Undoubtedly, a month prior I would have told you that this would be the worst case scenario, but by this exact thing happening, there was nothing left to fear. Interestingly enough, working alongside the girl that my former partner cheated on me with was one of the best things that happened. I returned to Kailua Beach Adventures, where I was reunited with some old and some new coworkers, and was surrounded by an attitude of playfulness, gratitude, and joy that was just the same as when I’d left. And although some of the friendships I had shared, I found that they equally belonged to just me. Although I had spent two years away – it quickly felt like I hadn’t missed a beat. I was overjoyed to find that the community in Hawaii welcomed me back with arms wide open. With the end of a relationship that I felt previously defined me in this space – a relationship in which friends, coworkers, and an apartment was shared – I was unsure of my standing in Hawaii. Why then, if Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world, did it inspire feelings of fear? Because I felt that the context in which I previously lived there no longer existed. Back in March, I bought a one-way ticket back to my former home and island paradise, unsure of what my time on Oahu had in store for me. After being gone for nearly two years, I finally returned to one of my favorite places in the world: Hawaii. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” George Addair