Thank you for stopping by. Do you know how important you are? You have the potential to change the world! You are creative, imaginative, and engaging. Yes, YOU! Envision the exponential of your potential with two of you, ten of you, hundreds of you, and thousands of you! Sowing good seed into one another is powerful.
This little corner of the blog universe will provide the inspiration, information, and collaboration we all need to grow purposefully.
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or a smoothie…there is much to share. Please visit often, we’ll keep the light on.
Passion that begins with purpose and cultivates encouragement will bear fruit and grow. -CKaeha
Aloha is Hospitality, Kindness, Forgiveness, Beauty, and Love. It benefits everyone! The Hawaiian lei is a lovely symbol of Aloha… it provides a loving and unconditional “welcome”
Royal Leis for King Kamehameha
Lei Résumé:
Its objective
A gesture to welcome visitors, be lovely, be fragrant, bring joy, represent hospitality, show kindness, and encourage community.
Leis were once made of hair, feathers, shells, bone, leaves, vines, flowers and even teeth. Materials used were associated to certain cultural beliefs and superstitions. Maile (leafy fragrant vine), associated with a spiritual connection to the forest, was and still is a highly favored lei material, dating back to 750 A.D. when the Hawaiian Islands were first settled.
Its growth
Seeds, leaves , vines, kukui, feathers ,and flowerslike Ilima and Pikake, are still used to create magnificent garlands. The flowers from the hala fruit are connected to love and desire. In addition to the traditional style, many leis are now comprised of candy, money and various textiles like fur and specialized yarns. A symphony of techniques from the past and mixed with current design, make up the crafting of a lei. There still exists an etiquette in receiving a lei: do not refuse the gesture (unless you are highly allergic to the material).
Its impact
The lei has never lost its symbolic character. It has however, grown in its attributes and skill set to bring cheer to the giver and receiver. Each year on May 1st, Hawaii celebrates Lei Day to commemorate the culture, history and symbolic nature of the lei. It is globally recognized as a tangible symbol of the versatile and comprehensive qualities of Aloha
Orchid lei
Lei Legacy
The lei, as a symbol and gift of Aloha, is used in countless capacities, from welcoming new arrivals, to celebrating a wedding, graduation, promotion, birthday, reunions, or even paying respect to a passing loved one. Here are the attributes that will never go out of style:
Welcoming and Encouraging
Soothing and Gentle
Beautiful and Fragrant
Delightful and Positive
Globally recognized
Doesn’t discriminate
Author’s personal note:
In 2005 I launched a journey of encouragement, love, kindness, and hospitality…sharing the “Gifts of Aloha” is still my tagline. I began designing and creating permanent leis, each labeled with a message of encouragement. One day I will return to that quest. All in God’s timing! Check back or follow so you are notified when I post pictures of them and perhaps I will be inspired to post some how-to videos!
Be sure and check out this great YouTube Video entitled, “Making a Maile Lei”, by user harley anna. The tutorial well done and music is wonderful:
This article will appeal to all ages, genders, and ethnicity, because it deals with kindness, giving, caring. It’s a true story of a 12 year old boy, named Campbell that sews bears for sick children.
What is so inspiring?
Campbell learned that stress makes cancer stronger, so he wanted to make a bear that could help relieve stress and bring a smile to sick children. When his dad contracted cancer, Campbell gave his dad a “magic” bear. His dad is still cancer free.
I can’t help but wonder…
Could Campbell inspire children and adults to do the same?
Would children and adults find joy in helping others?
Could kindness like this, become a trend?
Could kindness, collaboration, and love beat cancer?
My Response
I’m inspired by this young man and am very pleased that Mashable featured his story of giving and caring!
#2 A Circle of Gratitude
This story promoted by American Greetings #ThankList Campaign and featured on Mashable
This article is sure to inspire…
The video and article is more than just sharing, caring, and connections. It speaks to anyone and everyone that longs to be noticed, or has a loved one that has talents and gifts to share with the world.
It is a short story about growing through connecting with compassionate people that delight in the success of others.
What is so inspiring?
A gifted young man named Andrew, through loving and caring friends and family, helped birth a specialized school named Exceptional Minds. The school was created by an animation director whose life was changed and enriched by Andrew. Young adults with autism learn about visual effects, animation, and employment in the entertainment industry. Caring and sharing produces a domino effect.
I can’t help but wonder…
How to offer this program on every campus?
What other fields of interest might be offered?
How I might help to impact others?
My Response
Technically speaking, autism in itself is not addressed, however, recognizing that everyone has a talent worth nurturing and sharing, is!
#3 Here’s what happens when grandparents learn to use Snapchat
This lighthearted article will likely entertain a majority of grandparents, parents, and grandkids old enough to use Snapchat. It might inspire others to give it a try.
What is so inspiring?
The article explains that DoSomething.org joined forces with Mentor Up for a campaign called Grandparents Get Wired which taught seniors how to use smart phones to prevent isolation by staying connected with their families. Their younger family members were coached on how to teach and encourage grandparents to use social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and even how to take selfies.
I can’t help but wonder know…
Some grandparents use Snapchat likely do it at the request of their grandkids
Grandkids that talked their grandparents into using Snapchat regret it after they get endless filtered snaps
My Response
Connecting with younger family members using unlikely media can be fun or awkward. But for sure, there is never a dull moment!
Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is. -Anne Frank
Who doesn’t love puppies and ice cream?
We all have amazing potential
Can anyone say puppy or ice cream without smiling? How about stringing those together such as, the adorable puppy loves sharing my ice cream. Those are the kind of words, and word strings, that easily create a pleasant atmosphere in one’s mind. Words are very powerful and depending on the words we choose, can either encourage or discourage.
Why should I encourage?
Encourage is described as a verb to stimulate spiritually. Its many synonyms include: applaud, brighten, cheer, comfort, console, embolden, energize, enliven, excite, exhilarate, fortify, gladden, praise, reassure, refresh, restore, revitalize, and strengthen. Our vocabulary is rich with words that can trigger a smile or joyful thought. Imagine what an immediate change there could be if everyone spoke kindness. Here are simple and very basic ways to incorporate encouragement in your daily routine (remember to smile):
Say thank you, to the grocery clerk
Say good morning, to your co-workers
Greet as you hold open someone’s door
But I am often discouraged!
Discourage is defined:to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit. Words of discouragement break down both parties in an exchange. Whether it is texted, published, sung, or spoken; discouragement destroys. It is like a cancer to the giver and receiver. Encouraging others lifts your spirits. My personal go-to is the bible, and I read the promises that belong to all His Creation.
Here is a very interesting 94 second video that briefly explains a fascinating scientific discovery about how words affect a water molecule!
Try it, you’ll like it!
Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason a water molecule responds positively. We each possess the power to encourage rather than discourage. When given a choice to build up or tear down, it is beneficial to both the speaker and the hearer, to speak in a way that is encouraging. Look for ways to speak words of encouragement every day of the year, everywhere you go, because so many in this world are hurting. Who knows, you might end up with a puppy or an ice cream!
Picture a few parks, parking lots and sidewalks nearest to your home, work, or school. Now imagine fruit trees in place of the existing ornamental trees. Think about seasonal tree ripened fruit like, sweet figs, crunchy apples, juicy pears, thirst quenching oranges, tart pomegranates. Your mouth is watering. Maybe you skipped breakfast, or lunch. You reach up, pick one for now and one for later. Sounds great but how could that work? Glad you asked!
the beauty of fresh fruit
How it works
Publicly or institutionally maintained areas provide grounds that are already landscaped, watered, and cared for. Plumbing is already in place for drinking fountains and small wash stations can be installed nearby. Maintenance crews would use safe and compliant pest control. That reduces harmful pesticide exposure to humans and pets. It also reducing pesticide runoff. Planting fruit trees in place of ornamental trees would still provide shade and beauty. The edible resource is the ultimate benefit.
making use of decommissioned train tracks
Where it works
Public and neighborhood parks
Community gardens and orchards
Campus gardens and horticulture plots
Shopping and inner-city parking lots
Youth clubs
Parks and recreation facilities
cityscape community gardening
Why it matters
Communities adopting and implementing this concept might be more open to urban gardening and promoting gleaning at nearby farms. It addresses the two main reason for food insecurity; the lack of income and access to healthy food. The model fosters community cooperation, and contributes to a beautiful, cleaner and more functional environment
Thank you for stopping by. Do you know how important you are? You have the potential to change the world! You are creative, imaginative, and engaging. Yes, YOU! Envision the exponential of your potential with two of you, ten of you, hundreds of you, and thousands of you! Sowing good seed into one another is powerful.
This little corner of the blog universe will provide the inspiration, information, and collaboration we all need to grow purposefully. Articles, references, links, short stories, and videos will support one or more of the following categories:
Purpose
Useful
Resourceful
Preparedness
Opportunity
Service
Encouragement
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or a smoothie…there is much to share. In the coming weeks and beyond, you will be able to peruse solutions, information, innovations, remedies recipes, helpful how-to’s, and inspirational stories of encouragement, collaboration, compassion and victory. There are gardens of goodness in this world and they are growing! Together we can turn adversity into opportunity! Please visit often, we’ll keep the light on.
Turning adversity into opportunity!
Passion that begins with purpose and cultivates encouragement will bear fruit and grow. -CKaeha
This story promoted by American Greetings 
Humanity Beautiful 
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