We once sold almost everything in our Maui home over forty-five days. When we left, our belongings fit into four suitcases. I was excited and uncertain at the same time. We had chosen a life where family, travel, work and our spiritual experiences would no longer have to happen in separate compartments.
Our family has since shared experiences across 28 countries, including time in Hawaiʻi, Bali, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia and the United States. Not every day was beautiful or simple. Some were full of discoveries. Others were full of packing, unfamiliar systems, tired children, complicated logistics or needing a new place to stay.
We learned to live somewhere, not simply collect destinations.
I stopped trying to see every landmark in every place. We learned to slow down and get to know a neighborhood, markets, beaches, libraries, local food, parks and the places our children wanted to return to.
Our worldschooling and unschooling life has included reading, mathematics, robotics, programming, music, creativity and learning from people and places. Edward is often the navigator and cook; I am frequently the one who follows a curiosity and finds us somewhere unexpected.
There were seasons when we needed structure and work sprints. There were seasons when family needs required our full attention. We had to learn the difference between freedom as an image and freedom as the daily ability to make responsible choices.
The goal was never to travel the most. It was to build a life where we could be present for the experiences we were having.
What it taught me about leadership
Children notice what we embody. They notice how we treat people, how we handle unfamiliar situations and how we respond when a plan changes. I came to see everyday family life as an extension of the self-awareness and responsibility I taught in my work.
You do not have to travel or homeschool to live the principles that matter to us. You can practice connection, play, presence and curiosity wherever you call home.
What about your journey?
If you had more room in your week, what would you actually want to experience with the people you love?
You can take that question into a journal, a walk or a conversation. You decide what comes next.
The practices and experiences shared in this journal reflect Leimomi's personal history and spiritual perspective. They do not promise financial, medical or other specific results.