Mindfull Mari

My dad spent quite a few of his teenage years living in Hawaii.

He lived in all corners of the world, a product of divorce parents, some military influence, and was sent to boarding school.

He often tells stories of his time in Hawaii- sort of a classic teenage boy in the late 60’s early 70’s.

He’d skip school to surf alllll day. Salt water runs deep in his veins. His dad ran a small local ice cream shop, which he spent a lot of time at. But he also recalls never fully belonging or fitting in. The island felt like home, but he still struggled to find his place, as every few years of his life he moved to a new state, or a new country. 

As far as I am aware, I have zero Hawaiian blood running through me.

But I reflect back on my trip to Kauai last year very often and something about that island has a deep hold over me. Connor felt it too when we were there.

It felt as if I was returning to it, even though it was my first time there. 

It’s funny how places can do that. Force mindfulness, a practice that is usually not forced, but sought after.

New and foreign lands and streets can sometimes feel more like home than your current roof. Sometimes your home feels foreign and unfamiliar.

So as I’ve dug deeper into this phenomenon, the more I’ve realized that it might be less about the place, and more about our internal state of being. It isn’t always a place that makes us feel a certain way, but its the way we feel while in a place that makes it seem more magical.

How are you showing up in your life? Who are you showing up as?

Are you on autopilot? Are you being mindless through your days? Or is your mind TOO full?

Kauai brought me to a state of mindfulness that I’ve been working hard to return too.

The more settled you are with yourself, the more settled your surroundings will feel.

When inner peace and calm becomes your true north, your compass, life becomes just a smidge easier to navigate.

So regardless of where you are in your life, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc… I encourage you to fully be.

I leave you with two quotes: 

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.”

“Be where you are, otherwise you might miss your life.”