LB Says Hi

I’ve been running a lot recently. I head to Magic Island after work and run with one of my coworkers, Caitlin. Exercising is hard, but I’ve been finding myself going back for the scenery. Every night there’s a sunset that takes my breath away. I’ve realized that I’ve become more observant in this season, stopping to soak it all in, to realize what’s around me. Usually, I feel emotions like gratitude and peace, but other times, I’m reminded of how alone I feel. I don’t do loneliness well. I recently moved out of my house and have been living by myself. Furthermore, my relationship has ended and now I’m without my best friend. I think these things make this time of loneliness seem even more devastating, more real. Still, other people do it. Other people are strong and eventually make it through. Somehow, when I stand in the light of the setting sun, I feel illuminated with desperation and sadness, as if I’m the only person in the whole world who feels this terrible. It’s selfish...

I’ve been thinking about inspiration lately, how it comes to us in different forms and through different avenues. Pow Wow Hawaii just finished, and Kaka‘ako is back to its sleepy slumber. Last week, it was crowded with local artists and other dreamers from around the world. It was a sight to see, walking through the area among sprawled paint cans and towering scaffolding. Art surely was alive at that moment.  I'm fortunate to work in Kaka‘ako, so I was able to venture a few days in a row and watch the artists in action. The progression was the most exciting part of it all, as one blob of pink paint eventually became a blooming mushroom, and another the belly of a contorted swimmer. The possibilities seemed endless, and I came back each day eager to see what shape an art piece had taken and what transformation had occurred overnight. Audrey Kawasaki is my best friend's favorite artist, and it’s no wonder, as her artwork is cheerful, breathtaking and fantastical...

There are people that leave a lasting impression on your life, whether good or bad. Both types teach you something valuable, and it’s up to you to do something with those lessons. One of my oldest friends, Chari, recently came home for a visit, and it has been like we never were apart. Sometimes I’m afraid of her passion and zest for life, only because I am so cautious in most aspects of my own. When she speaks, she pauses before each thought, making sure that her words are collected, impactful and meaningful. I think that is an attribute worth having, because unlike Chari, I always speak without thinking, without pausing and most times I regret the outcome. After a day spent hiking with her in Manoa Valley, and eating delicious healthy food in Kaimuki, my mind was filled to the brim with ideas, theories and conversations that we had traded. How could one soul be packed with so many thoughts and feelings? It must be exhausting. Still, it also is inspiring. She is inspi...