Cae

Interesting how one e-mail can get you to thinking. Recently, I got an e-mail from an old college classmate stating that we should have a reunion - in Hawaii! It's been about a decade since my college years and sure, we've all talked about reunions and the like. But Hawaii?? Wow, that seemed like a stretch. But wait, was it really? At first I dismissed the idea because my health has not been strong over the past years. However, when I really got to thinking about it, I realized that I could wait for forever to be in perfect health - all while missing out on living my life in the meantime. And frankly, that's just not okay with me! Yes, I'll have to keep an eye on my health. That's obviously a priority and the key to doing just about anything. However, as things have begun to improve recently, I'm beginning to reconsider Hawaii. At the moment my lifestyle would be okay if I took a trip. If a houseplant dies, so be it. (Of course, I'll have to ask someone to watch Cole, my cute-as-anything bunny.)

Anyway, this got me thinking about how even basic things can hold us back from truly living our lives to their fullest. Why don't we take some of that hard-earned time off and treat ourselves to a long-desired vacation spot? Why do we limit ourselves to only the things we know and the places we're comfortable going to, again and again? I also surprisingly realized that I'd so quickly dismissed the idea because it seemed so out of reach somehow, like there had to be some amazingly-grand reason I would go. I was holding myself back and didn't realize it, and it wasn't merely because of my health. I used to be so bold, just hop a plane and be somewhere new. Take those long road trips even if there's a faster way because we'd see so much more on the road, making stops along the way. What happened? Maybe it's "growing up" and having that feeling of more responsibility, like somehow I'm too old to play and have adventures. Now I'm a serious adult, I don't have time for fun and games. WHY NOT?? I'm sure my health - or the lack thereof - has played a role in my hesitancy. There's so much of this world I'd love to see. I don't have to move there, I can always come back home. So why wait? I'm not so sure that by retirement age, I'd feel like hiking the Appalacian Trail or go white water rafting. (Then again, maybe I will!). Either way, I've lived too much in my short lifetime to know that you're never guaranteed tomorrow. As long as my health continues to improve and I become stronger overall, I'm happily going to consider saying, "Aloha" come October!

PS - Does anyone have any great tips on Hawaii? I've never been there and we're still in the beginning phases of planning. Any ideas about which island to stay at? What local sites to explore? Any tips and info would be greatly appreciated!