As I get older, I’m really trying to prioritize self-care. It could be something as simple as sneaking away to a coffee house for 20 minutes to grab a cup of coffee…by myself. The holidays are so busy and can cause quite a bit of stress…and self-care ends up at the bottom of the priority list. My stress reveals itself as rocks that are the muscles in my upper back leading up to my neck. While it can be hard to find the time, I have to find someone who can lomilomi (pronounced: low-mee-low-mee)  those muscles to melt the stress of the holidays away. 

One of the most comforting things is the feeling of touch. There is a feeling of comfort when someone gives you a hug, or touches your arm as they are telling a story. For me, I start to relax almost instantly when I get lomilomi as the touch instantly comforts me. That coupled with a relaxing scent, such as lavender, can put me right to sleep (which has happened during lomilomi). 

How do you provide yourself self-care during the holidays? Do you enjoy lomilomi?

Our ohana on Maui still needs us. Please consider donating to help the relief efforts on Maui.

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.