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I Love You, I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You  - Simple Steps to Healing: Ho'oponopono

It is a good time to think about goodness

Hoʻoponopono is a Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness

It is more time at home even though it would be wonderful to be planning a Hawaiian vacation… keeping ourselves safe while honoring the people in our lives this holiday season is important. Sometimes it can be difficult to be at home feeling a bit stagnate or challenged, I thought maybe reading about goodness. It could be helpful.

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Susan J Roche photographer

Ho’oponopono

defined in the the Hawaiian dictionary

(a) "To put to rights; to correct, revise, adjust, amend, rectify, tidy up make orderly or to make ready, as canoemen preparing to catch a wave."

(b) "Mental cleansing: family conferences in which relationships were set right (hoʻoponopono) through prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution and forgiveness.”


Literally, hoʻo is defined as goodness

Ponopono is defined as to correct

Hawaiian scholar Nana Veary in her book, Change We Must: My Spiritual Journey wrote that ho'oponopono was a practice in Ancient Hawaii.Ritual of Hoʻoponopono corrects, restores and maintains good relationships among family members and with their God. The process begins with prayer.

I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.

Susan J Roche photographer sunrise at the jersey shore



 (a) "To put to rights; to correct, revise, adjust, amend, rectify, tidy up make orderly or to make ready, as canoemen preparing to catch a wave."

(b) "Mental cleansing: family conferences in which relationships were set right (hoʻoponopono) through prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution and forgiveness.” referring Hoʻoponopono teachings.


In the book, Zero Limits, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len shares that Ho’opononpono cured the criminally insane patients without him ever seeing any of them. This is based on Len's idea of taking responsibility for everyone's actions, not only for one's own. 

If one would take complete responsibility for one's life, then everything one sees, hears, tastes, touches, or in any way experiences would be one's responsibility because it is in one's life.The problem would not be with our external reality, it would be with ourselves. Total Responsibility, according to Hew Len, advocates that everything exists as a projection from inside the human being.

Simple Steps to Healing: Ho'oponopono

I Love You, I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You 



The story about a Dr Luw that the psychologist would study an inmate's chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person's illness. As he improved himself, the patient improved.

I have always believed that I am responsible for what I think and do and that most people think this way. We're responsible for what we do, not what anyone else does.

Hawaiian therapist named is Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len worked at Hawaii State Hospital for four years, he never saw a patient, he only looked at their files. That ward where they kept the criminally insane was dangerous. While he looked at those files, he would work on himself. As he worked on himself, patients began to heal.

"After a few months, patients that had to be shackled were being allowed to walk freely," he told me. "Others who had to be heavily medicated were getting off their medications. And those who had no chance of ever being released were being freed, ”I was simply healing the part of me that created them," he said.

Susan J Roche sunrise beach photography

According to Dr. Len

Total responsibility for your life means that everything in your life – simply because it is in your life – is your responsibility. If you take complete responsibility for your life, then everything you see, hear, taste, touch, or in any way experience is your responsibility because it is in your life.

This means that terrorist activity, the president, the economy – anything you experience and don't like – is up for you to heal. They don't exist, in a manner of speaking, except as projections from inside you. The problem isn't with them, it's with you, and to change them, you have to change you. This idea is “new age.”

Yet ho'oponopono means loving yourself. If you want to improve your life, you have to heal your life. If you want to cure anyone – you do it by healing you.

According to the Doctor, all he did was repeat to himself

I'm sorry, I love you, Please Forgive Me, Thank You

Dr. Len suggests a four-stage process for this ho'oponopono work. Whenever a place for healing presents itself in your life, open to the place where the hurt resides within you. After identifying this place, with as much feeling as you can, say the below four statements:

  • I love you.

  • I'm sorry.

  • Please forgive me.

  • Thank you.

There is challenge in my life, I am giving this try. Silently I am saying, "I'm sorry,'“ "I love you,” “Please forgive” and “Thank You.’

I do not know what will happen here. Whatever happens I hope love will be part of it.

morning photography Susan J Roche

I’m Sorry, I love you, please forgive me,

thank you

Turns out that loving yourself is the greatest way to improve yourself. And as you improve yourself, you improve your world.

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inspire, unique, art, living joyfully Susan J Roche fine art inspire, unique, art, living joyfully Susan J Roche fine art

Over 100 years ago | Susan J Roche empowering yourself

We find ways to give ourselves experiences that embrace who we are. This gives up a perspective of change, one of joy and inspiration. Taking these steps for ourself gives us the ability to affect others, create a way to pass along the ability to find happiness and sense of motivation.

102 years ago the Spanish Flu Pandemic happened

According to the CDC, about one-third of the world’s population was infected by the Spanish flu, leading to at least 50 million deaths worldwide. People suffered in many ways including loss, grief, and isolation.

How do we learn from history? What can we do to now?

Susan J Roche (Cape Coral, Florida) women’s underwater portrait photographer. This experience allows women to see themselves in a new light, to change limiting thinking into one of new possibilities and adventure

We find ways to give ourselves moments that embrace who we are while caring for ourselves and our families. This enables us a perspective that change is possible, where one can find joy and inspiration.

Taking positive steps, even small ones, helps the ability to affect others, creates ways to express happiness and sense of motivation even during difficult times. 

It starts resiliency

This begins on a personal level

Find hope during uncertainty. While there may be moments we cannot control, knowing you are not alone and that your thoughts can lead to change is important.

Most Important

It’s imperative to take care yourself

Find ways of thinking especially when the news leans towards overwhelming feelings. Do and be around people (following safe guidelines) that inspire. You can do this in creative ways. It could be just reading someones words and thoughts. You can also reach to others via phone or online. This will help your personal self talk become one that is good for you and for others.

Uplift, renew and rejuvenate yourself through experiences is important

It is not always easy to navigate this time of uncertainty, finding ways to empower oneself and those you love is essential.  Supporting yourself in creative ways is mandatory. Try new things and remember to do simple activities - go outside, be in nature, listen to birds or the wind, find water (large bodies or even a puddle) paint, garden, cook, walk, sit in the sun, dream, read, learn a new language even if there is no one to speak with, it does not matter what you do. Just do something that makes you feel! Even if you believe you are not ‘good’ at it, the idea is to find pleasure in small ways.

Jersey shore underwater portrait photographer Susan J Roche photographs newborns

Remember, there are others who are having similar experiences. The stay at home order earlier this year and this time afterwards has had an effect on many people.

At 59 years old, minimizing risks is my responsibility. My adult daughters ( both nurses) remind me of my age vulnerability. Even though it feels like just yesterday I was a teenage, I am not. I have a new grand baby to see. It is essential to use thoughtful care with who and where I go for my own health, the health of those I love and those who work with me. We need to use our time wisely.

Our greatest asset right now is our power of acceptance.

Use your ability to focus thoughts of goodness

To know who we are, remember who we always have been and move into the future with hope and confidence

Perhaps the greatest lesson we may learn from this crisis is simply having the courage of conviction while doing things to keep our thoughts exceptional. Perspective is the key, and so is sincerity.

Find your passion, live in ways that fulfill you, only be around others who are living with safe health practices and are uplifting, keep your spirits high and most importantly, feel happiness, peace and contentment.

Susan J Roche empowering women underwater
my passion

my passion

Susan J Roche underwater portrait photographer

Susan J Roche, as a daughter, sister, mother, wife, partner, grandmother, artist, photographer, & friend - my journey has been always been about learning to live my life as the woman I am not the woman others would like to be. At times, it has been challenging but it is my one and only precious life.


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