Hello my friends. I hope this post find you well. It has been an interesting few weeks, to say the least. At times life just hasn’t seemed real. I’ve found myself lost in thought about how quickly “normalcy” has slipped away for the majority of us. Some folks are completely panicked, others feel like everyone else is too dramatic and we all just need to calm down — and no matter where you find yourself on this reaction spectrum, I think we can all agree that life is different right now.
In times of worry and uncertainty, I find comfort in practicing gratitude. I’m grateful for my family, my home, my job (and the ability to work from home), technology (to stay connected), yoga (to keep me moving), and meditation (to keep my mind clear). Those are just a few of the items on the short list right now. Gratitude doesn’t fix all of the chaos in the world; it doesn’t stop the hurting and the loss; it doesn’t outweigh the worry, the sadness, and the disruptions to life; but it does help me to focus on what I can control and it helps me to keeps things in perspective.
And as humanity is slowing down and hitting the pause button, I’m remaining hopeful that the world will be back up and buzzing soon. How soon? Only time will tell. However, in 20 years when I look back at this uncertain time, I hope that I will feel grateful for the afternoon walks, movie nights, couch parties for two, and curling up with a good book–all the simple pleasures in life are that much sweeter right now.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve yearned for adventure; whether it be a day in the mountains, a week on the lake, or adventures halfway around the world. Traveling has become one of my greatest passions and over the years, it has opened my eyes, softened my heart, and lit my soul on fire. It has left me awe-struck, speechless, humbled, and full of gratitude. And while we are currently pausing our travels, practicing social distancing, and hunkering down in the safety of our own home for the foreseeable future, we’ll be sending out positive vibes, focusing on gratitude, and daydreaming of distant islands and happier times. During this time, I may or may not have, but most definitely have, planned trips to places we have no intention of immediately visiting. 🙂
Back here on the blog, I’m going to continue sharing our adventures from this past year. I hope that these upcoming posts can provide a happy distraction from this crazy world, allow us to daydream again, and perhaps spread a little joy. And at the very least, hopefully you’ll have a few more destinations to add to your Bucket List by the time this whole ordeal is behind us. 🙂
Stay safe, stay well, and be kind to one another.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
J.K.Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Check in with me. How are you doing during this crazy time? What are you grateful for?
Pictures and Plane Tickets 
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We’ll be back to travel adventures soon enough, but for now, we’ll watch those home movies that we have recorded in our minds-eye and share those as best we can with our friends.
A hui hou, until we meet, ALOHA!
Aloha Auntie,
Yes, for now, our travel memories are that much sweeter–the photos, videos, and memories make me feel lucky to have had those experiences. And keep me looking forward to the day we can explore again. 🙂
A Hui Hou my dear Auntie! Stay well.