Family + Friends x Community = Health, Happiness, Success

I’m blissfully blessed with the most incredible family and friends (four legged creatures included) anyone could hope for.  They come from different backgrounds, have different beliefs, and live by different rules.  They span all ages, religions, political beliefs, body shapes, and colors.  Each in their own special way, they inspire me, humor me, support me, teach me, and kick my ass when I need it.

I’ve always known that the quality of the bond shared by my inner circle gave me extra power, and now I have the proof.  According to The New York Times and Malcolm Gladwell, my super-posse might just help me to become a super-hero.

What these and several other modern theories propose is that one’s community, culture, environment, and network, all play a huge role in the likelihood of one’s own success.

So, to all my wonderfully weird, supremely intelligent, lovingly strong friends and family.  Thank you.

xx  laura

Outliers
Though I don’t personally know Malcolm Gladwell well enough to induct him as a member of my super-posse, I’ve spent dozens of hours on an elliptical machine next to him at the gym and often sipped my morning coffee at an adjacent table in our neighborhood cafe.  I realize it’s sounding like I’m a crazy stalker, and in reality, I have been a bit obsessed with him ever since I read The Tipping Point a few years ago.

If you haven’t already done so, please read his most recent book, Outliers.  I think you too will be engrossed by his great mind for behavioral science and by his effortless talent for inspired writing.  At the very least, it will encourage you to look at your friends, family and culture with an educated and observant eye.

I’m one lucky kaikamahine (Hawaiian for “girl”).  My bags are packed and I’m off to Hawaii for our annual family furlough.  I can already smell the plumeria and orchids, I can taste the fresh ahi poke, and I can feel the warmth of the aloha embrace.

The islands have become a friend of sorts, always dependable for a healthy dose of adventure, relaxation, inspiration, and plenty of hearty belly laughs shared with family.  With extraordinary natural set design and a uniquely kitschy soundtrack, I find myself cast as the leading lady in my own tropical fantasy feature.

As you can imagine, I’ve collected thousands of photos, videos, and memories over the years, and the idea of editing them down to something that others might find interesting is a gigantic task.  So, I’ve simply embraced my stream of consciousness and included some random goodies that speak to my Hawaiian experience.

My favorite island foods: coconut, tropical fruit, shaved ice with red beans and mochi, ahi poke, Maui Tacos, traditional plate lunch, Puka Dog, spam sushi, banana mac nut pancakes, malassadas