Although I took a blogging break and vacation in July, I continued two daily practices that are essential to my well-being: my daily gratitude practice and cultivating compassion meditation. Not surprisingly, I had the best vacation of my life thanks to these practices. I hope you are enjoying the summer and feeling grateful.
July 2013
Thank you for winning the Hattori Cup; potlucks with my Ohana; ahimsa–non-violence; realizing that peace is a 24 hour/day practice; one-to-one from Apple.
Thank you for blogging breaks; being instead of doing; Emiliana connecting me with Daniel Ellenberg; John Newton’s Amazing Grace; role models of change.
Fishing with sons
Thank you for new visions of how to serve others; self-validating my experiences as a man; Esalen; knowing in my heart of hearts; new playgrounds.
Thank you for the energy of Donner Lake; road trips with my wife and sons; double finale fireworks shows; how my sons want to invite every new acquaintance to their next birthday; meditation in the woods.
Thank you for time alone in Nature; another fruitful conversation with Elad Levinson; being a leader in men and compassion; the positive emotions I generated on a challenging day; realizing that others are the reflection of myself guiding me towards love.
Truckee Airshow
Thank you for sleeping with my wife and sons in one bed; a fun-filled vacation in Tahoe; hearty Italian food; the safe return of my sons and wife from Nevada; the Truckee Airshow.
Thank you for daily compassion training; right thinking; clarity and purpose in life; an interview with Rohan Healy; reconnecting with old colleagues who have discovered the blog.
Thank you for one on one swim lessons for my sons; Final Cut Pro; so many creative ideas that are becoming reality; the Greater Good email blasting the Compassionate Men article; grilled portabella mushrooms.
Thank you for my 3 year old son trying to wink; Rick Hanson and his up-coming seminar; Summer of Peace.net; our babysitter Angela’s delicious fish dish; my 6 year old getting an “Inspiring Player” award in soccer camp.
Thank you for how my 6 year old told my wife that “everyone is God”; my 6 year old’s life purpose being to “blow magic into others”; how my 3 year old hugs and holds me like I wanted to be hugged and held when I was a child; Japanese Tapas; the romantic date with my wife.
Thank you for hearing my older son tell my younger son, “God made the first person. Did you know that?”; 100 tennis balls+1 basketball+8 kids+a day in the park; Ask Teal; Geo Sans guiding me towards Interchange Counseling Institute; children laughing in movies theaters.
Thank you for James Doty at CCARE; firemen; coaches and guides to help me reach my goals; my wife’s open-mindedness; Apple one-to-one coaches.
View of Maui from the Big Island
Thank you for the way my son maintains constant contact when I sleep with him even if it is just a hand on my shoulder; all my wonderful blogging friends who are giving me a break; Santa Clara University; a close friend surviving a gallbladder operation that revealed a malignant tumor that was caught in time; the unfolding of God in everyday life.
Thank you for ice skating shows in the middle of summer; season passes to Great America; Hawaii; Kate Courageous and the Coaching Blueprint; a summer to remember.
Sunset at the City of Refuge
Thank you for yoga sessions with my wife; my parents arranging and paying for these beautiful accommodations in Kona; body surfing with my sons; fresh mango and papaya; salt water in the air to remind me of the ocean God that is always here.
Jett with Honu
Thank you for meditation by the ocean; Hawaiian sunsets; Ohana; learning to think “May you be free from suffering. May you find peace and joy” during arguments; my sons excitement when they are with their cousins.
Thank you for how my 3 year old son has kamaka honu–eyes of the sea turtle; Kukio; Huli Huli Chicken; Lava Flows; private excursions with my wife.
Solo hike to meditate on the beach
Thank you for manta rays; the different climate zones on Hawaii; macadamia nut butter baked fish; shave ice; solo hikes to the ocean.
Thank you for sea turtles, Kona coffee; fishing with my sons; the City of Refuge; talking story with close friends.
Thank you for my cousin Marie; malasadas; the Toyota Prius the rental care agency gave us; Puako Point; reconnecting with Christian Enns.
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Everyday Thanksgiving: June 2013 (everydaygurus.com)
everyday gurus 
This is definitely my favorite of your Everyday Thanksgiving posts, Kozo.
I have to admit, when I saw that picture of you and your sons fishing – I immediately welled up with tears. (happy+memory tears) It reminded me of fishing with my own Dad.
I love sea turtles. These are gorgeous photos. The best part is you all look like you are glowing with happiness.
Glad you had an amazing time. You deserve it.
I’m so happy to know that you shared that special time with your Dad, J. I can’t tell you how much my life has changed since I devoted my presence to my family. We are glowing with happiness. It took me a long time to realize that true happiness comes from peaceful and loving relationships. {{{hugs]}} Kozo
It sounds like your at a special place in your life. Couldn’t be happier for you. Give your wife & the little ones big hugs for me.
Kamaka honu! I love that phrase… as well as the “Everyone is God” and “blowing magic into others”… so much amazing goodness here. It sounds like you guys had a blessed and rejuvenating journey!
Oh, Rara. I wish I could have taken a picture of my younger son laying with the sea turtle. I always knew he had unique eyes, but it was only after seeing him next to the honu that I realized he looks so much like a sea turtle. He also has that same energy–gentle, happy-go-lucky.
We did have a rejuvenating and inspirational journey which is nice because I have so much work to do, but I am excited to do it. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
Wow! What a great vacation and gratitude is a kiss of appreciation.
Love the image of a “kiss of appreciation,” 1G4AW. Yes, it was a great vacation. Now it is time to catch up. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
Beautiful! Gratitude makes everything even more beautiful! Lovely post, Kozo!
Thanks, Carrie. Everything is more beautiful since I’ve been practicing gratitude. It is so simple. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
Thanks for sharing. I, too, try to make gratitude a touchstone when I arise to each and every day. Peace.
You must feel like I feel, Frank Peter, that our gratitude practice is one of the most beneficial and important rituals in our lives. I look forward to reading more of your blog. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
English poet, John Milton wrote:
Kozo, thank you for sharing your vacation epiphanies with us. Awesome and heartwarming. I’m so happy to read that you had the best vacation of your life. You were missed. WB.
ღ
Victoria
Love that Milton quote, Victoria. Never knew he was so in-tune with gratitude. I guess I should have read more than Paradise Lost. Thanks for the welcome back. I have a ton of blogs to catch up on. I will come by for a visit soon.
{{{hugs}}}} Kozo
p.s.
I’m listening to Rick Hanson’s Buddha’s Brain on audio books. Have you read/heard it. It is a great mixture of neuroscience and mindfulness.
Always look forward to your daily gratitude posts! I’m happy to hear of your special vacation with family – congrats, you made it so. It’s awesome to witness rising consciousness, and a soul creating the reality of his dreams. Good for you! {{{Kona Hugs}}}
Wow! Sounds like you all had a wonderful time, really special, and so much to be grateful for 🙂
Thanks for sharing Kozo, many hugs!!
Rohan.
Thanks, Rohan. Great to be back. I’m slowing catching up on some blog reading. Will drop by soon. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
The picture of you and your sons as you are fishing is the greatest; I love the way your youngest son is holding on to the end of your shirt, as if he may fall off the rock, but knows he will not because he has his hand wrapped in you. At that age, children are so beautiful and magical; by the time they are six they are still beautiful and even magical, but they are already on their journey to becoming independent and teenagers. 😀
These are some of your best posts, these Everyday Thanksgiving ones. You remind us all about what is really important in life.
Welcome back. 🙂
Thanks, Niko. I have to admit that I am a bit addicted to having my 3 year old hold my hands, my ears, and my neck. He is such a tactile and tender child.
By the way, we were trying to catch 4 eels that were swimming in that little pond. I’m kind of glad we didn’t hook one because I would have not known what to do if we pulled one on shore.
{{{hugs}}} Kozo
[…] Everyday Thanksgiving: July 2013 (everydaygurus.com) […]
Welcome back, Kozo 🙂 See you’ve had a lovely vacation with your family! And wow what beautiful sceneries! I’m also practicing my daily thanks-giving meditation and preparing a post on peace 🙂 Haha i really get to blog like once a month right now, but I’m sure you still remember me )))
And great work on your new site! I’ll get to it to leave my impressions there too soon 🙂
Yay, Sofia. So wonderful to reconnect with you. I know you are sending tons of positive energy out to the Universe, so once a month is lovely. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
I’m thankful
to finally be reading
your posts again
~
It’s tough
slowly
winding
out
of
hol
i
day
mo
de
Love the hol-I-day deconstruction. Yes, holidays can make us whole again, yet we focus on the I, and have to get back to the “real world.” Welcome back, Geo Sans, my dear friend.
By the way, I signed up for the year-long training at Interchange due to the article you sent me from the head instructor, Steve Bearman. I am grateful for your generosity and wisdom.
{{{hugs}}} Kozo
wow
~
you’ll have to keep
me up-to-date
with some of the info
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