I have always liked to work hard…..to the point that I actually don’t even know how to relax and take some down time. I have this energy that I feel I need to tap into and the only way to release it is by working: my job, cleaning my house, volunteer work, writing “Mindful Mondays” and countless other things that my ‘to do’ list holds. And while I put all this work onto myself, I always feel ha’aheo (pronounced: hah-ah-hey-oh), or pride, in my work…whatever type of work that is. 

Feeling ha’aheo is a bit of a double-edged sword. I feel quite a bit of ha’aheo in all my work, making sure that whatever I am doing, I give it my all so that the result of my hard work shows. But, I also know that my friends don’t always want to hear me talking about work…because that is when ha’aheo can be perceived as boasting. I take ha’aheo in everything that I do…but for me, the world doesn’t have to know about it. (Although my friends do not how much I work and have threatened interventions to get me to relax).

So, for today’s holiday, Labor Day, I’m going to feel ha’aheo for all the work I’ve done over the year…and celebrate by doing some work around the house. 

How do you take ha’aheo in your work? 

Hope you have a relaxing Labor Day!

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