This week I got to spend some time with a friend from college. It had been a few years and we had lots to catch up on. He looked older since I last saw him.. When I asked what was going on, he explained that in the span of the year he had gotten divorced, had to find a new place to live, adopted an elderly cat from his landlord, lost his dog to old age, and was laid off from his high tech job. 

He admitted to me he was having a hard time..and that he felt like he was a bit in a downward spiral. I told him about a Hawaiian proverb I seen that had an impact on me: A’ohe pu’u ki’eki’e ke ho’a’o ‘ia e pi’i (pronounced: Ah oh-heh poo-oo kee-ehkee-eh keh hoh-a-oh ee-ah eh pee-ee) meaning “No cliff is so tall it cannot be climbed”. I wanted to remind him that even if he felt he was at the bottom of the cliff, he certainly didn’t have to try to climb it by himself. His friends would be there to support him. He needed the reassurance that he wasn’t alone…which I was more than happy to give him. I know the downward spiral is temporary, but for him, it feels endless.

How do you pick yourself up when you feel beaten down?

Never miss a Hawaiian word of the week when you sign up for our newsletter. Looking to keep the aloha vibes going all year long? We got you covered.