The Polynesians who first paddled to Hawai’i filled their canoes with the necessities of creating a new life on an unknown island. In the modern era, similar outrigger canoes with six seats race sprints in bays and long distances across ocean channels. Since the first six ‘Ohana Oasis retreats I facilitated took place in Hawai’i, I incorporated aspects of the culture into some of the activities. Using this Polynesian history as a metaphor for life, a retreat cohort was gathered around the dining room table working through an activity called, “What Floats Your Boat?” They were tasked with identifying who or what filled each of the unique roles of the environment, the canoe itself, and the six team members paddling in it.
Author: Heidi
Know Your Emotions
How often have you driven to work on automatic pilot only vaguely aware of your surroundings?
Triggers – Saving for a Safe Time
“Trigger.” That’s a word we hear a lot these days. Triggers bring on a wave of emotions, feelings, and maybe even memories unbidden and typically untimely. Inconveniently, most of the time when something strikes an old wound, a place that causes a reflexive response, it’s in a place and circumstance where it can’t be addressed. … Continue reading Triggers – Saving for a Safe Time
Grappling with Guilt
“Mom!” I didn’t answer immediately as the kids had all just got tucked in and I was trying to catch the opening dialogue of the newest episode of Alias. “Mom, come here please…” Alison called out. “Coming!” I replied, heading in during a commercial. Bedtime was easy in our home, everyone knew the routine and … Continue reading Grappling with Guilt
The Power of Presence
I've been writing every morning, yet it's felt a bit all over the place so haven't posted it. This morning once I got grounded and tuned in asking, "What am I to express today?" I was reminded of what came up yesterday and spoke so powerfully to me. It was something I wanted to refine … Continue reading The Power of Presence