Powerful Kindness

 A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

Acting kindly,

receiving kindness, and

even observing

acts of kindness

all have a positive effect

on health and well-being

for those involved.

 Effects of Performing Kindness

- Engaging in acts of kindness boosts happiness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.

- Physiological benefits include lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol (stress hormone), and increased serotonin and dopamine, which improve mood.

- Regularly helping others is linked to reduced depression, anxiety, pain interference, and even increased longevity.

Honolulu Chinatown Market

Effects of Receiving Kindness

- Recipients of kindness experience increased feelings of warmth, empathy, and connection.

- Being treated kindly can reduce loneliness, improve relationships, decrease stress, and enhance self-esteem.

- Receiving kindness can also promote contagious generosity, enhancing well-being among broader groups.

Effects of Observing Kindness

- Witnessing kindness releases oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure and increases feelings of calm and happiness.

- Observers report better mood, increased gratitude, and greater sense of social connection

- Observing kindness can activate reward centers in the brain, making bystanders feel more optimistic and satisfied.

Pixie and Monk (A.I.)

You and I have an inestimable gift - a lifetime of experience to offer others. We don't tell them what to do, or how - unless, of course, they ask. But we can reassure them - they are not the first to face this unknown future. We, ourselves, walked this road - and look at us. We still have stamina, can keep going, and continue to live.

    John Laidlaw 

ꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦꩦ

Love You,

Pixie & Cloudia

ꩦꩦꩦ

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 Physical and Mental Health Outcomes

- All three experiences—performing, receiving, and observing kindness—lead to measurable improvements in mental health (lower depression, anxiety, and stress) and physical health (improved heart health, reduced inflammation, and slower aging).

- Kindness also contributes to longevity and overall life satisfaction, serving as a powerful public health action.

Being kind, benefiting from kindness, or simply watching kind acts provides meaningful, science-backed health benefits for everyone involved.

Poppies and Hibiscus

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

Hope is not about 

proving anything. 

It’s about choosing to 

believe this one thing, 

that love is bigger than 

any grim, bleak shit 

anyone can throw at us.

Anne Lamott

Sunprint Morning glance

Hibiscus petals, Sunlight draws a

Gentle silhouette,

Shadow, tender

As a breath, Paints quiet wonder

Where gold light rests. What blooms between

the leaf and sun is peace—a small, bright

prayer begun.

Cloudia Charters

Patience attracts 

happiness; it 

brings near that 

which is far.

      Swahili Proverb

 If everything around you 

seems dark, look again, 

you may be the light.

       Rumi

᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓

Love You,

Cloudia & Pixie

᪓᪓᪓

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🌼

Shot in Marin, California. Like hot lava, the poppies defy photography and must be seen in real life. This is my poor interpretation of the flower. Imagine mobs of it blooming EVERYWHERE!

No poet has yet sung 

the full beauty of 

our (California) poppy. 

No painter has successfully 

portrayed the satiny sheen 

of its lustrous petals. 

In its abundance, this 

colorful plant should not 

be slighted: cherish it 

and be ever thankful 

that so rare a 

flower is common.

John Thomas Howell 

(“Marin Flora”)

The Quiet Work of Beautiful Things

 

 A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

We deceive ourselves 

when we fancy that 

only weakness 

needs support. 

Strength needs it 

far more. 

    Sophie Swetchine

"Not Self Portrait"

The waves have 

rolled upon me, the 

billows are repeatedly 

broken over me, yet 

I am not sunk down.

   Mercy Otis Warren

We are rich only 

through what we give, 

and poor only through 

what we refuse.

Anne-Sophie Swetchine

The Quiet Work of Beautiful Things

Gentle endurance, friendship, & hope

In the hush between worries,  

Life’s fair wonders can slip in

Soft as dawn along the shoreline,  

Steady as my boat's 

line to the dock

So much depends 

on small interludes:  

Gentle unraveling of knots 

The laughter of friends, 

True sunlight!  

Filtered through a 

Canopy of healing green.

I am learning

That burdens grow lighter  

When they are carried 

And shared.

Hope begins in

The easy breathing  

Of moments we 

Let ourselves be.

It is not hurry that 

builds what is lasting 

But the calmly  

steadfast heart,  

Kindness traded 

in quiet hours,  

The trust that 

beauty grows.

In these blessed spaces

I tender my thanks

Soft as morning,

Each new day 

A promise,  

Each friend

A gentle shore.

For all the storms

We endure  

All the rises and falls,  

It's peace that 

Completes the circle,  

And friendship 

That carries us home.

Cloudia Charters

The balm of life, 
a kind and faithful friend.
Mercy Otis Warren

ᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶ

Love You,

Pixie & Cloudia

💋 🐾

Signs2

Remember film?

You can see me on the left 

with my yellow umbrella.

Javas

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

Put your thoughts

to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking. Rumi

Who suffers

before it is necessary,

suffers more

than is necessary. Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Don't fall before

you are punished.

Olde English proverb

I drop kindness pebbles in still water everyday, and I watch the effect they have on other people’s lives. My favorite kindness pebbles are compliments. Drop a compliment and watch the ripple affect that it has in your life. John A Passaro

High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain

ᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊ

Love You,

Pixie & Cloudia

[\\\]

Links
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I love the Java Finch!

Let Love

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

Let my love like sunlight

surround you and yet

give you illumined freedom.

Rabindranath Tagore

Note the cluster of coconuts

Patience is a remedy

for every grief.

Romanian Proverb

Red Ti Plants

The open-minded see

the truth in different things:

the narrow-minded see

only the differences.

Unknown

A smile doesn’t 

cost a cent,

but draws a 

lot of interest.

Dale Carnegie

𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄

Love You,

Cloudia & Pixie

𑄄𑄄

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Nature Notes
From The Archives
The Good.Random.Fun.
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T Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 

In the right light, 

at the right time, 

everything 

is extraordinary.

   Aaron Rose

Gold

 A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

A box without hinges,

key, or lid, yet golden treasure

inside is hid. J. R. R. Tolkien

Friendship is

the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world. John Evelyn

An optimist is a person

who sees a green light

  everywhere. 

   Albert Schweitzer

(I see six. But the lower right seems to have more!)

The mind creates

 the abyss, 

the heart 

crosses it.

            Nisargadatta Maharaj

𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍

Love You,

Cloudia & Pixie

𑁜𑁢

Linking To
Monday Murals

This intricate and beloved mosaic of the Chinese goddess Quan Yin with several Fierce Immortals used to live in Waikiki.

When the building was razed the challenge of moving the mosaic was just too expensive, and so it lives only in photos and my memory. Hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I do