Page 2 - MidWeek - August 10, 2022

2 MIDWEEK AUGUST 10, 2022
There is a lot of passion (and vermicast) that goes into the making of this delicacy. Handmade (with ongoing in- spiration from Mother Nature), the passion fruit provides desserts, drinks, salads, jam, smoothies — the list goes on. Liliko‘i acts as a soothing sedative for better sleep and possibly aids in relieving anxiety (now who could possibly have anxiety these days?).
When I was a child, we built an extension to our house. We enclosed the back patio but left the sliding glass door in place separating the dining room from the new extension. Over time, like in
Instead of discovering a new way of being, sometimes it’s easier to stay in our habits and keep walls up, literally and proverbially.
After living with this glass wall for many years we de- cided to remove the door to widen the opening between rooms. This made a remark- able difference as a whole new open pathway was cre- ated. However, over time, the same area began filling up with boxes and a narrow
SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
A Conserve Energy Future post states that liliko‘i “im- proves the heart’s health, decreases the risk of cognitive decline, improves digestive health, promotes restful sleep, offers relief to asthma patients, improves insulin sensitivity, promotes skin and eye health, prevents oste- oporosis and more.” Well, sign me up!
most houses, the area behind the door became storage. Having the extra room just led to having more stuff.
pathway had again formed. I was struck by how the for- mer glass door had become an imaginary wall. We didn’t even realize this had hap- pened until it did!
The Rev. Blayne Higa is the minister of the Kona Hong- wanji Buddhist Temple, a Shin Buddhist sangha, in Kealakekua.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
The point is (beyond obvious health benefits) that from such humble roots a productive hobby has evolved, a project that reaps intrinsic rewards through physical la- bor, a sense of tranquility in watching the continuous growth, and a joyous sense in allowing us to provide omiyage to people or simply gifts as a neighborly gesture.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Despite knowing this, we simply continued to clean around the boxes leaving the wall in place. It’s amazing
Our Imaginary Walls
In a changing world the only thing we can do is change.
— the Rev. Dr. Seigen Yamaoka
FA Passion Play
We all live with imaginary walls. Some walls are necessary because they offer protection by creating healthy boundaries. However, others can become obstacles that hold us back. At one time, these walls were necessary but as conditions change, they are no longer needed. We easily become attached to certain conditions and continue to operate as if life is fixed and unchanging. This is a common theme in my work when I counsel people to re- flect on old habits that may need changing.
irst, we tended the soil. Well, my wife did; I simply watched. Then, she fastened a single vine against our retaining wall. Next, she had a trellis built
how when we live on auto- pilot, our actions can so eas- ily become habits. Change is hard because it requires con- scious action on our part.
to allow roaming vines to drape over and intertwine, as they’re wont to do. Bees, buds and flowers were obviously great signs. Within months, voila, we had our own mini liliko‘i orchard. We (yes, we) now pick up freshly fallen fruit every few days, slice it, gut it of its luscious pulp, and my wife concocts an amazing jelly/jam from the nectar.
So, what walls do we keep up despite no longer being necessary? What habitu- al patterns do we fall back into even when conditions change? Can we discover a new way of being that is ap- propriate for our current sit- uation? At the very least we can live with less clutter.
with the Rev. Blayne Higa
While crosswords, music, golf and family fun take up much of my recreational chores, being even tangentially involved in this fruity pastime intrigues me as to what might be next. We’re growing chicos, papayas, avocados, and an assortment of fragrant and/or beautiful flowers on the same property we’ve groomed (and/or ignored) for almost 40 years.
So yes, maybe you actually can teach an old dog new tricks, or at least make him/her appreciate what’s right in front of his/her nose. I credit my beloved wife for all of this produce productivity. I don’t have much of a green thumb nor a cultivational clue, but I can appreciate the planning, love, process and results.
Maybe you can find a new recreational pastime to ease your mind and/or body into. Maybe there’s something you don’t do that you could do, if only you would do. Perhaps it’s untapped, but out there ... beckoning.
Think about it.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com