The Path of Least Resistance.

Last night I went to a concert with traditional Hawaiian music, hula dancing, and palpable aloha spirit. For five days, I have explored Oahu: Waikiki tourism, the idyllic north shore, city life in Honolulu, and most importantly the ocean waves. I went paddleboarding and surfing, spent over 5 hours on busses, peeked in a ton of shops and walked from Diamond Head at the east end of Waikiki to Chinatown in Honolulu (this was a very long walk!). Visiting Honolulu has renewed my spirit as I have been able to relax and process everything that has happened in the last two weeks.

Before arriving I was considering moving to Honolulu from the Big Island. I love the ocean and the nature in Hawaii, but I miss many of the social aspects of living in a city (people, random social events, art, restaurants). When I landed in Honolulu, I realized that part of what makes Hawaii so charming is that my time here is temporary. This confirmed that I made to right decision to complete my internship through the end of December and return to the mainland mid-January instead of accepting a more long-term position.

I am getting excited to return and live closer to friends and family! Hawaii is amazing, but it doesn’t feel like home. So my plan is to move to Austin, Texas in early 2011 and set up a practice initially focusing on diabetes and metabolic syndrome (hypertension, obesity, etc). Being on an island thousands of miles away from close friends and family has helped me clarify how important it is for me to be closer to them. Spending time with the ocean – swimming, listening, watching the waves – has helped me clarify how important it is to follow the path of least resistance.


And the path of least resistance brings me back to Texas. I have to honestly say that I never thought I would move back, but I am really looking forward to it! Maybe there is something in the blood – being seventh generation Texan has to count for something! And since I made the decision to move back, I have met 4 Texans who live in Hawaii who all swoon when I say I am going back. I almost never meet Texans outside of Texas. I will take our encounters as confirmation that I am doing the right thing.