“Work hard, be kind, and
amazing things will happen.”
~ Conan O’Brien
Work Towards a Goal
dreams
Stop Waiting for “Someday”
“We must let go
of the life we have planned,
so as to accept the one
that is waiting for us.”
~ Joseph Campbell
The Final Destination
“People pray in one direction
but they walk in a different direction,
and direction always determines
where we end up.”
~ Andy Stanley
Hope Never Abandons
“Once you start
working on something,
don’t be afraid of failure
and don’t abandon it.
People who work sincerely
are the happiest.”
~ Chanakya
Music Touches the Soul
“Music expresses that which
cannot be said and
on which it is impossible
to be silent.”
~ Victor Hugo
Accept the Challenge
“Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection
we can catch excellence.”
~ Vince Lombardi
Follow Your Passion
“It is obvious that we can
no more explain a passion
to a person who has never
experienced it than we can
explain light to the blind.”
~ T. S. Eliot
Puff is Alive in Shangri-La
Across a single lane bridge, where posted signs kindly ask vehicles to limit seven at a time in one direction, is a mystical land where time stands still for peace and love to thrive. Some refer to it as a Shangri-La with lush green valleys, cascading waterfalls, and towering mountain peaks. Others recall a 1960’s tune about Puff the Magic Dragon living “by the sea in a land called Hanalei”. Islanders simply know it as the North Shore where some of the best waves make surfing a daily ritual. Main Street is quaint and laid back with organic eateries, specialty shops, and barefoot hippies everywhere. Rustic galleries feature hypnotic psychedelic art inspired by creative painters. Multi-faceted crystals, beaded pearls, and hand-crafted jewelry complement tie dyed sarongs and loose fitting fabrics that flow like mist with every step. And people are happy, in a carefree-sort-of-way. Who wouldn’t be content in a place where sandy beaches are sun-warmed, pebbly soft, and white as powder? Brief rain showers are followed by vibrant rainbows that light up the sky before dissolving into radiant sunbeams. Is it a magical place? Listen to the song lyrics, then plan a visit to Hanalei and decide for yourself.
Mythical Mermaid in the Mist
Every girl’s dream, in my opinion, is to live the fairy tale life of Princess Ariel, The Little Mermaid. And I found proof on the beach one morning as I walked along the shoreline. Three young girls, around the age of eleven, were dipping their painted toes into the salty sea waves. One girl had long blonde hair the color of corn silk and wore a yellow bikini. Another had wavy auburn hair, the rosy shade of the sky moments before sunset. Her two-piece halter was the shade of violet flowers. The third girl could have been mistaken for an islander with dark waist-length hair. One strand was tucked neatly behind her ear, held in place by a white plumeria blossom. She giggled as she handed the redhead what appeared to be a sleek and luxurious green finned mermaid tail. When the Ariel-like preteen wiggled her tiny hips into the waterproof snug-fitting sheath, I heard an exclamation, “Careful, don’t tear it”, as two pairs of hands automatically offered balance. While hobbling on one foot in the monofin, with a final tug she pulled it over her hips and snapped the elastic waist into place. Admittedly, the image was a striking transformation. She had the realistic appearance of a live mermaid. Unable to take a step, a voice above the surf commanded, “Just lay down and roll into the surf!” With the grace of a princess, she plunged into the sea and began to propel through the water like a mythical creature. It must have taken a bit of practice to become surprisingly buoyant with natural swimming movements. Or perhaps she was a mermaid in everyday life.
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