Change…Are You Up For It?
It is a time of tremendous change. We have had so many conversations with people about their lives, their plans, and the uncertain future. As the world around us is in limbo, a common theme seems to be the willingness (or unwillingness) to take the plunge into a new chapter of life. This week, we decided to interview sustainability activist and former actress Sanny, who is one half of @ecocouple. The following is edited excerpts from our IGTV interview.
Tell us who you are and where are you from?
My name is Sanny. I grew up in Spain with a German mother. I also lived in London and L.A. Now, I live in Maui, Hawaii.
What did you do before living in Hawaii?
I was an actress for many years. I lived in L.A. and Germany, and traveled to a lot of film festivals. But I reached a place where I felt my life needed more meaning. So I decided to slow things down and focus on my relationships and we (my partner Inaki and I) had a baby. We were living between Europe and LA and once we had the baby we visited Hawaii. We became obsessed with being out there and trying to figure out how we could do it…how we would leave what we were doing and be ok with moving to an island and living that life. On a Friday evening we looked at each other and we said, ‘is this it for us’? and we said ‘no, we’re going to Hawaii.’ We didn’t have the amount of money one would like to have in the account when moving, but we felt that if we just trusted and went out there, things would work out. Within four days we were packed up and heading out.
What advice do you have for anyone thinking about making a big change?
A lot of us have a lot of fear about change. We’re creatures of comfort, and when we’re stable, we sometimes think that that is best for us. But I’d like to urge people to take a leap of faith and try things out. You can always back.
What does a typical day look like?
In the morning we catch some waves, then my son naps. We have a blog and I also do some voice over work. The gardens are so lush here, and lemons, lime and avocados grow. So a lot of us trade. It is easy to live off of the land here.
I think a lot of people work a 9-5 and are caught up in the rat race. But I think everybody is invited right now to question these things in their lives and see where their priorities lie; knowing that it is all just a bat of an eyelash. Doing the things that we love brings out the best in us. We all have the right to that.
What do you love about your Mirame swimsuit?
Well I just came out of the waves, and my suit really protects me. I feel like if I do go under a wave, it stays. Its like wearing a wetsuit, but you’re not (wetsuits, by the way, are made in one of two ways, both of which involve extracting non-renewable resources from deep within the Earth). I love that the suit protects the arms. It keeps me safe from getting burned by the surfboard strap.
What is your favorite beach on Maui?
Maui is the windsurfing Mecca of the world. Ho’okipa has a fun wave in the summer for someone who is learning to surf. The sunsets are magical on the west side of the island. My favorite part of this island is that on any given day you can put on goggles and swim with the turtles.
The Perfect Suit
To Catch A Wave
Want to learn more about Ho’okipa beach? Check out the Maui guidebook here.
Ho’okipa
Beach
Curious about why wetsuits are not environmentally friendly? To learn more about the resources and operations involved in making neoprene, the fabric utilized in wetsuits, read this article in Wavelength Magazine.