On Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1:18 pm, I got a request on short notice by a client who needed help with his estate and business because he was dying, so I spent most of my Saturday writing estate and corporate documents for him. I got it to him and the witnesses that evening. Later that night, he passed away.
Category Archives: Life
Is your goal delusional?
Is your goal delusional? Let’s say you label your goal as delusional. If you attain 50% of your delusion, it’s not a delusion. Half of what you dreamt about became true. Even achieving 10% makes it real. How you perceive your goal is huge. As long as your goal is possible and you are physically able to build your knowledge and skills and work with others, I say go for it!
AI for our career and personal life.
AI has played a tremendous role in my career and personal life. It is a friend, counselor, and business partner, all in one.
Filed under Blog, Business, Career, Life, Life Coach, Productivity
Whiteboard Calendars
I’m really enjoying writing on my whiteboards to track my personal and career goals. My friend Claire Niibu Akau gave me them while I was helping her move out of her house in Waikele, Hawaii.
The large calendar is tracking my exercise for the month of August 2022. The small weekly calendar is tracking my personal and business goals and events for each week.
My white board goal and events tracking system compliments my digital goals and events tracking and journal system using Google Calendar, Notion (journal), and Discord (accountability partner system).
It takes effort and time for these productivity systems; however, they keep me aware of my progress and show me what’s working and what’s not, so I can change things up for the better.
I’m a business lawyer, realtor, entrepreneur, and retired elected official.
If you need services in business law, acquisitions, real estate, government affairs, or Internet marketing, message me or visit JRK Enterprises LLC at https://jrkenterprisesllc.com
Fight your anxiety, sadness, or anger through the Positive Masters universe at https://positivemasters.com for mindset practices, tips for your passion projects, storytelling, motivational podcast and YouTube channel, and apparel and accessories with inspirational designs and mantras.
#whiteboards #whiteboard #calendar #calendars #calendaring #journal #Journaling #dailygoals #dailywork #dailyhustle #goals #goals #visionboard #vision #productivity #tenacity #hustle #persistence #consistency #personalgoals #careergoals #business #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #attorneys #businesslaw #startups #acquisitions #realestate #writers #writing
Filed under Blog, Business, Career, Consistency, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Events, Exercise, Inspirational, Journal, Law, Life, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Positive Living, Productivity, Writing
6x Exercise for 2022: Ran 4.14 miles in Waikele (Ran 16.9 miles total for 2022). 🏃♂️
After darkness took over the world, a thousand birds embarked on a treacherous journey to find the rising phoenix to bring order and peace. After much suffering from the journey, only thirty remained. The rest gave up. The thirty birds realized that they themselves are the rising phoenix. 🕊🦅🕊🦅
Stories can transform your psyche. In turn, you can change the world. 😃
Pictured is my 6th exercise for 2022. I ran 4.14 miles in Waikele (Ran 16.9 miles total for 2022). 🏃♂️
Filed under Blog, Creative Writing, Exercise, Fiction, Health, Inspirational, Journal, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Philosophy, Positive Living, Psychology, Writing
The Resistance
Dream for 11/5/2021
I dreamt I was driving a car through a nicer part of a dreary town in the Midwest of the United States.
In another scene, I was on a mountain where I met three Native American boys ages 11 to 12 who were wearing traditional outfits worn before the Caucasians forced their culture upon them. They had horses for their transportation. I joined them. We embarked on a quest to fight the resistance, the forces that beat humans down until they submit to the slavery of popular culture.
The boys and I quickly became friends. By being with them, the child in me fully returned. I was no longer an adult. Imagination was thriving in me again.
We fought off different elements of nature under control by humankind such as hay and manure. It attacked us like beasts. We fought them off and defeated them. When we were finally free from the control of humankind’s overwhelming culture. It was just the four of us on the top of the mountain with nature. Trees, shrubs, and breeze. It was wonderful!
When it was time for the boys to depart, they hopped on their horses and rode them backward down the mountain. I felt so sad. I could tell they were too by the looks on their faces. We watched each other as their horses slowly walked backwards down the mountain toward the great plains.
In the final scene, the three Native American boys were walking through a crowded sandy beach in Hawaii toward the ocean. People stared at them because they stood out with their old traditional Native American clothes. The boys walked by them as if they didn’t exist. I was there sitting on the sand among the crowd but I wasn’t. It was like I was a ghost. I started to cry.
The leader, the eldest boy entered the ocean first. He gracefully glided through the glassy water. His face said it all. He was at peace and free. I cried harder.
I woke up from my dream in my bed at this point. It was as if I was really crying. The message was powerful.
This dream represents our desire to break free from what popular society pressures us to do. We have become slaves to it. The three Native American boys represent a life that has become extinct after the Caucasians forced them onto reservations and into re-education systems to learn their culture and language. As history has shown, much of the old ways of the Native American culture has died and can only be relived through stories. This is how important stories are. One of my screenplays about Hawaiian culture has this same message. The pressure from popular culture has been making me feel doubtful about my love for writing stories.
The Native American aspect of my dream was likely influenced by an NHK television interview I watched last night with my parents at their house in Pearl City, Hawaii. It was about Larry Littlebird, a Navajo in his senior years who overcame his suffering to find himself and his culture under the overbearing pressure to conform to popular culture. He is a storyteller who founded Hamaatsa, a place to reconnect with nature with indigenous wisdom, by listening to nature and to each other in this challenging time.
The beach scene in Hawaii represents my desire to be with the ocean and sand, a place where I feel connected to nature. I am at peace there. The pressure of whether or not I should get back with the program of popular culture or continue to rebel against it has been weighing heavy on my shoulders.
Filed under Blog, Creative Writing, Life, Passion Projects, Stories, Writing
The compound effect applies to everything we do!
The compound effect applies to everything we do! It applies to learning, reading, writing, skills, exercise, relationships, investments, and more. A little hard work every day on your goals add up over time. In a year, you will be a different person from last new year’s day.
Sure, we humans want things immediately. That’s why we give up when things don’t happen right away.
Even brilliant people like Einstein took many years, even decades to reach their goals. There are no shortcuts for audacious goals. Such goals are always difficult.
All great things require perseverance and patience. Your big project will be overwhelming. Therefore, diligently work on one small logical step at a time. Over time, you will put the million pieces of your puzzle together. The picture for your finished puzzle, your vision that turned into reality will look and feel amazing because of the stress, anxiety, and tears you went through.
Filed under Blog, Business, Career, Consistency, Exercise, Goals, Inspirational, Journal, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Philosophy, Positive Living, Productivity, Psychology, Quotes, Study, Training, Writing
8: Positive Masters – Study & Work with Me. Cinematic Music. Two 1-Hour Pomodoros.
In this video, let’s study and work together for two 1-hour Pomodoros (study and work sessions). If you’re stressed with your job and have a mean boss and demanding clients, pivot yourself by working on your passion projects with me on the side during breaks, after work, and on weekends. Make your passion project into your passion business and get out of a work situation that can ruin your health, mentally and physically. Your life is too valuable to be abused by those who are greedy and lack empathy. Let’s crush our passion projects!!!
I spent hours combing through cinematic songs that I purchased the licenses for as I studied and worked. The songs I chose really gave me that right mood. I hope you like them as well. I’m a lawyer, small business person, and retired politician from Hawaii. My passion projects are writing fiction and creating content about mindset and mental health.
I’m happy to have you as my study and work partner. Together, we can push through our ups and downs in our quest to improve ourselves and create value for others. We can’t control outside influences, but we can control our effort to learn, develop our skills, and bolster our relationships. That is my mission and the mission of Positive Masters.
Enjoy Positive Masters’ blog, podcast, videos, and products at https://positivemasters.com to strengthen your mindset and build your passion projects to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be experiencing. Wishing you well!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
0:00 Intro
0:50 First 1-Hour Pomodoro (Study and Work Session)
1:00:53 15-Minute Break
1:16:03 Second 1-Hour Pomodoro (Study and Work Session)
2:16:07 Outro and Information About Positive Masters
Filed under Blog, Consistency, Inspirational, Life, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Productivity, Writing, Youtube
I love this game! If you love what you do, it’s fun, like a game. If you don’t, it’s life, the dreary tasks you do to get by.
I love this game! If you love what you do, it’s fun, like a game. If you don’t, it’s life, the dreary tasks you do to get by.
I love this game! If you love what you do, it’s fun, like a game. If you don’t, it’s life, the dreary tasks you do to get by.
Finding your purpose that makes your heart sing is what you desire. It’s what we all desire. If you have your purpose, awesome! Keep working on it! If you haven’t found your purpose, I have a fun homework for you. Write down 10 things you enjoy doing. Then, write 10 ways you can provide value for others for each of the 10 things you enjoy doing. Next, pick your favorite value and find a company, non-profit organization, or government agency that provides that value and see if you can work for them. If no entity provides your favorite value, you may have an opportunity to launch a new company or non profit organization to fill in that void or disrupt an existing service or product that can be improved.
Click this link to enter the +positive masters+ universe: www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with mantras to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be undergoing.
Buy gifts at www.positivemaster.com during +positive masters+’ Holiday Season 50% off sale and free shipping for the entire store from 11/29/2019 to 12/11/2019!
Filed under Blog, Branding, Business, Career, Creative Writing, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
The only way to know whether you’ll attain your greatest dream that’s very difficult to get is by working at it for a very long time and confronting the negativity that comes with the process.
The only way to know whether you’ll attain your greatest dream that’s very difficult to get is by working at it for a very long time and confronting the negativity that comes with the process. 👊
What you want has a high chance of failure, enough to make you very uncomfortable. The process will cost you money and stress on your mental and physical health. It’ll require at least 7 years of hard work, meaning thousands and thousands of hours of sweat, both mentally and physically. You’ll live on only what you need, spend less time with friends, face negative events and people, and go in and out of darkness facing your demons. Remember, you’re expected to fail after all of this. Would you still go for your dreams? Is it worth it? 🤔😣😯😬
Personally, although it’ll take a lot of grit to weather the emotional and physical pain, I feel it’s worth it. I would rather go for my dreams, instead of wondering what could have been had I tried. Even failing at it gives me an answer that’s more satisfying than regretting on not giving it a shot. No matter what happens, you build yourself up with more knowledge, lessons, skills, and relationships from the journey you undertook. 🙌
[I published this article at Positive Masters, an e-commerce store at www.positivemasters.com, which provides lifestyle practices, creative writing, apparel, accessories, and fashion to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, or sadness you may be facing. We offer free shipping for purchases of $50 or more! ❤
Filed under Blog, Business, Career, Creative Writing, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Life, Life Coach, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Success, Writing
On your bad days, just focus on 1 to 3 of the most important things that you need to get done that day and execute on them!
Here’s an article I wrote for Positive Masters at www.positive masters.com, an e-commerce store that provides lifestyle practices, creative writing, apparel, accessories, and fashion to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, and sadness you may be facing.
On your bad days, just work on 1 to 3 of the most important things that you need to do, and more importantly, by completing them, you know you will feel better. That alone is huge!
On some days, you wake up with less motivation to attack your day. Maybe you’re stressed about the overwhelming amount of work you have to do. Maybe you’re down because things aren’t going as you planned? You’re wondering if something will or will not happen, causing you angst. Are you worrying about a relationship, the break-up of one, or being lonely? The death of a loved may have hit you hard. Maybe it’s because someone yelled at you at work or the critics are attacking you. Heck, it could be all of the above.
You turn off your alarm, wishing you could fade away into a wonderful dream where you’re smiling and sipping a favorite beverage as you overlook the glistening blue ocean with puffy white clouds floating through the teal blue skies. Aaaaaahhh, that would be wonderful!
No, you can’t do that. Not now. So you drag yourself out of bed and freshen up. Then you return to your bedroom and make your bed to get your first win of the day. You tell yourself, “No matter what happens today, I can make my bed, and when I return, it’ll be welcoming me!”
You execute on your favorite practice, gratitude. “I’m so lucky to be alive to have a shot in this universe,” you say to yourself. You’re mindful of all the useful and memorable things in your home and express your gratitude. As you make your breakfast, you use your late grandma’s plate and quietly express your thanks as you think of your grandma. You see items from your other late grandparents and your parents, causing positive energy to pour into your soul.
With your breakfast, you drink green tea for its benefits such as L-Theanine to calm your anxiety and mellow its caffeine, which gives you the calm type of clarity that you need.
In addition to your mindful and gratitude practices, you do a quick self-reflection on all the good qualities you have and how you’re going to apply them to get closer to your dreams of your future. On your worse days, you meditate to clear yourself of all your negative thoughts.
Okay, Now you’re ready to take on the day. However, you power up your computer and stare at it. Damn, you feel nothing.
You ever feel like this? I do. We all have these challenging days because we’re human. We can’t expect to always have those awesome days when ideas flow smoothly and problems get resolved rather simply. Those terrific days when you put in 10 hours of fulfilling work that didn’t feel like work because you were enjoying the process.
On your bad days, just focus on 1 to 3 of the most important things that you need to get done that day and execute on them. That’s all you have to do. When coming up with the 1 to 3 things you need to work on, don’t add up many tiny tasks, instead, lump them into broad categories to fit into those 1 to 3 things you need to complete for the day. It’s psychologically beneficial to simplify what you need to do. We’re telling ourselves, “I got this. I can do this.” Don’t allow the gloomy side of your mind to sabotage your plan by overcomplicating and even exaggerating the work you have before you. For that day, you don’t have to achieve a million things, only on those few key goals you set for yourself. Accomplishing these goals, even if they’re little are huge because every single accomplishment will add up over time. Getting those few things done will also boost your happy chemicals. Praise yourself for this accomplishment!
This is a part of the process of what I do to keep myself moving forward on my not so good days. It works for me. If it can help you in some way to feel better on your terrible days, it would make me happy!
Filed under Apparel, Blog, Branding, Business, Career, Consistency, Creative Writing, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
When we’re excited, it’s a game!
When we’re excited, it’s a game!
When we’re not, it’s life
Make life a game!
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, June 27, 2019 –
#writing #creativewriting #writingcommunity #quote #quotes #motivationalquotes #motivational #keepgoing #youcandoit #mindset #positivemindset #growthmindset #read #write #draw #create #learn #business #personal #mind #health #mentalhealth #soul #personalgrowth #selfhelp #selfimprovement #chooseyourself #reinventyourself
Make life a game! Positive mindset!
Filed under Business, Career, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Practices: (1) Focus on what I can control; (2) Work on one thing at a time to maximize my productivity; and (3) Be present and put aside my fear of what may or may not happen tomorrow.
My anxiety level is up today so seeing this post by @riskhappy is motivating me to snap out of my terrible feeling. I’m going to focus and work on what I can control. First, my appointments and work I have to finish dealing with my immediate deadline, followed by another deadline, and then another, and then paying a big bill. The first is extremely important because if I succeed in executing it, I can complete what I need to do for the other three areas in the short-run and long-run.
Practices: (1) Focus on what I can control; (2) Work on one thing at a time to maximize my productivity; and (3) Be present and put aside my fear of what may or may not happen tomorrow.
What are your strategies to alleviate anxiety and stress? I hope you’re doing well! ❤
#anxietyremedies #stressrelief #anxietyrelief #anxiety #stress #worry #fear #business #law #governmentaffairs #entrepreneurship #ecommerce #socialmediamarketing #writing #prioritize #productivity #bepresent #mindfulness #keepgoing #stepbystep #personalgrowth #selfhelp #selfimprovement #motivation #quote #motivationalquote #spilledthoughts #practices
Repost @riskhappy (@get_repost)
・・・
“10 years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.” – Mandy Hale #riskhappy
Filed under Business, Career, Consistency, Creative Writing, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Fiction, Goals, Law, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivation, Nonfiction, Peace, Positive Living, Productivity, Psychology, Quotes, Success, Writing
Death has been a strange friend of mine. I love death as much as I love life because death has taught me how to live.
I think about death every day. It has been on my mind since I was brand new to this world. A time when I could count my age with one hand. I remember thinking about it when my uncle Dwight had died. I asked my dad, “What happens after you die?”
He answered, “When you die, you die, that’s it.”
I went to my bedroom and cried on my bed. With the urging of my mom, my dad came to my room and told me that there’s a nice place where people go to after they die.
Understanding my impermanence has been my greatest motivator ever since. I go all-out on every passionate vision that crosses my mind. I’ve tried so many things because of it. I had some nice experiences and some not so nice experiences, but one thing’s for sure, I have no regrets. I would rather try and fail than to not try and wonder what if I had given it a shot? And for the times I did win, man it’s an indescribable feeling of euphoria where you’re so happy you cry in a higher realm because of all the suffering you went through in order to achieve your goal.
No matter how bad life can be, as long as we’re alive, we can still do a lot of damage. You’ll never know what your limits are unless you push yourself to break them. When you befriend death, you love life more. You don’t waste time on petty things many people complain about. Nor do you hate and judge others. These negative types of people may only realize the most important things in life when they face their own imminent mortality if they are lucky enough to have some time to think before they die.
With this state of mind, death has been a strange friend of mine. I love death as much as I love life because death has taught me how to live.
#death #life #gohard #allout #goforbroke #mindfulness #mindful #grateful #gratitude #thankful #lovelife #onelove #innerpeace #peace #passion #joy #happiness #love #mindset #noregrets #makethemostofit #dream #goforit #quote #quotes #thoughts #spilledthoughts #spilledink #creativewriting #deepthoughts
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Compassion, Creative Writing, Death, Empathy, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Gratitude, Life, Life Coach, Mindfulness, Motivational, Novels, Peace, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Writing
My hair represents time. It’s a physical and daily reminder that time is ticking. Once time passes, we can’t go back. We have to go all out on what we want now and love our loved ones now. The second reason I enjoy having short hair to long hair is to break away from any feelings of stagnation.
My #hair represents time. It’s a physical and daily reminder that #time is ticking. Once time passes, we can’t go back. We have to go all out on what we want now and #love our loved ones now. The longer my hair grows, the more #motivated I am to #work on my #goals and love my loved ones. 👊
❤
The second reason I enjoy having short hair to long hair is to break away from any feelings of #stagnation . So much of our life is based on our #mindset . I don’t want to be the same all the time. I don’t want to be doing the same thing over and over again. I want to constantly #evolve over time. I want to keep #expanding and #reinventing myself. So as my hair grows over 8 or more months, hopefully, so does my #knowledge , #skills , and #relationships .
Everything I do has a reason. There’s #practicality in growing your hair for #productivity besides saving money. I’ve enjoyed cutting my hair short and growing it out since my late teens. Try it! The Jon Riki Productivity Strategy! For me, it makes life #fun !! 😃
What are your productivity #strategies ? 💻 📖 ✒
Attack all that you want my friends!!! 😊
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#positivemindset #productivityhacks #productivitytips #raceagainstime #chooseyourself #reinventyourself #life #career #business #quote #quote #motivationalquotes #motivation
Filed under Business, Career, Consistency, Entrepreneurship, Family, Friends, Goals, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Love, Motivational, Productivity, Quotes, Success, Writing
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and two younger sisters!
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and two younger sisters! I love them so much. My mom taught me love, compassion, empathy, and gratitude, all the fundamentals of life. My sisters are amazing moms for their young children. I’m super lucky!
Every single mom, whether they’re with us physically or in spirit means so much. Often times, they bring balance to our lives and world because they truly want the best for us. They want to see us happy. Sending my love to all you moms out there!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#mom #mother #mothersday #family #lovedones #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #happy #love #compassion #empathy
Filed under Compassion, Family, Gratitude, Happiness, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Writing
Reset your daily hustle by helping others, and enjoying a meal and conversation with friends.
My friend Mike made some awesome cornish hen, a great meal after we did some moving of furniture for his mom the past two days. I don’t watch much TV or movies so it was great to see Aquaman and Game of Thrones over dinner. Nice to see a Hawaii boy star in a big studio film! Game of Thrones is such a moving and inspirational TV show and book series for me!
We can’t just work on our #career all the time. Every so often we need to reset our daily #hustle by helping others, and enjoying a meal and conversation with friends. It’s also good to watch a movie and read a #book that lifts our spirits. Our #experiences and #messages can transcend this physical world. When we die, they live on through those we’ve touched. The messages we leave behind through our content will share a bit of our soul for others going through their journey of life.
#cornishhen #hen #poultry #hawaiifood #hawaiieats #onolicious #hawaiigrinds #grindz #onogrindz #homemadecooking #ono #yum #yummy delicious #foodpicture #foodphoto #foodphotography #foodpic #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful
Filed under Business, Career, Friends, Gratitude, Happiness, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Positive Living
Peace is my purpose.
Peace is my purpose.
I became a lawyer and politician with this goal in mind through the laws and programs I created or supported.
I enjoy business because #commerce can connect people when a great value is provided.
I love writing fiction because you can touch the souls of people by evoking their emotions through the struggles your characters go through. If you can make a reader have compassion and empathy for a character they would have disliked or even hated but for the story, then you’ve played a small role in bridging the division created by human judgment. Such stories can be adapted into audio and visual form such as audio books and movies to reach a greater audience.
Nonfiction writing can play a role in our self-development in not just our career but our personal development to attain inner peace. If all of us are at peace, the world will be at peace.
So what do you think about attaining world peace? If we break it down into bite size pieces and work on ourselves and help others every single day, it’s possible right!
May peace be with you! Sending you positive energy!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#selfdevelopment #personaldevelopment #selfhelp #innerpeace #motivated #determined #hustle #mindfulness #mindful #grateful #gratitude
I’m pictured here working with a former business partner for branding and marketing on 2/13/2019.
Filed under Books, Branding, Business, Career, Compassion, Consistency, Creative Writing, Empathy, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Family, Fiction, Friends, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Inspiration, Law, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Motivation, Peace, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
I’m hopeful that love, compassion, and empathy will overcome anger, hate, and discrimination. Together, we’ll make this world better!
Being a 5th generation American on my mom’s side of the family and 4th generation on my dad’s and born and raised in Hawaii where there is a mixture of ethnicities with no majority, I was surprised to experience discrimination in Eastern Washington when I lived there and Idaho where I frequented with my law school friends for snowboarding and events. In Idaho, on a snowboarding trip, my law school friends Paul from Hawaii (hapa: Caucasian and Japanese), Joe from Southern California (Filipino), Marx from New Orleans, Louisiana (Jewish), and I went to a venue where we weren’t served. Not quite sure if my friend Karlin (Inupiak Eskimo and Caucasian) was there since he snowboarded with us. Also, in Cour d’alene, Idaho, on 4th of July, white supremacists drove by in their 4×4 trucks and jeeps yelling bad stuff with their Confederate and Nazi flags. Our country, the United States is not doing too well on these issues with a number of very public incidents.
My late great uncle Roy Okubo, my late grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s baby brother enlisted in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, 522nd Artillery during World War II to prove the loyalty of Americans of Japanese Ancestry despite the racism and mass imprisonment done by our country.
When I became a politician in Hawaii, I pushed for equal rights for all, including legislation for gay marriage for the LBGT community and support of programs for single mothers and survivors of abuse. My political career has been overshadowed by my legal bouts with driving under the influence. Thus, now, I’m directing a good portion of my energy towards writing fiction, nonfiction, poems, and creative writing, on top of my business projects and legal career. Through stories, we can touch people’s souls by reaching into their emotions. Laws can’t do this in the way storytelling can. I’m hopeful that love, compassion, and empathy will overcome anger, hate, and discrimination. Together, we’ll make this world better!
#peace #innerpeace #racism #discrimination #equalrights #womensrights #blacklivesmatter #hispanic #asian #jewish #lgbt #caucasian #minorities #love #compassion #empathy #onelove
Filed under Books, Career, Compassion, Creative Writing, Fiction, Happiness, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Motivational, Movie, Music, Nonfiction, Novels, Peace, Poems, Politics, Pop Music, Positive Living, Positivity, Quotes, Song, Writing
My niece and I on 4/11/2019!
My niece and I on 4/11/2019!
Practice: Spend time with my loved ones!
#niece #family #familytime #lovedones #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #happy #joy #fun #love #oahu #hawaii
Filed under Family, Gratitude, Happiness, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Positive Living
We can only be brave if we’re willing to be vulnerable. 👊
We can only be brave if we’re willing to be vulnerable. 👊
If we want a dream, we have to put ourselves out there to judgment, rejection, and hate. 👊
If we want love, we have to open ourselves to judgment, rejection, and heartbreak. 💔
Play it safe or go for it?
I say, “Go for it!” 😊
(I took this picture in Waikele, Hawaii on 3/14/2019)
#vulnerability #vulnerable #brave #dream #dreams #plans #strategy #vision #goal #goals #business #career #love #romance #life #passion #judgment #rejection #heartbreak #failure #playitsafe #goforit #quote #quotes #writing #creativewriting #thoughts #spilledthoughts #spilledink #hawaiiphotography
Waikele, Hawaii on March 14, 2019.
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Failure, Fiction, Goals, Life, Life Coach, Love, Movie, Music, Novels, Quotes, Stories, Success, Writing
At all times, we get a hell of a story.
It’s so far away.
Sometimes we get there.
Other times we don’t.
At all times, we get a hell of a story.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, April 12, 2019 –
#poem #poems #poetry #poet #creativewriting #writing #writings #reader #readers #book #books #fiction #nonfiction #author #authors #journey #process #goals #vision #hustle #grind #quote #quotes #writer #writers
At all times, we get a hell of a story.
It’s so far away.
Sometimes we get there.
Other times we don’t.
At all times, we get a hell of a story.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, April 12, 2019 –
I took this picture in Waikele, Hawaii on March 18, 2019.
#poem #poems #poetry #creativewriting #writing #quote #writer #writingcommunity #novels #books #business #entrepreneurship #reader #readers #photography #skypictures #skyporn #skypicture #hawaiiphotography #hawaiilife #dreams #goals #vision #process #journey #stories #storytelling
Filed under Books, Branding, Business, Career, Consistency, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Fiction, Life, Love, Quotes, Stories, Writing
Blast away to our stars where we can be who we want to be.
Fly away with me.
Break these walls of society.
Blast away to our stars
where we can be who we want to be.
We’ll create for those who believe.
The haters can’t judge what they can’t see.
One thousand true fans are all we need.
We’ll plant our love, seed by seed.
With patience and time, we will succeed.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, 4/7/2019 –
I dedicate this poem to all you working on your dreams. Like many of you, I’m going through the process. Despite the tears, anxiety, and stress, keep working at it day by day! By doing so, we will improve ourselves by 1% or more everyday. No matter what, we will gain knowledge, skills, and relationships! Getting our dream is the bonus.
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#poem #poems #poetry #poet #quotes #quote #writing #creativewriting #writings #fiction #motivationalquotes #motivational #business #career #books #novels #entrepreneur #lifecoach #create #chooseyourself #reinventyourself #dreams #goals #vision #mission #reader #readers
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Community, Consistency, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Events, Goals, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Motivational, Poems, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Writing
Quadrupling Down in My Race Against Time – Race Against Time Part X
I have so much #gratitude for Starbucks @starbucks , especially the @waikelestarbucks @waikelepo because the baristas are so nice and the #vibe is good. I can #work there for 10 hours straight. Pictured here are some free samples: a brownie and the Pink Drink! Grateful ! Got my constant companion, my @apple #macbookpro #laptop ! 💻
For the past few years, I feel like almost every month or two, someone I know dies. My last poem was about racing against time. It’s the 9th time since 2004 that I’ve titled a post on my website “Racing Against Time.” We have to go all-out on what we want to do before our time in this realm expires. I’m super #thankful to have lived this long and experienced many things I envisioned #accomplishing but I still have so much more on my mind that I need to execute before I die. I’m quadrupling down on my work and going harder now! 💻
My friends, keep going, keep loving, and keep smiling! 😀
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#keepgoing #hustle #grind #read #learn #write #relationships #consistency #dailyhabits #smallwins #business #career #love #mindful #mindfulness #happy #process #workanywhere #books
#novels #poems #law #fiction
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Computer, Consistency, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Exercise, Family, Fiction, Friends, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Health, Law, Life, Life Coach, Mindfulness, Motivation, Nonfiction, Poems, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Stories, Study, Writing
Get-together with my friends Jerry L. Chang and Dick Kim!
I only catch the #bus for #meetings. Yesterday was different. As usual, I do #work on my @samsungmobile #smartphone and @apple #macbook pro while riding the bus, but I was super excited because I was meeting with my friends Jerry L. Chang @mastif8 and Dick Kim for a get-together @shirokiyajvw !!! Jerry and I served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives together. He is also a real estate developer and former administrator for the University of Hawaii at Hilo. We have so much fun memories, especially our adventurous travels to other states and countries. He’s a great statesman and has so much positive energy. Jerry has been a huge mentor in my life!!! 😊
Dick is an import/export businessman doing trade between the United States and many countries. He is a very kind person, and I enjoy listening about how he sees opportunities in business. He has also influenced my life as such a positive and kind person!!! 😊
I’m so lucky to have wonderful experiences with great people like Jerry and Dick!!!
#friends #mentor #influencer #goodtimes #funtimes #memories #experiences #business #entrepreneurs #politics #politicians #happy #joy #love #lucky #happiness #mindfulness #mindful #gratitude #grateful #thankful #shirokiya #shirokiyavillagewalk
Filed under Food, Friends, Gratitude, Happiness, Inspirational, Life, Life Coach, Mindfulness, Motivational, Positive Living, Quotes
You never know how much time you have with those close to you.
My friend Mike Noguchi picked me up at Ala Moana Hotel where I was working at after a meeting with a client at Ala Moana Center. He treated me to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays @rubytuesdayhawaii in Moanalua, Hawaii.
On a sad note, a close friend of my family died, my dad’s really good friend. He was my cub scout master, soccer coach, metal shop teacher, political supporter, and a mentor on how to live a positive life. He was always smiling and laughing. He always took my family and I to the airport and picked us up when we traveled. I’m deeply saddened.
#friends #lovedones #gratitude #sad #sadness #life
Thankful for good times with my friends and tasty food!
Thank you to my #friends Brandon @brandonraimitsuda and Ellen Mitsuda for picking me up in Waikiki yesterday evening after I finalized some #legal documents for a client and taking me to #dinner at Outback Steakhouse @outback in Kapolei, Hawaii! Brandon has been my good friend since 2000. We studied the bar together, planned and executed our entry into Hawaii #politics, and practice a lifestyle to try and maintain inner peace so we can spread some good #energy to others. In #life, we will have wonderful #experiences, but we will always face #challenges. It’s the adversity that really tests how positive our soul is. Brandon is one of those awesome people who can lift my #soul even when I’m in the depths of #darkness.
Deep content for a #food post.
Daily Practices: Be present ( #mindfulness ) with your loved ones, #rejuvenate with positive people, and be #grateful to have them in your lives.
#thankful #gratitude #lovedones #outbacksteakhouse #kapolei #hawaii #hawaiifood #hawaiieats #foodpic #restaurant #dailypractice #dailyhabit #mindset #mentalhealth #positivemindset #mindful
Filed under Food, Friends, Gratitude, Happiness, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Positive Living
Just My Soul and I
Just my soul and I.
We talk and laugh.
Sometimes we cry.
We travel to the heavens with visions.
Clips of action of what could be.
We don’t need much.
Only ideas on how to get there.
Because we’re relentless in getting there.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, 3/17/19 –
#poem #poems #poetry #poet #poets #writing #writings #creativewriting #writer #writers #author #authors #fiction #nonfiction #novel #novels #book #books #quote #quotes #motivational #inspirational #emotions #selfdevelopment #selfimprove #selfhelp #mindset #positivemindset #lookwithin #mentalhealth #mindfulness #mindful #grateful #thankful #gratitude
Filed under Blog, Books, Business, Career, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Inspirational, Journal, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Motivation, Motivational, Nonfiction, Novels, Poems, Quotes, Writing
Want to be productive? Grow your hair long and/or closely watch children grow up.
Here’s two strategies I use for my productivity: (1) Grow your hair long and cut it when you finish some of your goals; and/or (2) Have your sibling or siblings or an immediate family member have children because you will watch very closely how fast they grow up, which will make you work harder to get things done.
We can grow our hair long anytime. I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager, even when I was a politician and government attorney. As for our loved ones having children, well, this is a bit more tricky. Have fun with this strategy!
Here are pictures of my 10-month old niece and I with our long bangs on October 20, 2018 in San Mateo, California.
Crush all your goals my friends!!!
#productivity #strategy #growyourhair #longhair #bangs #children #family #time #tracktime #hustle #grind #work #career #business #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #attorney #law #job #mindfulness #mindful #gratitude #grateful #thankful #happy #happiness #vision #goals #dreams #execute
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From the Middle, Suffering Expands Our Gratitude Practice!
From the middle, suffering expands our gratitude practice by making us more present and aware of the light in a mass of darkness, which is all the good things we have in our lives. Here are my 10 examples of how suffering can expand our gratitude practice:
1. When a loved one dies, we’re grateful for the time we had with that person.
2. When our romantic relationship falls apart, we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to experience romance.
3. When we fail at a goal, we’re grateful for the lessons we learned from the failure.
4. When we face financial hardship, we’re grateful for every little thing we have that helps us get by.
5. When we provide value for others and get attacked by opposition or critics, we’re grateful for our ability to create value for others and evolve.
6. When facts in litigation aren’t believed where we face fines, jail, or unfavorable rulings for business, divorce or our personal life, we’re grateful that we had the opportunity to tell what happened.
7. When we can no longer drive a vehicle, we’re grateful for public transportation.
8. When our health declines, we’re grateful for still being alive and having what abilities we still have.
9. When we are wronged by people, we’re grateful for all the positive people in our lives.
10. When our life appears to be in turmoil, we’re grateful that we were born to even have a shot at life.
3 of my daily practices are shown here: the middle way, gratitude, and listening to music (Im wearing Bose Soundsport)!
#middleway #gratitude #buddhism #music #practices #dailypractices #bose #bosesoundsport #grateful #thankful #mentalhealth #health #mindset #positivemindset #mindfulness #mindful #peace #innerpeace
Filed under Buddhism, Business, Community, Compassion, Consistency, Creative Writing, Empathy, Entrepreneurship, Failure, Family, Friends, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Health, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivation, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Missing My Aunty JoAnn Matsumoto
With the passing of my aunty JoAnn Matsumoto on February 1, 2019 due to pneumonia, I’ve fallen deeper into sadness. I feel an emptiness in my soul. Everyday I practice gratitude, mindfulness, meditation, creative writing, and my many other positive practices to keep moving forward. Nothing seems to matter to me except for those I love and my fiction and nonfiction writing for my far-reaching entertainment company. Everything in the stories I create embodies what my aunty JoAnn was: loving, caring, compassionate, emphatic, and positive. All my worse problems are small in comparison to losing my aunty. I would go to prison for my driving under the influence charge and lose more money with start-ups to have her back.
Yesterday, March 7, 2019, I attended the funeral services for my aunty JoAnn. She’s my mom’s cousin. She was like a sister for my mom Laraine and her sisters aunty Jamie and aunty Maydeen and brother Wilson because she stayed with them and their parents when she moved to Oahu for college from Hawaii island and spent so much time with them up to her recent passing.
My friends, cherish every moment with your loved ones. Them being with us makes our problems small. We can always make our comeback but we can’t get our loved ones back in physical form once they’re gone. We can always find ways to make money but that stuff doesn’t impact us the way good people do. I love you all. May peace be with you.
#aunty #aunt #joannmatsumoto #loving #caring #compassionate #emphatic #positive #family #lovedones #sadness #emptiness #suffering #life #career #business #entrepreneurship #prioritize #whatisimportant #timeisprecious #writing #fiction #nonfiction #creativewriting #healsmysoul #mindset #positivemindset #loveyou
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Filed under Business, Career, Compassion, Creative Writing, Death, Empathy, Entertainment, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Family, Gratitude, Journal, Life, Life Coach, Live Events, Love, Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Quotes, Writing
Live the middle way. From the middle, we can see the light in every dark situation.
Live the middle way. From the middle, dark and light is one. From the middle, we can see everything, dark, light, and everything in between. If you can see the light in darkness, then you can be grateful in your darkest moments.
Humans are prone to judging others and experiences. From the middle, you don’t jump to conclusion that someone is either dark or light, good or bad. From the middle, you don’t jump to conclusion that an experience is dark or light, good or bad.
When a person lashes his or her anger at you, you’re tempted to label that person as a dark person. When you’re in the middle, you’ll see the light, in even the most hateful person. You go deeper and have empathy for that person who may have suffered deeply at the hands of others.
When you experience suffering, you may feel tempted to label it as darkness, which will drag you further down into sadness, frustration, and/or anger, all negative emotions that pushes away your happiness and negatively impacts everyone you interact with. From the middle, you’ll be able to see the light in even the most darkest of situations.
From the middle, suffering expands our gratitude practice by making us more present and aware of all the good things we have in our lives. Here are my 10 examples of how suffering can expand our gratitude practice:
1. When a loved one dies, we’re grateful for the time we had with that person.
2. When our romantic relationship falls apart, we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to experience romance.
3. When we fail at a goal, we’re grateful for the lessons we learned from the failure.
4. When we face financial hardship, we’re grateful for every little thing we have that helps us get by.
5. When we provide value for others and get attacked by opposition or critics, we’re grateful for our ability to create value for others and evolve.
6. When facts in litigation aren’t believed where we face fines, jail, or unfavorable rulings for business, divorce or our personal life, we’re grateful that we had the opportunity to tell what happened.
7. When we can no longer drive a vehicle, we’re grateful for public transportation.
8. When our health declines, we’re grateful for still being alive and having what abilities we still have.
9. When we are wronged by people, we’re grateful for all the positive people in our lives.
10. When our life appears to be in turmoil, we’re grateful that we were born to even have a shot at life.
2 of my daily practices: the middle way and gratitude.
Waikele on the early morning of February 22, 2019.
#middleway #middle #practice #buddhism #light #dark #good #bad #empathy #compassion #love #grateful #gratitude #thankful #mindset #positivemindset #mentalhealth #health #staypositive #positivity #positiveliving #peace #innerpeace
Filed under Buddhism, Business, Career, Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude, Health, Life, Life Coach, Love, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivation, Peace, Positive Living, Writing
Fade Out or Keep Going?
Fade out or keep going? What are we chasing after in this competitive and sometimes cruel world? Money? Power? Fame? When you reach it, you get attacked by others and punished more severely. Is it worth it? I think most of us want to be happy and at peace. There’s something beautiful in fading out from the craziness of society to be with your own soul in a peaceful and quiet life. Maybe live a simple life near the ocean or up in the mountains. It sounds so nice to meditate, read, research, write, create art, produce content that helps others, build a service for others using technology, and only hang out with those who lift your spirit. I’m not saying to completely cut ourselves off from the world. We could still continue our hustle to create value for others from afar, only coming back to society for our loved ones and for our most passionate projects. Do you feel this sometimes? If this was possible would you try it?
This is a picture of the sunset in Waikele, Hawaii on 2/19/19.
#fadeout #keepgoing #money #power #fame #peace #innerpeace #alonetime #meditate #happiness #simplelife #ocean #mountains #sunsets #clouds #family #lovedones #lifestylebusiness #write #read #research #fiction #nonfiction #poetry #art #music #content #contentcreation #technology #services
Filed under Books, Buddhism, Business, Career, Community, Creative Writing, Creativity, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Family, Friends, Goals, Happiness, Inspiration, Life, Life Coach, Love, Meditation, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivation, Nature, Nonattachment, Novels, Peace, Poems, Positive Living, Productivity, Stories, Success, Writing
Time with our loved ones is valuable
I was so lucky to spend time with my younger sister and my baby niece in February 2019 when they came to Oahu, Hawaii for my baby sister’s baby shower, which I helped to prepare! Here, my niece’s laughter and smile is so cute!!!
The speed in which a baby develops is a great example on how valuable time is. I dedicate every Sunday for my family in person and by video calling my family in the San Francisco Bay area. My parents, baby sister, brother-in-law, and I fly out about twice a year to be with my sister, brother-in-law, and nieces on the U.S. Mainland. We hang out in California or travel to different places. They also visit us in Hawaii. Further, I do my best to attend all of my extended family’s gatherings and events. I also spend some time with my friends.
We don’t know how much time we have to live. Neither can we predict how much time our loved ones will live. When I’m with my loved ones, I do my best to be present and absorb all I can, every moment. I love my family and friends. May you have joy with your loved ones as well. Take care!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#baby #niece #family #lovedones #friends #mindfulnes #mindful #grateful #gratitude #thankful #love #hawaii
Filed under Family, Friends, Gratitude, Happiness, Inspiration, Life, Life Coach, Love, Mindfulness, Positive Living
Dreams, Mentors, & Daily Practice
Since I was young, I would dream or have visions of what I wanted to achieve or experience. I observed people who were at a level I aspired to be. Then I would relentlessly work on my skills & knowledge everyday for hours. Over many years, usually at least 7 years, I would attain my dreams or at least a portion or variation of them. I would like to note that I had many failures too.
When I was about 9 years old, I was determined to become a better soccer player. I admired a skilled & speedy soccer player, Shane Uemoto who played as a wing forward on the Pearl City High School soccer team & had number 12 on his jersey. I loved the exciting way he played the game & how he was well-liked by his teammates. Shane was also a very good student, eventually becoming an accountant as an adult.
I would often practice soccer by myself for many hours in addition to the practices with my team. I would train by myself at parks or in my yard until dark & run up & down the hill of my street or at parks to build up my speed. I played with the ball in the house & watched soccer videos over & over on ball handling & strategy. I ran several miles from my house to Pearl City High School to get a peek at Shane & his teammates practicing. I remember riding a school bus on a field trip & I had a vision of Shane running alongside of the bus. Funny right! 😅 Anyways, after a number of years, I ended playing as a right forward on the Pearl City High School soccer team. I scored a whole bunch of goals & assisted others in scoring goals. I proudly wore the number 7 on my jersey & was so elated to live my dream!!!
As an adult, I continue to work hard daily on my dreams & observe amazing people in public service, business & the arts, areas I have a passion for. I’m just as relentless & obsessive as I was when I was a kid in love with soccer. I may not be wearing number 7 on a soccer jersey but it’s in my soul everyday.
#dreams #vision #goals #mentors #virtualmentors #soccer #sports #publicservice #politics #politician #attorney #business #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #art #writing #fiction #nonfiction #passion #habits #dailyhabits #practice #dailypractice #consistency #determination #tenacity
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Learn, Hustle, Live With Patience, & Be Grateful!
Since I was little, my mom and dad encouraged me to try different things, learn, & work hard. You never know, anything is possible. You may live your dreams. Some of mine came true, like becoming a politician, practicing law, building businesses, & helping nonprofits with a mission of peace within ourselves & the world.
However, when you take a chance on a dream, a vision, a value you want to share with others, you put yourself at risk of failure, criticism, & even hate. I get most of my anxiety worrying about whether I will fail or if someone will attack me or my organization. Most of these anxieties are about things I can’t control. To lessen this darkness that slows down my progress & deflates my happiness, I practice what I can control: (1) Always keep learning & building new skills; (2) Hustle like I’m a fiercely determined soccer striker with #7 on the back of my jersey, practicing my craft everyday so I can play for that championship title; (3) Have patience in the process, as I understand many big goals take years to achieve; & (4) Be grateful from the moment I wake up until I sleep. I appreciate the chance to be alive, all the good things in my life, the lessons of my failures, the ability to learn new things, Hawaii, travel, & my loved ones.
It’s not always easy. We all have our down days. Yet, tomorrow is always another day to crush it! And yes, with a positive mindset, we can achieve great heights & fill our lives with happiness a vast majority of our time. So attack your dreams! Learn, hustle & live with patience. Most importantly, be grateful for your shot at life & all the wonderful things around you!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#thoughts #practices #learn #hustle #patience #grateful #gratitude #quotes #quote #motivationalquotes #dreams #goals #vision #personallife #career #business #entrepreneurship #books #novels #writing #law #politics #events #peace #innerpeace #worldpeace #hawaii #lovedones #family
Filed under Books, Business, Career, Community, Concerts, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Family, Friends, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Inspirational, Law, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivational, Nonattachment, Peace, Philosophy, Politics, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Writing
Step by Step
Step by step and we’ll get there. My 10-month old niece crawling up the stairs with me on 10/21/2018.
#stepbystep #smallgoals #goals #consistency #dailyhabits #habits #practice #dailypractice #hustle #grind #patience #family #baby #niece #sanmateo #california #mindset #positivemindset #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #happy #happiness #joy #love
Filed under Consistency, Family, Goals, Gratitude, Inspiration, Life, Motivation
The light will push through.
Something’s happening.
A feeling, a buzz-like high.
The light will push through.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #138, 6/27/2018 –
No matter how hard life gets, whether it be financial hardship, a death of a loved one, or a broken heart, we have to do our best to see all the good we have in our life. Day by day as we work at our projects, we get better and a bit closer to our dreams. In person and through social media, we can support one another. We’re in this together.
I took this picture in Waikele, Hawaii on 10/30/2018.
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
#haiku #haikus #dailyhaiku #poem #poems #poetry #poet #quote #quotes #writing #creativewriting #writer #novels #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #career #motivational #motivationalquote #mentalhealth #thinkpositive #positivemindset #inittogether #youcandoit #goforit #goforbroke #gratitude #thankful #mindful #mindfulness
Filed under Business, Career, Creative Writing, Empathy, Gratitude, Haiku, Happiness, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivational, Poems, Writing
You Are So Precious
You are so precious.
Don’t ever think otherwise.
Flowers bloom from dirt.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem #157, 9/18/2018 –
I dedicate this poem to all of you. Keep your heads up!!! The flowers are from the farmers market in Hilo, Hawaii on 9/22/2018.
#haiku #haikupoem #haikupoetry #poem #poetry #quote #quotes #art #creativewriting #writing #books #novels #nonfiction #love #life #positivemindset #mentalhealth #positivelife #positiveliving #joy #happiness #mindfulness #gratitude #flowers #orchids #hilo #hawaii
Filed under Books, Creative Writing, Gratitude, Haiku, Happiness, Life, Life Coach, Love, Mindfulness, Poems, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Racing Against Time Part VIII
I’ve always been racing against time. Sometimes, I just need to pause and taste it. Death will keep coming for us. Every now and then, we need to laugh at it.
#time #life #death #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #goforbroke
Filed under Gratitude, Life, Mindfulness
Glen Grant, Ghosts, and Supernatural Powers
I’m re-reading all of my ghost books written by Glen Grant. I wish he was still alive. I miss his presence. Grant had an amazing life as a professor of American studies, history, and political science at the Univeristy of Hawaii at Manoa and Hawaii Tokai International College where he was a Vice Chancellor; author of I believe 14 books (nonfiction and fiction); radio show host; entrepreneur with his coffee shop and ghost tours; and board member of the Moiliili Community Center. I would’ve liked to have known him. He passed away from cancer on June 19, 2003 at the age of 56.
I’ve witnessed many unexplainable events and people with supernatural gifts. I also have friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who have shared with me their haunting experiences. Healers, masters, and spiritual leaders have come into my life along my journey. Some spiritual events were innocent, while others were very dark. Apparently, people who were angry and mean when they were alive continue to be the same when they’re dead. In contrast, those who lived with compassion and empathy, transitioned over with these qualities. Since leaving politics in 2015, I’ve had less unusual experiences, and I’ve only befriended a few more people with supernatural powers. Maybe it’s best this way. However, my curiosity for the unknown has picked up again as I read Glen Grant’s books. I can’t help but keep in mind what Grant’s dead father said to him in his dream, “There are things on this side that you must never know.”
#glengrant #books #obake #ghosts #spirits #supernatural #dead #powers #energy #uknown #unexplainable
Filed under Books, Life, Nonfiction, Writing
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 