February 2023 life changing month
February 1st, 2023 will always sit in permanent ink in my memory. Maui, Hawaii. Koki Beach. Jillian & I got caught in a powerful undercurrent, the kind that instantly reminds you the Pacific Ocean isn’t scenery, it’s raw force. Even now, I still carry some PTSD from it. Certain ocean sounds, strong waves, even memories of that day can pull me right back there mentally.
A lifeguard spotted us struggling from the road, pulled over, & started coaching me from a distance on how to survive. I eventually smashed into volcanic rock, grabbed hold, & refused to let go. That rock honestly saved my life. Jillian somehow floated safely to shore completely unscathed, thank God. Seeing her okay was the biggest relief I’ve ever felt. After it was over, the lifeguard handed me a quarter from a jar, a small gesture that carried real emotional weight.
Almost immediately after the incident, still processing what had just happened, I drove us to complete the Road to Hana. The contrast was surreal. One moment chaos, the next calm beauty unfolding mile by mile. Endless ocean backdrops, farmland rolling by, cows grazing peacefully, pink clouds settling into the sunset like nature quietly resetting the day. Twenty-five mile per hour roads forcing patience, presence, perspective. A breathtaking adventure we’ll never forget.
At one point, a pickup truck spotted a Challenger rental car with haoles (us) inside. They honked their horns & tailgated us for a stretch. I stayed patient, steady. Eventually they stopped pressing & peeled off. We made it safely to our Airbnb.
That night, as if the universe wanted a dramatic closing scene, a comet passed overhead that only comes around Earth roughly every 60,000 years. It felt symbolic. Fragility, survival, perspective, connection. That experience bonded us for life.
We survived, then it was back to the hustle. But this month stays permanent. A life-changing memory from February 1st, 2023. Maui. Koki Beach. Road to Hana. Proof that life is delicate, unpredictable, & incredibly precious.
