Don't Worry About a Thing

We keep hearing this song like a message from the universe.


It pops up on the radio in our car.  One of my Pandora stations plays it often. We danced barefoot in the sand when the musicians at our reception played it.  And again we danced to it when the band played it at a Hawaiian house party.

These lyrics are central to my view toward life:

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Every time I hear the song, I'm a little extra grateful for everything that has led me to know the wisdom of these words.

Hakuna Matata Beach

Another song has become part of our Hawaii repertoire.  We had such a lovely day at Hapuna Beach that we renamed it "Hakuna Matata Beach":

Hakuna Matata!  What a wonderful phrase...
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Hakuna Matata! 

Bottom line:  Worry never solved a problem.  It's taken me years to understand that when a worry pops up, I can gently direct my thoughts elsewhere:  to a possible solution, to appreciation of something else, to the gentle acknowledgement that, indeed, everything will be all right.

Of course it's easy to feel that way on my honeymoon in Hawaii after such a perfect wedding surrounded by so much love.

But now I'm being reminded that appreciation of life isn't about experiences.  It's about feeling.  When I'm worried, I'm pushing life away.  When I know that "every little thing's gonna be all right," I'm embracing life.

Thanks Bob Marley and Elton John, for the musical soundtrack to a happy life.