I imagine that LIFE has whooped you upside the head from time to time.
N’est pas?
Today it hit me that it was time to step out of my hermit closet and make an Sj from the Heart.
The main theme?
That we’re never alone, not really. Our Selves are with us always.
;-)
Dear Friends,
This past year+ has been an adventure for all of us. I do hope that you are able to keep your head above water as you navigate life’s turbulent and unpredictable currents. As for me, I fell into the River of Revision. After months of hard work, the 2nd edition version of my first book My Life as a Mule has emerged.
Why a 2nd edition?
I realized that I needed to dish up more description to go along with the main course of dialogue. Also, I delighted in the discovery that I could add a few characters from My Life as a Toad: Tales of a traveling toad, i.e. Mr. Tafferty’s tale (which is currently in its first draft form – due date unknown). I also shifted a few things around and added a Bonus Material section.
Anything else?
I recently made several short videos of me reading excerpts from my book which are in this playlist (specific links below):
Chapter 5 – Change is in the Air
Chapter 8 – Molly’s Grandma Rose
Chapter 13 – Molly to the Rescue
Chapter 23 – High School English
Chapter 28 – The Key to Success
Bonus Material
Short 1-minute promo
Read Along with me by clicking closed-captioning.
Free Kindle Book Deal
I’m running a 4-day free Kindle book version from Friday, September 3 through Monday, September 6, 2021. After that the 2nd edition will continue to be available on Kindle for $8.88 and as a paperback from Amazon for $14.99.
Why are you giving away the Kindle version of your book for these 4-days?
Because I want to mahalo those who purchased a copy of the 1st edition as well as those of you who continue to support me.
Happy Reading!
Aloha,
Sj
Then why earn it? you ask.
Who the heck knows! But I did.
At the time, all I knew was that I didn’t know what I wanted to “be” when I grew up. But I did know that I was good at sports and loved language (hence the Bachelor of Science in education focusing on foreign language and physical education). (*)
Fast forward to 30-odd years later, and there’s Sj working as a permanent substitute teacher in the middle of a bunch of mask-wearing 6th graders. (The official teacher chose to retire due to health reasons.)
In the midst of juggling those unexpected lesson plans — while treading water as fast as I could — I fell in love with those kids. As graduation time neared, and no one volunteered to edit their graduation video, I realized it had to be me. That official graduation video is not for public consumption. This short excerpt, however, is.
Enjoy!
I am from my 6th grade past,
from Sponge-Bob attire and ti-leaf lei.
I am from rainbows up high and chickens down low.
I am from Kaua‘i nei.
I am from both A Groups and B.
from Do we come this Wednesday?
and Which class is your fave?
I am from two teachers: one retired and one who stayed.
Both are with me always, in ways I can’t explain.
I am from Black Ships Before Troy and Walk Two Moons.
From playing my classmate’s mother and wearing another’s shoes.
I am from four-square and kickball and Do we have to go INS?
That wasn’t fifteen minutes! Can’t we start again?
I am from Math time! andgroans all around.
From Can you turn the a/c on? And—the lights OFF as well?
I am from a body that’s changing and talks about b.o.
Remember Monkey Man Mayhem?
And rolling-on-the-floor with a drum?
I am from Kumu on Wednesdays and library who-knows-when.
It’s time, Ms. Sj! You forgot—again!
I am from the land of the Greeks:
fun Olympics and marching in sheets!
I am a poet:
Haiku and Cinquain
Future Me and ABC
Kilauea School
I am from lying on damp grass with my friends,
arms straight, bodies curled, feet toe-to-toe.
Be I in the land of Aloha or far from these shores,
My Vorpal sword is ever ready, my strengths at my core.
I am from
my 6th grade past.
• • •
Can I go to the bathroom now?
I hope you can!
Inspired by: George Ella Lyon
Written by: Sj Hylton LeHoven for her 6th grade class
May 21, 2021
(*) I can see now that I was already riding the Trust Train. I trusted that my teaching certificate would lead to something exciting . . . and it did. First, a job as a fitness director aboard a cruise ship, and then later a position as a permanent substitute teacher on the island of Kaua‘i — a job I never could have imagined enjoying.
(**) Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
What does that mean exactly?
How can we just BE in this moment when there’s so much to do!
Projects.
People to see.
Bills to pay.
Life to live.
Earlier today I saw this word online: Focus.
A popular online personality said that she is going to make it her main word for the year –FOCUS. As in focus and get things done.
Okay, I thought, Yes, I do seem to get a lot done when I focus. It is definitely how I’ve been conditioned to BE in this world in order to be a productive, contributing member of society.
And yet . . .
There’s soooo much beauty. Soooo much peace when I’m BEing in the now. Savoring each breath. Noticing what’s going on around me. Within me.
And then I thought of TRUST. What it means to trust.
Okay, if I’m telling myself I need to focus. Put myself on some kind of a schedule. THEN I’m telling myself that I HAVE TO be that way in order to be productive. In order to accomplish whatever. Be a good citizen. Contribute to society at large.
And if I don’t, well, I’ll be a failure. Tossed about at the whim of whatever pulls my attention this way or that.
*****
And that brought me to some day in time when an image of a boat being tossed about at sea was the topic du jour. The warning of what can happen when one lives a life unplanned. Unfocused.
*****
And yet . . . when I reflect on my life, I recognize how unconventionally I’ve been living. How I have been letting myself be pulled this way and that by whatever is grabbing my attention in the moment. And still . . . in the midst of it all, I have been productive. Have accomplished things that could be considered successful to the outside world.
All while letting go and allowing the current to take me where it will.
*****
Okay, Sj, what are you trying to say?
Well, I think I’m trying to say that it’s possible to do both. To BE in the now and also focus on whatever interests us in the moment.
Because I’m realizing that being focused is as much a part of my nature as is daydreaming.
When I read a good book, I get lost in it. That’s focusing.
When I’m writing whatever, I get lost in it. That’s also focusing.
And when I used to compete in sports, I’d get lost in the moment. Thinking of nothing else except what I was doing. Another form of focusing.
And ALL part of my nature. Who I am.
So . . . on this Saturday morning when I thought I’d be out the door by now, I’ve been pulled to sit and write. To think and reflect.
Was it wrong? Should I have been doing something else?
No.
Because I’ve come to trust this guidance so well.
To trust my soul’s promptings.
It’s gotten me to where I am now. And this now is really, really good. ;-)
xoxox Sj xoxox
P.S. I made an Sj from the Heart video a few weeks back called “Being in the Now.” I had it scheduled to post on YouTube sometime in March (another video was going to be posted today), but . . . in the way that life just keeps unfolding and continually showing me that I’m not in charge, I changed which video would post today to the one you see below (to match this blog post). And there you go. Life is always, always changing, and we’re always, always being guided. ;-)
P.P.S. The image above is of a shower curtain, lol, being tossed about at sea. It is available for purchase if you like it. No, I don’t make any profit off of that, lol. Just find it funny that the image I found that I like is for a shower curtain. Also saw that it comes as a mouse pad and rug. Again, lol.
With Sj at the Gotham Comedy Club, February 2019.
Well, it WAS time to laugh along with this video. When I posted it. And for 6-months I left it up. But NOW I feel it’s time to REMOVE it from YouTube. (So you’re just seeing an image of the video that was.)
Why?
Because if I’m going to continue doing this, I want you to COME TO A SHOW! rather than watch on-line. Yes, I’d like for you to be surprised by what takes place. To not already have an idea of what’s to come.
So, MAHALO to those who checked it out while it was still up.
And MAHALO to those who missed it and who will find me in person someday (and perhaps you’re BOTH, someone who watched it and someone who’ll find me out in the world … ;-)
I will be taking a road trip soon and plan to continue to KNOCK MY SOCKS OFF WITH FEAR by going to open-mics all across the country.
Who knows what will happen?
I sure don’t!
But this I DO know. I’ll keep showing up.
Time and time again.
I’ll just keep showing up.
xoxox Sj xoxox
I learned this years ago as a young girl.
Travel on my own to a foreign country?
SCARY!
But very, very rewarding!
Take a class in stand up in NYC?
SCARY!
But happily, also rewarding.
Last month while sitting on my porch sipping hot tea, the URGE hit me again.
“Go to NYC, Sj. Take that class again!”
“Really????”
“Yes, really.”
“Okay,” I replied.
And now, I’ve got my HANDS in the air and am trusting that I’ll land on my feet.
What’s that scary thing that knocks YOUR socks off?
Today is the day to give it a try.
I think you’ll be glad you did. ;-)
Here’s the video from my debut five years ago. May it bring enjoyment to your day.
(Deleted it as well as the other that I had posted. Here’s a pix of what WAS there…perhaps we’ll get to see each other in person some day. ;-)
To CELEBRATE and give thanks for something in our life (in the form of a short video).
For 50 days.
At first I said, “No.” I felt that it would be a distraction.
But then I thought, “Why not?”
And after starting this (today is currently day 3), I realized that I wanted to post it on my YouTube channel.So…if you want to follow me, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel Sj LeHoven.
Along the way, I’d LOVE to here what YOU have to CELEBRATE about YOUR life. What are YOU grateful for?
I love each and every one of you. Sending a hug and ALL my love.
✫Sj✫
Wishing you ALL a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
“Sj, how can you trust so much?”
So, I put a camera in front of my face and spoke from my heart.
And…off the top of my head.
To You from Me with ALL of my love.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Sj speaks from her heart on the topic.