Tis the Season

Tis the season for giving...

And with the help of my fellow ukulele strummers we managed to hit 3 locations in 3 days.  

The local medical center for the Feel Good Concert series, greeting visitors with Mele Kalikimaka and really putting Silent Night into the proper perspective.  

After that we were off to one of the nursing homes, where the residents were decked out in their best holiday fashions, including blinged out wheelchairs, Santa hats and, of course, leis.

The best part of this gig was the few ladies in the front row telling me they were abit "naughty" and not sure that Santa would be stopping by!!!  LOL we did! 

Then off to the Annual Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Drive.

Guess all the playing of "Let It Snow" did the trick, because this event went off in a full snow storm.  Good food, good cheer, good friends.  A great community event with the true spirit of Christmas at heart....the donation of toys for the children!  

So, let's continue on with the Spirit of Giving.  Practice those RAK's, (Random Acts of Kindness) throughout the holiday season.  

Bake cookies for a neighbor, shovel some snow, say "hello" to friends you know and everyone you meet!  

Fa la la...and all that jazz! 

Aloha! 

Radiant

The other day I had the privilege of performing with my ukulele friends for a Senior Citizens Luncheon.  A lovely event, with the best food.  Don't know that I have ever had Filet Mignon for lunch before, but hey, that with Roast Turkey, Baked Ham and all the perfect side dishes, was an incredible way to spend a few hours away from work.  Yes, I blew off a few hours of work to entertain this group at their ceremonial luncheon to swear in the new officers.  And I certainly wasn't leaving without dessert, even though I did have to take it on the run to get back to work before my coverage expired.

Anyway, on my way out the door carrying my Martin C1K Ukulele on my back, a lady sitting all alone by the door motioned for me to come to her.  I always love to engage the elderly, for they are full of wisdom and some wonderful stories of days long ago.

As I approached this woman, she reached out her hand to say, "You are beautiful.  And not only on the outside.  There is a special beauty that comes from within you that radiates and shines.  It makes me smile!"

Well, I asked her name, told her mine, as we shook hands.  But I could not leave there without giving her a hug and telling her how much that meant to me.  Her words to me made my whole day!

Now here I am always happy to be giving of myself to bring joy to others.  It's who I am, it's what I do.  We go out regularly and strum the ukulele at the hospital, and we do the nursing home circuit, as well as other venues, and I absolutely love it.  And I love it because what I witness first hand by doing something so simple as strumming and singing for these folks, makes this little light of mine shine even brighter.  Some of these residents just come to life and sing their hearts out at the first strum of Five Foot Two, or Bill Bailey.  Those who can get up and boogie, do so, and I for one, am not one to just stand still as I strum Let's Twist Again.  I am still trying to figure out how to strum and do the twist at the same time!

Anyway, I will continue to spread joy, to bring smiles, to radiate my true light from the depths of my soul, because that is its true purpose. It was given to me so that I can share it, in hopes that someone out there in darkness will see the light, and know they are not alone.   I am blessed!

I will conclude with a little strum of...

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!

We Are One

Now more than ever, we, as humans must realize that we have all come into this world from the same life force.  The same life force of these beautiful sheep that have provided me with wool. We are connected in so many ways that there is no reason for one to think that they are better than anyone else.  We are different from each other, in our looks, our appearance, in our likes and our dislikes, and culturally speaking, we may have been raised to have different belief systems.

However, we are still ONE IN THIS UNIVERSE! 

We must make the human effort to reach out to others to express a sense of unity with one another.  For those who live their lives in darkness, you must trust that your soul truly does seek the light.  It is in the light that the soul was born into your physical body.  Circumstances that may have placed you in a field of darkness, can be averted and can certainly be changed with the power of the light.

The truth is:  WE ARE ONE!  And each of us has a very basic choice in which we choose to live our lives.  In darkness, with pain, and guilt, and shame and hatred...or in light, where there is love and peace and happiness and most of all freedom.

Yes, it is as simple as that.  For whatever reason you may have found yourself in the dark, turn on the light.  And continue to seek the light.  The past is gone, the future is just that...all we really have is

NOW!!! 

Don't wait...you may not get another chance.

Peace be with you!