Things are going to happen to you. There will always be things that are external, outside of your control, and you have to let those go.

What matters most is internal.

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I first met Gaby Espino when we boarded E/V Nautilus in June of 2024. I had worked on Nautilus a dozen times before then, but that particular expedition was my first time going to sea since the sudden and unexpected death of my mom six months earlier. At that time, my mind felt disoriented by the mental chaos of grief. Hanging out with Gaby, and absorbing some of her warmth and steadfast energy, helped to quiet my frenetic thoughts.

During our mapping expedition from Honolulu to British Columbia, I enjoyed chatting with Gaby and learning a little bit about her childhood in Hawai’i and her experiences in the Navy. It wasn’t until a year later, sitting on a beach in Guam, that Gaby told me about the tragic loss of her brother.

Over the past two years, Gaby and I have spent many days at sea together and engaged in many soulful chats about exploring our planet, navigating grief, and living with intention.

Gaby is a professional ocean explorer, a proud veteran, a rock-solid shipmate, and one of the toughest (and friendliest) people I have ever met. I am very honored to feature some of her  “old soul” wisdom and powerful perspectives here. Mahalo nui loa my dear friend.