Hakuna Matata!

"It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy"

If there are any words I can use to describe my life here in Kauai it has to 
be 'Hakuna Matata' because there really are no worries here. 
The pace of the island is so relaxed, slow, and easy-going. haha,
if you know me at all this is so contradicting to the past seven maybe twenty 
one years of my life!!!!

But this is where I am finding the beauty of it all. I am literally
forced into a slower life. My brain is forced to stop worrying, stop
running faster than I can process. Everyday takes care of itself.
It's the craziest thing, my brain doesn't even know where to begin. It is
re-learning. Everything that I have been taught and taught myself
is being pushed aside to see a new style of living. It's hard,
but its a beautiful process.

There are a few main lessons I am learning that I wanted to share.
1.) Life is so much more sweet, more gratifying, and overflowing
when you begin to rejoice, celebrate, and marvel at the small
things. Maybe the way a small vibrant flower contrasts
on a green grassy hill, or the way the ocean has seven different blues 
and greens, or a little butterfly, a childs laugh (we have THE
cutest little boys living next door). Whatever it is, learning to acknowledge
it makes all the difference. How much do we miss everyday simply
because we don't allow ourselves to notice?? Way too much.
2.) One of the hardest but best lessons I have been learning in the past few
weeks is needing vs. wanting things. I have been acutely
aware of how materialistic I was becoming back home. Maybe
not that I wanted all the expensive and best things, but 
just always wanted things. I was spoiled enough in my job to make
enough money to basically buy whatever whenever.
Coming here with only a suitcase and a half, and not having money saved definitely
puts me on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. And even
when I do have money I start thinking, what could I possibly need?
A new bookcase, a wall hanging, a new watch... i was at walmart catching myself
saying, "I need that" "We should get this" "The house needs this"
I don't know it just really hit me. I think our conception of need and
want is so blurred. We are brainwashed to need things. We want them
because we are told we need them. So for now, I enjoy
my plain white very bright walls, my two towels, one set of sheets and 
honestly I have never been so content. I am learning to get back to the basics.
On journey of discovering a simple life, not based on material things.
3.) Last thing, friends are the greatest gift a person could ask for.
I can count four people in my life that truly make it a better and more
wonderful experience on a daily basis. 
And I cannot express how grateful I am for that. I am learning/trying to learn, to invest in people.
Not my job. Not a car. Not things or my thoughts.