Practice Aloha

Happy April everyone! I’m writing from my favorite conference room in the Hoboken office, and find myself simultaneously grateful to be back at work recharged and horrified at how quickly my 11 days in Hawaii went. The trip went by in a blink, which is somewhat strange given I spent most of it beach or poolside scanning the ocean for breaching whales and ensuring my base tan progressed each day. I have written often about the family I used to babysit for while at Columbia many years ago, and it was they who so generously included me in their spring break trip to Maui. It went a little like this…

Because of the time change, the adults typically woke up around six to several cups of coffee (which we found is exponentially better than any mainland cup of joe I’ve ever had). One of us would head to the pool to secure pool-side chaise lounge chairs – somewhat of a sport given it was spring break at the Montage, and the place was packed with families on the same schedule. Us gals would then head to the spa/gym for a workout while the kids snoozed in our condo-like residence. Around nine we’d meander down to the pool, where there was no shortage of activities… swimming, volleyball, life-sized Jenga, cornhole, you name it. Around eleven we’d start to think about lunch, and we typically ate some variation of Mahi Mahi beach-side. The afternoon brought more pool-side relaxation, some days included snorkeling and Piña coladas, and others were spent reading and talking.

The evenings were typically spent eating long dinners as a family. Some nights included an outing to Lahaina for dinner and tchotchke shopping. Every single one made me appreciate Ohana, or family, both the one I was lucky enough to share the last week and half with and my own on the mainland. Our night at Merriman’s was especially memorable, the view was something I’ll never forget. Our daily schedule was interrupted only once, with an unforgettable trip to Hana. We trekked up waterfalls and jumped off cliffs. We foraged for fresh ginger and saw rainbow eucalyptus trees that took our breath away. We laughed and talked as we drove from destination to destination, scratching our mosquito bites and enjoying the island’s friendly people and native creatures.

I saw surfers catch 20-foot waves while humpback whales migrated in the distance, their tails slapping the water gleefully as they headed north. Sometimes vacations lasting more than a week can seem too long. I can assure you there were no such feelings as we soaked up the sun day after day. So, as I sit here reflecting on the last two weeks, the bittersweet feelings the end of a vacation brings are real and further magnified by the reflection I keep seeing in the glass partition of the conference room. I know that tanned person with white blonde hair belongs here, at work and at home in New York. But some trips change you just a little bit for better or worse and this certainly was one that did.

There’s something that happens on long vacations where there’s not much on the agenda. I find people either fight the natural absorption of their new surroundings or let the soul of wherever they might find themselves in. On vacation us New Yorkers find it especially hard to break character and remain tethered to real life by stress and technology.

For the first few days in Maui, that was me. Checking my email in the middle of the night as the east coast began their work day and constantly worrying about what I might be missing or deals that needed closing. By the end of the first weekend in Hawaii, however, that feeling subsided and I finally put my out of office auto-respond on. From that mental shift, what happened next was something I rarely experience – given my vacations these days typically don’t last more than a few days. I let the Aloha vibe take over, and, like a happier, less acrimonious version of Lord of the Flies, we all settled into different versions of ourselves.

No, I didn’t get braids in my hair or appropriate Hawaiian culture with a Samoan henna tattoo. But, as I slid into a less frantic, quieter Brynn than we all know, I could feel the tension leave my body. A few trips to the spa and a massage later, I was settling into my new routine and Maui state of mind. On other trips, where days were spent bikini-clad by the water, I may have felt the need to cover up when up and about. Not last week. I played volleyball on the beach in my suit with little thought of my appearance. On one especially dreamy afternoon after a couple Piña Coladas, Caroline whipped out her guitar and started strumming away. Hearing the familiar tune of Shallow, I began to sing. Terrifying thought, I know. Others sat and listened. Some joined in and we played and sang without thinking twice. “Tell me something girl… are you tired of this modern world…” maybe I was?

Cut to today, back in the office. As I wade through the deep waters of email and overdue work, I’m not stressed. I’m happy to be back. Real life can make us all pricklier versions of ourselves. Perhaps, though, as a tribute to Hawaii and the Aloha practiced so freely there, I should find a way to keep parts of myself I saw these past two weeks. Maybe I’ll worry less and welcome more. If I can imbue real life Brynn with some of that Hawaiian soul, I know I’ll be a better, happier person.

So, though the coffee I’m holding is a far cry from the Longboards of last week… cheers to you, Hawaii, and Mahalo for reminding me what’s important.