There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence by which the idealist fighting for peace by nonviolent methods easily succumbs: activism and overwork.
The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence.
To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence.
The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful. ~Thomas Merton
listen to my PIP Clip as I read this power passage from a great mind.
Aloha We-Day Wednesday: Today I invite us to pause, to reflect, to inspire each other. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
On this day in 1929, my hero and silence breaker and non-violent change maker, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born.
In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated. Please follow this link for a more detailed history
On this day in 1934, my loving and loyal father was born to a militaryfamily on the Chesapeake Coast in Virginia. He died of heart dis-ease at the age of 69. The following is taken from the first draft of my transformational memoir, Moonshot aim high, dive deep, live an extraordinary life
This book is dedicated to my Dad, an unsung hero in his right. A man growing up in America, to me he represents warmth of heart and poetry of soul. He loved birds and sunrise was his favorite time of the day. I pushed at the stickiness of his torment gingerly with my small hands, and for a time, I was stuck. Unable to let go of the past, my Dad also chased the promise of new beginnings.
To me, his only daughter, he embodied the Albert Camus quote, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
Life being both beautiful and terrifying, he introduced me to both the sunrise as well as the dark night of the soul. Be prepared for anything, he taught me, and this, I now see, can be an incredible “come from” in how I see my life. We can dwell in possibility, that anything could happen, and to be prepared for anything. In the past, for me this perspective was incredibly nerve-wracking. Now, this same truth, is indeed, incredibly liberating; I am responsible for everything.
My father taught me to be prepared for a slight change in temperature, a sudden rain storm, and how to test the brakes on a car. He advised me to quit looking busy for busyness sake, to slow down and smell the roses. Generate warmth, prepare for anything, and know how to slow down effectively, these are the great guidelines that still steer me today.
My thoughts today, inspired by these two powerful men. our lives begin to end… when we forget to care when we forsake our resilient heart when we forgo our right to speak up about injustice
our lives begin to thrive… when we forget to seek revenge when we forgive ourselves and others when we forgo our right to retaliate with hate
May we reside in the privilege of nonviolent committed action and break the silence that locks our heart in hate. My heart is with the movement on ʻOahu today. Kapu Aloha. Aloha ʻĀina. may it be so.you matter. your relationships matter.
My best quality of love, Amy Elizabeth Relational Health Coach
heal your heart, open your mind cover it with love, transform your world change in here, ignite out there
’tis magical, this season of excellence, abundance & gratitude
As I’m sitting here, I’m operating from a sense of excellence, abundance and gratitude. Living my Moonshot, my declaration of extraordinary living as I send love to:
Everett, my son, as I tend to his sickness
the fresh biopsy wound on my nose after yesterday’s dermatology appointment
my mind as I recognize this email didn’t get out “on time” and release the pinch of perfectionism
the earth as I prepare for a “plastic free event” at the luau tomorrow at our local canoe club
Juggling all of this can feel like a lot, even too much, if I entertain the story of overwhelm in my head. Though it’s tempting, instead, I tune in to a different story, one of abundant love and supportive energy that surrounds us all. I trust it like I trust gravity. Penetrate the surface, much like the rains are penetrating the dry ground in this season, and there is indeed a rich sense of abundance and the ever-present-presence of gratitude.
From this wellspring of gratitude, I delegate. I ask for support from my Moonshot team, my family, my angels and ancestors, from those seen and unseen energies that are conspiring tirelessly in my favor. I let go and allow the extraordinariness of life to unfold in magical ways. All of this is coupled with my committed action; my overarching intention of excellence, abundance and gratitude.
’tis magical, this season of excellence, abundance & gratitude
Many of you may think I’m referring to Thanksgiving and the December major holidays. It’s more than that. Here in Hawai’i it’s also the season where we say, Lonoikamakahiki.
What is Lonoikamakahiki?
This is the greeting we share to acknowledge Makahiki. This marks the time of year when the god Lono returns to Hawaiʻi from Kahiki. Makahiki lasts for roughly four months. This season is a time for rest and rejuvenation. Tribute would be given to the aliʻi, the chiefs, there were no wars, and games and sports were the main pastime. (from kumukahi.org)
Season of attunement
We wake up our senses and notice a shift in the weather around us and within us. The storms come. The rain penetrates the earth and ends the dry season. It is time to fully reconnect with loved ones. We enjoy prosperity and the fruits of fertility.
Learn more about this season in an amazing 10 minute talk from my kumu Kekuhi here.
Annual tradition
My family, my team, participated in the annual tradition of Makahiki “Aha Pule ʻĀina Holo” relay run on Sunday, 17th of November. This four-day ceremonial relay run around the entire island of Hawaiʻi is in its sixth year and has become a significant community event, mirroring the traditional clockwise Makahiki procession. We ran part of it.
A great honor to participate shows in this photo, my youngest, Toby, carrying the Lono staff. We run in prayerful ceremony to honor the ripple effect of the power of peace, prosperity, and attunement.
Finally, we pause to celebrate. We intentionally magnify the power of excellence, abundance and gratitude. Together we rise, like a mighty wave. Join the Moonshot Movement, build your Moonshot team, and let the magic of the season of excellence, abundance & gratitude unfold. Stay tuned…
On this mother’s day, may we remember that we have a choice in how we experience it.
On one hand we suffer, and at times we manufacture our own suffering, all while trying to buffer ourselves from the harshness of reality.
For example, I heard someone today describe how she has to fatigue herself with running twenty miles so that the penetrating struggles of life don’t get to her. And she is sick – has been all week – and can’t imagine not running. She barked at her daughter and left the restaurant without goodbye to her friends. Ouch.
Another alternate reality, is to live from our vision of love.
For example, a beautiful colleague, from a land far away, wrote to me last week and shared with me her vision of her marriage as a safe harbour and a launching pad.
She has troubles, too. We all do. And she lives from her vision.
I asked her to paint me a picture of the vision of what safe harbour and a launching pad, would look and feel like.
Her reply took my breath away, then I inhaled deeply, sweetly, it was so beautiful.
It so perfectly sums up my wish for all the mothers on mother’s day, for all of us looking for a more extraordinary relationship.
I’m going to share it here with the upmost gratitude, respect, and admiration.
I dedicate this blessing to all of us willing to show up to this moment, and this moment, and yet again.
To choose our vision (aloha) over our troubling stories pilikia).
May it inspire you as it has inspired me.
An anonymous mother’s day blessing to inspire you to dream…
of your own safe habour and launching pad of an extraordinary relationship…
I’d have more energy to bring to others.
I’d smile at more people.
I’d crave cake less.
I’d think of death and soften, instead of cringing.
I’d weep when I am sad, I’d laugh out loud even more than now.
I’d make love, and let my sexual energy flow into our sacred dance, using our physical meetings and matings as a crucible for growth, and as a keyhole into you, myself and us.
I’d be prettier. More radiant.
I’d insist on finishing our writing projects together and we would make the most of our very different and oh-so-sharp minds and tender hearts, birthing helpful articles to big newspapers occasionally.
I’d feel calmer about what our children carry into their own relational life.
I’d stand stronger, as the pain of others crashes into me.
I’d curl up with you, open-hearted and grateful, daring to bring my truth more often, and owning my shadows more easily.
Our garden would look even better, and find us playing more often.
I’d bring more energy to my curiosities, and my business, helping more people and doing so more effectively.
