"Procrastination is like masturbation...."

"Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week." 

~Spanish Proverb

"Procrastination is my sin. It brings me naught but sorrow. I know that I should stop it. In fact, I will - tomorrow!" 
~Gloria Pitzer

"Procrastination is like masturbation. At first it feels good, but in the end you're only screwing yourself." 

~Author Unknown

MY FAMILY, FRIENDS and those awesome people who have decided to stop on by...

CRASTINATION: is from the LATIN word  "crastinus" or "of to-morrow", from cras to-morrow.]

PROCRASTINATION: a putting off till to-morrow. [Obs.]

So basically what answers.com is telling me is that "PRO"crastination is a POSITIVE thing. I am PRO- TOMORROW!!! I am PRO-FUTURE! By being a PROCRASTINATOR I am actually a positive person who may not get things done BUT HEY at least I am POSITIVE that the FUTURE WILL BE A BETTER PLACE!!!

...and here is my disclaimer...

My name is Pilialoha K. Nathaniel: I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a psychologist. I am not affiliated with any sort of health industry. You are reading this blog with the full knowledge that Pilialoha K. Nathaniel is not authorized by any school, institution or government to give health and medical advise. I am a WRITER. I take words and put them into sentences that you may (or may not) UNDERSTAND or AGREE WITH. If you follow any advise in this blog it is at your own discretion and at your own risk. 

Okay? Nod if you agree. 

If you read anything past this paragraph that means you have nodded and you agree.

We are going to talk about PROCRASTINATION. It haunts us all in our MANY, EVERYDAY facets of our life. Well... maybe not ALL of us... there are the select few that are just powerhouses of WORK ETHIC. IF you are ONE of these few people... please continue reading so that you may see what the rest of us are dealing with.

LAZINESS!

You are being lazy!!! 

"BUT PILI," you POUT, "I cleaned my apartment, I went to work, I checked and cleaned out my e-mail, I went grocery shopping, I did THIS, THAT and THE OTHER THING..." 

Or you bristle with ANNOYANCE, "I'M SOOOOOOOO BUSY! My boss at work has me doing this thing that takes up all my time... The kids are taking up sooo much of my time... My husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/dog/cat/fish/bird/orangoutang... has me doing all these things BUT I really want to do that other thing but I just can't... and then I'm sooooo tired..."

Ok. Fine. Sure. Life gets in the way. I get it. Then love your life as it is. If you believe you have reached the pinnacle of where your life is supposed to be then be content and love the life you are living.

AND...

DO NOT COMPLAIN WHEN ANY DREAMS/GOALS/WANTS/NEEDS YOU MAY HAVE FAIL TO BECOME REALITY. 

You are PROCRASTINATING.

How do I know? Because... SO AM I.

I have two examples to share. HEALTH and FITNESS and CAREER. I guess thats really three, but whatever. Let me give you MY EXAMPLE first because it leads nicely into the other.

Career. I AM a WRITER. I have a BLOG that I love writing!!! I have short stories!!! I have IDEAS for books!!! I have a NOVEL that I want EVERYONE to READ!!! 

Have I finished said Novel? 
No. Practically...

Am I working on it everyday? 
No... Well... Does it count if I am THINKING about it everyday? 

Am I WRITING EVERYDAY???
No. I should be. I have made excuses that I am too busy or too tired or I need to clean my apartment.

Why haven't I finished it?
I procrastinate. 

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WRITERS BLOCK. Writing is a CAREER! A CREATIVE CAREER!!! When a mason is building a foundation for a house, he doesn't NOT put in ALL the concrete blocks because he had to clean his house. If the mason built a foundation that had holes in it... the house would fall down. A surgeon doesn't stop in the middle of a surgery to play a video game. A Stock Broker can't be watching "Game of Thrones" in the morning. He'd be out of work!

I know some of those examples may be out of place but think of it this way... books change lives.  Look at the Bible. It is a book filled with short stories. It has CHANGED LIVES. Look and SHAKESPEARE. He wrote plays that changed the landscape of theatre. I am not saying I'm a Shakespearean Playwright who is going to rewrite GENSIS or the PSALMS... but I can hope to at least make a small difference in the way people view the world.

And I can't do that by MAKING excuses.

Does any of this mirror what YOU are going though. Is there something that you desperately want that you haven't quite obtained. Is the a DREAM or GOAL that is just out of your reach?

Are you doing EVERYTHING in your power to obtain IT?

Is IT HEALTH and FITNESS? If it is... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WRITERS BLOCK!!!

"That doesn't make ANY sense, Pili!!!" You scoff at me. 

Doesn't it?

YOU are YOUR own BLOCK. YOU can tear away the BLOCKAGES in your life BY being...

PRO-TODAY! PRO-RIGHT NOW! PRO-JUST DO IT! Be PRODUCTIVE! If you want to be healthier and fit and happier then BE THAT WAY STARTING RIGHT NOW.

NOT TOMORROW. You WILL NOT procrastinate. You will not put-off yourself or your goals until tomorrow. You are responsible for creating TODAY as the DAY you believe in YOURSELF, YOUR HEALTH and YOUR DREAMS.

I will not be a procrastinator. I am a WRITER. I will write EVERYDAY. 

Will YOU pursue YOUR GOAL EVERYDAY?

-Cousin Pili

For some of my short stories go to http://monkeymonsterthoughts.blogspot.com. Have a great time loving life and making your dreams become reality.

For my Little Brother, Kepa, on Graduation Day...

For my beautiful Little Brother, on his Graduation Day.

Graduation Day. May 26, 2013

It is not really your graduation day today as it happened a little over a week and a half ago but as a tried to write this I was continuously over come and I really did not know what to say except... I love you Little Brother. I will try here to put my thoughts down for you...

Kepa, my SuperMAN.

Yummy toes.

You have such an open and loving heart. You work with spirit and precision and you do not quit until the job is done. See the world with that amazing light that shines from within you.

On your Graduation Day I give you three thoughts. EXECUTION. CREATION. And above all, LOVE.

DISCLAIMER: My name is Pilialoha K. Nathaniel and I was asked to be a health and wellness coach by one of my crazy younger cousins. They have faith in me. But if you, whoever you are, are reading this I must let you know that I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a psychologist. I am not affiliated with any sort of health industry. You are reading this blog with the full knowledge that Pilialoha K. Nathaniel is not authorized by any school, institution or government to give health and medical advise. Most of the advise in the particular posting is directed to and written for my little brother, Walter I'okepaokalani (SUPERKEPA) Barrett. If you follow any advise in this blog it is at your own discretion and at your own risk. 

Okay? 

Nod if you agree. If you read anything past this paragraph that means you have nodded and you agree.

6th Grade Graduation from Waiau Elementary.

EXECUTE. 

The world is an IDEA. It is YOUR IDEAS, THOUGHTS and ACTIONS that CREATE the would you live in. Have faith in your IDEAS and follow though with them. IDEAS are NOTHING with out perseverance and EXECUTION. EXECUTE your IDEAS. Bring the to fruition with ACTION.

Imagine for a moment with me if you, Kepa, had this grand IDEA to go to COLLEGE. Imagine if you sat in bed wishing that it might someday happen for you. Think about that time. Think about daydreaming about what you might do after High School. When the time came, you KEPT DREAMING. DREAMS and IDEAS are beautiful things. They are like the many twinkling lights of grand New York City. They are the infinite bursts of brilliance in the skies above Mauna Kea. Dreams and Ideas are nothing without EXECUTION. 

I am SO PROUD OF YOU. REMEMBER that you had SUPPORT (and you always will) and know that YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN. 

YOU.

You turned your dream of Pitzer College into a REALITY. The far off brilliant star of a Dream is REAL FOR YOU because you made the CHOICE to believe in YOURSELF and your ABILITY to SHINE.

"Don't mess with my little bro!"

CREATE. 

Ask questions. If someone can't give you the answer. Ask again or better yet... MAKE ANSWERS HAPPEN. MAKE LIFE HAPPEN!!!  Do not COMPLAIN. DO NOT sit on your ass. MAKE SHIT HAPPEN!

C-R-E-A-T-E!!!

Always CREATE! Create the answers and solutions to the situations, difficulties, adversity... SHIT that WILL HAPPEN. SHIT HAPPENS. You can let yourself DROWN in SHIT or you can RISE ABOVE IT. Always know that you have THE WILL, THE STRENGTH and THE MINDPOWER to drive though and CREATE.

Creation can only happen though HONESTY. Kepa, one day you will have another DREAM. This dream will change the world. YOU will change the world. If you are honest with yourself, this CREATION will BRING a light to you, your family and to the WORLD.

YOU WILL CREATE.

I was 16. Leimaile was 3 and Kepa... You were just 1.

LOVE.

I don't need to tell you how to LOVE little brother. You are so LOVING and CARING. You are GRATEFUL and CONSCIENTIOUS. You love with all your being.

What I do need to tell you is to HOLD ON TO the LOVE within YOURSELF. No matter how you or the world changes around you. 

I almost said, "Never Change", but that would be wrong. ALWAYS CHANGE AND NEVER FORGET about the younger versions of yourself. You will ALWAYS CHANGE and ALWAYS GROW. Life will never be stagnate for you. Life will be ALIVE with LOVE. Look for the love and light in others and in the WORLD you CREATE. In your adventures, surround yourself with LOVE. 

When you find someone worth your love who loves you back... When you find someone who wants to be part of YOUR LIFE and YOUR DREAMS as a partner and friend, lover and confidant... Someone who makes you be an even better person... hold on tight and never, for one moment, take that LOVE for GRANTED. Love is patient and kind and all those things the Bible says it is... but it is also something that needs to be nurtured, adored and cared for.

EXECUTE your DREAMS with LOVE and you will CREATE LOVE.

The WORLD that you live in will be the one YOU CREATED. Fill it with love and you will live a loving and awesome life.

I love you, Kepa. My wild boy. My monkey. My Super-Kepa. 

Your Sister, Your Friend, 

Pilialoha

No. I will not be your friend. An ode to Facebook.

Fuck you Social Media.

Well... I can't blame social media for the stupid shit that happened in my life before I could speak, write or walk. I can't blame social media for people who want to "friend" me when they haven't even at LEAST sent me a message saying... "Hi, Pili! How are you?"

MY DISCLAIMER: So sorry folks... I know I keep on saying that I'll get back on a schedule... and I will. I have just been a little busy with work and writing my book. BUT enough of me apologizing to you, dear friend, and back to my disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a psychologist. Though, I SHOULD PROBABLY GO SEE ONE just to sort though all the shit that's happened in my life (mostly without my conscious knowledge) so that I can write an award winning DRAMA! But enough about that... I am not affiliated with any sort of health industry. You are reading this blog with the full knowledge that Pilialoha K. Nathaniel is not authorized by any school, institution or government to give health and medical advise. If you follow any advise in this blog it is at your own discretion and at your own risk. Okay? Nod if you agree. If you read anything past this paragraph that means you have nodded and you agree.

Fuck You Facebook you heartless bitch.

WELCOME BACK MY Family, Friends and other assorted people... Today I will speak about FRIENDSHIP. 

Please. PLEASE! Please, in this crazy world of Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Myspace (does that one even exist anymore?) and other such social media sites, PLEASE do not forget the REAL meaning of "FRIENDING" someone. Do not forget how to be a REAL FRIEND. Do not forget about FRIENDSHIP.

However you became a FRIEND or MADE a FRIEND... WORK, LAUGHTER, BLOOD, TEARS, FIGHTS, HUGS... a whole lot of STUFF went into the MAKING OF A FRIENDSHIP. It was MORE than just a Click of a Button.

We CREATE FRIENDSHIPS... and YES, FRIENDSHIPS can start online. Friendship is respect. Friendship is knowing that someone loves and cares for you. Friendship is that little text you get from someone you haven't heard from in years that just thought of you and wants to just check in. Friendship is healing someone elses wounds and letting yours be healed as well. Friendship is HISTORY. Friendship in PRESENT. Friendship is a gift of a FUTURE.

I have heard that there are three types of friends. The Friend of the Past. The Friend of the MOMENT. And the FOREVER FRIEND. That is what I have heard. I believe though that no matter how long or how momentary that LOVE was it IS a CREATION that will forever be a part of you. Whether or not it has lasted a lifetime or if it was in passing, whether or not it is constant or ended badly... this FRIENDSHIP is part of you.

The BEST FRIENDS are often FAMILY. I am so lucky to have the best FAMILY-FRIENDS or FRIENDS who happen to share the same ancestors. I am BLESSED.

I am actually going FAR past the point I was trying to make. Here is the crux of my story today my dear FAMILY and FRIENDS or FRIENDLY FAMILY. Someone has asked to be my "FRIEND" on Facebook. Someone from my past that I have had little to no contact with. Someone who might actually upset my REAL FRIENDS if they showed up on my FRIENDS LIST. Don't ask who it is... they have not been of much consequence in my life thus far so its not really important to know WHO they are. The IMPORTANT part is the grand LESSON to be learned. 

For a friend... I would move heaven and earth. For a friend... I would lay down my life. For a friend... I would hit the "accept" button on the "So and So wants to be your friend..." pop up screen. 

Unfortunately, this person is not my friend and asking to be my friend on Facebook is a very low blow to a self-esteem I have to work very hard to keep up. It is the realization that a RELATIONSHIP that should have meant more has been whittled down to the click of a button on my computer screen. 

So... I am sorry Facebook for my swear words earlier. It really isn't your fault that you make it so much easier to keep in contact with people. Most of the time I TRULY thank you for that. In this current scenario I believe I will hit the "ignore" button and get on with my life. 

In the words of one of my BEST FRIENDS: MY MOM, "The past is the past. What happened is in the past. It already happened and there is no need to re-live it again." She said something like that to me back when I was just barely past turning Eighteen. 

I am TRULY BLESSED with AWESOME FAMILY and AWESOME FIRENDS who have CONSTANTLY CHOSEN WITHOUT FAIL or EXCUSE to be in and a part of my life.

Thank you for your FRIENDSHIP,

Pili

On the day after the BIRTH of my MOTHER...

MY Grandpa and Grandma.
My Mommies Parents.

For my Grandmother and Grandfather,

Thank you for giving birth to the best woman I know, MY MOM. She is a shining, supportive and loving light in my life and I would be nothing without her.

Seriously.

I could not have been born without my MOM. So, THANK YOU.

GRANDPA, thank you for the woman who gave me your BEAUTIFUL, HARDWORKING HEART and LOVING SMILE.

And... GRANDMA, thank you for the woman who gave me your STRONG HEART and CARING, CREATIVE SOUL.

GRANDPA.

Aloha e, GRANDPA. I was just thinking that shortly after I was born you must have looked down and me and smiled. It was a SMILE so HUGE and GOOFY that it has encompassed my life with such love and happiness that is and will forever be impossible to forget. I get many compliments on the SMILE that you gave me GRANDPA. Anytime I SMILE... and I mean REALLY SMILE... I smile with my HEART. I learned that from you.

GrandFADDAH

GrandDATAH

Thank you for your beautiful heart, MY GRANDPA. Thank you for teaching me to heal. Thank you for teaching me how to LOMILOMI, the art of Massage. Thank you for teaching me to listen to my body and to the bodies of others. Thank you for teaching me to use my hands to heal.

You have ALWAYS WORKED HARD, Grandpa. You do not seek praise. Thank you for instilling that in me. You work without complaint. You face hardship and come out at the end... SMILING. This comes from that beautiful heart of yours, GRANDPA. Thank you for your heart, MY GRANDFADDAH!!!

GRANDMA!!!

My Grandma.

You know you had to work HARDER! Sorry Grandpa. GRANDMA actually had to GIVE BIRTH to your Daughters and I'm sure, being the FIRST, my MOM was the HARDEST! Thank you GRANDMA for giving birth to my MOM!!

My Mom.
Grandma made all the hula skirts...

Thank you for your Creativity. Thank you for teaching me how to cook. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOKBOOK!!! Thank you for teaching me how to use my hands to create. I learned lei-making and crocheting from you GRANDMA. I learned how to use my hands to CREATE beautiful things and FEED beautiful people. Thank you for your MANA'O, your KNOWLEDGE and the ability to CARE FOR OTHERS.

GRANDMOTHER.

GRANDDAUGHTER.

Grandma, YOU ARE STRONG. Thank you for your strength. Some might call it stubbornness. And I THANK YOU FOR THAT TOO!!! I NEED TO BE STRONGER!!! You ask me to be a better STRONGER WOMAN everyday. I am HONORED to follow in the footsteps of such a STRONG WOMAN. I will continue to grow with STRENGTH because of you, GRANDMA.

So... MOM... Thanks for having such GREAT PARENTS that created such a wonderful woman in YOU. A WONDERFULLY STRONG, CREATIVE, HEALING, HARD-WORKING, KNOWLEDGEABLE and BEAUTIFUL SOUL.

I love you Grandpa and Grandma. I love you Mom.

Happy Birthday, Mommie.

Love your Daughtie,

Pili

I LOVE MY MOM!!!

It's been two weeks since I've posted. I am sorry it took me so long to get back here but my head needed a vacation. So... WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!!! Aloha to my Friends and Family!!!

Welcome back to HAPPYNATHANIEL!

My Dad, Me and MY MOM.

To all my lovely LADY FRIENDS, to my beautiful AUNTIES, to my AWESOME GRANDMOTHER and TUTU,  to my AMAZING MOM...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

My Mom and Her Sisters!

Today I will talk about MOTHERS and a MOTHER'S LOVE.

BUT FIRST, A DISCLAIMER... I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a psychologist. I am not a counselor. I am not affiliated with any sort of health industry. I am not a MOTHER. I have never gone through the pain and ultimate pleasure of childbirth. I hope, one day, to have the privilege of bringing a new and AWESOME LIFE into this BRIGHT WORLD. Until then I will just have to write what I know. You are reading this blog with the full knowledge that Pilialoha K. Nathaniel is not authorized by any school, institution or government to give health and medical advise. If you follow any advise in this blog it is at your own discretion and at your own risk. Okay? Nod if you agree. If you read anything past this paragraph that means you have nodded and you agree.

My Mom.

AWESOME LIFE.

I have led an AWESOME LIFE and I owe that life to my MOM. She gave me LIFE. She sacrificed much to bring me into this world. REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, boys and girls. We should all just be uber-thankful for the simple act of CHILDBIRTH and the NINE MONTHS of EVERYTHING that our MOTHERS had to go through!!! I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP you HAVE WITH your MOM!! You should call her and thank HER for putting up with the morning sickness, hormonal changes, weight gain... OH and let us not forget the act of pushing your huge ass out of the smallest hole EVER! WOW!

Maybe instead of saying "Happy Mother's Day" we all should all just APOLOGIZE. "MOM. I am SORRY for being such a Pain in your... um... vagina."

Joking. Joking. Not really.

Mom... Thank you for loving me.

Anyway... Back to ME owing MY MOM all the LOVE IN THE WORLD for giving me MY LIFE. She was and still is my protector. I still lay my head in her lap when I'm sad. I lay my head on her lap and she strokes my hair until I've either cried myself out or until I am asleep. My Mom makes the world a happier place. My mom comforts me and soothes my mind whenever I am troubled. If I have a problem I KNOW I can turn to her.

Mom... Thank you for giving me your "Don't fuck with me" face.

My Mom is not someone you want to make angry. She has this righteous, fiery "Pele" (The Hawaiian Fire Goddess) anger that sweeps over her. It is an awesome thing to behold... as long as the fire is not pointed in your direction.

Mom... Thank you for naming me.

"Pilialoha" literally means "Close Love." Thank you for filling my life with love. And, MOM, even if I am miles away know that my LOVE is ALWAYS CLOSE.

I love you MY MOMMIE.

Love,

Your Daughtie

The fruits of my MOTHER'S LABOR...

My Godmother... "KISSY FACE!!!"

MY GRANDMA!!!

 I would also like to send a special, loving Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful souls that we have lost this year. I love you Aunty Bernie.

Our Vovo. Our Great-Grandmother and the first four grandchildren.

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

There is always a first time for everything. In the past few months I've been having
many "first times".


Aloha to my Family and Friends...

I'm going out of the country FOR THE FiRST TIME!!! Awesome awesomeness!!! I am actually at the airport right now doing a little dance.

And now airport security are eyeing me strangely so maybe I'll stop my little dance.

Today I want to talk about the amazing mess of life. Life is meant to be messy, colorful and LIVED. LIVE LIFE! Take the time to DO SOMETHING you have NEVER done before!!! Don't wait for "the right time", MAKE TIME!!! I waited so long to do this. I made excuses about money or how busy I was or... Blah blah blah.

NO MORE EXCUSES!

I got myself a passport (ANOTHER FIRST) and I plan to have it filled before it expires in 2023.

Don't let time fly by folks.. FLY WITH IT!!!

I love you all my amazing family and stellar friends. See you back here on Monday.

Live, love and aloha,

Cousin Pili

Help me find STRENGTH.

Aloha my Family and Friends,

I live my life with love and compassion. I have an open heart and mind. In this blog I promote and inspire HEALTH, WELLNESS and above all... LOVE and LOVING THE LIFE YOU HAVE TO LIVE.

Some days are a little harder. I do my best to fight it. I fight it with POSITIVE ACTION and the PROMOTION OF LOVE. AND... Some days it just really slaps you in the face. Some days I am reminded that this world is filled with hateful thoughts, language, ACTIONS and PEOPLE.

Hateful.

There are just some truly hateful people in this world. People that use language, actions and thought to inspire and promote hate.

I don't understand it. Why? It really makes no sense. Maybe by talking it out WE will figure it out.

Fearful.

Hate is cowardice and requires and inspires fear. In order to HATE something I think one requires IGNORANCE and FEAR of the subject. A HATER in turn feels a need to make their subject feel the same.

Someone who kills is someone who is already dead inside.

SOMEONE MAKE ME STOP NOW!!!!

Writing about HATE and FEAR is not making me feel any better. I feel like I am promoting THE STENCH OF IT.

I'M STOPPING NOW!

FAMILY.

FRIENDSHIP.

LOVE.

Much Better.

Friendship inspires love. You, my amazing friends and family have been an inspiration to me. I am hoping that you will HELP ME. HELP ME TO FIND THE LOVE IN THIS WORLD.

HELP ME TO PROMOTE WELLNESS.

HELP ME TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH LOVE!

I am still going to blog twice a week but I am changing the days to MONDAY and THURSDAY. Give me your healthful and helpful ideas, your mana'o and any loving thoughts. Give me people who you think I should focus on! People in the family or friends who PROMOTE LOVE and HEALTH BY EXAMPLE!

Help me to balance out the hate in this world with THE STRENGTH OF LOVE.

Boston Strong,

Cousin Pili

NYC. This flag unites us all.