October 2025
So much was packed into this month, it’s crazy is was all within 31 days, like… WTF? I had an epiphany about “home” while simultaneously leaving home to go home (twice). Had my first exams for school. Spent 19 hours in the air. Lots to divulge.
Table of Contents
1. Wins
Big / Small Victories: Celebrated time with friends, went scuba diving 9 times again (successfully), made the first step to really and truly work on a business plan, took my first two exams for this Masters program, and
Moments of Joy: Landing on Bonaire again, diving again, celebrating new scuba instructors, finishing my first two classes of the Masters program.
Number of Books Read: 2 not finished; 1 audiobook finished
Favorite Quote: “Why can’t you have both?” - Philip, a new friend and colleague
Favorite Location: Bonaire because…. Bonaire
Favorite Meal: El Bigote on Bonaire because the food and drinks are always delicious, and it was my last night on the island, celebrating with friends.
Favorite Memory: Diving through three bait balls on Bonaire (the largest I’ve ever seen).
2. Takeaways
This month, I learned that I officially have two homes. Aside from being my own “home”, wherever I am, that is. But physical locations that just feel like home with all the warm, fuzzy feelings that come with it. The friends that become family, the dreams, goals, laughter, and tears. Everything. Bonaire and Nederland. Both Dutch… that’s telling, hé? But truly, leaving my new life to go back to Bonaire was exciting, but then leaving Bonaire to come home, felt like leaving home, but I knew I was still going back home. Talk about mentally and emotionally confusing. My heart officially lives in two places. But I think that’s pretty cool.
3. Failures
Expectation: I can go to Bonaire for a week to work and still study enough for my two exams.
Reality: I did not, indeed, follow the discipline to study enough.
I’m learning that diving still holds a huge part of my heart, mind, and desires. When I was faced with "to-go-diving or to-study” every day… you can guess what won more often than not. I really, really miss teaching. And it gets significantly more difficult not to pack up my bags again to move back to the island every time I visit.
4. Was That Fun?
31 days/744 hours/44.640 minutes from October 2025, done. Only two more months left, and that’s absolutely mind-blowing. But I’m really looking forward to seeing how 2025 unfolds the last bits. November, I’m ready for ya.
