Kolea Cool & Misty. . .

"Experience isn't interesting till it begins to repeat itself; in fact, till it does that, it hardly is experience"
-Eliz. Bowen, Irish Author

"Worldly wisdom teaches that it is better for your reputation if you fail conventionally, than if you succeed unconventionally."

-John Maynard Keynes,

"Great" economist, 1935

"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore!." - Dorothy Gale

"There are no democratic or republican roads, or health care, or environment. There are only roads and health care, and we all breathe the same air." -Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Skinny Kolea (golden plover) have returned to our misty morning Waikiki lawns after their epic flight from Alaska. A fresh coolness is in the O`ahu air. Albatross who reportedly spends up to 10 years in flight is not impressed by Kolea's feat, but I am. The original "snow birds" will winter in the islands stuffing their beaks till it's time to return north. Cycles continue. . .
A Hawaiian Healing Kahuna tells the story of the woman brought to him suffering from extreme anxiety and depression. "What is bothering you?" He asked. She began talking about the world situation, terrorism, the economy..." He spent the day taking her to beautiful places on his island. At the beach he said: "Look, no bad news." At the pali (cliff) he showed her a peaceful windward side of the island. In the banana patch he showed her that no terrorists were crouching beneath the leaves. "Look at what is really right here," he told her. That night she slept soundly for the first time in years. One thought follows another. Psychologists call it "entrainment." But you don't need to ride that train. Just let it pull out of the station without you. . . The Seasons Are Changing Again!

Having A Past. . .

"Life is what happens while you're making other plans."

-John Lennon

"The future is murky. I Guess it's good to have a past."

-Paul Newman

Stopping to watch the sunset seems to settle and clarify the mind. Even the Hawaiian breeze, Ka Makani, knows that it is a good time to pause. Your day sweetens as the colors change. I'd like to think that maturity, the "sunset of life" will be like that.

Do you know the ledgend of the maiden who was directed to walk down the row of corn and to pick one, only one, ear? Right away she saw a good one, but she reasoned that a better one might be a few paces down the row. At the end of the row, she wished that she had chosen that first ear.

If you know where your next meal is coming from, if you have a home, if someone is glad to see you arrive, if you are NOT in #10 pain; then you are fortunate. Pause to notice all of life's gifts that we take for granted every day. Sunset is a good time to do that. Make your own beautiful memories. . . NOW. . . Aloha!

Thank You for everything; Racer, actor, dream boat, great citizen, father & friend: PAUL NEWMAN.

Just for Today. . .

JUST FOR TODAY. . . Don't worry. . . Just for today, Don't Anger. . . Just for Today. . .


Comfort Spiral is NOT positive thinking! It is more like the last day of school as you begin to suspect how wonderful your life really can be. Dare to believe it. Tons of illusion, mistaken beliefs and "shoulds" can finally be taken off of your shoulders. . . can finally be lain down. . . "If fear alters behaviour, you're already defeated." - Brenda Hammond

"The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost." - Chesterton

"All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

Fearless Gentleness: Every day annoyances crop up naturally. They are often triggers for the less-than-perfect sides of our nature. But exploding never accomplishes anything positive. Holding a lid on rage causes physical/mental problems. But all this can be safely dissipated. De-escalate. Then the provocation becomes fuel! It can propel you into the heights of well being. Each time you refuse to "rise to the bait," you develop your perspective and detachment "muscles." Lots of complications are avoided this way! Every time you handle some "problem" with relaxed dignity, powerful inner detachment and increased freedom of spirit become yours. All the kinetic energy of the situation will flow non-destructively to your strength and merit, and also to collective world peace. Really. . . Try to greet each complication as a "work out opportunity" YOU WILL GROW HAPPIER! The Hawaiians say: "He Mea Iki'" it's just a small thing. Come, walk along the shoreline of your heart. . . ALOHA!

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Nelson Mandella

"The only normal people are folks you don't really know yet."

-Gerald McBoingBoing

"Until you've lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom is all about."

-Margaret Mitchell

Anxiety comes from past regrets or future anticipation. Pausing to inhabit THIS moment, just being in your skin, saves so much energy that it becomes noticeable. Let go of responsibility for the words and attitudes of others. Just love them and let them be. Tolerance for others and for yourself are inextricably bound together. Notice how much of your inner dialogue is judgments. Are you being paid to be a judge? It's hard work! Try this: When you notice judgements arising: stop and smile and breathe. Notice your surroundings. Your only dogma: DE-ESCALATE. Think: "So what, who cares?" Even driving will get smoother and your gas mileage will improve! You'll build an energy surplus. Watch how you "take the bait" of daily life. And SURPRISE: you will make better choices from a place of wisdom, instead of being a reaction robot.

Aloha!

What's Comfort Spiral?

E Aloha Mai - WELCOME!
"Only the still
can still the stillness
in others"
Tao Te Ching

Beauty & Wonder are hiding everywhere around (and within!) us. But we are focused on "other things."

We can learn to shift our attention and to re-enter the wonderous world. The first secret: pause. stop. breathe deeply for a few moments.

Even a few brief moments of simply being simple will shift attention & body chemistry. Just be & just breathe.

Emerge Refreshed. What is in you is stronger, more real, than anything in this world. Relaxation improves your health, productivity, relationships. Are those priorities to you? Then welcome to the Comfort Spiral. . . It's easy. . . ALOHA!