Life is lived at a slower pace in Hawaii. It is a fact of life. For some, it is a welcomed reprieve from the frantic hustle of their world, but for others, it is a difficult transition. Many of us are so used to things happening at the speed of a tap on the trackpad that the organic delay in response or action here feels alien. There are those who are not able to come to grips with this unhurried tempo and they eagerly return to a more comfortable and familiar pace. That's not a bad thing, but rather, it is a facet of island life that could warrant some exploration. Even those of us who find the relaxed approach agreeable still may find the time of adjustment awkward, and in many cases, inevitable.
Gail and I allowed ourselves at least a month to do nothing but become acclimated to island living, and before we left we were really looking forward to the down time. We still think it was the right thing to do, but it was harder than we anticipated. After working all our adult lives, to suddenly and completely stop takes some getting used to. Within a couple weeks we began to feel lost with having no sense of direction or responsibilities that needed to be addressed. Feelings of guilt began to creep into our thoughts and conversations. These uncertainties were quite unexpected and a bit disconcerting. As we talked through these concerns we realized that they were natural and they presented no real cause for worry. We began working through these pangs of doubt by looking ahead and creating a strategy moving us on to the next chapter of this amazing adventure. The realignment of focus has proven to be good and today finds us in a pleasantly relaxed state of mind.
However, life in these islands requires more than just a shift in tempo. As with the difference in pace, there is also a difference of culture that warrants consideration.
We have been in Hawaii for almost a month now and we are still filled with complete and utter awe. And not just that it is Hawaii, but all that comes with it. This is more than a place. The culture here is unique in and of itself. It is a culture that requires a patient, humble approach in coming to understand it. Everyday we learn, and everyday we are grateful for the time that people take in helping us transition from being malihini to one day becoming accepted as kama'aina. We understood that the locals were friendly, but also very guarded. We have met a good deal of people since arriving at North Shore and we are beginning to establish a standing of acceptance here - of sorts. It will take some time before we will be considered part of the community and we appreciate that.
It is, in a similar way, much like being the new kids in school. There is the inevitable 'feeling out' period to see what we're about and how we'll fit in. And as much as we would like to be brought into the fold, it is imperative that we be honest. Meaning, if we presented ourselves as something other than who we are, we would soon be found out and the consequence would be that any credibility gained, would quickly and unceremoniously be lost. But we're happy to say that so far, being us is working out just fine, thank you.
Our time here has been filled with wonderful experiences and we have learned many things. And as much as we feel at home here (and we do), we also know that we have so much more to take in, and we are glad for that. For us, taking the time and effort to learn about the ways of these remarkable islands has been, and continues to be, a very enriching experience.
Take care and enjoy,
- Mahalo
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