Is the question that I had to ask myself upon moving to a new city.  I found myself hesitating, holding back and generally wishing that I had a network of people to call on.  As I was contemplating and hemming and hawing about picking up the phone to call some very important contact,  I reminded myself of what my 9 year old Girl Scout cookie selling self would do.  I’d just pick up the phone and tell this very important person that I AM HERE!  “How else will they find out?”.  So my advice when feeling shy and a little hesitant.  Ask yourself. What would you do if you were not afraid?  If you just let the real you show through?  What would you do if you were your best you?

Photo from SwellWomen, Maui

From Outrigger Canoe Paddling

1) Focus. Keep your head in your own boat.

2) Blend. No matter what the stroke, the timing, the technique, a master paddler can “blend” and contribute.

3) Alignment. Apply the power at the same time, in the same direction (an organization, a team, a family).

4) Details. Everything matters, training, technique, and nutrition, what we say to each other, before, during and after.

5) Attitude. If you have an issue or problem, keep it to yourself, otherwise it spreads to the other paddlers and the whole boat loses their mojo.

6) Reflect. First look in the mirror. Mind your own technique, attitude, and  business before you offer your input or opinions to the team. Or as my brothers said to me when I was a kid, “when you are perfect, you can criticize others”.

7) Lokahi. Unity.  Amazing results are effortless and fun!  Some call it flow.

The word lōkahi in general means balance.  However, the Hawaiian concept of lōkahi encompasses much more.  It explains that the body (ke kino), the mind (ka mana‘o), the spirit (ka uhane) and the world (ka honua) are all interconnected and affect each other.  Without any one of these four elements, balance is impossible.   It is the essence of Hawaiian group consciousness, the belief that harmony within the group will insure the cohesiveness and survival of the group and that group members are interdependent.http://www.healthhi.hawaii.edu/