“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say this is part of something much bigger.  My final project and my life full circle will be to create a sanctuary on the island of Kaua’i dedicated to healing.  Because I have been shown compassion in my life, it has made me compassionate.  Because I have been shown love, it has taught me to love.  Love and compassion have healed my soul and I believe it can heal others.  I believe I was taught these lessons in life to extend them beyond me.  My vision is to start a modern day “Taylor Camp”.  What struck me about the documentary “Taylor Camp” was that everyone was welcomed, and many came to heal.  Kaua’i holds a magical power to heal wounded and broken souls.

Our home will be a place of beauty.  I imagine it on the ocean overlooking the bluff.  There will be 20 rooms that are available for veterans with PTSD, children who have been abused, people who are dying and have no where to go (hospice), and possibly rooms for their caretakers and family members who wish to visit.  The sanctuary will be one of the most beautiful resorts on earth reserved for the neglected or discarded members of society.

When I imagine what the sanctuary will smell like it is engulfed by the fragrance of flowers.  When you drive on the road it is lined with tall swaying palm trees that lead to a circular driveway.   This will be the entrance to a spanish stucco styled home.  Fruit trees and flowers bake in the sunlight.  To the left of the home is a huge pasture with horses of all colors.  There is a barn with chickens, cats and a dog. To the left is our gardens which have a trellis entry way and flowers around the border.  Vegetables are grown inside.  There are benches and privacy where onecan escape to be amongst nature that is thriving and growing.  Creative energy is at work in the garden and it is where this spirit can be felt and even enhanced.  The backyard which leads out to the ocean will have open space and some strategically placed trees.  Not an orchard, but just some shade and some fruit.  There will be a pool on the bluff overlooking the cliffs with an outdoor showering facility.

Inside the home there will also be an indoor pool with a hottub, a workout room, a yoga room, a movie theatre, a ballroom (for costume parties), with a costume closet, and a library lined with wonderful books. Each room will be uniquely decorated and each room will be different.  Some grand, some simple, some with bursts of color and some with neutrals.  The home is filled with art of all kinds, paintings, vases, and wonderful exotic flowers.  The sanctuary should contain all of the most beautiful things created by God and his people.  The living room will have overstuffed furniture and people can meet here for comfort.  One can take a nap or drink their coffee in the morning.  The kitchen is constantly in motion and has a door leading to the backyard.  Here organic, local, natural and healthy meals are prepared for the guests because diet is so important to a sense of well-being.

There is a back patio covered with glass and tables to eat, plus a barbecue and outdoor cooking facilities.  At the sanctuary we will experience unconditional love.  We love and accept others until they can love and accept themselves.  If someone is dying and alone, we serve as comforters.  If someone has been abused we act as a family.  If a soldier returns from war grieving we provide peace. There is beauty, order and serenity.  We will have a staff to help care for the cleaning, the cooking, the grounds, the gardens, the animals, and the home maintenance.  Physical therapy, emotional counseling, doctors and nurses will be accessible for residents.  The sanctuary is heaven on earth.

My dream seems unattainable, so I begin with the first steps and see where they lead.  We are currently looking for land on the island to purchase.

What are your dreams?  If your dreams don’t scare you, I challenge you aren’t dreaming big enough.  What have we got to lose?

“Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” – Napoleon Hill