This was sort of inspired by the Brady Bunch
Aloha!
First things first - I’m unfortunately not writing this from Hawaii.
For some reason, I felt like starting with an island greeting.
I’m pretty sure this was inspired by a Brady Bunch post I saw on Instagram that triggered a memory of the popular Hawaii trip/ tabu tiki statue episode.
(I strongly recommend you view this classic 70’s recap.)
But for now, back to ALOHA…
I had a co-worker who started every meeting and email with Aloha. I have no idea why he did this - he’s definitely not Hawaiian, and I don’t even know if he’s traveled to Hawaii.
Aloha was just sort of his thing, and I considered him an Aloha expert.
One time I asked him if Aloha could also mean goodbye.
He assured me it could.
Satisfied, I said aloha to further aloha talk and moved on.
But today, as I greeted you all with a big fat Aloha, I wanted to be sure it was appropriate in a newsletter setting.
So I looked it up.
It turns out this pleasantry is packed with some serious (Hawaiian) punch.
Homeyhawaii.com says “Aloha” is more than just a greeting; it’s a concept and a way of life that is the foundation of Hawaiian values. Love, affection, generosity, speaking from the heart, patience, and listening are some of the many meanings. “Alo” means to share, and“ ha” means breath or life energy.
(My translation - by saying it, we exchange life energy. #cool)
Wikipedia (yes, Wikipedia, this isn’t a dissertation) adds that “Aloha” has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians who used “aloha” to define a force that holds together existence.
(My translation - a force that holds existence together is heavy and profound.)
The bottom line?
Aloha is a great example of the power and importance of words.
This leads nicely to…
What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week is the fact that a single word - ALOHA - can be used to describe the force that holds existence together.
That’s powerful.
And also pretty cool.
And also a reminder that our words our powerful.
Our words can set the tone for a conversation, event, or relationship.
Our word choices affect how we feel and how we make others feel.
I’ll leave you with that and give you some words to listen to and read below.
With that… Aloha for now,
Abbey
LISTEN
Since we’re on the topic of words this week, let’s think about how words can impact our gatherings. Listen to The Secret of Finding Your People, Having More Meaningful Gatherings, and Creating a Community You Love with Priya Parker on Healthier Together with Liz Moody.
Speaking of words and actions, Lori Harder talks about “How to Become a Happiness Generator” in this week’s episode of Earn Your Happy—great tips for attracting positive energy in your life.
STREAM
This has nothing to do with the theme of this week’s newsletter, but it’s a fun show. If you like HGTV home makeovers, maybe you’ll like this new (to me) series, “Motel Makeover.” This is a one-season Netflix show where two friends turned business partners turn cheesy, run-down motels into hip destinations.
Maybe you’re over shows for the summer and just looking for peace and tranquility? Then click here to soak in the ocean view of Palawan. Or how about more ocean waves and white noise for meditation or sleep?
TRAVEL - PONDER - READ
I’m always looking for unique travel ideas and recently discovered a YouTube channel that checks this box - Bucket List Travel. While the videos are a little robotic (okay, a lot robotic)… there are many unique ideas for you to ponder on their channel. Or, if you just want to get your travel Mojo on… check this fun channel out.
If your future travels require you to learn or tweak another language, consider trying Fluenz. They’ve got a YouTube channel, amazing luxury immersion programs worldwide, online tutoring, and an app. They were kind enough to give me their Spanish Software to try, and I can’t wait to dig in because… yo necesito repasar mi español.
Did you know that Dwight Shrute (i.e., Rainn Wilson) is really a deep guy and prolific author?
Rainn wrote a new book, “SOUL BOOM: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, " which talks about the trauma the world has faced in recent years due to the pandemic and societal tensions. He feels that after everything that’s happened, we need profound healing and a spiritual revolution. I’m going to check out his book because I couldn’t agree more.
I GET BUY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
Each week, I’ll bring recommendations from people I know (IRL) and those I know (online) about things to buy.
First, a recommendation from my college roommate Kristin. She showed up for our college reunion with locks so lovely I had to ask, “Will you share your secret?” She answered with one word, “OUAI” - which means yes in French, but if we’re talking about her shampoo, it’s actually pronounced as “way.” I’d buy their products based on their clever wordsmithing alone, but I found they also really do work well with my fine hair.
Next, my friend Kim shared an amazing beauty secret that can save dollars and time driving to Sephora or other beauty hubs - QVC sells many of the top beauty and hair products I normally run around trying to find. Now I can go to one spot, get beauty items, and also shop for sandals (love the name of these), house items, and… unique things like Great Plates.
*Do you want to help me get BUY? Drop a recommendation in the comments!*
ON A SERIOUS NOTE:
Since Aloha is a single word that means so much, I’m not going to write a lengthy close.
The bottom line. I mess up words all the time - in conversation and writing too. Everyone does - sometimes, we simply can’t think of the right words to say. Other times, we make mistakes and choose the wrong words. But if we stick with the spirit of ALOHA and deliver our words from a place of good intention… we really can’t go wrong.
So I’ll close this out with another Aloha and also a reminder that the conversations and interactions we have with each other are truly important.
So, choose your words wisely.
And stay away from tiki statues.
Abbey
Loved your topic, as well as all your great tips. The power of language is near and dear to our hearts isn’t it? Just returned from Spain and London, and trying to recover from my happiness hangover.
Abrazos, Lorraine