Helping Others
I wonder if you can sense the excitement I feel that you have come to this page??
You are SO needed! While I do love encouraging others and using my art to do that, I neither know, nor have the ability to help everyone! Someone in your world really needs YOU! (Maybe many "someone's") If we all work together we can have a great impact on the lives of those around us.
Come explore, learn and gather ideas.
Spreading Kindness
If you’re here reading this, you are a person who wants to be kind! So let’s look at a few issues that keep people from showing kindness. Then you can look into your own heart and identify what might be impacting you the most.
A Deeper Impact
Every one of us can look around and find someone who just doesn't seem to fit in, who is on the fringes, or standing alone wondering if they will even belong. And YOU can be the one to come alongside them, letting them know they are not alone and not an outsider. It only takes one. Be that one.
The Long Haul
As you may know, I have struggled for 20+ years with some difficult health issues. There was a time that I became housebound, and so isolated, that I often wondered if people “in my old life” even remembered me. Of course they did. I knew that. But I could go long periods without hearing from anyone.
It’s difficult to watch a loved one suffer. And it’s difficult to remember they are home struggling when life goes on at a normal pace for you. And it’s difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving or dealing with long term illness.
Occasionally, I would get a text or a card, or someone would leave flowers on my doorstep, or bring us a meal they had made for us, which were all meaningful.
Then one day, I received a different kind of gift.
Simple Acts of Kindness
Have you ever walked down a lane or in a garden when plumeria’s are blooming? The sun warms the flowers, and the fragrance fills the air. Even if you can’t see the tree or flowers, the makani (wind) fills the air with a sweetness that’s hard to describe but lasts in your memory forever.
Sometimes, the simplest act of kindness can have an impact and “sweeten the air” for someone far beyond what you could imagine.
When I was 8 years old, in the midst of deep fear, a nurse showed me kindness that impacted me so deeply, I can still see her face. I doubt she had any idea how much her actions would still touch me over 50 years later.
Native Fragrance of Love
You know that one of my favorite times of year as an artist is the Hawaii Nei Art Exhibit in Hilo.
Prior to the 2023 show, I attended a garden tour sponsor by Hawaii Nei. I so enjoyed seeing, touching and smelling the native plants, and learning about all their uses.
It was an overcast day (common in Hilo), but as we walked past a huge Alahe’e tree, the sun came out. The shadows danced on the leaves and the fragrance of the flowers wafted through the air. A happy little bee fought the breezes to land and collect pollen. I was enthralled.
The Power of Appreciation
"Excuse me. Can I borrow your long arms?"
The voice came from behind me (it's Melanie's husband, Bill, - standing in for the Artist today) with this unsettling question. For just a moment, I didn't know what this could possibly mean.
For quite a number of years I have done our grocery shopping. On this particular day I had gone out early to shop and was nearing the end of my grocery list standing in the dairy aisle studying the cheese options.
Due to the engaging nature of sliced cheese, I had not noticed that a kapuna of some 75 or so years was searching nearby. She pointed to the top shelf and told me that she wanted one of what looked to be a sold out item from an empty shelf. She added that she could see in a reflection from above that there was one left at the very back of the shelf. I'm not sure my arms are particularly long but in this case, they were sufficient to quickly retrieve the cheese she wanted.
The Role of Hospitality
E Komo Mai in Hawaiian is a common phrase of welcome, and a pineapple is a symbol of hospitality. I’ve been thinking a lot about hospitality recently.
After the isolation of the pandemic, we’ve had several trips off-island and several sets of visitors here on-island. Our most recent set of visitors was one of my husband’s former co-workers and his wife. We had the most wonderful week reconnecting and catching up with these dear friends.
In the midst of our visit I began thinking about the differences between “hospitality” and “entertaining.” A few things came to mind.
