Category: writing

What’s Good Or Bad?

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

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

Lost at Sea

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

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

Nature Therapy

Turn off the phone

Leave it behind

Only bring yourself & some water

Go into nature

Breathing in

Breathing out

Smile

Enjoy mother nature with out any distractions

She carries all the answer to our ills if we can look deeply into her nature

With aloha,

Johnny

Dreams

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

Focus on Yourself

Many focus their energy trying to help others

Leaving themselves drained, unhappy and frustrated

They do not realize that you can not give by throwing

By forcing your beliefs on others you fall off your path and push others away from you

Just focus your energy on becoming the best version of yourself

Those who are lost in the darkness will see your light shining

It’s up to them if they want to walk along the side of you or to stay on their path

With aloha,

Johnny Hoffman

New Year’s Resolution

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

Fork in the Road

The path is always unknown

There is always a fork in the road

Two or more paths in front of us

Which will be chosen?

There are infinite possibilities in this beautiful world

Yet we cling to finding certainty in an uncertain world

Not realizing that certainty is an illusion

We are a collection of our thoughts, beliefs, and actions

Each day we can change and grow

Or stay stuck in our old ways

We can’t always choose our circumstances

But we can choose our attitude and actions

With aloha,

Johnny