“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough, and more.

It turns denial into acceptance,

chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast,

a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

~ Melody Beattie

I knocked on heaven’s door and God told me to turn around and go back to where I came from. “It’s not your time yet! You have work to do, and love to share. Go back and continue with your life”! So here I am, working hard on what has been a long recovery with a multitude of emotions and stress, but the  most important: Gratitude to my family and friends who have been helping me!

At the time of the accident, I was in top shape because of a long life of healthy style. This has helped expediting my recovery.

Sofia, I am so thankful especially to You for taking full responsibility over my life and taking leadership in organize everything. Without you it would had been a complete mess.

thank you for your love                                         

thank you for your friendship

thank you for your leadership

thank you for your loyalty

thank you for taking responsibility

thank you for your care

thank you for not having any hesitation of what needed to be done

thank you for calling the ambulance

thank you for talking to the police officer

thank you for the chair for me to be able to shower

thank you for talking to the reporters

thank you for being in my life in the good and bad times for the past 20 years

thank you for being the woman you are I am proud to say you are my friend.

On January 22nd, Sofia who was helping organizing a Zumbathon Fundraiser at Queens Beach, was hit by a coconut tree. She was taken to Queens Hospital, stayed in the same floor as I did and had some of the same nurses I did. Today she is also recovering and hopefully soon we will be able to enjoy life as we did prior to the accident (biking, dancing, snowboarding!) My special gratitude to the Zumba instructors: Diane Thomas, Pamela Tanimura and Jennifer O’Hara Hintnaus who after testimoning the bizarre accident, still carried on the event with great courage! I bow to my knees to all the brave women who helped on this event despite the sadness and confusion on that afternoon.

My deepest gratitude to David Myamoto, Jon Lagon and Bruno Lemos that donated their time to photograph some of the weddings during my recovery.

I am also very thankful to Debbie Hemingway, Sooz Mirikitani, Marilia Geisse, Michelle Miyamoto who organized a memorable Fundraiser Benefit at The Bayer State on February 7. It was a magical night , my first night out since December 9th. Listening to James Taylor and Carole King took me elsewhere and made me feel as if life has just began. I felt that I was surrounded by protective angels. This is where I belong, among all of you! Angels of Peace, Angels of Love.

The support, admiration, love and light given to me have placed on me an experience of immeasurable value. My heart cries, my heart laughs with abundance of emotion in gratitude for each one of you who has reached out to me.

Friends and Clients from all over the world contributed, donated, sent me gifts. I can’t say thank you enough for all the love and support I received during this difficult time. Wherever you are, please know that You are the light of the world!

Healing continues and I’ve been doing everything I possibly can to get back to all the physical activities that I love to do: dance, yoga, taiko drum, biking, surfing and snowboarding.

Doctor Laurie Steelsmith and Doctor Elizabeth Elliott from Steelsmith Natural Health Center, kindly donated their time and talent to treat me with acupuncture sessions. They help me tremendously to arrive where I am today. How blessed I am!  It has been intense work! I did it!

I’m happy to be back working and looking forward to new challenges!

Poem from Em Claire © 2007

“Go outside and play”

said God.

“I had given you Universes as fields to run free in it

It’s called: LOVE

and it will always keep you warm.

And stars! The sun and the moon and the stars!

Look upon these often, for they will remind you of your own

light!

And yes… oh, gaze into the eyes of every lover.

Gaze into the eyes of every other

for they have given you their Universes

as fields to run free in

There.

I have given you everything you need.

Now go outside

and

play”