aloha. forever.

"Didn't you get 'island fever'?"

I am constantly asked.

"I've heard the locals are really territorial." 

I am constantly told.

You see, I lived on O'ahu for many years after graduating with my undergraduate degree.

I moved there not for a job or any known certainties,

but rather because my heart told me to.

Seriously.

I'm not talkin' crystals and magic dragons here.

It's like when Claire Danes tells Dermot Mulroney about 

"that thing you have to see in order to be whole" 

in The Family Stone.

*This could become a very long tangent, so I'm getting back on-track now...if you haven't seen The Family Stone, don't stop...don't pass go...don't collect $100...go watch that movie.*

Hawai'i became my home very quickly during a time when the physicality of home was uprooted and thrown in different directions.

The pace of life suited my internal search.

The intense spirituality of the land guided the answer to my burning question: "Why do I believe what I believe?"

The beauty of the land rooted my feet to the earth and enrolled me in What Matters 101.

I learned to live with less...only what was necessary.

I learned the importance of making a living 

(and how hard it can be to strike a balance between the wants and the needs).

I learned that "home" and "family" are fluid, not concrete.

I am forever grateful for the islands of Hawai'i,

and so I continually return "home."

So no, I didn't get island fever.

I wasn't there for a shopping mall or material needs.

I was there to shed that weight.

And yes, the local people are territorial...

as we all should be in sacred places.

I was territorial, too, right alongside of them.

*My next post will further this thought*

aloha.

forever.

Let's Make a Deal

I woke up yesterday feeling like 

LOUNGING ALL DAY...

the little angel on my shoulder, however, kept reminding me of my summer promise to myself:

To Exercise.

...Bleh...

A few episodes of Gilmore Girls later, 

I decided that exercise didn't have to be gritty and all-out.

So I looked at the angel on my shoulder and said,

"Let's make a deal.

I'll exercise like you said I should, 

but it will be 

where I want

and

how I want."

 Surprisingly enough, the angel agreed.

To the beach we went,

and instead of running the whole length and back,

I mixed it up a bit.

 (My favorite part about running on the beach is that I get to do it barefoot!  Total motivator for me)

If you're ever having an exercise funk day,

try this:

Walk 1 min.

Run 1 min.

Walk 2 min.

Run 2 min.

Walk 3 min.

Run 3 min.

Walk 4 min. *

Run 4 min.

Walk 5 min.

Run 5 min.

BAM! 30 min. of cardio exercise!

I then pivot turned and did the entire routine in reverse,

starting with 5 min. run

and ending with 1 min. walk. 

*If you don't want to do the entire routine in reverse,

pivot turn at this point, or stroll back after the 5 min run (especially if you're at the beach :)*

Give it a try!

Or make something else up! 

Just remember,

exercise doesn't have to be gritty and grueling

to get the job done.

aloha.

The Living's Easy...

You know the tune....

Summertiiiimmee

and the living's easy.....

 Are these clouds simply phenomenal, or what??!

I hope you're outside. 

Livin' easy.

aloha.