From Maui to the Czech Republic
If you have been following me on social media, you may have noticed that I have relocated from Maui to my home country of Czech Republic, 12 time zones away. My mamma is 85, and I don’t want to wait until the world switches back from crazy to normal again before I see her. It may be a very long time before it does, and I try to take the route of least regret, no matter what others say.
But leaving Maui has made me look back and appreciate the island as one of my greatest teachers over the past decade.
I see the volcanic origins of the islands as a metaphor for life: happy times intertwined with the volcanic eruptions of life. The islands bring all that was hidden and repressed to the surface.
In my early days, I was challenged by the relentless energy of Maui after I started my online company, and ran out of money in the process, dealt with a house flood, fender benders, neck injuries, a near drowning experience, a broken vertebra, rear ender accident, a concussion, and friendship shake ups.
But as time progressed, the earthquakes of life seemed to become smaller, and the other gentler side of the island started to become predominant. Could it be my long time obsession with self-help books?
And boy, oh boy, did I need them!
But this time I have felt a strong sense of belonging to a community of good friends, caring neighbours, happy dogs and caring dog lovers. I received so many messages of safe travel wishes.
I left the island feeling completely loved and appreciated.
It is amazing how much difference a simple text saying “We will miss you!“ makes, especially now, when so many people feel alone and so many places have become cold and not very friendly.
On the last day, when Pax and I were leaving the beach, I stopped, looked back, and thought "What if this is the last time we are here?"
Of course I hoped we would come back, but the reality, that any moment in our lives can be our last, hit me hard. The last dog walk, last swim, last beach visit, or the last conversation with friends and loved ones.
