In Maryland, the place where I was born and raised, I had an amazing apartment, a busy social life, a great career, just got my Master’s degree, and was taking trips almost every month. I felt pretty comfortable and content with my life. Yet, deep inside, I knew something was missing. Even after just accomplishing so many huge goals, I felt complacency looming around the corner. My soul was calling me to make a big change. I am a firm believer that 1) listening to your intuition is important and 2) nothing good ever comes from comfort zones. It was time to spread my wings and push myself to truly live life to the fullest.
I always knew I was destined to live in faraway lands, since my love for travel extended far beyond just visiting places I dream of. Traveling somewhere for days or weeks is a far different experience than actually living there. I have never been the kind of person who wants to live in my hometown for my whole life. And I have definitely never been afraid of taking risks. I do not think everyone is cut out to make such a big move like I did, especially on their own. But I think it’s something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Picking up and moving somewhere new really helps you to find yourself. It’s the ultimate test.
It also doesn’t hurt when you’re moving to a place like Hawaii, where it’s kind of hard to see yourself unhappy. Perhaps it’s harder to move to other places that are either less enticing or more extremely drastic than what you're used to, but I figured Hawaii was great for my first move. It’s a U.S. state, yet far enough away and such a different culture that it still feels like a foreign country. I had never even stepped foot on Hawaiian soil, yet had no doubt in my mind that this was somewhere I could really see myself and would be able to do the soul searching I knew was necessary.
So when this opportunity presented itself, I had a big decision to make. I had a good thing going at home and other job prospects to debate over. I talked to everyone I could about Hawaii to gather as much info and as many different perspectives as I could. It seemed like a no-brainer, but there were lots of cons to consider. I had to do diligent research and prepare myself by considering how high the cost of living was, how small and far away Oahu is, and how bad the traffic/bugs/time difference/expense of coming home is. I weighed out every possible aspect, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out that this is what I wanted and needed to do.
When my mind was set, I used the law of attraction and asked the universe to help me make this happen. I applied, interviewed, and despite very heavy competition for this position, I got offered the job. It all happened so fast. Before I knew it, I was hurled into the very overwhelming Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process, and had only months to get my entire life ready to relocate to a tiny little volcanic rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was a lot to purge all my belongings and plan what would come with me, what went to storage, what needed to get sold, and what needed to get donated. Especially since I took a 3 week trip to backpack across Europe in the middle of it all. However, everything miraculously worked itself out. The biggest point of stress was probably the House-Hunting Trip (HHT). I had 10 days to find, apply for and sign a lease for a decent, affordable place where I’d be living for probably three years, among a notoriously unfavorable rental market. I researched and examined prospects for months so I’d have an idea of what to expect, and honestly it did not look too good. Some people came back from their HHTs with nada, and ended up having to live in a hotel until they found a place. I did NOT want this to happen, but I was NOT willing to settle. Amazingly, I effortlessly found a place that overexceeded my expectations on just the 2nd day of my trip and got approved the same day. No one could believe my luck! But as cliche as it sounds, the universe works things out for a reason and I could only believe this was a sign to confirm that this was all meant to be!
Everything else fell into place and was a piece of cake after that. I shipped my car and got a rental for my remaining days in Maryland. I arranged several farewell events to see all the important people in my life before I left. I packed everything up, sent boxes to my HI address, spent 3 days with movers to ship my household goods, and then finally that last day in Maryland came. I will NEVER in my life forget how it felt to arrive at the airport with a one-way ticket for the first time in my life, and kiss my mama goodbye not knowing when I’d be back or when I’d see her again. It was bittersweet, and I was truly overwhelmed with so many emotions. But as soon as I left, I never looked back!
In a place like Hawaii, it’s super easy to fall in love and forget what you left behind rather quickly. I swear that during my first month or two, I would walk around smiling, trying to convince myself that “I LIVE HERE! I REALLY DO!” My days were (and still are) filled with so much fun and adventure exploring this gorgeous island, being immersed in such diverse and foreign cultures, and learning more about the fascinafing Hawaiian people and their history. I actually surprised myself with how well I did adapting to my first relocation ever in such a new setting. I also fit in very easily, since I’m mixed and my whole life people have questioned whether or not I was Hawaiian. Here, everyone assumes I am, even the Hawaiians! So being able to blend in with the local people has also probably enhanced my experience tremendously. While I missed my loved ones back home, I still have yet to actually feel homesick or even slightly question if I made the right decision. It felt right from day one. It feels like home!
Fast-forward to today, after five whole months of living this #hilife. I must say, life is GOOD. I'm still brand spanking new here, but I definitely feel like a local now! I’ve acclimated enough to know the island pretty well, yet still have so much more to see, do, try, and explore. I go to my choice of the best beaches in the world every single weekend, sometimes even on the weekdays or after work... Something it's a dream come true to be able to say. No matter how many times I see my beautiful surroundings, it never ceases to amaze me or make me feel so unbelievably appreciative and grateful. I realize that many people only dream of visiting, let alone living, here and I am extremely fortunate. So I can promise you that I enjoy and cherish every single moment. I also recently realized that I love it so much here that I no longer feel the urge to travel so often. Of course, I still get a wanderlust bug here and there, and plan to travel to other islands and countries in the Pacific. However, there’s so much to look forward to here so I’m extremely fulfilled with my time here and don’t have to look forward to leaving to visit somewhere else just to feel the same fulfillment or get a thrill, like how I felt in Maryland. Even when I took a short trip to neighbor island Maui, I was homesick to come home to my island. I’m pretty sure that’s a telltale sign that you’re genuinely happy!
Honestly, I feel a new sense of joy and excitement about life. I tell everyone that this is truly a magical place, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel such a connection to it with my soul. But aside from how incredible Hawaii is, it’s also so exhilarating to be here and to be totally free to experience everything on my own, at my own pace, at my own leisure. This is about ME, discovering myself, and enjoying the fruits of my labor. All of this was possible because of ME. I overcomed so many obstacles and worked so incredibly hard to be here and live my dreams, so I know I deserve every bit of it. And that alone feels more amazing than anything else.
I proved a lot to myself by moving out here on my own and flourishing. I now have no doubt that I could move anywhere else in the world and do the same. I’m proud of myself for having the courage to do this, something lots of people questioned because they could never imagine doing it themselves. Now there are no limits for me and my future. I can totally see myself as a wanderer, moving from place to place every few years to conquer them one by one. This nomad lifestyle totally fits me and satisfies my soul. But for now while I’m here for the next 3-5 years, I’ll make the most of each day until I’m off to my next destination.
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