
I had moments where I felt very alone, misunderstood, like I didn’t belong or like I wasn’t enough. It wasn’t the “perfect” summer of my life, although it could certainly be disguised as such. I remember several moments of emotional struggle while in Maui. The house was hot during the day and the occasional cockroach encounter brought me literal chills and nightmares, but also some tear-jerking belly laughs that I’ll never ever forget. Our washing machine sat outside on our back patio and we line-dried our clothes in our bedrooms, waking up to the sound of roosters crowing and a dusting of tiny insect wings on our blankets (I never figured out how those got through the screen windows). I didn’t frolic around The Four Seasons at Wailea and drink piña coladas by the pool, I lived in a sizable 4-plex home with roommates whom I didn’t know prior to my move there. That summer was monumental for my personal growth. In my last blog post on cultivating authenticity, I mentioned how I often refer to my best self as “Maui Manda.” The 21-year-old version of me who discovered the kind of person she wanted to be while living in Maui-humble, confident, happy, compassionate, giving, loving, calm, Christlike. WHAT EXPERIENCES SHAPED WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
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I take deep breaths that smell of sea salt and grilled pineapple, wrapped in a bun of humidity. The sunlight beams on my arms and shoulders as the ocean gently spits on my skin. I’m wearing my running shoes, a tank top and basketball shorts (I hadn’t discovered real workout clothes yet). I sit on the black rocks that line the shore between Front Street and Wahikuli Wayside Park, a small picnic area just off the main highway in Lahaina that I used to run to from the house I lived in during the summer of ’07. 26 August 2021.WHERE DO YOU GO TO CONNECT WITH YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELF? Quality time - You want your partner to spend time with you.Gifts - You feel loved when your partner gives you things.Acts of service - You experience love as favors for each other, such as cooking dinner.

X Expert Source Crista Beckĭating Coach & Matchmaker Expert Interview. Physical touch - You desire physical intimacy, like cuddling, holding hands, and kissing.Words of affirmation - You want your partner to tell you they love you.Then, pick which of the 5 love languages best fits your needs: X Research source

Consider what makes you feel loved and how you tend to express the love you feel for someone. Your love language is how you want to be loved, as well as how you express love.
