Insights from Hawaii

Day 8, October 30,

I was thinking today that most visitors call Hawaii "paradise." In Montana, we live next to an area called Paradise Valley. What constitutes a paradise place, a paradise experience? I know that the ability to see and experience the beauty of "paradise" actually comes from within each of us. If we didn't have a paradise within us, how could we experience any place as a paradise?

I certainly know or have met people both in Hawaii and Montana who certainly did not appreciate their "paradise" environment. In fact, they appear quite miserable. In fact, I have felt miserable at times when the weather is extremely cold and windy in Montana. I've heard some Hawaiian natives complain about the year-round heat (i.e., 85 degrees). So, I am reminded, of course, that we can create "paradise" or "purgatory" wherever we are. It just seems to be a littl easier to do when we intentionally create that paradise by going "there" on "vacation."