Homework from 7/18/2024 During a 3 day professional development grief & trauma workshop "A loving peer training approach"

Who am I?

My name is Krystal “Kito" Cunningham.

I am Filipino-Hawaiian.

Born and raised on the island of Maui.

Our Ohana is 6 generations deep.

I am so grateful to be rooted & planted here 

and what a gift to be able to raise my children here.

I have always felt a deep connection to my ancestors and to spirit.

Massage is my therapy. It keeps me sane. lol...

I am a 40+ year old mom of 3, wife of almost 2 decades, and an energetic mompreneur. I will happily go into debt for any and all Disney vacations. I am like an onion. I have many layers to my being..And if cooked just right, I can be oh so sweet…

I knew at a young age that I could not work a normal 9-5 job, and I am so proud to say… the longest (by the books) corporate job I held was 2 years at the Hyatt regency Maui as a spa attendant. -It was here that I came to the realization that I valued my freedom above all else. (Why are these freaking massage therapists coming in after me and leaving before me! WHAT THE FAK?) and so the rest is history.

In work and in life, I try to conduct myself with a sense of “what if that were me perspective” the “what would it be like if I were in their shoes attitude”What if that were me coming into work the next day, is the oil refilled? Is the room clean? Is trash taken out, etc? What if that were me on the massage table, what would I want to receive?...because I firmly believe that how you treat others or things is how you essentially treat yourself.

2 decades ago, I started on a quest, and of course at that time I didn't know it was a quest. I happened to be at a life changing event and from then on the floodgates opened. I made an unwavering commitment to myself that I will forever be a student of life….curious about everything. I started by questioning my beliefs, are these mine or was it given to me, what are my triggers, what do I value, what’s my purpose, why am I here, why did this happen? At first I wanted to lay blame. But as I learned, this mama aint no victim.

I alone am responsible for my actions, and I am in the driver's seat of my life, co-creating my reality.I see now that I didn’t want to be defined by my childhood traumas, the lying, the cheating, the stealing, and bankcruptcy. Not to mention recently the loss of our home, and everything in our home, and two of our physical business locations, car etc.

Sure, I have walked through so much,  etc. but it hasn’t been a linear journey, and the universe will always bring "shit" up to the surface to test, and see how much “energy" is still there. Like…Sister, Are you still attached or have you learned or gained the blessings?

And by doing the continued work, I am shining light on the “shadow parts" of myself that I thought were unlovable, to shameful, and oh so embarrassing…sometimes it's too scary and painful to face, but my hope and humble desire is to bring all of my “selves” from Baby Krystal till present time Krystal..In to… love and alignment...So that I can be wholesome and in present time….

“We are not who we were yesterday…we are an EVER evolving version of ourselves, striving to be just a little bit better, wiser, humble and patient.”

And if I am just one step ahead of someone on their journey, I can be that hand, shoulder, or an example, that if i can go through the F'en WRINGER and back… so can you. I trust in the universe and spirit to know that I am not alone on this path either. Someone is also a few steps ahead, holding space, giving permission…and that love will always be there.