Last week, I wrote a blog about loving where you live. I shared that when you love where you live, you will be happier, healthier, more engaged, and have a greater sense of purpose and belonging in the world. It’s true – your sense of place and belonging are key to being truly yourself and the benefits of loving where you live extend far beyond the confines of brick and mortar.
Today, I begin a series of blogs outlining some of the reasons I love where I live. My reasons for loving where I live have little to do with my personal home (though I do love and appreciate it) and far more to do with the community in which I work, play, and abide – the community of Hawaii Kai.
It’s impossible for me to rank my reasons in order. So, each blog you read will focus on a reason, but the numbering in no way represents any type of ranking. After all, when it comes to your happiness, rankings are pretty meaningless. What makes your life better is too personal to be meaningfully measured.
Okay, so what is one of the reasons I love where I live? Koko Crater Botanical Gardens. I walk there regularly and love viewing the rare and endangered dry land plants.
It’s an easy walk with a loop trail of about two miles. It’ll take you about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. You’ll see cacti, aloes, dry land palms, plumeria, and bougainvillea.
My favorite time to go is right after the day dawns and it’s still cool. The stillness of the morning and the beauty of the crater arouse my senses and lift my soul.
It’s good physical exercise, too, and the brisk walk does my body good. But, it’s really more about my emotional and spiritual health. There is just something about nature that soothes your mind and fosters a connection to something larger than ourselves.
Yes, I love where I live and the botanical gardens are just one of many reasons I choose to live in Hawaii Kai.
Let me know why you love where you live. And, the next time you’re in Hawaii Kai, check out the gardens. It’ll do your body, mind, and soul good!
Would you buy a house so perfect it could be located in San Diego, down the street from Disneyland …
Leave your opinion here. Please be nice. Your Email address will be kept private, this form is secure and we never spam you.