When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing – just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?     

Ralph Marston

There is something to be said for taking time out and going somewhere where you have no responsibility and it is ok to do nothing for a week. For Mr. Twitchy and me, that means going to Hawaii, preferably Maui, for a week in the winter. No kids, no place we have to be, no obligations. Just us and maybe, if the timing is right, the whales.

Neither Mr. T nor I are good at just sitting. We like active vacations, with every day planned to the max. But we discovered one year by accident, we can sit on the beach for hours at a time, just watching for the whales, never feeling the need to do anything else.

It’s like meditating, but instead of looking inward for your zen, you are lulled by the ocean waves and the occasional whale spout. What more could a person want?  Well, maybe a massage and sunset yoga on the beach. Truly a great place for a Parkie to recharge.  And feel better, too.

So here we are, just 24 hours after arriving, the most relaxed either of us has been in a long time.  The pace in Hawaii is much slower and it doesn’t take long before you slow down, too and feel the spirit of Aloha.   I highly recommend it.  Now if we could just find some whales, everything will be perfect.

Time out also means keeping this short.  Back with a regular post next week.

Aloha:     Aloha is a value, one of unconditional love.
Aloha is the outpouring and receiving of the spirit.