Whenever the New Year rolls around, I can't help but get a little teary eyed reflecting on the past year and all its blessings. It's very interesting how we humans work... constantly aiming and attaining, believing that we're lacking. "I need more bookings... more time... more money... so I can spend more time doing what I want." Right?!? Only to later realize that we either a.) don't know what we really want or b.) that what we really want is already available to us, 24/7. Either way, I think most of us can agree that the whole human experience is pretty amazing! Whether it's amazing from the point of view of a scientist or a donut enthusiast really doesn't matter. We're incredibly blessed to be a part of this little cosmos and I'd like to take a quick lifetime to express gratitude for a few of my personal favorite experiences of 2017. So grab Scott Bakula cause we about to make a quantum leap!! (You know this whole post was leading up to that one sentence, right?!?)
1. Hiking up to the Makapu'u Lighthouse to witness a woman singing a traditional Hawaiian chant E Ala E. (Out of respect for the woman's privacy and reverence for the ritual, I chose to feature her singing only. And our beautiful surroundings.)
2. Collaborating with some amazingly talented individuals and the beautiful friendships that have blossomed as a result.
3. Getting stormed on the North End.
4. Mondays in the mountains. Sometimes you just have to break the rules, grab some people you love and head west. Even if it's only for 24 hours.
5. Allllll the yoga. It completes me.
6. Seeing this dream manifest before my eyes.
7. Byodo-In Temple.
8. A lesson of acceptance through one of my greatest teachers, my husband. (Too much to touch on here but maybe I'll do a separate blog post about it? Let me know if that's something you'd be interested in seeing. Leave a comment below.)
9. Attaining my Chinese Visa. Haha! No, but seriously. They call it a process for a reason! But for me, the greater lesson wasn't the perseverance and patience needed to succeed but ultimately honoring my feelings and deciding not to go. Crazy as it may sound. I just wasn't feeling it at the time it called.
10. Taking the long way back along the Lanikai Pill Box hike and trusting in the path.
11. Making Snapchat vids with the hubs. As pathetic as it sounds, Snapchat has provided hours of entertainment and sheer joy. SO. MUCH. JOY.
12. Seeing Trevor Hall in concert with two of the best hearts that have blessed my life this past year.
13. Max Patch. If you've never been to this beautiful wonder along the Appalachian Trail, you might want to add it to your to-do list. The drive there alone will have you dreaming of living off the grid and raising sheep :)
14. Riding in cars with dogs. Molly and Burger have an amazing way of turning a 6:15 a.m. wake-up call into a morning filled with giggles and giddiness.
15. When it snowed. In Wilmington. North Carolina.
16. Super soak Sundays. A self-love-drenched vow I made to myself last January... lavender, epsom salt-filled baths on Sunday evenings. Try it. It will change your life.
17. Continuing to make art. Even if nobody cares.
18. All the sweet ways my niece and nephew seem to effortlessly remind me that life is nothing short of the greatest miracle. And that all that we really want from one another is time.
Okay, so a few was an understatement. Haha! What about you? What are your favorite experiences/blessings/lessons from 2017? I'd love to hear them so feel free to leave a comment below! In addition, I hope you all have a very, very happy New Year, filled with lots of love, magic and dreams realized! See you in 2018!!!
P.S. I just realized I stopped at 18. Can you say CUH-RAZY!!!
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