When we moved to Maui 18 years ago, we fell in love with Haiku. We bought a home with 3 acres on land that I LOVED. I thought I would die there, as I was so attached to our home and land. After several years, my husband wanted to move to Paia to be closer to the beach, but I wasnʻt budging. I really felt that we were happy because of living on this beautiful land. 

However, all that went out the window in 2006. In the course of ten days, I saved a little girl from the crashing surf (I thought we would both die) and then while windsurfing at Kanaha, found a 77 year old man dying in the water (he had also been windsurfing and had a heart malfunction.) To say it shook me up, would be an understatement. The combination of both events brought me into the present moment with a lesson of non attachment like nothing else ever could have. To understand the fragility of life and how it can change in an instant helped me shift my priorities quickly. I realized that it didnʻt matter where we lived. It opened me up and helped me let go of my attachment to our home. Within six months, we bought an old house in Paia and moved closer to the beach. I never looked back. 

After 2006, I found a new sense of freedom. I realize attachments hold us back. I now know I could be happy living anywhere (or almost anywhere!) by focusing on the present moment and appreciating what is happening in the now.

What can you let go of? What is holding you back?