Word by Word

Sea Lions - Bamfield Marine Science Centre

Gillian Cornwall, c. September 2014

Word by word, I tend the tale of the earth to the sowing of each story. What else can I do? I could tell myself, "It's all been done" but I haven't done it. I haven't tried to show you through my eyes and it is a different tale with each person's telling. 

Another year has all but wrapped and I haven't written anywhere near what I had hoped. I am pleased that I have been able to maintain posts for 51 out of 52 weeks this year and I sure hope you have enjoyed them. To each of you who read the works week after week, I am grateful to you. I am grateful for your time, your thoughts and your kindness in commenting on the work. 

I am a bit closer to finishing the first draft of my first novel and I am underway with the screenplay of my mum's life, focusing on her time at Biggin Hill Fighter Station. I look forward to a trip to England and France in 2015 to walk the path of those who have gone before me in the hopes of understanding this past on a truly cellular level. 

I am grateful for my life - through hardships and all. I am eternally grateful for each day I have in this body, on this earth, with those in my life. I want this gratitude to fill my stories. We create our lives - every day, with each footfall on this tender earth. This is our time to shine, to love, to share. Don't give up - create. Through the lightness and the darkness, record it - in words, in drawings, in music - in all the ways you live and love. We are all artists of a sort, creating the best life we can, carving our own unique paths, our inheritance in the footprint we leave behind. Our words and our ways are threads woven into the fabric of the universe.

Let us weave our way well. Let us love, be kind and create space for our stories and those of others. Let us use our gifts to weave a universal fabric of love. 

I wish each of you happiness in the new year and the opportunity to breathe fresh breath as we open a new chapter in our book of life, savouring that which has passed and alighting on that which is uncharted ground with the excitement of an explorer. I look forward to the stories each of you bring and I set my course with the wind of the past at my back, giving me the strength I know I have always had to continue and to do my best. 

I look forward to continuing to share what I have with you. I learn from each of you when you share your stories and experiences with me and I am grateful. Let us continue to weave our beautiful fabric together. 

Health. Happiness. Wealth of spirit. Love. May these be created and shared throughout the world.

-Gillian Cornwall, c. December 28, 2014.

 

The Simple Beat

Winter Woods

Gillian Cornwall, c. December 2010

my heart beats

corporeal beast

entrenched in need

boom ditty boom

i know

the consistent beat

lub-dub

lub-dub

lucked up

mind may go

body may go

people may go

mind the gap

but boom ditty boom

lub-dub is life

beat 

breathe

repeat.

Happy Holidays. This year, I wish for one thing for all of us - the ability to slow time through appreciation of life. When everything appears to pile up, when we think we are busy and when we have filled ourselves with worry and fear, may we learn to stop and listen to the rhythm of our hearts and, in that simple beat, may we realize that we have life. Stop. Step off the wheel and look around. Reach a hand out to another. Listen to someone. Expand your lungs and your capacity for life with each breath and lub-dub beat of your beautiful hearts. Much love to each of you.

-Gillian Cornwall, c. December 21, 2014

Self Portrait

Between Lana'i and Maui

Gillian Cornwall, c. December 2014

Aloha - Maui 2014

I acknowledge, with respect, the land and ways of the Hawaiian people. I am grateful for the time, the sharing, and the welcoming aloha spirit I receive when I visit. I am grateful to the 'aina and the kai for nurturing and teaching me.

'Aina

Respect the land that sustains us

 Kai

Respect the mother ocean

This month I was blessed to have the resources and opportunity to travel back to Maui, Hawaii to allow my spirit time to heal and grow in the ways of aloha; to allow myself the time and space to feel well and to regain a unification with the land and the sea. It is in this place that I feel most whole and most at peace. I do not have to work or spend time in the usual day to day chores - I know it is not a reflection of how life would be if I were lucky enough to be allowed to stay there permanently but it gives me the chance to practice a different way of being.

In being there, I struggle with my colonialist history as a Brit and a Canadian. It is not my land. It is not my right to be there. I am a visitor - malihini on Maui. The land (aina) and sea (kai) are the home and the life force of the Hawaiian people and, although I am an uninvited malihini, I am greeted everywhere with the spirit of aloha. I listen when someone chooses to talk story with me about their life and their history and I watch traditional hula, not as a show, but as a part of the the way of life of a people. I am grateful to all who share their stories with me and to the mau kumu and kupuna who have taught me over the years on Lana'i, Maui, Oahu and Hawai'i.

If you visit Hawaii, please give yourself time to learn about the ways of the land and her first people. Carry the aloha spirit with you and pay attention to the land and the sea. They are our teachers, our caregivers and our life source. Malama Pono.

Here are some pictures from my visit.

Mahalo.

-Gillian Cornwall, c. December 14, 2014

Click on the images to view them larger as a slide show. 

 Hibiscus - Hawaii State Flower

Photo: G. Cornwall, c December 2014

 Coconut Palm

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014 

 ?

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 Mauka Side, Ka'anapali Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 Kai Side, Ka'anapali Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Mauka - Lahaina, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Bird of Paradise

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Stormy Sky - Ka'anapali, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Pink Hibiscus

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Seed Pod from ?

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Beach at Ka'anapali, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Looking towards Molokai at Sunset

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Close Up of Molokai

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Close Up of Molokai

Photo: c. December 2014

Beautiful Sunset Time

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Molokai Close Up

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Ka'anapali Sunset

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Me with Black Rock behind - where I swam with 4 honu (sea turtles)

Photo: J. McLean, c. December 2014

Toward Black Rock, Ka'anapali, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Royal Lahaina Resort Tower - where we stayed

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Palms in the Wind

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Mauka - Ka'anapali, Maui

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset on Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Maui Sunset

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 Kai

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Variety of Flora

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Lahaina Town, Maui - from the Expeditions Ferry to Lana'i

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Mauka from the ferry, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

USA and Hawaiian Flag on Pioneer Inn - Lahaina, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Lahaina Town and the sugar stack from 1861

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Maui from the Expeditions Ferry to Lana'i

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Expeditions Ferry from the Expeditions Ferry :-)

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 The flower of my dreams - Plumeria on Lana'i, Hawaii

Photo: G.Cornwall, c. December 2014

My fave spot on the beach on Lana'i

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

On the beach on Lana'i

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Hulopo'e - Lana'i

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

View from our room at the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset through the palms - Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset at Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui - from our balcony

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset - Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui

From our Balcony

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

More sunset through the Palms

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014.

Couple of kane body surfing in the shore break at sunset

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Morning View

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Catamaran anchored out

Ka'anapali, Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Plumeria in the sand

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

J. McLean on the beach at Ka'anapali, Maui

This trip was her birthday present. :-)

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 The Beach at Ka'anapali in the morning light

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The Cookhouse Theatre in Lahaina Town

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Me - on the seawall in Lahaina Town - I sat in this same spot about 15 years ago

Photo: J. McLean, c. December 2014

Carving at Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Gecko Outside Trying to get a spider that was inside.

He was very confused.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset from the restaurant at the Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

View from inside our beautiful room at the Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

View to Molokai from our hotel room at Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

A beautiful day from our room at Royal Lahaina Resort

What a great view when one awakens

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Paddle Carved with the Honu - Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Stylized photo of wahine dancing hula

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

A perfect day in Hawaii

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Beautiful local foliage surrounds the Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Beautiful local plants

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The Spectacular Banyan Tree in Lahaina Town

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Beautiful Pink Hibiscus

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Palms at Hulopo'e - Lana'i - My spiritual home

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 Hulopo'e - Lana'i

Grateful to have a couple of hours in the waters and on the beach

that is my spirit place - Aloha.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

On Expeditions Ferry on the way back from Lana'i.

Restored by the spirits that feed and protect me there.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Sunset over Lana'i as we head back to Maui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Looking to Black Rock and Lana'i from the beach at our hotel

 Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The ocean reaches across the sands and beckons me

into the land of magical fish and honu

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The Salty Brine left from the mother on the sands of Ka'anapali

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The colours of the water from our room were ever changing

with the glory of each new day.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

A long view of the Kai Side - Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The Panorama from our beautiful hotel room at the Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, C. December 2014

My Friend, Jodi McLean

From this picture, I would say she enjoyed her trip very much.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

View from the lawns of the beautiful and peaceful, Royal Lahaina Resort

Mahalo for all you did to make our visit fun, beautiful and fulfilling.

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

The Foliage outside the Royal Lahaina Resort

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Looking Up Country from Kahalui

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

Yes, a chicken walking around freely by the agricultural inspection station at Kahalui Airport.

I suspect she is hired to inspect any eggs that come through. :-)

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

At Kahalui

Time to go back to Victoria...

Photo: G. Cornwall, c. December 2014

 Mahalo for reading and looking at my pictures.

Gillian