I'm living atop a waterfall, surrounded by guava and mac nut trees; the town of Hilo four miles below me. I'm staying with a cousin. I have no vehicle, no computer or phone. She has no tv or radio- so I'm not exaggerating when i say life is pretty quiet where I'm at! I have spent most of my days alone the past few weeks, minus an occasional excursion, while she is working. I wake up, enjoy a cup of coffee on the porch, read, do some yoga, garden, read some more, listen to music, go off to the waterfall...the first few days of this were hard for me because I always felt the need to be doing something. Now, however, I've adjusted just fine and I am loving this slower pace of life.
I'm learning to let go of feeling like all my days have to be planned. Because I have no phone or transportation, I go where people take me. I'm open to anything the day or night might bring me. So far, so good; everything seems to work out.
It's been about 20 months since I've been home. Hawaii is my first stop back in the USA (although Hawaii is still nothing like the mainland.) I went into my first real "American" grocery store in 20 months. I stepped into a Wal-Mart(not by choice, but lack of options) and consumerism slapped me in the face. I can read all the signs around me and I can actually understand what people around me are saying on the bus! Coming to Hawaii has put me halfway into a state of culture shock; although I know the other half will hit me once I get home. Staying atop the falls and chilling out has been a good time for me to process my experiences traveling and to give my body a time to rest. Packing your backpack up and moving around every couple days is harder than you think!
I've been here 3 weeks today. I spent my first two weeks resting and have gone on some interesting adventures in the last week. I will tell those stories on the next blog. For now, I just want to remind everyone to take some time to yourself and rest. I will leave you with this poem by Paul Williams, from the book, Das Energi.
What is this word "efficiency"?
Sometimes it seems a close cousin to Death.
We are encouraged not to linger, not to enjoy life,
to hurry up and get it done so we'll have time
for something else.
Something else?
What?
Efficiency the destroyer, millions upon millions of
living dead, done in by the electric can-opener
and the automobile.
Progress is our most important product,
babies are our business,
time is money,
life is cheap.
Modern technology, modern business, the modern state
give us everything we need
except breathable air, drinkable water, edible food,
meaningful work, freedom from fear, freedom to love,
freedom to be ourselves, courage, pride, friendship,
hope.
The moral of the story is: don't be in such a hurry.
Beware creeping efficiency.
Slow down and live.
