He’e nalu, or surfing, is an ancient sport that has been recorded in chants and in petroglyphs from the Hawaiian Islands that date back to 1500 A.D. Surfing is actually thousands of years old, practiced before the Polynesians migrated to the Hawaiian Islands. The sport was almost destroyed by Christian Missionaries, who considered surfing to be pagan. Fortunately, a small core of Hawaiians continued to surf. The great surfer, Duke Kahanamoko, was asked to travel from Waikiki to the Mainland in 1907 to demonstrate skills in Redondo Beach, California.

Since 1991, sky watchers all over the country claim to be concerned about a special type of black colored helicopter. These helicopters differ from regular choppers like Hawaii volcano tours in that they are unmarked (showing no affiliation with any service or organization), painted a dull black color (some claim to deflect radar) have tinted windows and fly close to tree level in apparent disregard of FAA regulations.

It was just a few degrees shy of swimming weather a few weeks ago at the beach. I walked along the shore in my jeans and a red tankini top, the salt air refreshing against my skin but not quite cold. My two sisters and some friends and I were taking a brief hike down the beach. Up ahead, a small freshwater creek came out of the pine forest along the beach and cut across our path. The water of the creek was a ribbon of earthy red crossing the white sandy beach. As we approached, I said to my sister Audra, lets jump it!

Gratefulness brings a great fullness to life. The choice to adopt and hold a moment-by-moment attitude of gratitude is the choice that differentiates those who suffer the slings and arrows of misfortune and those who are blessed with a joyous and abundant life.

As a coach, I often ask myself the question why human beings have problems. With the exception of terminal diseases, serious illnesses that are REALLY life-threatening situations and serious stuff, we do have problems for a number of reasons I will present below. But first of all, allow me, I will have to replace the word problem by challenge or barrier as used in the coaching jargon. Problems do not exist in the coaching world! However, changing the word, does not change the concept so a challenge, barrier or problem is pretty much the same thing.

Too many of us seem to think that there should be 24-7 happiness in our life,
so when there is problems in a marriage the temptation for affairs and divorce is there.

But where ever we are in our life, in or out of love, single or in a long term relationship or marriage,
there is no 24-7 happiness.

There are happy moments to cherish and to hold us through the trials.
Society has lead us to believe we should be happy and beautiful at all times
and with someone happy and beautiful at all times.

Couple issues such as spirituality and sexuality rank higher than financial reasons as the most affected items of a fumbling relationship. When it comes the moment to point out why a couple needs more intimate vigor, two wrongly things are sure to happen: Women are always blamed, and if both recognize that its a male matter, also women blame themselves. Their consequent silent follows a behavior that will never end the cycle if there is no communication and willingness to solve it.

Breaking the cycle is a term we have all heard. Especially if we come from a family (and these days who doesnt) that has a history of some type of violence and/or drug abuse whereas this phrase is told to us over and over. Yes, you have had a bad hand in life. Life is not fair. But the best thing you can do is raise your head and break the cycle of violence in your life.

Our feelings and attitudes have a huge impact on our ability to achieve 'happily ever after.' Are feelings and attitudes the same thing or different? Does one cause the other to happen? Which one has more power over how we respond? Does the person experiencing them have any choice in the matter? What if they are in conflict?

The most important achievements you can ever have in this life is your own happiness.

And the majority of all the happiness you will ever have, will come from your personal relationships. Your interactions and the time you spend with the people you care about will be the major source of the pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction you have on a daily basis.