08/08/2025
E nānā i ke kumu, e ola i ke aloha.
(Look to the source, live in love) 🌺
I just lost one of the best men I’ve ever met, a dear, close friend and boss. He was one of those rare souls who truly saw people. A man who really cared. His presence was calming, his energy was chill, and his heart was genuine.
One of his posts still echoes in my heart:
“Don’t do it, stay a little longer…You are so much more valuable than what you feel in this moment. Please stay. I see you. We love you.”
This is who Eric was, a man who reminded others of their strength even when they couldn’t see it themselves.
These last months, I’ve been struggling deeply, with my health, mental illness, and my own battles, to the point that I lost my voice… literally. That’s why I’ve been away from everything, especially my phone.
Eric knew how hard things had been for me. He saw my pain and encouraged me to keep going, to believe in myself, and to fight for my well-being. He had faced the same struggles in the past and experienced a transformation in his life. I trusted him and decided to take a drastic step toward my healing, an intense, introspective rehabilitation process that, so far, has been the only thing that has brought me peace again.
He fully supported me in taking this step, believing in the possibility of real change when I had almost lost hope. He never made me feel like an inconvenience. He supported me without judgment, respected my feelings, and gave me the encouragement and space to keep going when I didn’t think I could.
Losing him so suddenly is a painful reminder of how fragile life is. We never truly know when it will be the last time we speak to someone we care about. His passing was the “sign” I needed to decide to sell my business. It has been taking too much from me, pulling me away from what I truly want to do, and from my family and friends. I want to dedicate my time and heart to what really matters.
It should not take a loved one being admitted to a hospital for you to care (if you even find out). Mental illness can be far more dangerous than physical illness because it’s often invisible. It hides behind smiles and jokes, phone and social media addiction, impulsive shopping, loudness, perfectionism, busyness, or subtle withdrawal. Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
Please, never turn away from someone who opens up to you about their struggles simply because you don’t know what to say. Follow your heart, if you feel someone is not well, don’t ignore it. Sometimes, the most healing gift you can give is to reach out, truly listen, be present, and remind them they are not alone.
Say “I love you” as often as you can. Enough to “make it weird” is far better than living with late regrets. Check in on people. Show up when it matters. We need each other far more than we realize.
Mahalo, Eric. 🙏🏻 A hui hou, e hoa aloha. 🌺
We love you, and we’ll spread your kindness forever…
‼️ To you who took the time to read this post:
Thank you. I see you. I love you. 💛
I’m not using my phone much right now as part of my healing process, but please know, I am here for you. Always. 📧kmotelli@gmail.com