conwell told in his lecture which had enormous appeal. It recounted the life of a Persian farmer named Ali Hafed who sold his farm and left his family to travel the world in search of wealth. He looked everywhere but he could not find the diamonds he lusted after. Finally, alone and in despair as a homeless pauper, he ended his own life. His search for riches had consumed him.

In the meantime, the man who bought the land from Hafed was grateful for 'every blade of grass' that was now his and lavished love and hard work on his farm. At night, surrounded by his family and eating the fruits of his labor, he was a contented man. Finally one day he made a remarkable discovery. In the backyard that Ali Hafed had abandoned was a diamond mine - literally an acre of diamonds. The simple farmer became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

When I first read this story, it made me think about Gratitude first - his success second. 
Being grateful for what is right in front of us  everyday - our family, friends, the food we eat, the clothes on our back, the warm beds we sleep in, is truly the weathliest success we could ever have. 
"Being grateful doesn't cost anything - yet it brings the most wealth."  So many people are searching for their diamonds elsewhere ... always looking out - beyond their own "backyard" when in fact, our need for fulfillment has been right in our face all along. AND if we can't be grateful for what we have right now, this day - how are we ever going to be given more?

"We all have an acre of diamonds waiting to be discovered, cherished and mined. We all have a place from where to begin. Let your imagination soar, for it is your soul's blueprint for success. On this path, you will discover that your own opportunity for personal success, authentic happiness, and financial serenity is as close as your own backyard."  ~Simple Abundance

Really "look" at your diamonds today - all of those precious stones around you.  Give thanks for them - be grateful.  Something will awaken and light up inside when you do.  And when you do, you will find the need to "dig" elsewhere for happiness, no longer exists ... everything in your life is before you.

I'm going to leave you with one of my most favorite thoughts on gratitude:

"Gratitude is the axe for the frozen sea inside us."

Here's to discovering our own diamonds right before us today!  : )

p.s.... - haven't shared "dessert" in awhile!  This video is one of my most favorite EVER - on gratitude.  Watch it.  It will truly touch your heart and soul ... and might even change something within.  xoxo

~ Music Is Life ~

"Life should have background Music" ♫

-Michael McLean  - Songwriter

"When I was growing up my mother told me the only problem with life is that it doesn’t have any background music…like movies. Wouldn’t it be great, she imagined, if for every experience romantic or heartbreaking, triumph or tragedy, there was an orchestral score to musically define the moment and to propel us onward (or at the very least help us process what was really happening in our lives)."

-Michael McLean 

When I first read the above quote this morning - I totally loved the idea and the title!  YES!  Life should have background music!  Life IS music and Music is life.  Could you imagine the world without it?  It would be a completely empty shell, hollow of the every day melodies that make us who we are today.

If you had a soundtrack for your life - what would it sound like?  Music is one of the most powerful gifts we have here on earth during our daily existence.  It is the melody of the soul and can sometimes speak more powerful than any novel.

So!  Here's to music in your life today ... your background music.  Enjoy it's every note ... no matter what is going on.  You are the songwriter and conducter.  Lead your life music - note by note.

♫

~ Surfing ~

"Surfing expresses ...

a pure yearning for visceral, physical contact with the

natural world."

- Matt Warshaw, Maverick's: The Story of Big-Wave Surfing

In celebration of "Aloha Friday" ... I bring to you the history of surfing ... and how it began from the beginning.

But first - we need to discuss the lingo of surfing!  You might not be familiar with this language, so here are just a few:

"Epic" = Awesome, killer waves!  Perfect sets - perfect day - weather - temperature - surroundings everything!

"The green room" = The color of the wall of the wave, when you're riding inside it, getting "barrelled."

"Barrel" = A barrel is where the wave is hollow when it is breaking. For some surfers it's the be all and end all of surfing. Is sometimes called a "tube."

On a good day, a surf report might read like this:
6-8 foot SW groundswell has top breaks in some overhead sets on Friday and we will see more of this swell into Saturday morning. Another SW/SSW swell is on tap for the weekend and the longer range charts are showing some more "epic" surf. (happy surfers)!! : )

On a bad day it will read like this:
1 foot - Nothing lining up for Friday and the weekend, besides a modest size ENE tradeswell on the Windward Side. (not so happy surfers)!!  : (

So ... now ...imagine your surfboard defining your place in society.
In Ancient Hawaii, it did.

Under the kapu system of laws, the ali’i was above all others. The ruling class surfed on one type of board, and the commoners used another. Even the type of wood used determined social classification.

THE COMMONER

Commoner surfboards came in three lengths and were mostly constructed of wood from the koa tree. The introductory board to wave riding, or he'e nalu, was the paipo. 2’- 6’ in length, the finless paipos were much like today’s bellyboards and mostly ridden by children.

Once accustomed to the rhythm of riding waves, surfers would move on to the alaia. Suitable for standup, an alaia ranged 6’ to 12’ in length and was the forerunner of today’s surfboard.

After mastering the art of surfing, commoners would advance to the kiko’o, a board 12’ to 14’ in length, and, as you can imagine, much more difficult to ride. To master one of these definitely demonstrated one’s proper place at the top of society.

THE ALI’I

The ruling class had its own board made of its own wood, the olo. 14’ to 18’ in length, not only was the olo a bigger board, but it was constructed of the more buoyant wood of the wili wili tree and further defined the class separation of kapu.

The ali’i even has their own breaks, and under kapu, any attempt by a commoner to paddle out among the elite was punishable by, among other things, death.

Surfboards were sacred, their construction ritualistic. Kahuna would search for just the right tree, sacrifice fish as an offering to the gods and stand guard over the specimen overnight under prayer.

Only after successful completion of the ritual, could the tree be felled, and once it was cut down, more sacred behavior was practiced by the kahuna.

Finer shaping was done with blocks of coral and stone..

First the board was rough-shaped with an adz. Then, the wood was shaped and planed with blocks of coral or stone. Once shaped, it was applied with a finish, such as the root of the ti plant or the stain from banana buds. The board was then treated with kukui oil to give it a glossy finish.

When the surfboard had met the kahuna’s approval, it underwent a final ritual of dedication, and only then was it offered to the sea.

Well, there you have it!  A good overview of the history of surfing ... Hawaiian style!
And ... a little entertainment right on the surfboard into the "tube" Enjoyyyyyy!! : )

~ Peaks and Valleys ~

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy
if there were no limitations to overcome.
The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful
if there were no dark valleys to traverse."
Helen Keller

A discouraged young man meets a wise old man. The old man shares his wisdom about life’s peaks and valleys. The young man then sets out to put his newly learned lessons into practice. The key he soon realizes is to find a comfortable balance between the lowest valleys and highest peaks.

How you handle living on a peak or down in a valley is based on what you’re currently viewing as a positive or negative in your life. By changing your perspective or view of the situation, will change everything in your life.

Moral of the story: How well you handle the valleys in your life, will determine how much joy you’ll find on the mountaintop. The view from the peak is sweeter when you’re at peace with yourself and your life. By conquering the fear of living, you can truly appreciate the view from the highest peak.

- Sharon Michaels

I for myself, also believe that in the peaks and valleys of life - it is in the valleys where the teachers are. Sometimes when we are at our lowest, we are humbled - thus teachable. This is where we are taught to rise once more, and climb the peaks. Learn to appreciate both the peaks and the valleys, because in both of them - life's lessons are learned for the progression of your soul.

Here's turning our negatives into positives, and learning what we need to in the valleys so that we may reach the peaks. : )

p.s...

"Every season has its peaks and valleys.
What you have to try to do is eliminate the
Grand Canyon."
- Andy Van Slyke