Okinawa lingers in my thoughts like its many tide pools filled with seawater and life after the ocean pulls itself far from shore. I was quite surprised by that. I have never seen such a huge difference in tides. It's not a common occurrence in Hawaii. Our tides are not so dramatic. In Okinawa, the water pulls back so far that you can walk out onto the rocks that were just covered with almost a foot or more of water.

With the return to normal life, the ideas of what this new year will bring and what I will accomplish entwines itself with the residual impressions of Okinawa. I think we all have plans when the new year starts but rarely fulfill them. This year I think I will just take that laid back attitude of my Hawaiian (and now Okinawan) island life and deal with things as they come. Writing, my health, promoting myself... I won't make such a big deal about it and hope that they will naturally sort themselves out.

Here's to an easygoing year.