Aloha and thanks for visiting

Featured

Traci Toguchi by SeijiTraci Toguchi

Happy 2013!

Everyday, I wake up grateful for the gift of life. I express my gratitude for abundant blessings. I pray for my loved ones, everyone I have encountered, as well as those I have not. I pray for the lost, the lonely, the broken, the battered, the homeless, those living in fear, shame, guilt… I humbly ask that everyone be lifted up and receive help with whatever they are dealing with. I pray, asking that hearts be filled with love. I pray for goodness, hope, faith, joy, peace, and grace.

I’m inspired by many things in life. I am especially inspired by those who choose to see the good and let that be their guide through the ups and downs in life. This site includes what inspires me.

Wishing you a year of love, laughter, peace, joy, kindness, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and goodness.

Promise Yourself

Just posted this on my Facebook Page.

It’s like a new year’s resolution for me. My goal is to remember and do these things everyday.

Regarding the first section: I wondered about when we catch up with people and tell them about our journey (ups, downs, and the in-between)… doesn’t that include the non-health/happiness/prosperous stories? Perhaps we can touch upon them, but not illustrate and reenact the stories as to relive them. Perhaps keeping the thought and feeling of moving forward helps.

Happy Earth Day Sunday!

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

~ Christian D. Larson

Last Sunset of 2011 and First Sunset of 2012

Sharing two of my favorite sunset images from the series that I took while in awe like everyone else at Waikiki Beach on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Below were my Quotes of the Day for the respective days.

Cheers to a bright and beautiful new year.

Last Sunset of 2011
Last Sunset of 2011 at Waikiki Beach

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.” John Burroughs

~   *   ~

First Sunset of 2012
First Sunset of 2012 at Waikiki Beach

“The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.” Norman Vincent Peale

 

Feel free to share images, quotes…

How do you view optimism?

Had never considered pessimistic ways to view optimism until seeing a quote…

Shared this on my Facebook page, and wanted to share here too. Saw these quotes regarding optimism and the different perspectives. It made me chuckle because I can see both sides (I agree with the first):

“For despair, optimism is the only practical solution. Hope is practical. Because eliminate that and it’s pretty scary. Hope at least gives you the option of living.” ~Harry Nilsson

“I find nothing more depressing than optimism.” ~Paul Fussell

After several commenters responded also saying they preferred the former to the latter, this was my response:

I had never thought of optimism like the latter.

After reading it, I could see how having to think optimistically could be depressing for those that tend to sway toward the pessimistic end. After the inside of my head shifted for a bit, I saw the quote as optimism being depressing because that means things aren’t going well.

After catching myself tending to dwell on thoughts of “reality,” and noticing how much it would keep me down/stagnant, I found I prefer being optimistic after being aware of “reality”/circumstances, then choosing to dwell on the good/great/incredible blessings, knowing I may not be able to (quickly) change circumstances, but can change my outlook to handle them better for my health and well-being.

Definitely a life discipline.

How do you view optimism?