I had no idea at the time, but on Tuesday April 11, 2023, I began a journey.

In general I’d been feeling down. Low energy – both physically and personally. Nothing specific really. No physical or personal trauma. Just down.

I’d joke about a “never-ending midlife crisis” and about how I was trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life – as I’d been trying to figure out for the prior 69 years.

A friend mentioned an acupuncturist who had made a difference in their general health. On April 11 I paid her a visit and voila – my health and my general feeling of well-being changed dramatically. Whether it was the acupuncture or the reiki healing or just the focus that initial visit brought to my health, my body, and my psyche – I do not know.

I just know I felt better after that visit, and I slept better. Then I started eating better and regularly walking in the neighborhood or along the beach. The more I did it, the better I felt, and the better I felt the more I wanted to keep doing it.

When I walked in her door on April 11, I weighed 210 lb’s and 5 months later I’m at 174 – and feeling healthier and stronger than I’ve felt in years.

The formula for me has been regular visits to my acupuncturist, a mostly plant-based diet, no alcohol, lot’s of water, and walking an average of 10,000 steps per day (or about 5 miles). Sometimes I walk less and sometimes more. Sometimes I walk with Claudette and sometimes I walk alone. But I walk.

Prior to April 11, I barely got out of my chair – always in front of my computer or on the phone. My brain and mind was/is always active, but my body got zero exercise.

I haven’t weighed 174 since high-school. I know weight is just a number on a scale but losing the weight has given me back strength and energy I didn’t have before. I have no interest in being skinny but am very much interested in living longer, and my primary care physician is ecstatic about the changes. I’m good to go – ready to kick butt and take names, as they say.

Over the summer, Claudette and I also took some time away and visited Thailand courtesy of her United Airlines retiree benefits. Remember the marry me and fly free story? We found a cute little hotel two blocks from the beach for $39 per night (including breakfast) – and spent two weeks literally walking about. By day we walked the beach at Hua Hin and by night we cruised the street markets – almost 10 miles a day every single day.

During that time and over the past weeks I’ve managed to “put my phone down” (well mostly) and doing my best to avoid the tedious and the mundane. In addition, I’ve stepped back from some of the work, cognizant of my own personal capacity and the need to “make space” for others to step up.

Spending time with family has also been a “centering point” and helped keep me focused on what’s truly important.

After Thailand, Claudette and I flew to New Jersey to be with our daughter Kelli-Rose and her family as she gave birth to Isabella’s new little sister and our 4th grandchild, “Harper Camille Simmons”. Three days later, I tested positive for COVID. For the next 5 days I remained alone in the upstairs bedroom, isolated from the entire family, terrified I would bring harm to that tiny little newborn or her mother. Fortunately nothing bad happened, mother and child are healthy, and that window passed unopened.

I am back home now on Kauai. Over the past few days, I’ve been able to spend quality time with my son Dylan and his beautiful family in Koloa. Grandson Rixon celebrated his 7th birthday and we were there also to witness the first steps of his little sister Kaliyah!

So yes, I’ve been on a journey of sorts, and coming back now stronger than ever.

What’s next?

That’s a bridge that still needs crossing. As I continue through the prime of my life and head into the next decade, that question remains unanswered and “top of mind”.

I love what I do, want to do more, achieve more, enjoy my family more, and climb with others even higher mountains – leveraging and maximizing the sum total of the experience and lessons learned over the years.

Ideas? Suggestions? Collaborations?

Am fired up and ready to go.

Will you join me?

Imua!

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