Preface: One of the ‘elders’ in our Ho‘ohana Community is an ‘Ike loa learning habit, a month-end practice we named Rapid Fire Learning (RFL). It starts as a private journaling practice, handwritten for self-reflection and can be much shorter, or longer, than what follows: I’ve opted to post an excerpt of my own RFL this month here on the blog to transcribe it more clearly, and to curate the sources of my learning.
Learn more about the process here: Rapid Fire Learning.

RFL for April, 2019
What have I learned, or re-learned with fresh attention and energies this month?
I’m not a selfie-taking kind of person, but I can be spirit-spilling one, especially when the months draw to a close and my RFL habit kicks in. So here is something I wrote in my journal on my birthday yesterday, the one where you get a zillion reminders in the months leading up to it that you’re eligible for Medicare and need to sign up…
65, I know.
65
That is all.
I prefer to think of 65 as a small number,
Though I understand it’s a lot. It has been a lot.
Yet it’s a lot which is over and done with.
‘Been there, done that’ stuff of all color and stripe,
Chapter read, book closed, book opened, chapter read again,
Because follow through still waited in the wings.
Circumstance,
Happenstance,
Deliberativeness,
Each attempted and accomplished (or just accepted as is.)
Some failures for sure, some tragedy, but I choose to focus;
A lot of small wins have added up in taller posture.
As Dr. K. taught me, “Kū, stand tall.”
Thus I’m looking forward to what’s in front of me, and
I’m jumping into what’s Next, what’s Good, and what’s Alonui, for
Thankfully, those are not done yet. They were never intended to be done.
Some things fall into a category of their own, and we learn to let them.
I jump in wholeheartedly, for sure, mana‘o thriving in lifelong learning.
I’ve six and a half decades of living behind me, and it pushes me, for
It has been a life learned of, leaned into, and decently lived,
Yet it’s certainly not over.
Far from over, more follow through queued in those wings.
One can still be “practical, useful and relevant.”
One can always “be Aloha.”
I know what made me hesitate in my past, and I know what held me back.
I know who said, “no, you can’t” and who said, “yes, of course you can.”
I know what lifted me up and encouraged me. I know why, I know who.
I know what ‘flow’ feels like, and I know when energy drains us and fills us, so
I know how to get it to suit me and serve me, so I may serve others.
I know of the measures and measurements which cause me to celebrate, and
I know of the ones which speak within, loud enough though I alone hear them,
To tell me: “Keep trying. Don’t stop, for this is not what ‘done’ is for you.”
I know when to speak up, converse, listen. I know when to broadcast and publish with intention.
I know to treasure conversation, for I’ve learned life is not a solo proposition.
Talking story helps us to “live out loud” kākou, together, bumps, bruises and all.
I know that ‘done’ looks like, sounds like, and feels like Ho‘ohana, like intention met.
I’m so grateful my life has taught me how to understand that, and look for it.
Whenever I’m not done, I’m still open.
Yet aging makes it so you’re seasoned, and not open and raw.
You’re open and ready, and
You’re certainly a whole lot braver than before.
Koa, courage, is my value 20, and Lokomaika‘i, generosity, is 21.
Life is good, and so are we… we “can always return to that place of our good.”
65 is still a small number, yet it’s abundant.
It holds a lot of good.
We’ve got to keep living that good, as long as we breathe.
So I will.
What have YOU learned, or re-learned with fresh attention and energies this month?
More on Rapid Fire Learning: The RFL Index.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
Talking Story with the Ho‘ohana Community.
Preview of Managing with Aloha, Second Edition, released Summer 2016
Managing with Aloha, Bringing Hawai‘i’s Universal Values to the Art of Business
Aloha!
I turned 65 on the 11th of this month. it has been, without doubt … the toughest one yet. I suppose in my mind I simply couldn’t dismiss the notion that, I am old.
The RFL on your birthday moved me to tears. Profound, is all i can say at this time. Beautiful? yes! There …
Did you know burl burlingame? we went to high school together (radford). Sad loss.
Mahalo,
rachel
Aloha Rachel,
Mahalo for reading, and for your comment. It is a tough birthday, for sure, and writing this as my RFL was a way to self-coach myself to not make as big a deal of it as others do— the world seems to conspire on this particular age because of the whole Medicare, retirement and Social Security countdown, in telling us to ‘pay attention, you’re getting older!’ when that’s not how we feel at all!
It may sound cliché, but I think it sage advice when we hear, “age is just a number” or “you’re only as old as you think you are” to encourage us to ignore every voice but our own: we are what we pay attention to, and can choose our own focus.
I did not know Mr. Burlingame, but I did know of him: He left a legacy in Hawai’i we can be thankful for.
Mālama pono my still-young friend!
Rosa
Aloha Rosa,
Regarding that bugaboo … turning 65. I had an unfortunate experience with one of my doctors about 1 year ago. I was presenting with a ‘few’ complaints, and he finally advised me I was likely ‘thresholding’ … I’d reached my personal pinnicle and was slipping down the other side. I think it set the stage for my having such an issue with this birthday. I do not recall concerns turning 30, 40, 50, even 60. YIKES! This one ‘got me.’ Compounding my problem was the medicare, Social Security, etc. The government confirming I was at a minimum, transitioning from one stage of life to another. As I previously commented, reading your RFL lead me to some RFL of my own. I reflected upon who i am and have become, throughout these 6 and 1/2 decades. Not too bad. No shame. Imperfection. No shame. I live my ‘social contract’ as much as humanly possible. I am greatful everyday I am Tutu to 3 gorgeous keiki. I am learning to truly value the things in my life which reflect not at all upon professional success. As my mother used to tell me after I’d kvetched for an infinate amount of time, “now Rachel, count your blessings.” 65 opened the storage bins in my brain … retrieving that which has made my life hugely satisfying and good, RIGHT NOW. Thank you. Mahalo nui loa, Rosa. Your RFL inspired me.
Burl was a dear man as well as amazingly talented. I last saw him in Seattle (where I now live) as he and his band were ‘touring’ the region. Imagine that! A musician, too! Missed by so many.
again, mahalo,
Rachel