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Mia Unplugged

Posted on | September 8, 2008 | 3 Comments Leave a comment | Print This Post   

A few days ago my husband, Darrin, and I took a much needed R&R.

It was only for three days and two nights, and less than an hour away. I know, I know–we live in Hawaii, which is where the rest of the world goes when they need R&R. The beaches aren’t far away from my house and I have a stunning view of Mauna Kea on clear days. What more could I want?

What about … less?

I didn’t know this when we first pulled into the Kona Village Resort, but I seriously needed to not only unwind, but unplug. As in no cell phones, no computers, no wifi, no TVs, no A/C–you get the picture. I was skeptical about this, especially since it was right before the launch of my book and who knew what would happen if I was unaccessible (answer: nothing). Even the no A/C part had me rattled, because while ceiling fans and trade winds are nice, it’s still pretty hot down there and I kind of like my creature comforts.

All meals are included, and you can decide on your service tips when you check-in, which means that you can go your entire stay without cracking open your wallet. The staff is friendly and many have worked there for years and years, which is one reason the resort has a high return rate. Four out of the six couples/families that checked in while I was in the waiting area came every year.

It took me a while to unwind, but once I did, I craved more. We didn’t do anything other than lounge around, sans phones or TVs or computers, have our meals, talk, take long walks and sleep. You don’t realize how much noise there is in your life–not just the sounds, but the busyness, the constant chatter in your head–until it’s not there anymore. The rooms are individual thatched huts spread over the 80 plus acres, and if you need something, well, you’re hoofing it because the rooms don’t have phones either. And of course sleep is wonderful whenever you can get it, but here it was simply delicious.

When we left I felt like I’d have to detox from my detox, but I’m sorry to say that I revved back into my old “plugged in” life as soon as we got home. Yes, I had an inbox full of mail but some of it was junk and some of it relatively important but none of it critical. I could have easily gone another day without email or telephone access and very little would have been lost. If I could do it again, I’d try to unplug for a solid month. I actually think it might make me more productive the other 11 months of the year.

One of the quotes that I love is from Henry David Thoreau: “It is life near the bone where it is sweetest.” I had that quote over my desk while I was writing SWEET LIFE, and it comes to mind again after my little getaway. We don’t need as much as we think in this life, and sometimes it’s good to have some of it taken away (or at least put on hold) so we can see the stuff that matters the most. There are so many good things about our lives that if we could just slow down and eliminate the chatter, we might actually tap into it some more.

Hawaii

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