It’s already been two weeks since we returned from the Hawaiian island of Kauai, also known as the Garden Isle. I know it’s been a rough winter for many of you, and I thought you might enjoy a few minutes in paradise.

These are some random highlights from our recent vacation. I move through them pretty quickly because I wanted to share the vast diversity that Kauai has to offer.

We had all kinds of weather while we were there, but the air and water temperature remained between 75 and 80 degrees for the most part. As you probably noticed, there are a lot of chickens on Kauai. During the last two hurricanes domestic chickens were displaced and quickly adapted to fending for themselves. They are now considered the state bird.

The house we rented was wonderful. It was in a very quiet area directly across from the botanical gardens. This was truly a wonderful way to break up the winter and the routine. Oddly enough, many islanders like to vacation in an area where they can snow ski. Just goes to show, variety is truly the spice of life.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of our favorite vacation spot. Please feel free to share your impressions or questions. Also, if you have a favorite retreat, we would love to hear about it.

Well, we only have two more mornings left to wake up in Kauai, I wanted to share some highlights from a hike we took the other day along the southeast corner of the island. I had never been on this hike before and found it to be uniquely different from anything I had seen here so far.

This is our fourth time on Kauai and we have truly enjoyed ourselves. I never get tired of the beauty here. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but so are the Hawaiian people. They have a deep and abiding love for their island home that is reflected in their attitude and lifestyle.

The wind was blowing when I shot these videos so the sound isn’t that great. When we came across this particular cove I was really surprised because, for the most part, the island is volcanic.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this little sample of the amazing beauty and diversity of my favorite island. Next week I am hoping to put together a composite video of highlights from the last two weeks. Until then, Aloha!

Increased stress levels can make relaxation seem like a fading dream.  Is it unavoidable that a productive life eventually becomes filled with stress and anxiety? If you feel like that’s happening, what can you do to chill?
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I’m thinking about this because after an intense book writing and editing effort, a few days of relaxing seemed appropriate. So here I am in Sunriver, Oregon relaxing for a few days and enjoying myself immensely.
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Balance can be the hardest thing for a productive person with a demanding schedule. Taking some time to relearn the art of relaxation can really boost your energy and increase your sense of enjoyment.
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Stress and anxiety usually come from being focused on the future. There is nothing wrong with looking ahead, but relaxation happens in the here and now. It’s pretty hard to be worried about that important meeting next week and feel relaxed and comfortable at the same time. Your body may be in a relaxed setting and in a comfortable position, but where’s your head?
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When your mind isn’t relaxed and enjoying the moment, It’s not true relaxation! So one of the keys to meaningful relaxation is:
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1) Focus on the here and now. Let your mind and body be in the same place at the same time. Or as Ram Dass so aptly put it so many decades ago, Be Here Now. In a world that seems to be moving at warp speed, this can be quite challenging. It requires the absence of every form of anxiety and anticipation related to the past or future. Without awareness of yesterday or tomorrow, there is in fact, no sense of worry or regret. Therein lies one key to true relaxation, focus on the pleasure of the moment. 
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Have you ever noticed how certain environments are inherently more relaxing then others? This leads us to our next key:
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2) Put yourself in a relaxing place. Isn’t this why we love to take vacations? Putting some distance between you and the demands of daily life makes it much easier to refocus. This is the very reason I find myself writing this some 200 miles from home. Of course, we can’t always relocate when we feel the need for a little downtime. But we can take a walk or sit outside, as we open our minds to, and direct our attention toward our surroundings. Use your five senses to raise your awareness of the moment as you let go of everything else.

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There’s another side of relaxation that should not be overlooked. Often times, the most refreshing way to spend your free time is:

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3) Active relaxation. Here’s another reason I love Sunriver. They have over thirty miles of paved bike trails that wind through the pine forest and along the Deschutes River. You can park your vehicle and forget about it. Weather permitting, we prefer to walk or ride everywhere we go during our stay. Active relaxation means that your focus is in the moment. It’s also a great time for conversation, which tends to revolve around things you are seeing along the way.

Now after a long walk or bike ride what could be more relaxing then some:
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4) Hydrotherapy. I’m talking about twenty minutes in the hot tub with a glass of wine and the water jets on high. Every house we’ve ever rented in Sunriver has had a private spa and it has always contributed greatly to the relaxation value. If you happen to have one at home then don’t ignore it. There’s a high relaxation factor built into these little stress erasers.
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One of the things that allow relaxation to be pushed into obscurity is placing too much value on everything else. This leads to our next key:
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5) Learn to value relaxation. If you fully appreciate the important role and positive influence of relaxation on your life, you will come to truly value it. Priorities are established in accord with the value we assign to the various aspects of our life. When relaxation becomes a priority, we will make the time and create the opportunity to restore and maintain balance and harmony in our life.Here are two additional pointers. Don’t wear your watch and turn your cell phone off when you’re trying to relax. These little electronic slave drivers can suck the value right out of your relaxation time. They are useful tools in their place, but know when to cut the cord.

Secret Garden – Silent Wings 3:36

Beautiful Music, Beautiful Pictures.