At this week’s Awakin Circle, we discussed the power of stories. Soul brother Zilong said, “Hi, my name is Zilong. That’s a story. And it’s a story I continue to tell over and over again.” Zilong’s share immediately resonated with me because just last week my Hawaiian grandfather came to me and invited me to use my Hawaiian name, Makala.

Something that I continually forget is that I’m not the same person I was when my parents named me almost 50 years ago. I’m not only different physically, but also psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. In fact, I’m not the same person I was a week ago.

Before ServiceSpace came to me, I used to think that I was on my own. I had to struggle, compete, and even fight to survive. Entering this ecosphere made me realize that the world is more kind and loving than I ever imagined. Before my grandfather came to me, I was in denial of all the support, both known and unknown, that surrounds me in every moment. Both these occurrences helped me remember that we are all connected in ways that we may never understand.

In the Buddhist ceremony of Jukai, initiates take vows and receive a Dharma name. My name is Makala Kozo Hattori, and I vow to re-member, embody, and embrace the Truth that I am you.