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Category: Health

  • Embracing Pono: Finding Balance, Peace, and Spiritual Connection in Everyday Life

    Embracing Pono: Finding Balance, Peace, and Spiritual Connection in Everyday Life

    On a recent visit to Maui, Hawaii, I was reminded of this island’s healing and nurturing atmosphere. Some would call the experience as magical, but I prefer the word mystical. It is a direct encounter with God through the beauty of His creation and people.

    The Hawaiians refer to this state of being as Pono. It is defined as living with “righteousness” or “balance” within yourself, others, and the environment. It is a way of life that encourages peace and harmony, and one cannot escape the beneficial aspects of this lifestyle. Pono is not so much something that happens to you. Appreciating and participating in the exchange between others and the world around you is more of a choice. If you let it, Pono will bring an indescribable peace, and I am convinced that is precisely what visitors experience when they visit the islands and what keeps them going back, year after year.


    I was first introduced to Pono by a friend who moved from California to Maui after the COVID-19 pandemic. I was intrigued and thankful that what I could not explain had a name and that I was not the only one. What was different about this last trip (January 2025) was how easily I fell into Pono after arriving after our flight. Even after the hassle of air travel, I felt myself begin to decompress as soon as we landed. The transition comes easier and smoother every time we visit.

    This experience made me pause and think about applying the Pono to my everyday life while at home on the mainland. Is it possible to practice Pono when you’re not in paradise? If we consider it a choice or a practice, yes. And, just like anything we practice we can get better and better as time passes.

    Reflecting on my journey, I realize that practicing Pono doesn’t require being in Hawaii—it’s a mindset we can cultivate anywhere. By embracing balance, gratitude, and connection in our daily lives, we can bring peace and harmony, no matter where we are.

    Whether through mindfulness, prayer or simply appreciating the beauty around us, we can attune ourselves to the divine presence in every moment. As I embark on my journey with “Attune” as my guiding word for 2025, I invite you to consider how you can bring more Pono into your life.

    Have you ever experienced this sense of deep connection and balance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  • Meditation, Belly Breathing and Body Scans

    Meditation, Belly Breathing and Body Scans

    I learned about the benefits of meditation many years ago. When I was a child, I would watch a yoga class (on PBS, I think) that always ended with a short meditation. This experience impacted me. I wanted to create a consistent practice for many years, and I eventually made it happen. But as time has passed, I’ve fallen away from it, and I think it’s time to return.

    One of my latest inspirations for this is my eight-year-old grandson, Jameson. (It’s still hard to believe he’s eight already.) He learned (much earlier than I did) the benefits of a consistent meditation practice. His bedtime ritual includes Belly Breathing to relieve stress and quiet his mind. He follows a video on YouTube that teaches children this technique. I’ve done it several times with him, and I always walk away feeling better, too.

    Another effective practice to use with children is a simple body scan. We begin by focusing on different parts of the body. I usually start at the feet and move up. We say, “Goodnight feet, goodnight knees, goodnight legs, etc. When we reach the head, we end with a “goodnight body,” and the tension melts away. One of my favorite memories of Charlotte was during one of these sessions. When we had completed the scan, there was a moment of silence, and then she said, “Goodnight, Butt,” then squealed and giggled. (Now, we always end with a “Goodnight Butt.”)

    Meditation has many forms and has been an effective “self-help” tool for centuries. Even modern medicine recognizes the benefits of consistent practice. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend beginning with the simple practice of Belly Breathing. And there is no better time to start than now, as we are all immersed in the chaos of the holidays.

  • Not Just Anybody

    Not Just Anybody

    I have required some assistance with my daily life recently, which has allowed me to reflect with gratitude on my friends and family. It has reminded me of the Beatles’ song, Help.

    I need somebody

    (Help) not just anybody

    (Help) you know I need someone

    (Help)

    Accepting help is not easy, but sometimes, there isn’t another option. It is humbling but in the best possible way.

    While preparing for this season, I knew I would (and could) rely primarily on Leroy and Sierra. They didn’t have a choice, but they were willing participants. However, we have a new family member now, so I also asked Taylor for help too. She didn’t even hesitate. She jumped in with both feet, and I am forever grateful. It has only been a year since I met this girl, and I am continually shocked at how well she fits into our family.

    When Taylor took care of me one day, I paused and asked her, “Did you ever think you’d be doing this for me a year ago when we met in the Dutch Bros drive-thru?” She laughed and said no. Neither did I. But what surprised me the most at that moment was that I was willing to be so vulnerable and dependent on this girl. Don’t get me wrong, she makes it easy. Her kind heart is filled with love and service. I have the barriers, but she’s torn down the wall.

    I did not have the best example of mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships when I was growing up, for no fault of my sisters-in-law. My mom was often challenging to get along with. I am so thankful those experiences have not influenced my relationship with Taylor. (Maybe it has, but in the opposite way.) I can’t believe how much I like this girl.

    This interaction got me thinking. What other limiting beliefs keep me from experiencing the best part of life and the people around me? I’ve certainly learned that I should “never say never.” And I am improving at not jumping to judgmental conclusions about another’s actions. (Although this area still needs some work.) I will use this experience as a template for further interactions. I will remember that an anybody can become a somebody when you let them in and let them help.

  • Good Sleep

    Good Sleep

    When we came home from our trip to Poland, Prague and Germany in May, we arrived at San Francisco International Airport at 3:30 in the afternoon. If you live in California, you know that is the absolute worst time to travel East from the Bay Area into the Central Valley. It took us almost three hours to get home. (Without traffic, we should be able to make it in two.) We were exhausted, but after showering and a good night’s sleep, we woke up the next day revived and refreshed. When I saw my neighbor that morning, she commented on how well I looked and asked how I felt. When I said I was great, she said, “You do know jet lag is going to kick in soon, right?” No. I didn’t. But she called it. Only a few hours later, I was sprawled out on the couch in a deep sleep that lasted hours.

    No offense to Taylor Swift, but I didn’t choose jet lag; it chose me. This was not a part of the adventure that I had considered. I probably should have planned for it, but I was more worried about my sleep before and during the trip. I won’t make that mistake again. It took me a couple of weeks to fully recover. There were days when I ached with physical exhaustion and walked around in a cognitive fog. (Even worse than usual.)

    Sleep has always been vital for me. My mother used to blame my need for more (than normal) sleep on a bout of Mononucleosis when I was about twelve years old. Fortunately, getting good quality sleep has never been an issue for me. It’s the duration that makes the most significant difference.

    Diet, exercise and sleep are the essential elements for good health. Most of us are aware of how the food we eat or how we move (or don’t move) makes us feel. But we tend to ignore our sleep habits. Sometimes, we feel guilty about sleeping more than others think is necessary. We’ve all had friends brag about their lack of sleep. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” The truth is you’ll be dead faster if you don’t take time to rest your body and brain.

    Leroy and I have developed the habit of a consistent bedtime and nine hours of sleep each night. Of course, there are exceptions, but we try to keep them to a minimum. We are in bed by 8:00 pm and up at 5:00 am daily. (Yes, even in the summer when it’s still light outside. We have great blinds in our bedroom.) Our friends and family make fun of us, and they know that texting us after 8:00 pm is a waste of time. Some even make fun of us. But we don’t care. It works for us and has been one of the easiest healthy habits we’ve built.

    It’s never too late to work on a healthy habit. I think sleep is one of the best. Make your mental and physical health a priority with good sleep. Set yourself up for success by developing a shut-down routine. If you can’t sleep, I recommend reading the most boring book you own. If you’re a night owl, adjust your schedule to sleep later in the morning. Just make sure you’re getting the hours you need.