Maui, the Goddess Island

Maui has revealed the Goddess within. She is a powerful, beautiful island, continuously nurturing her habitants and guests with healthy food, love, and respect. There is a feminine energy only some have the ability to fully tap into, if you remain present and aware of yourself and your surroundings. In the morning, roosters crow and birds chirp, the breeze blows through Haleakala, and the flowers blossom to the rising sun as the earth spins and meets the ball of fire over the Pacific. The blue waters caress the sandy beaches, sometimes with a force not to be messed with, sometimes with the touch of a mother to her newborn child. Maui is an international place, housing habitants from across the world who are mesmerized with her beauty and warmth. The Goddess is revealed from within.

Are you in touch with your inner Goddess? Women out there, do you take responsibility for your relationships, for yourself, for your own life in a nurturing and respectful way. It is time that women of the world began to respect themselves and allow themselves the power of the divine mother once again. We are the leaders of the future. This world is in need of strong women now, more than ever, to take charge and portray the strength and character of warriors, of caregivers, of healers. We are the healers of the past many years of oppression in the world. We hold the future in our hands, and it is up to us to teach ourselves, embrace the inner Goddess that is all intrinsically part of us, so that we can teach others, and show each other, by example and with love, patience, and very gentle yet bold care, that the united women of the world are ready to rule, ready to heal the earth during these exciting times. What an exciting time to be alive, all you women out there! Know your strength, and shine! Take charge of your life, of your relationships, and blossom. It is time.

Loving you always, from the core center of my heart and the depths of my beautiful soul,

Jen

"The re-emergence of women will bring about the healing of the world." -- Marianne Williamson

"WE ARE the keepers of the earth and its sacred wisdom. WE ARE to help all things and ourselves once again realize that all things are related upon earth and within the universe. We are the ones we have been waiting for." --Hopi Prayer

Hawai'i

When I first arrived in Hilo, Hawai'i in 2006, I didn't know what to expect. I knew I wasn't doing anything over my summer break from college that year and I had about $600 in my bank account. Not much, but enough to get me a room and a flight to Hawai'i. The trip was a disaster. I fell in love with the island, and it's natural beauty, and I needed to come for a reason (which I've discovered now was for me to return in the long run), but I didn't end up getting along with the people I stayed with very well. However, the day I left Hilo to California on July 4th, 2006, I was given a gift that I blessed in the Pacific waters: a shell necklace that I haven't taken off since. I knew that I would one day return to complete something in Hawai'i. I knew something was calling me to these islands. I knew there was something bigger, something stronger, something with more force that was calling me.

I just arrived in Kailua-Kona, on the other side of the big island of Hawai'i, on June 15th, 2010. This time, with a little more money and a little bit more knowledge about what I want to do here. This island is incredible: waterfalls, jungle, desert, black sand, white sand, and lava rock beaches, tidepools, canyons, valleys, rain, snow, heat, volcanos, lava, steam vents, hot springs, waves, and much, much more. In fact, this island alone houses 11 of the 13 main climates of the world. The energy is divine. Mother Earth is very busy here, always active underground with flowing lava and there is an energy here that never ends. I feel more alive on this island than anywhere else in the world I have ever been. You never know what you will find, and what the divine Mother Earth will bring you from day to day.

I've found a home here. I will be here for a while. I have a lot of work to complete on this island. So far, the islands have accepted me well. I've attended a yoga class up in the mountains of Holualoa, overlooking the Pacific, found a job within the first two days, found a hostel to live in, met wonderful people, helped out a local who locked his keys in his car, developed new ideas about how to make and save money, swam amongst turtles and beautiful fish, discovered white sand beaches on the Kohala Coast, and learned that I absolutely cannot live without crusted coconut Mahi Mahi. I have much to learn, and this time around, I am courageous, bold, and confident in my actions, thoughts and behaviors. I can't wait to report what's next here. I can feel a transformation coming. Something that will really help me grow, help me to become a stronger woman. I learn from this island, from this great teacher.

Sometimes, you land somewhere in life, and you just never know what's next, but you discover that what God had planned for you was greater and bigger than you could ever imagine. If you fill yourself up with ideas and images of paradise, you may never find it because your expectations won't be met, but if you discover paradise in each thing, in each place, in each person, in each part of life, you will be more fulfilled than ever before. An overwhelming exctasy will follow you around.

Discover the beauty. Discover the divinity in all beings, in all of aspects of life; even if you think something is bad, it's probably a blessing in disguise.

Love you all from the big island of Hawai'i,

Aloha! -Jen

We are love

I experienced something today so unbelievably amazing, yet so simple!

On the way home from my cousins Graduation party, I had a vent session. I have been in the states for less than one week having traveled in Mexico for about 3 months prior, and I have had yet another difficult adjustment phase into American culture. It's difficult to spend 3 months among a different culture, learn a new language, see the world in a different perspective, watch children in the streets with little money begging for a few pesos to help them with their next meal, and then come back into American culture where the majority of people are blinded by materialism and ego-centric attitudes, always searching for the next best thing to fulfill their emptiness inside. (Yes, this may be a bit of a harsh comment, but this is what I see, and this is how I am feeling, and it's all the truth from my perspective. I am a victim of materialism as well, we all are!) After venting for 10-15 minutes on my mother, sister, and Brian, my sister's boyfriend, I freed myself from what was inside of me. I allowed all these negative feelings pour out of me and I complained and explained and proclaimed about America, money, greed, capitalism, the global marketplace, third world labor, cultural and social inequalities, and I just simply LET IT ALL OUT! After a year of traveling, I have quite a bit going on in this little head of mine.

Then, we sat in silence for a few minutes, and I shut my eyes, and breathed. I listened to myself. I inhaled positivity. I inhaled light. I exhaled negativity. I exhaled darkness. I opened my eyes to the golden hills of California, and I emptied every fear, worry, and complaint from my system. I completely lost myself in a trance. And I realized this one thing that I always knew in my head but never really experienced:

Love is the only thing in the world that truly exists! Love is all that is left when we, as human beings, let all worries, attachments, troubles, petty problems, complaints, issues, drama, and all the noises inside of our brain GO!!! Love! SImply love! Love in the form of wind. Love in the form of air, of space, of energy. It's everywhere. In nature, inside us, in every manmade piece of work ever created. Love. Our pure, natural state of being is love.

So let's celebrate this! Let's celebrate our pure, natural state of being. We are only human after all, right? Let's enjoy this human life and embrace all the love in this world. Love is more abundant and powerful than greed. Love is a stronger force than hatred. Love conquers all.

I see the light in you. I see the love in you. Let us all shine with love and be the angels that God has created us to be.

From Concord, CA, I love all of you!!!!

Jenny

Responsibility

What does it mean to be responsible? Response-able. Able to respond. Are you able to respond maturely, effectively, and consciously in various situations? It is so easy to blame somebody else for our problems: the government, your boyfriend, your mother, your sister, the media, the infamous "they!" Next time, you begin to blame somebody else for your unhappiness, check yourself. Take a step back and think, "What can I do to improve this situation? How can I take responsibility for feeling sad, angry, unhappy, upset, etc?" We are always at choice for our feelings. When we feel sad, it is our choice to feel sad. When we feel happy, it is because we chose to be happy. They're just feelings! It is that simple! I promise, it really is! If we blame someone other than ourselves for our own problems, we never grow, we never mature, we never become strong, because it's always someone else's problem. It is time to take these issues into our own hands, solve the problem, learn from them, and move on. We are the creators of our lives. Let's create maturely, effectively, consciously, and by choice. It is so important for a healthy life. Start practicing today!!!!

Love you all from Cancun, Mexico.

Jenny

Cancun, Mexico

I arrived in Cancun, Mexico 6 days ago, to begin a life here. I am now looking for a job, for a new apartment, and finding my way as I begin to settle down a bit. For 10 months I have been on the road, from city to city, hostel to hostel, constantly meeting new friends and always starting something new, something fresh everyday. Now is a time for reflection, for settling a bit, for starting a new beginning. One year ago, I would never guess I would be living in Cancun. One year ago, I had no idea I would be so incredibly lucky, meeting the most amazing people, beginning a new relationship with a wonderful man, becoming independent. One year ago, If I had to guess what I would be doing now, I would probably say. "sitting in an office making a steady paycheck." But I decided to take the Road Less Traveled. I decided to rely on the universe for my nurturing, for my care. Do I regret one thing? Not at all. The growth I have endured in the last 10 months has been unprecedented. I know more about myself now than I have ever known my entire life. I know what I want in my life.

Cancun is a big city, not at all in the same likability category of many cities in Mexico, but it is international, and it allows me to make money, save a little, and live in a cheap apartment close to the wild yet delicate Caribbean sea.

We never know what is next in life. We cannot make plans for 10 years from today. Life has different plans. God has different plans. It is important to respect those plans. Instead of getting upset when things don't go as planned, let's embrace the flow of life and remember all is well. God does not make mistakes. All paths are unique. All paths are different. I respect you and I respect your unique path.

Love and light always,

Jen

Women

Women. Las Mujeres. Femmes. Frauen. Mulheres. 妇女. Donne.여자들. Wanawake. زنان. Women of the world!

Someone told me that in a relationship, women are the spine, holding the base of the relationship and being the strongest, central core. Women of the world, it is time to realize our power. I am not speaking from a feminist perspective, but rather a motherly perspective, a natural perspective. Both men and women are manifestations of the divine mother, but I feel it is time for women to once again remember, to realize their inner strength, to forgive the oppression of our societies that have put us underneath politics, that have belittled us into unheard corners.

We all know it. Deep down. We all have mothers. And when we are hurt, sad, upset, angry, who do we call? Mothers are emotional, caring, and when something needs to be done, mothers make sure to get it done. Women make sure to take care of those around us. We are the mothers of this earth. We have a natural ability, the natural instinct to nurture. We are creators of life. We carry life with us for 9 beautiful months that develop us into strong, capable rocks, able to endure any weather, any hardship.

I am confident in saying that I am proud to be a woman, and I am proud to be the spine of all my relationships. I am proud to be strong, and make decisions on my own, without feeling bad or without feeling regret. I am proud to be capable of anything I want, to manifest and create my life however I want it. Feel the strength within. All you beautiful women out there, this strength is intrinsically a part of you. Embrace it, make your decisions, empower yourself, lead with your heart, and remember the mother within. It is time to take care of our culture, of our people, of the earth. Mother Earth.

What attitude do you choose?

When we're young, our mentors, teachers, and parents always tell us to have a good attitude. But what does that really mean? We are always at choice in our lives. We choose how we feel about certain situations. When we get laid off, or fired from a job, are we upset? Do we blame the world? The society? Our managers? Or do we see one door close, and ten more open? Next time something "bad" happens to you, why not say to yourself, "Congratulations! I just got fired! Now I have the opportunity to make a positive change in my life!"

I try to keep a positive attitude. These so-called "bad" things that happen are blessings in disguise. You won't believe what happened to me today. A few days ago, I returned from my amazing life in Mexico to San Francisco to get ready to leave to Alaska, where I was planning on spending the summer, working and playing. It sounded like a good idea until I fell in love with Mexico, found myself a potential job for the summer, learned more spanish, and formed incredible friendships. But I was convinced to keep my job in Alaska, although it just didn't seem right. Small things were happening around me, telling me not to go. For instance, my iPod got stolen a few days before. I couldn't find the right clothing. I was not looking forward to the cold May weather in Alaska. My stuff wouldn't fit in my new luggage. I couldn't sleep well. And on the way to the airport this morning, we hit traffic that isn't normal for a Wednesday morning at 6AM. Finally, upon arrival to the check-in stand at Alaska Airlines, the official said he couldn't find me in the system. So I walked inside to talk to another agent, only to realize I went to the wrong airport! I was supposed to be in Oakland, not San Francisco! I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. My sister had already left the airport, and I was stuck. They were going to allow me to try to fly standby with fee waiver so I didn't have to pay the extra $100 charge for changing my flight, but I told them right then and there, FORGET IT! All these signs showed me, something is just not right. I took BART home and am now looking for flights back to Cancun, the place I never wanted to leave in the first place. My mom even told me that she didn't feel right about me going to Alaska, saying she was having images of me in bad situations in Alaska. It just wasn't meant to be...

I could be distraught. I could feel like stressed, or worried, but I'm not! I am relieved that I get to return to Cancun to keep allowing the flow in my life that I have been appreciating and embracing.

So let's try it. Next time we feel like victims of the world, let's change our attitude and see the light in every situation. The light is always there, waiting for you to see it!

Thanks for reading my stories! I love to share my life with all of you and am glad you are open and willing to listen. Sending you my love and light, always.