An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility by Steve Ludwigs
An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility by Steve Ludwigs sends you on a relaxing inner voyage to the tropical island of Alumanaya, first introduced to readers in Ludwigs Alumanaya: A Story about Living with Tropical Tranquility. With An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility, Ludwigs continues to explore the five basic principles of ocean, wind, sand, palm (as in the tree) and light. But, before exploring these concepts and their greater meaning, Ludwigs take you on a “tour” of Alumanaya that is so extensive, and realistic that between it, and the five principles, you’ll find yourself wondering if Alumanaya isn’t a real place where Steve, and his wife Renée actually live. Let me clear that up right away, despite it’s wonderful detail, Alumanaya is a state of mind, not a place and Steve and his wife live in Missouri. Still, having had months of living the Alumanaya lifestyle, as I was lucky enough to receive an early review copy, I can tell you “island living”, at least the Alumanaya way, beats anything I’ve experienced prior to it.
An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility is as unique as its previously mentioned predecessor was. An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility presents the five principles of “island living” without any recrimination of where a person may be at that point in his or her life. There is no judgment of any person or way of thinking. There is no talk about “God” or any other deity. There is the simple presentation of easy methods to restore balance, tranquility and harmony to your life.
The five principles are each presented as separate sections of the book. Each section is dedicated to the principle under discussion and applications of that principle in various kinds of ways that can be directly related to life are given.
An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility seeps into your mind and bones, making a nesting place there. I realized, quite some time after reading the book that I was applying the principles and the wisdom connected to them without even being aware of the fact. Once my attention was drawn to the matter I was surprised to note how frequently I did this. In my case the two elements I used most often were wind and light. I really liked the way the principle of wind was related in the book and the number of circumstances in which it applies is beyond imagining. The principle of light reminded me that energy and light are all around us even if things appear dark.
An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility presents a new and different way of looking at the world. The physical description of the island is so vivid and realistic that you’ll find yourself closing your eyes and remembering it, just as you would remember a wonderful memory from a past vacation. In fact you may enjoy it more because you didn’t have to leave home to find it, there were no high credit cards bills after it and you didn’t return home needing a “vacation from your vacation” as is so often the case in real life.
The island is as real as any tropical paradise you could imagine. Ludwigs brings it to vital, pulsing life on each page of An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility. What follows is an excerpt from the book:
“Later that day I was sitting on our deck overlooking the ocean. The sun was low on the horizon and the crashing waves threw millions of sparkling diamonds into the sky. The big green sea turtles were floating just below the waves, munching on the algae and the sea grass around the lava rocks.
I thought about our adventures up the mountain to the canyon. I thought about how the fog had obscured our view and had kept us from seeing the splendor that was right there in front of us. The canyon was there, just temporarily concealed. So much beauty, but we couldn’t see it. Then, for a moment we got a glimpse of unlimited magnificence.
As I watched the sun slowly dip into the ocean, I thought about how the fog in the canyon is similar to the fog in our minds. How we often only perceive the clouds right in front of us and rarely see the beauty beyond.
I was reminded about how it sometimes felt like I was close to getting a clue about life. How an idea would be out there drifting around, hazy and unclear in the swirling mind clouds. Occasionally, a brief flash of clarity would allow me to almost get it, but then it would quickly fade back into the midst, beyond my grasp and understanding.
I wanted to see more. I wanted to clear away the fog and experience the amazing scenery inside of me.
Thus began my journey into creative imagination and the island of Alumanaya.”
An Island Perspective: Finding the Path to Tropical Tranquility by Steve Ludwigs, copyright 2010 by Steven M. Ludwigs, published and distributed in the U. S. by Palm Canyon Wellness Group, LLC, P.O. Box 64, Cottleville, Missouri 63338 ISBN 978-0-9767112-2-3 $12.95 plus shipping and handling if purchased alone or purchase with Alumanaya: A Tropical Story about Living with Tranquility its preceding volume for $19.95 including shipping and handling, available online at http://www.alumanaya.com/Alumanaya/Books.html
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