Faceless in Paradise: Finding Stillness Behind the Mask...

Traveling to Hawaii has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. As an artist, my life is usually extremely fast paced with a lot going on. I’m so used to the fast pace of the grind that slowing down has never really been an option—it’s always go, go, go. But being here, surrounded by endless ocean and lush mountains, I’ve been introduced to something different: island time. I'm SO in love.

For anyone who hasn’t experienced it, island time is real. Life here doesn’t rush the way it does on the mainland or in big cities. People move at their own rhythm. And what I’ve discovered is a level of stillness and presence that I didn’t know I needed. Stillness and the Grind Can Coexist.

One of the biggest lessons Hawaii is teaching me is that slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. I’ve always been wired to hustle—I thrive off structure, goals, and discipline. That’s what’s helped me grow as an independent artist and as a fitness coach.

But here, I’ve learned that the grind can still exist within stillness.

It’s in the way i've been waking up early to work on the tasks at hand for the "world wide" community we've been growing. It’s in the way I take my workouts outside, letting the sound of the waves set the tempo. It’s in the way I sit down to write, unbothered by noise or distractions, and just let the words flow.

The Hawaiian lifestyle has reminded me that productivity doesn’t always have to feel like chaos—it can be calm, intentional, and rooted in peace.

The Gift of Peace in Hawaii...

My favorite thing about the island is the peace sensation. At night, I’ll lay in bed and realize there isn’t a single siren outside my window. No city noise. No chaos echoing through the streets. Just quiet.

It’s a silence that feels alive—filled with crickets, ocean breeze, and a calmness that settles into your soul.

I didn’t realize how much I had normalized constant noise until I came here. Back home, sirens are "background noise". Here, silence is the soundtrack—and it’s teaching me how healing true peace can be.

Being Present in Paradise.

I'm visiting my best friend, Sahar. She has lived here for months now and i'm stoked to actually be here with her and experience this beautiful island.

This slower pace has forced me to be present with myself in a way I haven’t been in a long time. I’m not rushing to the next thing or checking off the next box. I’m simply here. Watching the waves roll in. Listening to my breath as I stretch on the sand. Letting the island hold me in its calm energy.

This was my first time ever holding a coconut that I'm drinking out of. I LOVED this!

For someone like me—someone who wears a mask, literally and metaphorically—being present is powerful. The mask gives me mystery. The grind gives me direction. But stillness? Stillness gives me clarity.

Finding Balance: Hustle Meets Stillness...

The truth is, I’ll always be a grinder. I love pushing boundaries and working hard for my dreams. But Hawaii is teaching me balance—the blend of stillness and hustle. It’s showing me that you don’t always have to choose between peace and progress. You can have both. It's about the balance.

When I leave this island, I want to carry that energy with me. To remind myself that slowing down doesn’t mean I’m losing momentum—it means I’m moving with intention. And sometimes, that’s exactly what success looks like.

For now, I’m embracing this slower rhythm. I’m letting peace seep into my spirit. And I’m reminding myself that even behind the mask, even in the grind, I can be faceless in paradise—and still be fully present.

If you've read this far, I want to THANK YOU. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

XOXO

-ASKYE

✨ Mahalo, Hawaii, for reminding me of the beauty in stillness and the strength of balance.