FROM MAUI, WITH LOVE












First, I must apologize for my absence. I’ve been wrapped in school, internships, the job search and most important all, Maui. I’ve missed you, my blog family, so desperately. If I didn’t write today I fear that I wouldn’t have written for another hundred days.

I crossed off one of the "100 things to do before I die" in Maui. I swam naked in the ocean. It was so exhilarating—so freeing—better than any Disney theme ride or bungee jump—just me, my body and the water. I was struck by the simplicity of it all. I am to return to the earth this way, naked and unencumbered.

My ex-husband used to tell me that I wanted too much. I wanted the light and the dark, the hard and the soft, the ups and the downs. It’s funny. How. Life changes. So suddenly. Now, I have sober dreams and un-foiled visions. I’ve tucked in my pixie dreams.

These days, I require little. When everything is taken from you, you know that you don’t need much to survive. I’ve come to think of our incessant desire for commodities this way—in a parable perhaps...


It’s like a man who hasn’t eaten in a while and he believes that he is famished, so with greedy eyes he hoards things which he believes will fill him. In a moment’s time, his stomach swells and he is no longer hungry—but because he fears that food will not return, he continues to binge until finally, the sensation of fullness is numbed. He becomes a slave to the very thing that he thought would once bring him satisfaction—the ultimate cruelty.

I do not want to become enslaved to the excesses of life. I will feed until I am full. As softly as the sun slips behind the clouds, I vow to slip naked into the ocean again every year to remember the freedom of wanting nothing more. Love fortifies.

Comments

First of all, welcome back to the blogsphere!

Secondly, I, too, have swum naked in the ocean and share your feelings. There's a funny story attached to that which I won't go into now due to lack of time.

It's nice to see you coming out (no pun intended!) of your shell and embracing what life's got to offer. I always think that if you want to see life as a bitch, all you have to do is give yours to the highest bidder. It's harder to wake up every morning coming up with reasons to live. Fully. To. The. Brim.

Lovely images. And do not swim naked in the ocean just the one time per year, try to do it every week. Believe me, it's healthy.

Greetings from London.
hey missed u. and happy for u and nice pick, hope u enjoyed the books and u look great
The Dreamy One said…
wow great post.

happy that you came back. you stayed away so long,lol

beautiful pics mami.

and you and the doll are precious.

isnt love grand!!!!!!

would love to feel that freedom one day!!!
shine said…
@Cuban,

What story? You can't do that to me. Do tell! Yes, you are right. I have to try to swim naked more than once a year. Let me know of any good beaches on the mainland--I don't want to get into any trouble ;-)

@Torrance,
Thanks. I've missed u too. I have lots to catch up on. This one is for u.

@ Dreamy,
Hey sweetie! Thank you. How are u? I've missed u. I'll be by to check up on you.
its funny, it seems we were inspired to write within the same period...though we take our thoughts in opposite directions...or perhaps they parallel, informed by our experiences, guised as differing lessons...while you shed your need for the excess, i often drown in it, enjoying the burning of water-filled lungs...perhaps it is a certain greediness i possess in my youth, vanity, and immaturity, eating beyond my stomach's capacity just to taste one more flavor, just one more...but i often have difficulties with digestion. in your wisdom, the light falls differently and illuminates those things that I perhaps have not yet encountered on my own path. but the key is experience, as the conduit to living, the very definition of it, in fact.
i love the first picture especially, the way the purples and blues bleed onto your feet.
shine said…
@ astro

ur love/indulgence is just as meaningful as my tearing away. It is funny though how are thoughts are often of the same things. It's times like this that i think that we are like "the lake house"
Buttercup said…
Yay u r back! Missed u!!

Lovely pics..

Aww it must have been an exhilaratin experience..its somn i'd love to do if only i cud swim :(

I loved this post!
PhlyyGirl said…
Ohhhh wow. The pics are beautiful. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Hope the pics are not half as good as what you actually saw.
I wanna go swim naked somewhere. *sigh*
One day...
who? said…
I learned something today... thank you... :)
Mizrepresent said…
Gurl, just glad to see you are back and happier than ever...hope you don't mind if i bite off some of this joy...cuz a sista needs it, like yesterday!
shine said…
@ buttercup,

I missed ya too! I here that u r taking a break just as i am coming back :-( I'll wait patiently for ur return.

@phlyygirl,
thank u . it was stunning. if there is one thing to do before u die, u have to swim naked.

@cee.a.don.is,
no prob.haha. thanks for stopping in.

@ miz,

yes, i'm back and no, i don't mind. I'm sending a fist full of joy ur way!
ShonaVixen said…
First time here, and am enjoying ur space!!Love the pictures, something serene, beautiful and peaceful about them!!
Thank you for visiting mine!!xoxo
shine said…
@ shona,

Thanks for stopping in. I believe that I have seen you here before. Thanks for the lovely comment.
Muse said…
freedom is a wonderful thing, though we must yet carry the scars of slavery. sense a hnt of sadness in your post.
shine said…
@ muse

haven't seen u in a while. yes, freedom is a beautiful thing--but it does not come without pain or struggle.
The Dreamy One said…
i have been fine sweets,

just dealing with my emotions and trying to figure some things out.

confusion on my part if you get my drift. if not email me,lol

shilli_87@yahoo.com

missed you too. when are we gonna get a post???
ibiluv said…
i so wanna do that
swim naked
Buttercup said…
For some reason, blogger isnt allowin me comment on ur latest post.

Seems like almost everyone is goin through ish right now. If a drink is what u want, go get it! Im sure u'll know when to stop..

No hardship is permanent!

Mwah!
Buttercup said…
For some reason, blogger isnt allowin me comment on ur latest post.

Seems like almost everyone is goin through ish right now. If a drink is what u want, go get it! Im sure u'll know when to stop..

No hardship is permanent!

Mwah!
eizzy.k said…
yup, had the same prob buttercup!

the pics were beautiful! I'm a sucker for the ocean, have all sorta sky-sea-sand pic's all over my bedroom!

i was struck by the simplicity of your blog and writing. woah...now thats food 4 thought...
shine said…
eizzy.k,

thank you. i'm glad you enjoyed the photos and the writing. thanks for stopping in. welcome.

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