in my shoes

My family and community raised me to be an optimist, someone who really believes that I can reach the stars.  I believe that I have to be the change I want to see in the world.  I believe that I can do anything that I desire.  And, I believe that the best way for people to live is through loving actions and perceptions.

My father was in the military, so I have traveling in my roots.  As a kid, I lived in Alaska, Bermuda, Missouri, California and Spain.  I’ve learned through traveling and moving, that every place is beautiful (even when there is no tourist industry marketing it) and every place is filled with opportunities that are inspiring.

I come from a clan of compassionate, hard-working generalists.  As a teenager, I rebelled against my generalist nature and decided that it would be smarter for me to be a specifist.  I went to college to become an oncologist and breast cancer researcher, but I quickly realized that I wanted to learn about a lot of things . . . healthy living was just one of them.  I also loved teaching, dancing, doing yoga, doing art, writing books, learning about sociology, studying animal behavior and ecology conservation, farming/gardening, aspiring to save the world, and being a part of a well-intentioned, sustainable community/family.  I’ve continued my quest for knowledge around science and health, but I’ve decided to be a teacher instead of a doctor to embrace more of my generalist desires.

In 1999, I graduated from high school on a military base in Spain.  Straightaway, I flew across an ocean and a continent to attend U.C. Davis and graduated with a B.A.S. in Biology and Dance.  People always asked me how a degree in dance was going to help me, but I could never answer clearly.  My answer now is that it taught me to release the stress of my left-brained coursework.  It taught me to be a kinesthetic learner, and use other senses to acquire knowledge.  And, most importantly, it taught me to value pure, child-like fun.  Being goofy and zany, challenging my body to go past its conceivable limits and then laughing about it are things that I value highly!

After finishing my M.Ed. at U.C. San Diego, and surviving my first year of teaching middle school students, I moved to Hawaii to continue teaching (on a two-week, pack up, graduate and move kind of whim).  The Big Island and Kauai have been the softest, most nurturing places I’ve ever lived.  I’ve grown into a more conscious, confident, loving being as I’ve taught middle and high schoolers, grown food, danced with an African dance troupe, competed in a triathlon, swam with dolphins, hiked next to lava, and surfed perfect reef breaks.

I’ve embraced the Hawaiian philosophies that encourage community and taking care of others.  The more you give to others, the more abundance will fall on top of you.

In the past two years, I’ve been encouraged to really think outside of the box to answer the question, “If time or money were no object, what would you be doing in your life?”  After brainstorming, and journaling, and praying, and journaling some more, I’ve got a plan.  Read more about it on The Journey page.