My friend Jeanie, at The Marmalade Gypsy, shared an interesting post on January 8th:
Seven Reflection Questions that Made Me Think!
Jeanie is a bubbly, optimistic person whose blog lifts my spirits. She writes about her creativity, travel, art, food, wine, and the people and animals she loves. Despite a challenging 2025, she is moving into 2026 with hope, purpose, and fun. Her reflections were insightful and inspiring, so I thought I would tackle them myself.
Jeanie found the questions in an article “7 Reflection Questions
to Ask Yourself for a Happier New Year,"
in The New York Times, December 26, 2025 issue (Well Section).
So here go my answers:
1. When did you feel the most joyful and carefree?
Definitely it was during our stay in Waikiki last year. Friendship. beauty, flowers, and cultural experiences made it a time of healing and rest.
Taylor, Me, Terry, Daniel, and Jeremy ~ at our Favorite Hideout at the Laylow
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 25, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Waikiki from the Top of Diamond Head
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 19 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I Particularly Love Yellow Hibiscus Flowers
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 24, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I Really Love Hula
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
February 12, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
2. What gave you energy — and what drained it?
Music gave me energy and stress drained it. This was a highly stressful year for me. One song I played many, many times was Jellyroll's "I am not okay." It was always comforting, and when I think of how Jellyroll transformed his life, I'm blown away. Besides turning around his early life that included a stint in prison, he has recently lost almost 250 pounds.
3. What seemed impossible — but you did it anyway?
I climbed Diamond Head the day after my 75th birthday ~ alone. Terry went with me to the start of the trail. It's not the trail, it's the stairs that include a set of 99 steep steps where people much younger than I am turn around. There's another 74-step stairway, a 54-step metal staircase, and after a 225-foot tunnel, a spiral stairway that emerges into a WWII bunker. Just watch me go this year!
The 99-Step Steep Staircase ~ Diamond Head Trail
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 19, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Hikers Greet Me as I emerge into the Bunker
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
May 19, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
At the Summit
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
March 19, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
4. What habit, if you did it more consistently, would have a positive effect on your life?
Stretching daily. Groan. I hate the time it takes, but it makes everything else better.
😂😱😂
5. What did you try to control that was actually outside your control?
I tried to control my life during our renovation. Silly me! No matter how great the craftsmen are, something will go awry. We had some of the best in the industry, and unexpected things delayed the finish. Our renovation was the source of so much stress for Terry and me this year.
Steven Works on Our Stairwell Railing
Aurora, Colorado, USA
May 23, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
6. Is there anyone you need to forgive in 2026?
Me ~ I was so harsh with myself for not meeting my expectations for myself last year. I need to forgive myself and to be kinder and more compassionate toward myself.
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
January 20, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
7. What will you carry forward into the new year? (implied question)
Being alive is an incredible gift. It's amazing to know that we are stardust ~ literally. The atoms that make up our bodies, like carbon, oxygen, and iron, were forged in ancient stars and scattered across the universe by supernova explosions. If even one event from the beginning of time was different, I wouldn't exist. And perplexingly, all the cells that make up my body have changed at least once, maybe more, during my life, but I persist as a conscious being. I'm a river that flows continually. Terry, me, each of you, humans, are walking miracles. I will carry this, buoyed by gratitude, into 2026.
Photo by Andrea Stöckel
I'm linking to Gillena's Lunch Break, Nicole's Friday Face Off, and Tom's Aloha Friday.
For Gillena ~ A Great Meal ~ bone marrow burger with a side of fries at The Butcher Bar. We always split orders.
The Butcher Bar ~ Bone Marrow Burger Special
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
January 20, 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
My Half ~ YUMMY!
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
For Nicole ~ My Favorite Face
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
For Tom ~ An Iconic Scene ~ The early morning Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki. This 2-mile/3.2-kilometer long, man-made, tidal waterway was constructed between 1921 and 1928 to drain wetlands for the development of Waikiki. Teams of outrigger canoes train on it, and walkers and joggers run on both sides. It looks idyllic, but it is highly polluted, hypereutropic, and poses a flood risk.
The Ala Wai Canal
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
January 22, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
And some Aloha ~. Terry and I share a meal with good friends Emily and Ted at the Cheesecake Factory.
Aloha is Sharing a Good Meal with Good Friends!
Cheesecake Factory, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
January 21, 2026
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Note: My computer needs some serious repair work, and I may be without it this next week.
Have a great weekend!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2026 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
Friday, January 30th. 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Time to just buy a new computer!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome you tackled the stairs. It's a great feeling when you do something some younger people can't. Sometimes when I am out jogging, I will pass a group of younger people jogging and it just makes me smile.
...messing with wetlands is never a good thing! About all that I can say is, don't over heat as we freeze our tushies!
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere once that reno stress is among the worst there is, and it doubles if you actually continue to reside in the house as it's being renovated. So kudos to you for surviving it! And that hike up Diamond Head? Those stairs? No way, José. It would kill me stone dead. Reminds me of walking up the mountainside stairs to Tintagel in Cornwall in 2009. I did it then but would not be able to do it now. So I bow to you, Louise!
ReplyDeleteTest: My computer is not allowing me to reply to comments, even though I've tried all the fix suggestions I can find.
ReplyDeleteOkay that worked, so I'll reply here:
ReplyDeleteAlex: Way to go! 😄 I smile too! I want a new computer, but Terry is against that. We shall see. Have a great weekend!
Tom: It's been uncharacteristically cold here. 😂 And a surfing local told me the ocean is cold. 😂 But I'm not facing snow and ice. I feel for you! Stay warm and safe!
Debra: It's a relief to have that stress gone. Lucky you ~ I've always wanted to see Tintagel! Enjoy the weekend.
Happy Friday! What a lovely post. I see lots of positivity and love in your blog post. family and lovely memories. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh where to begin? Well, I love the format of your post ... answering reflective questions provided by Jeanie (who I agree with you ... she is a delight!) The questions and answers were mind boggling ... you are 75??? I would never have guessed it. You look much younger than that :)
ReplyDeleteSo, my favorite answer was the fact that we are stardust ... how cool is that? And your explanation was impressive. After reading it, I felt very special ... who wouldn't if they knew they were stardust 😊 And then there is the Bone Marrow Burger ... really? Does it taste good? And I was surprised that there is a Cheese Cake Factory in Honolulu. Do they serve the same good stuff as they do in the mainland? Or, do they have Hawaiin goodies too? So, I can touch my toes so I am still flexible, but I am quite certain I couldn't climb to the top of Diamond Head ... Kudos to you for that accomplishment. I have lived through a number of renovations in my life time, so I can appreciate the stress you refer to. But, hopefully it is complete and you are enjoying the upgrade, right? So enough said ... loved every word of this post. Thank you for being soooo smart and sharing with us.
Andrea @ From the Sol
Great post! Just give me those French Fries (chips to Richard) and I would be so happy! Take care! x
ReplyDeleteTravelling - like your trip to Hawaii - is always good for the creative soul. My recent cruise really had me inspired.
ReplyDeletegood answers, enjoyed your post
ReplyDeleteYean, having renos that go on forever with life upended can sure be stressful. But at least they are done and now you can enjoy your house...when you're there...like what? 5 months out of the year? Lol
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of stairs. If I started, I'd be finishing. I out walked the kids last summer as they huffed and puffed down keji adjunct, kinda fun to rub that in lol had 2 of them complaining about the citadel hill area too as I strolled up with them such whiny kids these days hahaha
Yeah. One different detor and none of this could be here. Can you use your stardust though and open a Stargate portal or something to here so I can go through and avoid more white stuff?
Time to get a new computer. Tell Terry you need one for your side business. It can be a write off haha
REPLIES TO COMMENTS!
ReplyDelete❤️ Thanks, Maria! I await on Nicole's post that you were having problems replying to comment. I can't reply either, so I am using this workaround. All the best to you!
❤️ Thanks, Andrea! Being stardust is just the coolest thing! The bone marrow burger was delicious. What they do is mix bone marrow into their ground hamburger meat. The marrow melts during cooking and makes it juicer and more flavorful. The Cheese Cake Factory is just like on the Mainland., except it does have some Hawaiian inspired dishes. I have to work on flexibility every day. 😠Enjoy your weekend!
❤️ Thanks, Kay! I'd happily share the French fries with Richard. Stay warm and safe this weekend!
❤️ I'm glad that you had a great cruise, Gene! I'd love to go on another one. They are so much fun. Have a great weekend!
❤️ Thanks, Christine! All the best to you!
REPLIES TO COMMENTS!
ReplyDelete❤️ I love every moment when I'm home! 😂 I know you are amazing ~ poor nephews! I'd love to be able to a Stargate portal for you. This storm sweeping across the US and Canada this weekend is unreal. Please be safe!
I thought Jeanie's questions were fantastic and thought provoking. They really are a good way to look back and look forward. I didn't know you could climb diamond head. It sounds tough but I would want to do it, even if it took me all day. And congrats on making the climb to celebrate a big event. I hope your computer gets fixed quickly and you enjoy the beautiful weather in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteOh, yay! Now I can reply to comments! Thanks, Erika! Computer problems or not, I am enjoying Hawaii! Be safe and warm this weekend! ❤️
DeleteOh my, those reflection questions really are tough. I may have to try my hand at tackling them! So, I can totally identify with climbing Diamond Head - by the time I went up, and back, my face was fire engine red...and I had to have one of those frozen pineapple concoctions! Oh, and your stretching comment - LOL. I was going to PT before Christmas...and I hate taking the time to do them. I want to move on, the stretches just waste time!
ReplyDeleteOh darn! You had to have a frozen pineapple concoction! 😂. Aren't they delicious and reviving? They taste so good after those challenging stairs. I just forced myself through my stretches. I promised myself I'd do them every day. If I don't I can't progress with hula. But 30 minutes ~ argh!!! Wishing you a great weekend!
DeleteLooks like a good time on Island.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a great time, Dora! I'm so grateful to be able to be here! All the best to you!
DeleteDear Louise, Jeanie is such a lovely person. Your photos are beautiful, dear friend. You look radiant. Terry's shirt is so nice. I don't travel but Hawaii is a place I have seen in videos and photos and it is gorgeous. The food in your photos looks delicious 😋
ReplyDeleteYour lovely smile is always such a joy to see, dear Louise, and your posts are always fun to read.
Thank you for your kind comment, Linda! Hawaii I gorgeous, and I am so grateful to be able to come here. I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. Stay warm and safe! ❤️
DeleteNice to "meet" you! And yes to happy times.
ReplyDeleteGreat song. I think I am quite OK, but in bad times this helps.
Respect to #3! We live ground floor and I get a wee bit exhausted visiting my 84-year old neighbor on 4th floor - he does that every day at least once.
Cute greeting!
I hate stretching but should do that! I´m stiff like...
And #5 is why I refuse to have the tiny kitchen renovated! It won´t get better nor bigger - we have to live with that!
Great you forgave your very sweet self!
LOVE #7!!!
And Hihi to splitting orders. My name is Iris - rather unknown in Australia. Once I got a bill. "Irene, cut in half" - I hope the burger´s name was Irene ;-)
Soon... T-shirt-pics, too. Maybe not Tuesday, but soon after (right now -3C / 37F.
Have a great Saturday - this was FUN!
I'm so glad that you enjoyed this, Iris. Thanks for sharing your responses. I just finished my stretching, and spending time blogging is my reward. I need rewards. 😂. Iris is a daily common name in Newfoundland. I hope that you and your guy enjoy the rest of the weekend! ❤️
DeleteSuch a happy post ~ glad to know you happy one ~hugs,
ReplyDelete
DeleteThanks, Carol! Big hugs to you! ❤️
I thought I left a message on here yesterday, but obviously I didn't. It seems that you have way too much fun when you are in Hawaii. I love all of the photos and that burger is amazing. Have a really really great time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicole! Sometimes the cyber world disappears things. I do have fun here. Right now I'm working on my hula permission chant which is very challenging. I'll get it by the time I leave. 😂. All the best to you!
DeleteI loved your answers -- that you are so very happy in Hawaii, that you shouldered that reno work (I admire that tremendously) and wow! You climbed Diamond Head! I bow down to you. I see we share one of the same forgiveness answers. It's a toughie. Thanks for answering and for linking to me too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeanie! I enjoyed answering the questions you shared. I hope you are enjoying your weekend, despite the cold! ❤️
DeleteThese are great questions and I loved your answers! You write so well. I love your reflections of Walkiki. Music really helps me! Obviously, it's my life as a musician and music teacher. Admittedly, children's music is not always beautiful but there are so many lovely moments. For example, I was teaching my year 2 children to play 'London's Burning' and I asked them to play it quietly first and then loudly. They played it SO delicately and beautifully the first time- it was lovely! And my year 5's were composing their own ballads in the style of Medieval troubadours and they seemed to really enjoy improvising melodies!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about forgiveness!
Lovely to come and see your blog. I've got a bit bogged down and seem to lack the time I used to have and I forgot how wonderful your blog is and how much I loved it. I used to love your letters from your father. I must try to visit more often.
Much love.xx
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kezzie! These days I am forever behind. You have been on my mind, and I am delighted to hear from you. It's been my experience that lovely moments happen in the presence of children. They are special souls.Everyone seems so busy these difficult days. My memoir has not been progressing. Right now I am enjoying Waikiki in Honolulu and trying to learn as much about hula and it culture as I can! Thanks for contacting me. Much love to you too!
DeleteA candid, brave, and quietly triumphant set of reflections. Proof that resilience, curiosity, and self-forgiveness age far better than any staircase ever could.
ReplyDeleteYou are just amazing, Roentare! Such an affirming friend! I appreciate you more than I can say! ❤️
DeleteWhen I read this questionaire in the NYT the first time I kind of answered the questions in my head. Then I read it on Jeanie's blog and thought I should do it the right way. Now I see it here as well - I will probably not do it (I'm too angry right now). But I loved your answers. Kudos to you for climbing Diamond Head. I have always thought that it is intriguing, but wasn't sure that I could do it myself. I might get up there - slowly -, but getting down really scares me because of my knees. But boy, you did a fantastic job, you can be so proud of yourself. I remember when we bought our current home, we had some renovations to do, and yes, it was stressful. Our move from one continent to another was a tad more stressful, especially with a just three-year-old. But that's 25 years ago (which means I also was 25 years younger). Oh stretching - so good. I do it every day and I feel it's really good for me. I hope that you will come to if not love at least like it. I also do yoga where much of stretching is involved, and I can see that my posture is better and I've become more flexible (I have been doing yoga for about a year now). But I still don't really like to exercise, but nevertheless do strength exercises three times a week and try to be as active as possible. Sometimes that is really hard.
ReplyDeleteLouise, I enjoyed this post so much! I hope it's not too cold wherer you are and that you have a good, working heating system.
Hi, Carola! Thanks you for your thoughtful comment. I'm sorry that you are feeling so much anger right now. It's hard to not feel angry with everything that is going on. I'm focusing on trying to make the most of each day and trying to not get angry over what is out of my control. I don't know what else to do. I have been stretching daily, and Sunday in one of my hula classes I learned a ten-minute series of stretches for hula. I also did drills to beating drums that made my body feel so alive ~ in a happy space for a while. Do you have something that can distract you and make you feel good? ending you big hugs and love!
DeleteHonestly I'd like to conquer that staircase
ReplyDeleteMy wife however would consider it her personal hell
😂 We're all different, Adam! I will face those stairs again in March! All the best to you!
DeleteA nice and interesting post. And interesting questions to be answered. I will not answer them here but I will consider the answers in my mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind visit to my blogs dear Fundy (did you tell your real name ? - I don´t think so)
Have a good time and all the best
Violetta
My real name is Louise, Violetta! I chose Fundy Blue as a blogging name many years ago. Fundy from the Bay of Fundy in my native Nova Scotia in Canada and blue for the color of the water in the bay on sunny days. Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week!
DeleteWhat an incredible reflection! Climbing those 99 steps at Diamond Head for your 75th is the definition of a "walking miracle", you are truly an inspiration. I especially loved your answer about forgiving yourself; we really are our own toughest critics, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteI just shared a new post.
www.melodyjacob.com
Dear Louise,
ReplyDeleteI really like your outlook on life!
It's absolutely fantastic that you managed all those stairs!!!
And my husband and I usually share our meals when we eat at restaurants, too. (Too much food isn't good for us. We always say we're already part of the "senior plate crowd" 😅)
All the best, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2026/01/reisebericht-2025-drei-parks-am.html