Living in Hawaii does not exempt us islanders from getting caught up in everyday reality.  While island life does its best to distract us from our responsibilities and commitments, we can still get sucked into the grind and hustle. We, too, need to reconnect.

It’s not always easy to make this simple life in paradise work, but it’s absolutely worth it. As I find myself juggling jobs, relationships, and my own self-development, my sacred time with nature begins to suffer; it’s deceiving.

As I walk out my front door, nature already surrounds me.  I see the ocean from my house. When I look back – Palolo Valley reaches deep and high to the Ko’olau Mountain Ranges.  I notice it, but I’m distracted.  Driving into town, I will see mango-tree lined streets, plumeria flowers scattered on the sidewalks, and Diamond Head distinctly in the distance.  But I take advantage of it.  My eyes take it in, then, distractions in my mind take over.

An extra bathing suit has a home in the back of my disheveled car and has been clutch when I can steal a few minutes in between commitments to jump in the water at Kaimanas.

But even that feels like a shallow connection.

Yes, I was able to get my “fix” of Ocean time which always makes me feel better; but again, my mind was not focused on the sea and its restorative energy.  Physically, I got sandy and salty.  Mentally, my mind was with my damn phone checking [quote_left]”…I knew that if I wanted to reconnect, it was time to disconnect…[/quote_left]e-mails, sending texts, and making appointments.

I knew that if I wanted to reconnect, it was time to disconnect. TO me that meant PHONE OFF (or at least on airplane mode so I could still take pictures).

Yesterday, my roomie, pup Reeces and I decided to hike Wa’ahila Ridge up St. Louis Heights.  I noticed that the deeper or higher we got into a hike, the farther away “reality” seemed.  Weightless, I reach a place where time doesn’t matter, and agendas don’t exist.  I wasn’t thinking about the past, or planning for the future.  I knew that I was in the here and the now, the most beautiful and authentic location to reside.

Do yourself a favor and get out into nature this weekend.  Turn your phone off, leave the laptop shut and get on a trail.  Do you live somewhere with no trail in sight?  Go to a garden, lake, river, park, ocean, anything. REALLY tune into the beauty of creation.  Meditate in it.  Let it nourish your essence.  

You’ll end the day feeling more connected than ever.

That picture you see here comes from what was one of the most ancient symbols known to man. That symbol is based on the ancient Olympic symbol, which was a five-pointed star with five words around it at each point. Today’s symbol of the Olympics has changed to the five rings as we all know it. However, they dropped two of the words. Those two words are important pieces of the original five.

The Meaning Behind the Symbol

The ancients related the five-pointed star to the human body. When we stand with your limbs out, you see we are shaped like the star with five points – or aspects. That symbol and the words around it were based on the perfection of the human experience.  Those words in Latin were Citius, Altius, Fortius, Socius & Moneta.

Citius meant swifter mentally, while Altius meant higher emotionally. Fortius meant stronger physically, and we also have Socius and Moneta. Socius and Moneta were the most important.

Socius is what gives us our foundations, which on the human body are our legs. It gives us our legs to stand on, that allow us to move out and about throughout society to experience ourselves Mentally, Physically and Emotionally.  Socius is our relationships – relationships are one of the strengths of the human experience.

“A relationship that has never been tested often times is not as valuable as one which has been and has solidified back together into a new strength of understanding…”

Moneta was the ancient word for Trust. It’s trust that in relationships gives us our foundations or our legs to stand on, in our relationships, our families, communities, and throughout the world.  Most people don’t realize that today’s word for trust is where the word money came from – moneta became money. Money literally means the trust of relationships.

Ancient Teachings

Our ancestors realized an important fact. When trust is broken, you can heal it by learning to forgive, forget, and erase it from your memory. We don’t learn these things in a classroom today. And here’s another example. They used to target specific issues with certain types of foods to allow the emotional molecules to escape from the body. But as I said earlier, they no longer teach these concepts.

In the ancient world they would chose elements to symbolize things. For example, each planet was given an element to represent it.  The moon was silver, mercury was mercury, the sun was gold, and so on.

Trust is Golden to a Human

They looked for an element that would represent human trust, and also the trust of communities and nations. They eventually chose gold. And this was because they knew that gold turned purer when fired. In turn, it became even more valuable, and they knew that trust was like that.  A relationship that has never been tested oftentimes is not as valuable as one which has been and has solidified back together into a new strength of understanding.

These ancient people realized that gold could only be found where water existed… or once existed. The gold nuggets would deposit in the banks of the river. So when they built the buildings to house the gold that would represent the collective trust, they called them the banks as that’s where we deposit the gold just like nature does.

If you look at all of the languages of money or trust as it was known, it sounds just like you’re talking about water because that’s where gold was found. That’s why we have currency, float loans, capital gains, liquid assets, trading pools, cash flow and so on…

There are over 50 words dealing with money at the international level of what we call banking today that sounds just like you’re talking about water.

This is because the ancients that if you saw a wilted, dying plant but added water, the plant would thrive and come back to life. If you look at relationships it’s much the same. If trust is broken and you add or put trust back in, that those relationships can thrive and come back.

So looking at that symbol and why I designed it into our logo was because we don’t believe that fitness is just a physical thing. To be truly healthy and fit you need a balance of the 5 aspects. That’s because these represent the perfection of the human experience as taught by our ancestors.

So as we delve a little deeper, we hope to empower you with some information so you can bring lasting health into all areas of your life.

Sharing our wishes, an open letter to our sons and daughters.

“Of course if you like your kids, if you love them from the moment they begin, you yourself begin all over again, in them, with them, and so there is something more to the world again.” William Saroyan

The miracle that a child brings into the world is completely unmatched to anything we’ve experienced so far.  As we travel through the marvelous journey of life, one question, in particular, has resulted from our own personal enlightenment. “What can we do to improve our own lives and the lives of our future generations in synchronicity?”

A parent’s promise…

To our sons and daughters,

As the co-creators of our own future, we realize that our thoughts, words and actions are constructing an implicit framework for what will be the reality of tomorrow. We as parents have always wanted you to be brought into a world free from sickness, fear, war and inequality.

In the past, have expected that to happen through the age-old parenthood practice of “do as I say, not as I do”.  We’re now awakened to the fact that the world can become the better place we’ve all dreamed of if we be the change. We make a promise to realize that dream in our own lives because of our unconditional love for you.

We’re reminded of a story about a mother, her son, and their visit with Gandhi:

A Mother had been pleading with her son to break his sugar habit, but could not do so. As a last resort, she began a long journey to see her sons’ idol, Gandhi, with hopes that he could influence him. When she reached Gandhi, she explained that her son would not stop eating sugar

“My son eats too much sugar.” she explained, “It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?”

Gandhi listened to the woman’s plea, thought and replied, “Please return in two weeks. I will talk to your son.”

The woman responded with confusion on her face and wondered why he not asked the boy to stop eating sugar immediately. She took her son hand and returned to their home.

Two weeks later, visited Gandhi again. This time, however Gandhi looked directly at the boy and said, “You should stop eating sugar. It is not good for your health”. The boy nodded and promised he would stop eating sugar.

The boy’s mother was bewildered. She asked Gandhi, “Why didn’t you tell him this two weeks ago? Why did I have to travel home and then back again?” Gandhi smiled and replied, “Two weeks ago I was eating a lot of sugar myself.”

This story serves as a reminder of the declaration we make to you. We will free the world – starting with ourselves, starting today, starting now. Today is the day we make this promise of change to you.

We now take action and lead by example. We practice healthy lifestyles; lifestyles that will allow better futures, not bigger problems. We release our own internal fears from to create an external world without it. The global call for peace, love and equality that has been echoed through generations past will now be heard as we take our own individual responsibility and action.

We make you this promise because we love you and know that love can change the world.

<3,

Your Parents

Make the declaration to “be the change.” What do you wish for your sons and daughters? Add your own promise in the conversation below!

Restorative yoga is a term for yoga poses done with the full support of bolsters, straps, blankets, or blocks—allowing the practitioner to sink into the pose so they can be completely relaxed, absorbed, and present.

“The supported fish pose is a gentle restorative back bend. The goal is to relax and renew…”

Because each pose is held for five to seven minutes—some practitioners up to 10—many people cover themselves with a lightweight blanket to enhance the feeling of comfort and security.

The lengthy holds in restorative yoga teach our bodies to submerge into rest. This leads to a tranquil state where stress is released—the first step in healing. A consistent practice of restorative poses helps us to unwind and relax with ourselves; to be utterly still—excellent preparation for long periods of sitting meditation and quiet retreat.

An active person, when I first tried restorative yoga it was difficult for me to let go and remain still. But I soon came to appreciate the benefits of the rich nourishment my body and mind received. I also discovered it to be an effective prelude to a good night’s sleep.

As a stand-alone practice, I recommend an hour of restorative poses—asanas. As an accompaniment to your current practice, you may want to add 20-30 minutes at the end.

The supported fish pose is a gentle restorative backbend. The goal is to relax and renew. To enter this pose, sit on the floor with your legs fully extended in front of you. You may want to slip a bolster (or rolled blanket) under your knees for even more relaxation and comfort.

Place a yoga bolster lengthwise behind your back, keeping the bolster close to—but not touching—your sacrum. Your spine should be parallel to, and your head fully supported by, the bolster as you slowly lay back. Some practitioners like to place a small rolled towel under their neck for even more support. You can add height to the bolster with folded blankets if you feel any physical tension.

Lay your arms out on each side in a relaxed “T” position—palms up—for a receptive posture. Focus on “let go” breathing:

• Inhale soothing energy with a mental “let.”
• Exhale tension with a mental “go.”

This pose is a wonderful chest opener, providing deep stretches for the intercostal muscles between the ribs. If you find the stretch to be too intense, place a pillow under each arm for additional support.

One of my favorite restorative asanas is how I feel when I melt into the supported fish pose and mentally affirm, “I open my heart to the good around me.”

“Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Positive affirmations are one of the key elements needed to create the abundant, amazing life we all desire. As Zig Ziglar once said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily”; so to create your best life, it’s important to create positive daily habits through a set of resources available for daily reference.

We believe that teaching children to be positive and recognize their own self-worth at a young age will help them develop into a powerful creator that can harness the true ability we all have inside us.  That’s why today, we’re sharing the book of Positive Affirmations, “I Create My World” by Connie Bowen.

What we like most about this book is that it’s geared to appeal to children. They can learn about the law of attraction, and how positive affirmations work in a vibrant and engaging book they’ll want to read over and over.

We’re also GIVING AWAY two copies to two lucky winners at the bottom of this post!

Here’s how Connie’s book of positive affirmations was created:

“I painted the collection of whimsical paintings that comprise I Create My World, each with their own characters and interesting story, for a child to interpret using their unlimited imagination. I enjoyed making them, and it was fun and challenging thinking up new and interesting images.

After I had collected quite a few, I put them safely under my desk and moved on to other creative pursuits.

Fast forward years later when I was working with affirmations from Sanaya Roman’s books and also theories of the law of attraction as espoused by Abraham-Hicks.

One day, on my early morning walk, I had been repeating affirmations while concentrating on picturing the life I wanted to create. Soon after, I was enjoying the warm water of my morning shower when into my mind popped the words “The paintings under your desk go with those affirmations.” I had not been thinking about those paintings and they would still be under my desk to this day except for those words.

The ebook “I Create My World” is the final result of pairing those paintings with affirmations that encapsulate what I’ve learned in my spiritual studies.”

Here are some of the paintings from inside the book:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enter to win a copy of the ebook, “I Create My World” by Connie Bowen HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can’t stand the suspense, and want to buy the ebook now:

You can get it on Amazon here

You can also get it on iTunes, here

Connie is also crowd sourcing to create physical copies.  If you’d like to contribute, click here

Do you practice daily positive affirmations and also teach them to the little ones in your life?  Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer:  We were provided with a copy of “I Create My World” by Connie Bowen for review purposes only.  All opinions of this book are our own.

Have you ever considered The Wizard of Oz to be a tale of leadership?

Imagine this…

There you are minding your own business when a huge tornado comes along and turns your world upside-down. You are transported to a land where little people sing in shrill voices, a woman wearing a gown appears from the sky in a bubble, a witch with hideous green makeup tells you that she is going to make your life miserable, and your family is nowhere to be found. The only thing you have to hold onto (literally) is a small dog named Toto who got you into this trouble in the first place. If he just hadn’t tried to bite the Maxwell House lady…

You know the story. But did you ever stop to think what great leadership skills Dorothy used to get herself out of that mess and back home? Would you have been able to do the same?

Dorothy as a Natural Leader

First of all, she knew where she wanted to go. She had direction. Even if it did start out in tiny steps going in a circle of golden bricks, the plain and simple fact is that she never stopped thinking about her goal. She wanted to go home, and nothing would deter her from that. Circles or no circles, crossroads or no crossroads, witch or no witch, Dorothy was going home. Period.

Secondly, she told everyone she met what her goal was, and even intrigued a few of them into adventuring along with her. Now, granted, this was quite the rag-tag group. A Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion might not be anyone’s first pick of partners on the journey to success. But, didn’t they believe in her? Didn’t they encourage her? Didn’t they help her get where she wanted to go? And they stuck with her regardless of the challenges she encountered. Not such a bad group after all. I daresay it was Dorothy’s conviction and good heart that kept them by her side and believing in her.

More Challenges

Next, she overcame the many obstacles that she encountered, no matter how daunting. No menacing trees throwing apples would stop her. And certainly, no poppy fields with sleeping potion could keep her down. No big, intimidating door would keep her out. And no witch would keep her locked up. No sirree, nothing was going to stop Dorothy from moving forward toward her goal. She focused her efforts and determined to get home.

Finally, she realized that the biggest part of the journey she had made was within herself. Regardless of how many miles she had walked, the real journey was in recognizing what was truly important to her. She understood the importance of family, friends, values, and the roof over her head. Everything else was interesting and at times glamorous, but temporary. True wisdom starts from within, and Dorothy learned this lesson.

Final Thoughts on Dorothy and Leadership

“You don’t need to be helped any longer. You’ve always had the power.” ~ The Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz

So, what do you think of Dorothy’s leadership skills now? She had direction. Plus, she attracted the right people into her life to help her get there. She overcame obstacles, no matter how large or small. And she realized that the largest part of her journey had really happened within. Not bad for a little girl.

So, grab your basket and your best blue gingham frock and take a few steps along the yellow brick road with Dorothy. She has a few things she would like to share with you about leadership. What do you think?

Many blessings,

Katrina