The HI Life

Aloha, my kakou! It is a beautiful summer morning here in Hilo, Hawaii, and I can think of nothing more important than taking some time to reconnect with my quad darlings. I write you from my small, three-walls-of-cinder-block office at Waiakea Intermediate School, where I began working last month as a Behavioral Health Specialist. Probably pretty similar to Liz's school OT role, but focused on socio-emotional-behavioral barriers to educational opportunity. A big girl job! I'm even wearing a dress to work today. Things are slow at the moment, as it is summer, and only a few ESY (extended school year) kids are around. I've been here 4 weeks, and haven't yet gotten access to all the online information systems, so instead of learning about the kids I'll be assigned I'm mostly reading about DOE policies, meeting the teachers and administrators who are around, doing my own reading on ADHD, IEPs, and the like, and...finding ways to fill my time. At the moment I'm enjoying a breakfast of chia seed/hemp milk/cinnamon pudding I made last night and a banana my friend grew. I'm listening to Fleet Foxes on my iPod, and admiring the single pink zinnia I cut from my garden this morning to keep me company at my desk. It's a perfect example of inefficient use of government funds. Not that I mind being paid to write to my friends and smile at flowers. ;)

I'm also working for Hawaii Behavioral Health, a wonderful community agency that hired me as a therapist following my departure last winter from the school garden job. I've got two teenage girls with whom I do both individual and family sessions each week, and it's pretty fulfilling work! It's really amazing to work with a kid who feels constantly criticized and then have the opportunity to lead the family through an exercise in affirming each other, or practicing "sandwiching" feedback with supportive comments It's also been beautiful to teach them self-care. I've been incorporating DoTerra essential oils and mindfulness exercises into sessions, teaching my clients how to be present and calm themselves when distressed. We've gone to the farmer's market for lychee, and then to the ocean to practice mindful snacking and present-moment awareness in nature. They are both discovering ways to use nature for their own mental health. I am not trained to address all of their needs (deep things like PTSD from sexual trauma, early childhood abandonment, former parental meth use, incest), but I can be a positive influence and encourage them to see themselves as more than their past. Part of me feels like my own self-care red flags will be flying soon, when the school year starts and I'm part of the busy school environment all day

before spending my afternoons/evenings/weekends intervening in others peoples' crises. To counter the expected onslaught, I'm working to solidify some healthy self-care habits, including a yoga and running schedule, and morning time barefoot in the garden soaking up earthy vibes while I play ball with Jack. In non-work related news, my parents are planning to move here in October! Yes, for real. My dad has medical needs--to get to lower elevation than their current Northern NM digs (7,000 ft) for his hypoxia, and a moderate climate for his Raynaud's syndrome, etc.--and my mom wants to be near the ocean. My mom's reasons are more along the lines of "Why NOT live in Hawaii?" She visited in May, when the idea was brewing, and yeah, we'll see what happens! Jesse is currently in the D.C. area (following a couple years in Japan), and investigating a move to Sri Lanka to work with a spiritual teacher there. I'm currently reading Autobiography of a Yogi (Paramahansa Yogananda) and am inspired to vicariously experience his process of deepening his relationship with God. God. I've also been spending time getting to know God, and have experienced incredible rest, peace, provision, support and sense of immense capability. Little and big things. Things like hip pain that lasted for 9 days after a long run, and not knowing if I could do my next scheduled long run (currently training for a half marathon). A few moments of prayer and it left, allowing me to run over 7 miles, including about 1,000 ft of elevation gain--farther than I've run in a couple years--pain free.

Being offered exactly what I needed, often for free, without asking, just by trusting in provision and thanking God for all that has already been provided. The timing of all things has been incredible. Now i'm praying for a husband, and I'm being picky about it. We'll see what happens. ;) I haven't figured out who God is (uh, is that possible?), especially in relation to establishment religion (which I don't really jive with), but maybe my new husband and I can do some discovering together. Yessssss! There's a guy here at the school I haven't met yet who is a special ed teacher, former PQ employee, and a pretty big deal distance runner. It'd be cool if it was him. That'd be easy. HA! Okay, and... I saw real live lava recently! That was rad. Apparently the flow is almost to the ocean now. I want to go back this weekend and see it again. You might have seen a couple of pictures on Facebook, and that my mom wasn't happy with how close I got for the photo ops. I haven't heard of any accidental immolation due to proximity yet, but seeing as how I've been blessed with my own personal lay actuary I suppose I should quit while I'm ahead and take the recommendation to cease hanging out with molten earth. Hmmm... nah. More photos probably to come. Two other brief things: just signed up for a righteous half marathon which will be in 5 1/2 weeks. http://volcanorainforestruns.com/ and am trying to figure out if I can afford the time and $ investment to do a local yoga teacher training that runs from August-December. Imagine that! A half marathoner/certified yoga teacher living in Hawaii? Is this the life I want to create for myself? Am I willing to put forth the effort? Or will wine and ice cream and crying about Bernie Sanders win out? Come visit to find out! Love you all!