Every day in Kauai begins by walking to the end of the road where the Kalalau trailhead begins. Then up. A half mile straight up. Slippery rocks, lush foliage, a glimpse of ocean view. Fulfilling the pact that I made with myself a month ago in Boulder, each day, a hike. A portion of which has a steep enough pitch to take my breath away. Grief has had it’s way with my heart. Over the course of a day, the boulder crushing it gets heavier and heavier. My lungs ache. Throughout the day, it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe. Hiking straight uphill undoes that. It re-sets me. Getting my heart rate up to it’s max and my lungs full to capacity, the physical pain gets washed away, taking with it, the grief. While hiking, especially on a treacherous path like this, all I can think of is my next step. At the top, I am renewed. I can face the next step, the next moment, the rest of the day.