I fell in love with open water ocean swimming back in 2010 while living on the Big Island of Hawai’i. After countless miles of long-distance solo swims, I saw my first shark. A relatively ‘small’ tiger shark about 7 feet long who just so happened to be circling one of my favorite underwater rock formations. Our visit was brief because when our eyes locked, I just felt it was more interested in continuing on it’s way than by pursuing me in any way. I, however, was terribly excited by the meeting but I thought better and began to swim back to shore. Later that day, over a wonderful lunch on the Lanai of the retreat center where I was volunteering, I shared my experience with a friend. I told him about my excitement and curiously and he stopped me: “Be careful,” he said, “those things can be fierce. If you see one again, swim towards it. Locals say to swim towards them because it throws them off.” Unexpected advice, but I listened and took it to heart. Four months later I felt called to go to Kauai to visit the Shiva Temple and see the humpback whales. I packed my bags for a short trip (which turned into a year + adventure) and landed in Kauai. Within a week I had found a room to rent and was making my way around the island looking for the right beach where I could swim (Kauai waters are notorious for have wicked undercurrents and claim over 300 people drowned in nearshore marine areas a documented 40-year span … more curious that anything else survived a Shark encounter with a Great White and it taught me to embrace my individuality and the importance of trying something new, or something that scares me, everyday of my life.