Hau‘oli la hanau to Joanna Young!

Surely you know Joanna by now too: She is the personification of our Ho‘ohana Community in Scotland! Today is her birthday.

Spirit Spiller and Confident Writing Coach Joanna Young.

Because of Joanna, I can now spell Edinburgh right the first time, without checking, and knowing that she is always eleven hours ahead of me is something that I just now know— and always will.

Because of Joanna, I know what a haggis is, and have been comforted knowing that our Hawaiian preference for spam and Portuguese blood sausage is not all that weird. She has also managed to help me be comforted in the fog!

Because of Joanna, I know what the streets of Edinburgh look like, and I have experienced Guy Hawkes  Night Gratitude. I know how sense of place defines Skye, though I’ve yet to visit (though because of Joanna, I know I will).

Because of Joanna, I have reaffirmed my belief that anyone in the world can write about Ho‘okipa because like Joanna, Mea Ho‘okipa are everywhere.

Because of Joanna, I have written about aloha in the spirit of writing, and aloha as inspiration; I revisit this dream all the time.

Because of Joanna, I am stumbling quite a bit these days, tumbling and twittering too; but I never fall… these things lift me up (just like she does).

Because of Joanna, my bags are jam-packed with ‘P’s, but I carry them happily, for they include patience, perspective, perseverance, possibility, potential, practicalities, persuasiveness, power, passion, present, and playfulness.

Because of Joanna, Joyful Jubilant Learning has become Joanna-Jubilant, and there is a little bit of the Dervish in all of us there.

Because of Joanna, I can easily think about Rapid Fire Learning as a haiku. I feel I am a better global citizen and steward of our planet.

Because of Joanna, I believe my writing has improved, and become more intentional, powerful, confident and connected; she has taught me to "draw strands" so much better, more playfully too.

Because of Joanna, my belief that aloha is in everyone, and everywhere in the world, has been warmly, lovingly, and wondrously reaffirmed.

Because of Joanna, I gladly break my Get-a-Life-Rosa rule that I will no longer blog on Saturday, for Joanna is a birthday gift TO ME, and she is totally worth every rule I am sure to break!

Hau‘oli la hanau Joanna, you are my spirit spiller and my ‘Ohana.
~ Rosa

Postscript: This was the day I met Joanna. She commented for me on a post which had been comfortably resting in my Talking Story archives for over a year. I think it was waiting for her :) When you look to your source, the spirit spilling happens so easily!

• About Birthday celebrations: Keith is right, and lucky me, you know it too

Comments

[Joanna Young]

Rosa, what can I say. This is a most beautiful post and a most profoundly appreciated gesture of friendship across the water.

It's hard for me to express how much less alone I now feel since meeting you and other members of the JJL community, giving me the chance to share ideas, words, emotions - and to play! But at a deeper level the sense of connection I get when reading your words - including those first ones about looking to your source (how clever of you to have remembered!) - well that too has deepened my experience and understanding of life, and the powerful, good, things that connect us together.

I'm so glad I got this just before switching off my pc tonight. It's a most wonderful birthday gift.

Joanna

[Steve Sherlock]

Wonderful compilation, Rosa! Honk! Honk!

[Karen Wallace]

Here, here Rosa! I felt bereft all weekend as I had no internet connection and couldn't wish Joanna the happiest of birthdays in a timely manner. Then tonight, on a borrowed phone line, I find that you have said it all, and beautifully.

Joanna has a place in my heart too - I am profoundly grateful to call her my friend and all because of JJL and you... thank you.