Taking time to smell the roses

I wonder how many of the people living on Tinian take the time to stop and take in the beauty of the island, and to recognize how blessed they are to live where they do...

There is something transcendental about the quiet beauty of Tinian--it can bring peace to the soul and joy into the heart, if a person chooses to let it. Problems arise when the glamor of the 'outside world' creates a false sense of what is needed to be happy. Everyone wants to have enough money to live well and raise a family. And for some, living in the CNMI makes that difficult--which is why so many leave the islands to gain a better education and work opportunities. But everything we do has a cost, every act and decision we make has a consequence. The question becomes, is it worth it? By leaving the islands, or perhaps, by choosing not to return when one has the opportunity, is the life one 'buys' on the mainland worth what is lost from not living a quiet life on the islands? Just something to ponder...

I bring it up only because of how much Terri and I have come to love Tinian and the people living there--and in such a short time. We have had our share of problems, and questions, and are sometimes puzzled by the way things are done in the CNMI, but any negative issues and problems have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the island, the charm and kindness of the local people, and, for us, the quiet solitude Terri and I can experience together.

Being back on the mainland is a mixed blessing: it is a joy to see family and friends again, but it is also a chore--just something I am required to do until I can return to paradise. But this too shall pass.