When you’re single you dream of being in paradise with a lover or a myriad of romantic interludes. Is it marriage and children that shifts your dream to being in paradise all alone? Now that I am here experiencing the decadence of only myself to please, I’m not so sure what to do with myself!

Maui began to call earlier this year (ok, just as I typed this the phone rang and no one was there…or was it Maui…). I tried to plan this trip in March and then again in April but both fell through for what seemed to be good reasons. As always the stars and planets aligned bringing me here as Jupiter, the great guru planet, has moved into Aquarius (read more). I know that I wanted and needed this trip to rejuvenate and reconnect but I can’t help but feel there is another more profound reason that I was called to Maui at exactly this time.

I cried on the plane all the way here as the decompression began and I looked at the picture of my son on my laptop feeling a deep sense of detachment, it was a bit unsettling but soon passed as I finally arrived safely in my condo. I clicked on the T.V. to unwind only to watch a commercial for anti-depression and anxiety tapes - thank goodness I had Maui instead.

On my first day walking down the hill to the beach I felt a hazy “surrealness” hover over me as I heard the following words come out of my mouth (out loud) “I want to do this as often as possible for the rest of my life”. I heard the words and thought, “Could I mean this, what about my husband and son?” And I realized what I meant was that I want to feel this “free” as often as possible for the rest of my life — the famous aha moment light bulb went off and set the context for the rest of my journey.

That night I saw my client who was leaving for Europe in two days. She was ecstatic as she set this intention with me in November of last year. She created the opportunity to leave work (previously inconceivable) for three weeks freeing herself to experience her dream of traveling after working full time and raising two boys for over twenty years. Yes, freedom…that night we chatted and giggled over wine and pupus and exchanged conversation with interesting characters always to be found at the Lahaina Grill bar.

The next day I walked with a friend for over two hours as we followed the new trail system in Kapalua. As another working Mom, she was enjoying her freedom happily as her shifts were cut back giving her the opportunity to reconnect with her self again. On our walk we decided we’d take a trip to visit Lynette (my Nanny on island mentioned in my book) who moved to Hana reclaiming her connection with her own heart in the heart of Maui.

That night I had drinks and pupus with another client (when in rome!!) on the Lanai of Merriman’s overlooking Kapalua Bay and the Island of Molokai. The setting alone brought such joy to my heart as Kapalua is heaven on earth to me. Our conversation swept us away and the session began. As she shared the details of her recent broken heart with me, I heard the words “What if” blare in my ears. I shared with her that she’d been limiting her desire for true love to “What if” scenarios. She stopped as if frozen with the look of a deer in headlights and I could almost hear her brilliant mind beeping “this does not compute”.

Then an opening occurred. She was able to see “What if” rather than be at the effect of it. She was free. I invited her to shift to “What is.” Her whole body melted and life began to pour back into her. Years of complex “What if” scenarios flashed before her. By acknowledging “What if” and seeing it separate from her, she had the freedom to claim “What is”, gain clarity, and create true love from her heart instead of her head. (Read the article in my the Guide to Thrive email if this hits a button for you or feels like a sledge hammer). Her ego had tricked her into believing that “What if” gave her unlimited potential but she realized that all it truly gave her is one limiting experience of love after another. Claiming “What is” brought her to the truth of her heart’s desire in the present and her true power to manifest her desires. She rocked my world as well. What if (see how easy it is) I have been living in a “What if” delusional reality? What if I Brad Pitt met me instead of Angelina, what if, what if what if?

“I want to do this as much as possible for the rest of my life” continued to expand with the realization that I can teach workshops on Maui and in spas all over the world. Someone has to do it, why not me?! My trip continued with having my nails done, strolling to the Honolua store for a cafe mocha and swimming in my favorite bay, Napili Bay. I experienced a classic beach day, reading, napping, watching surfers and gazing at a book by the Dahli Lama (about freeing yourself from suffering) next to a bottle of Hawaiian Tropics - I had to laugh. On a walk through the lava fields with crashing waves, I got a vision of the natives bathing in the very same pools that had formed in this sacred spot.

I still have give more days in paradise…I do miss my two boys…if I could beam you over I would…up at 5:30 am and off to Hana…more to come…With warm aloha! Cindy

Share your desire for freedom with me and others below.

The stars must have aligned in a new way for me last week as the universe delivered my first live interview on the news and a news story. Here’s the link to the news story that I will update once I get a copy of both segments.

Empowering Women Interview from last Sunday (click on the link and scroll down the videos on the right).

The other news story will air Monday, May 11th at 10:00 pm and possibly on the morning show the next day. It’s on sleep deprivation as I share my own challenges with sleep and my nervous system disorder as well as how Life Cultivation can help people clear stress and sleep better as well. Eric Collins (the amazing brother of my friend Leanne see below) also took footage in my office and walking on the beach so it should be a fun one with probably a little “too much information” about me.

I will never forget this week, these opportunities and the deep letting go that created the heart of my experience. Even the day of the live interview was about letting go and just being there. Prior to going on I shared the Green Room with a group from Project Concern International. There was Shawn (a co-worker of my friend Uli, another coincidence) a woman from Saks 5th Avenue and two young models. They has all this time chit-chatting and then at the last minute they got called and one of the models could not find her purse. She flipped out so I calmly got up and went to a bag, pulled it out, and gave it to her. Off she went. Then it came time for my interview. They came to get me and we walked out to the set. I realized I had extra time so I asked if I could go get my notes. I went back to the Green Room and it was locked. I knew then my only job was to be present so I went back on set and sat quietly. Courtney came out and sat with me then got up to grab her notes. She sat down and we were on. She was caught off guard and her microphone was not on. She recovered (of course) and afterward she thanked me for being so calm - who’d a thought? But then again that’s my job if life now. It’s no longer about me - I am just a space for being and for people to expand, grow, breakdown or whatever they need to do. It was perfect and divine timing and I am crystal clear that from this point forward, it is about me being of service to others in every way. Let’s not forget that what the segment was about was the Divine Feminine — Shakti Rising and my book
Chameleon Butterfly Dragonfly.

You always hear that letting go is powerful but how do you do it? How can you let go without your ego going wild yelling, “You can’t be carefree, you can’t stop obsessing about what you want, all hell will break loose if you don’t manage every detail of your life.” Well now I’ve experienced first hand how letting go gives way to joy and joy gives way to synchronicity and that you just don’t have to work as hard as we’ve become accustomed to.

How did this all happen? Here’s the skinny on how all of this came to be. Many months ago, while walking on the beach in Del Mar, I reconnected with a beautiful woman I know named Leanne Collins. We must have passed each other on the beach five or more times in the course of a few months - it became very obvious we were suppose to connect.

We did indeed connect on many levels and through mutual support and admiration for one another, Leanne introduced me to her amazing brother Eric Collins with Fox Channel 6 and in turn Courtney Dwyer also a reporter and anchor with the station.

In the midst of a week where I was completely overwhelmed with full time mommyhood and a travelling husband and grandparents — I chose to completely let go of all expectations and just enjoy the chaos and of course the time with my son.

Is it an accident that in the next few days of letting go not one but two T.V. interview opportunities showed up? I know without a doubt it was the deep level of letting go I chose and the joy I experienced in doing so that opened up these opportunities.

I will be making letting go part of my daily life - it feels so amazing!! Second best to the day I vowed never to wear panty hose again!! I am free…want to join me? Share your stories of letting go with us.