A a r o n & J a n a 🌴
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
— ALBERT EINSTEIN
In 2008, I started Navigating Life - a naive and sentimental blog focused on poetry, creative writing, and various articles I wrote while studying journalism in college. Months before I graduated, my father passed away from a 25-year battle with MS. My zeal for authentic writing (open to the public) had suddenly disappeared. The confusion and pain I felt after his death, I didn’t want to reflect on.
It wasn't until six years later, my husband and I moved to Maui and a familiar warmth, comfort, and beauty of the islands cracked me open. Out here I feel connected with land and sea — It wakes me up, forces me to be real with myself. Nature is a powerful teacher.
Through writing, I feel spiritually and emotionally awake. Writing helps me to process my emotions, define what I know, and therefore what I want in life. An outpouring flow of emotion + creativity - I reflect and I am grateful, so I can make room for what’s next.
So, in effort towards being a self-expression enthusiast, I hope you enjoy some writing pieces and photos. Please open your heart- reflect and comment if you feel inclined- I want to know your story!
With warm aloha,
Jana
“The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
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For seven years together and almost two of which being married, we have shared a deep love and inquisitiveness of nature, people and different cultures. To find another soul who appreciates & respects our earth, and understands the precious responsibility to be stewards OF this earth, is something we’ll never take for granted.
Aaron grew up in Yakima, Washington - the agricultural capital. He lived across the street from one of the largest chestnut orchards in the US, and fruit stands lined the road to home. As a boy, Aaron worked cherry harvest driving tractor and packaging the crops. He also worked with his grandfather on his apple orchard called "Papa's Orchard". Whether it was earning his first income or simply helping family and neighbors, he was surrounded by lush garden patches, rows of orchards, acres of vineyards, and the fertile soil of the Yakima River valley.
Aaron grew up in Yakima, Washington - the agricultural capital. He lived across the street from one of the largest chestnut orchards in the US, and fruit stands lined the road to home. As a boy, Aaron worked cherry harvest driving tractor and packaging the crops. He also worked with his grandfather on his apple orchard called "Papa's Orchard". Whether it was earning his first income or simply helping family and neighbors, he was surrounded by lush garden patches, rows of orchards, acres of vineyards, and the fertile soil of the Yakima River valley.
Aaron went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seattle Pacific University, yet he held on to his horticultural roots by working in Pike Place Market at an olive oil and vinegar shop (which he infused with locally grown herbs and spices in small batches by hand). Currently, Aaron works seasonally (May-October) on the county fast ferry in Seattle.
Jana grew up in Seattle. Her love for nature and the outdoors stems from her mother, who has taught earth science for 30 years and an environmental 'go green' class. Jana also reminisces about the memories with her beloved late father, who also loved the outdoors. They would sit outside on the back porch, admiring any creature from butterflies to soaring eagles. From as early as she can remember, her memories are filled with being outside exploring nature- asking and learning about trees, rocks, moon phases, volcanoes, outer space and the deep sea. She's spent countless weekends in the San Juan Islands- where her mother was a park ranger during her 20's.
Jana went on to work at an Italian restaurant for five years, while earning a Journalism degree at the University of Washington. After backpacking through Europe with Aaron after college, she landed a sort of 'dream job' at a local TV station in downtown Seattle. Although after three years working in local news, she decided to move on. She acquired her real estate license and began working seasonally (May-October) as the Boathouse Director of a private club in Seattle.
Jana grew up in Seattle. Her love for nature and the outdoors stems from her mother, who has taught earth science for 30 years and an environmental 'go green' class. Jana also reminisces about the memories with her beloved late father, who also loved the outdoors. They would sit outside on the back porch, admiring any creature from butterflies to soaring eagles. From as early as she can remember, her memories are filled with being outside exploring nature- asking and learning about trees, rocks, moon phases, volcanoes, outer space and the deep sea. She's spent countless weekends in the San Juan Islands- where her mother was a park ranger during her 20's.
Jana went on to work at an Italian restaurant for five years, while earning a Journalism degree at the University of Washington. After backpacking through Europe with Aaron after college, she landed a sort of 'dream job' at a local TV station in downtown Seattle. Although after three years working in local news, she decided to move on. She acquired her real estate license and began working seasonally (May-October) as the Boathouse Director of a private club in Seattle.
We have lived in Washington (mainly Seattle) our entire lives.
Our family, friends, and all our experiences here have shaped who we are. We love them so very much, and are so thankful for everything we've shared together.
After we married, we moved to our sweet little apartment on the beach in West Seattle and have enjoyed this little taste of seclusion & peace.
We managed to grow our own herbs, make our own Kombucha and herbal tinctures. This has brought us immense joy, but we both still feel a heavy cloud over us.
We long to live a life of deeper meaning, one which surpasses the surface level of desk jobs and the corporate world. We truly desire to enrich our lives with a community in a new place, while connecting to the earth and learning from new people.
Our family, friends, and all our experiences here have shaped who we are. We love them so very much, and are so thankful for everything we've shared together.
After we married, we moved to our sweet little apartment on the beach in West Seattle and have enjoyed this little taste of seclusion & peace.
We managed to grow our own herbs, make our own Kombucha and herbal tinctures. This has brought us immense joy, but we both still feel a heavy cloud over us.
We long to live a life of deeper meaning, one which surpasses the surface level of desk jobs and the corporate world. We truly desire to enrich our lives with a community in a new place, while connecting to the earth and learning from new people.
This December 2017, we are moving to Maui and will be WWOOFING on a dragonfruit farm in Lahaina. We bought a one-way ticket and are eager to see where God leads us on this new adventure.
Our childhoods are filled with many visits to the Hawaiian Islands- with so much inspiration from the Island beauty, wonder of the culture, and so much love in our hearts for Hawaii. We now wish to engage this beautiful land and to serve and give back to the islands and people.
We're ready to replant ourselves in new fertile soil.
Follow along on our journey ~ we are beyond excited for this life change and will be intentionally photographing and blogging our experience.
Follow along on our journey ~ we are beyond excited for this life change and will be intentionally photographing and blogging our experience.
We are ready to sow. We are ready to grow. We are ready to reap.
❤
❤
Aaron and Jana