What comes
Let it come
What goes
Let it go
Embrace the impermanence of each moment
Stop clinging
Stop controlling
Start allowing
Start releasing
The world does not revolve around us
Flow with it & you will know peace
Fight it & you will know suffering
With aloha,
Johnny
I almost got married in my mid 20s
But I was not ready for such commitment
It ended in disaster
I caused much suffering to myself & her
I vowed to be better
But I did not realise until recently that I had closed my heart
Maybe this was needed for me to become who I am today
7 years later
7 years single
The life of a nomadic backpacker doesn’t lend to serious relationships
But I know this is a chapter in my life, not the entire book
At 32 years old I have realised I truly would appreciate having a girlfriend again; someone to share my life with
Some things in life we can not learn outside of a deep relationship with another
When the time is right, I will choose to be in a relationship out of love, not fear of being alone 🙏🏻
With aloha,
Johnny
What’s truly good or bad?
Thanks to impermanence everything changes.
My darkest times have led to moments of liberation, joy, and enlightenment
So I don’t know if it was bad or good when I have self destructed in previous relationships or with my gambling addiction.
When things appeared to be falling apart they were really falling in place.
In the dark, there is some light
In the wrong, there is some right
Every storms runs out of power, the trick is to not run from it
Embrace the darkness & allow it to transform you into someone you couldn’t of imagined
As my teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said..
No mud, no lotus
Through deep suffering there is joy
With aloha,
Johnny
True success isn’t found on a business card
It isn’t found on a bank statement
Not on a fancy diploma hanging on the wall
Or a sports car, Rolex, mansion
Success (to me) is happiness
A life full of joy & adventure
Both inside & out
Success is found in kindness & compassion
It’s found in the smile of a baby
And the wisdom of an elder
In the end, we define what a truly successful life is
In my experience, success is not found in the material world but a kind, compassionate and happy life
With aloha,
Johnny
At times we can feel so lost
Lost in an emotion
Lost in the worries of the path unknown ahead
Lost in the past mistakes & regrets
I know what it feels to be lost
Not knowing what is up or down
My life falling in pieces
What I thought was the end was actually the beginning of something much more beautiful
For every storm runs out of energy
The trick is to not run from it but embrace it
Life doesn’t give us what we want
It gives us what we need
To grow, adapt and eventually move on from
So if you’re feeling lost just know everything is temporary
That each day can be a start of something fresh and beautiful
With aloha,
Johnny
To truly live
We must die each moment
We must let go of the past
Not obsessed over the future
Not worried about what could go wrong
Just enjoying this moment
Naturally our mind will wander like clouds in the sky
With mindfulness we anchor the mind to our breathe
Breathing in we know we are of the nature to grow old
Breathing out we know one day we will die
Knowing this we vow to live each day like it’s our last
We look at all life through the lens of compassion
We vow not live our life full of fear, anger, and hatred
Instead we will water the seeds of compassion, peace, and love each day
So they bloom at any moment
Living this way will benefit yourself, the planet and the ones around you
With aloha,
Johnny
Here I lay
Listening to the soft voice of a yin yoga teacher
In a deep meditation
An American backpacker in a distant land
Byron Bay is the perfect place for those who are searching for self knowledge
A place to heal emotional wounds.
So here I lay in a dark yoga studio
Suddenly tears come down my cheeks
My inner Buddha speaking clearly without the distractions interfering
If I don’t let go of gambling
I let go of my dreams
I let go of my happiness & freedom
My life will read as a tragedy if I don’t change my ways
I’m 6 weeks sober from gambling
Turning my life around 1 day at a time
With aloha,
Johnny Hoffman
The new year is here
Will we repeat the same patterns of behavior?
Or will we grow and change into a better version of ourselves?
Many of us(including me)
Can envision ourselves in the future
Wiser, stronger, calmer, and healthier
But few can say no to whatever derails us from this vision
It takes grace, dedication, and determination to build a life worth living
If not now, then when?
With Aloha,
Johnny
What a fitting end to 2021
Isolated from the world
A whole family coughing into 2022
But we will survive this storm
Everything is impermanent
No need to worry or stress over things I can’t control
No need to worry about my finances, I have enough!
The end of the year is a great time to be grateful for what you have
I will not wish for more
I will not wish for good health
But for grace, determination, and dedication on this path less followed
With Aloha,
Johnny
This life in finite
So I will live the life I desire
Go off the beaten path
Not worrying about society expectations
Judgements of others is a sign of their insecurities
Live simply if you want
Pursue life experiences instead of money, fame, and respect
Choose love
Not fear
Create your life through mindful actions, not impulses.
With aloha,
Johnny
The Narrow Path 