Un-Homed But Not Unhinged: A Funny Thing Happened…

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I’ve had my share of those moments of feeling powerless or feeling limited by invisible circumstances. Sometimes you wonder if you’re cursed or someone put a hex on you, especially after the last few years, and 2010 in particular, where chaos seemed to reign most often.

Being self-employed has its own challenges without needing any extra from an unstable economy. Thus the ups and downs of 2010 were wildly unpredictable and added several degrees of sufferability to my life.

But somehow something has shifted. Since January I’ve had a very steady load of patients coming through. At first I thought it might be due to New Year’s resolutions to get healthy. But the trend has continued for a few months. Now, I don’t want to jump to any conclusions nor create any unfounded assumptions (We all know where those assumptions get us), but I have to admit to feeling hopeful. Yes, you read that right… Hope!

Hope is a funny thing though. When it arises your sights firmly fixate onto the horizon. Suddenly expectation is here too. Tricky stuff as it’s not always the same as setting goals and working toward them. I’ve already admitted to being a perpetual optimist by nature. I always expect the best of people and life in general. However, I am a solid realist as well, which makes it easier to place myself in the midst of the present moment with some acceptance. The realist in me has had lots of exercise this last year, that’s for sure.

In any case milestones are being achieved. Whether this time period is an anomaly remains to be seen. I’ll tread cautiously as well as with appreciation for it. Meanwhile I did manage to buy a new pair of shorts to replace the ones with holes in all my pockets. They were on sale! We’ll see what happens next.

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About the Author

  • Joe Bright
    Joe Bright
    Joe Bright is a graduate of Iolani School and went on to study art at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City, and later Chinese medicine at The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. Joe currently runs a small acupuncture clinic, Kama’aina Acupuncture in Kapahulu as the first dedicated low-cost “community acupuncture” clinic in Honolulu. Joe has a varied background that has included working as a bicycle mechanic, freelance artist, teaching calligraphy and Tai Chi, a nanny, and even a CEO of a small entrepreneurial company. He continues to create art, even having work recently appear at the Honolulu Academy of Arts as well the Bishop Museum. He also continues with entrepreneurial projects when possible and serves on the Board of Directors for a local Buddhist meditation organization, Vipassana Hawai’i.
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