On Permanence

“Once and for all” doesn’t exist. We want certainty in our lives; it’s not there. Native Hawaiians celebrate flowers as a metaphor for life: we’re here only for a moment; there’s time only for love. When it’s time to part with flowers, “honi ka ua,” as Hawaiians say; “kiss them.” Say thank you. Toss them in the sea. Get used to change, uncertainty, chaos. Life is a flow, not a result. The beauty is in the flowers, not in their permanence.