I once heard a man say, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” This is true for the concept and belief that life is not meant to be a struggle. I have heard others say, “We learn the lessons in life for the people we will teach or minister to.”  When I first started my video blogging anyone could post just about anything on YouTube. I was recording beautiful Hawaiian sunsets and setting them to a background of local Hawaiian music artists. When Google purchased YouTube they changed the rules. YouTube started requiring a “right to use” license for any audio which wasn’t created by me when used on my videos.  It became so bad that my wife’s blog was flagged because there was background “ambience” music where we were recording. This had nothing to do with anything we were doing. You could barely hear the music while we were recording, but the Google computers picked up the noise.  This happened multiple places. It happened when recording at our favorite coffee shop in Waikoloa Beach. It happened when we recorded at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Everywhere we went there was background music which we couldn’t use. The last thing you want when you have a YouTube account for business is to have Big Brother (Google) shut you down.  Having your account even flagged is like being audited by the IRS. Even though you know you would never steal anything and you are doing everything in good faith, it still leaves you feeling exposed, naked, and vulnerable.

As I have often said, “I believe there are only 2 things in life: Good and Very Good.” In this case the “Good” is, since my music making skills are not well developed, I have been forced to reach out to the musicians who’s music I had been using and request their permission to use said music. Out of this I find I am making contact with some amazing artists and really stepping out of my normal world. They speak a different language.  The language of art, music, creativity.  I feared what they would say. Specifically, “No. You can not use our music unless you pay us big money.”

It took me a month to write the letters. Then another couple weeks to send them. But I sent the letters. I am still alive. The sky didn’t fall. My YouTube account did not get shut down. I am still in business. Phew!!  I sent my first requests out, some for what was already posted and some for future video blogs. I have received a warm welcomed response. Only one letter resulted in a response from the artist’s attorney stating that they would forward the request to the artist. Again, life is not meant to be a struggle. This philosophy has been a big help. I figure any negative response simply means that the artist is not supposed to receive some free advertising from me.

The “Very Good” is the music artists I am meeting and a whole new sector of society which I used to feel closed off from. Where will this lead me? Who will I meet?  What amazing projects will result?… All from being threatened by Google.  Life is not a struggle.  You just need to watch where the river is flowing and paddle with the current.

Aloha

James Christopher

ThruJimsEyes.com

I have a theory why Hawaiians are so peaceful. It’s the salt water. Years ago when Leise and I lived in the mountains of Arizona, we were newly married and we were 2 strong personalities butting heads and doing whatever it took to make our marriage work. One day someone had suggested we purchase 3 pounds of high quality sea salt, as opposed to table or Epsom salt.  Then next time we were having a passionate disagreement we should draw a hot bath and pour the salt in the tub and soak in a salt bath for 20 minutes.  We thought they were crazy. But since we were crazy about each other and committed to each other and our marriage, we figured we should try it out. So next passionate disagreement, which we had the presence of mind to act, we drew the bath, poured in the 3 pounds of sea salt, and got in the tub for 20 minutes as prescribed. Here is what happened…

At first, we were all upset at each other.  Everything she did was wrong.  Everything I did was wrong.  She was a witch. I was an insensitive jerk. But we talked to each other…. Then we listened to each other…. Then we laughed at how silly the argument was and we remembered why we loved each other. It worked. It worked so well that we vowed to never let our home be without a 3 pound bag of sea salt. Leise and I can be very passionate sometimes. So we took a lot of baths together over the following years. Over time we saw a pattern. The trick is, when doing the salt bath, you must stay in for at least 20 minutes but don’t stay in more than about 23 minutes. No less than 20 minutes and no more than 23 minutes. The reason is when we would cut it short because something was very important and we “had to” get out early, we found ourselves still harboring some resentment or ill will. When we stayed in the bath longer than 23 minutes we started to soak up the negativity. Literally, the conversation would go from “I hate you. You jerk” to “I love you” within 20 minutes. (the turning point seemed to be around 17 minutes). Then at 23 minutes it would change to, “I love everything about you… Except there’s this one little thing…!!!”

Fast forward to present day. We are living in Hawaii. I am meeting so many mellow peaceful people. They are warm, happy, relaxed, and open.  I knew from growing up in San Diego, California that the closer you get to clean salt water the more mellow the people become. At least this was true for the U.S. West Coast. I always attributed it to the salt air and few people. The more I speak to the surfers, divers, spear fishermen, or anyone who gets into the water regularly the more I am convinced of the therapeutic properties of salt water. I speak to many people who come to visit Hawaii and they are trying to de-stress and unplug from the mainland. My prescription is always the same. Get into the salt water for 20 minutes. The great thing about the ocean is it is huge and can absorb any and all negativity you can release into it.  So stay in as long as you choose. Of course, some people will have their excuses (trying to hold on to their pain like a badge of honor). Excuses of, “But I don’t swim” or “I try to stay out of the sun… I have a skin condition.” Blah, blah, blah. “There are only 2 things in life: Results or Excuses.” ~ Jase Souder.  Solutions are out there. You just have to decide wether you truly desire and deserve the peaceful bliss which people find when they visit or live in Hawaii.

Mahalo,

James Christopher

ThruJimsEyes.com