In the later part of last year when we first decided to come over to Hawaii for four months, most people we talked to thought we were crazy. “How can you put your life on hold for 4 months?” everyone asked…sometimes in not the nicest way.
Our response before the fact was always, “well it is easy, you make the choice and do it.”

Now, after doing it we realize that in taking this time, we have been able to find more clarity, happiness and joy than could possibly be imagined. Thankfully, D had been great to me and I was able to continue contributing from here, and my writing is better for it. Additionally, both of us picked up a few consulting jobs with the full launch of our Cogill Consulting business we had started before we left. We were able to launch new opportunities to work on while here, and are set in place for when we return home. So, professionally, this has been a blessing.

Physically, it has been transformational. If you want to know what 4 months in Hawaii means, well, it means almost 55 pounds! By taking on the task of getting our mind, body and spirits into better health, we dedicated this time to retraining our minds and bodies. We get a minimum of 20,000 – 25,000 steps in a day, or 10K-15K if a kick boxing session was included. Some days we hit 30,000 steps, one day we achieved 42,000. Thankfully, the invention of the Fit Bit kept us on track.

With that, I have lost 15 pounds, Gary has lost 35 and my Yoda has lost 3….impressive for our little athlete pup. (You can’t call my Yoda boy a chunk anymore, Mom.)

What is even better, we did it the right way. We have altered our diets, (well, Gary altered his to be more in line with mine) eating big, very fresh, farmer’s market salads filled with the colors of the rainbow…purple radishes, candy cane beets, golden peppers, baby green fennel, sweet avocado, amazing Kawamata tomatoes, heads of lettuce bigger than Yoda. Each was perfectly paired every night with a bottle (or two) of wine, bread, cheese, sometimes some pasta, sometimes Ahi poke or jumbo Kona shrimp.

We didn’t deprive ourselves, or attempt a diet of no carbs or no alcohol or no cheese, as realistically, that isn’t something we would be able to maintain in the real world. Instead, we savored the beauty of the island, the joy of the aina and the love of this ohana, and are better for it.

The hope is this can be maintained when we get home. I know my Gary will as he has signed up to run in the Dallas Half Marathon in December. A half this year, perhaps the whole thing next, but the main thing is the happiness and healthy lifestyle we have found in a place our hearts are deeply attached to. Mahalo to Hawaii, we will see you again soon.
And, Dallas, we’re coming home!