Life In Paradise
Well, it is just about summertime and that is when the insects come out, so I thought it would be a good time to talk about them. Let me tell you a little story.
When I moved to Hawaii (Kona) the first time, my sister and I lived in a part of an older house. It was decent and we weren't that picky because we were in our early 20s. However, because the tops of the walls were screened in (vs. there being wall to the ceiling) it was less than air tight. Every night, after a long day in the sun I would go into the bathroom to take a shower and every night (not exaggerating here) there would be a huge (a little exaggeration here, was around 1.5"-2", I have seen bigger) cockroach on the back side of my towel that was hanging on the towel rack (link here to what I am talking about, viewer discretion advised, and not necessary if too creepy for you: https://www.citymill.com/howto/blog/roaches-hawaiis-favorite-pests/). And, every night (definitely not exaggerating here) I would scream out loud. Night after night, screaming.
Why is it that I didn't stop screaming? How come with that much exposure to the large bug I didn't just know it was going to be there, expect it, shoo it away and move on with my shower? Why didn't I come up with a solution like a bug trap or insecticide. As crazy as it sounds, I actually never considered that there would be a solution to this intrusive insect, I mean it is the tropics.
So, why am I talking about this? I bring this up because I think that many people don't realize that having stress, anxiety, and overwhelm on a regular basis is not something that you have to put up with, there are solutions. It is possible to experience calm, peace of mind, meaning and purpose in your life, almost exclusively. When you understand that this life is not about challenges, it is about understanding who you are, what you are here doing, and healing those not so wonderful past experiences so that you can enjoy your life, now, then you can create purpose and meaning each day, with all that you do and in all interactions. You can learn how to be present in your life and with those that you love.
Let's hop on what I call a "step 1 to joy call." What looks good in your schedule next week?
Peace, Erin "no longer screaming" Mac