The Art of Life

I’m leaving Maui today. As great and rejuvenating as this short visit has been, its also been a very nostalgic trip.

I’m sitting in the room I grew up in… the room where I’ve spent many days by myself, thinking about other places beyond the borders of this island.  The room where I remember dancing in the mirror, wishing to be upon a stage one day.  The room where I made plans to do big things in big places.  The room where I I’ve just layed around, feeling the most safe, dreaming these huge plans up for my life.

This trip also brought up a lot of the “What’s your five-year plan?”-question by family members.  Did I think I was ever going to end up in the situation that I’m in right now, 4 years ago? No. Do I know exactly what I’ll be doing in 5? Of course not.

But one thing this trip did help me realize, is that I have done everything I could have up to this point. I see familiar faces around the island—faces that bring flashbacks of points in time when our paths intertwined.  I see places that bring back memories of memorable events.  I’ve come to realize that I have accomplished a lot here on Maui… and also realize that most if not all of my frustration and fear that I face in Seattle is the natural fear that occurs when a little fish moves out of his pond into the larger waters. 

Small waters or not, Maui has definitely prepared me for the journey. Maui taught me to respect everyone—because in some way or another, everyone is connected and related.  Maui has taught me to enjoy the simple things—because we often take for granted the beauty that is placed right before us.  Maui has taught me to be grateful—because things could always be a lot worse.  Maui has taught me to dream big—because sometimes on a little island, that’s all you can do.

This time around, going back to Seattle isn’t bringing sighs of relief, but much anxiety and fear.  Trading in the warm, humid air and cool island breeze for the frigid Winter of the Northwest.  Trading in childhood friends, family, for solitude and being completely by myself. 

It’ll be hard, sure. But I know that with the values and strength that this place has given to me… I’ll make it out just fine.

A hui hou, Maui.