My Life Outside of Music: Hobbies and Fun Facts

Life is so full of adventure! While I love music dearly and hold it very close to my heart, I love to dabble in new activities and fun outside of the world of music. Without these in my life, I'm very sure my life would be very boring...and my music would be lifeless without the joy and emotion from my life experiences.

I'd like to share with you a few things you may or may not know that I like to do when I'm not practicing or performing. Maybe this will inspire some of you to venture out and try some new things!

I started learning the martial art of Krav Maga in September of 2016. I quickly became addicted in the class and I loved every moment! For those of you who do not know, Krav Maga is a military self-defense system that was developed for the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces. It is a martial art that combines techniques from boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo, and much more. I earned my orange belt in Krav Maga at my dojo after 7 months of hard work and it was one of my proudest moments. I do hope to continue my Krav Maga and black belt journey once again sometime soon.

I have a fraternal twin sister! ("Say WHAT?") My twin and I have been great friends, and we were even roommates in my undergrad in college. Yes, you can get along with your sister, even in college. While we do not look alike, my twin and I are each other's better half, and I hope to have more adventures with her now that I have finished graduate school.

In college, I had the opportunity to go to Jamaica to build houses for several families that were in desperate need. It was a humbling experience, even as a mostly broke college student, to know that what little I could offer in my singing and hard labor could help a couple families have a place to call home. This moment in my life has made me realize that I can always be more empathetic and loving towards people in my life. Helping other people is such a great feeling and it has shaped my life tremendously.

I love visiting aquariums and zoos throughout the United States! So many creatures, yet so little time! My favorite that I've seen so far has been the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, CA. Just look at how beautiful these jellyfish are! You could even stand under a simulated wave in a clear tunnel and see how water reacts when crashing as ocean waves - so cool.

Finally, I just love trying new things and seeing all the sights and tastes life has to offer. I've tried and loved horseback riding, recreational target shooting (despite the fact I have yet to intentionally shoot a bulls-eye, I'm going to keep practicing!), riding as many roller coasters as I can, and cooking and baking all the recipes of foods and desserts I can possibly eat. Life is so much more fun when you can enjoy the little moments of triumph, and the emotions and memories I have from these are priceless. Playing the music with these treasures of moments in my mind make the music all the more precious.

So get out there and try something new!

Musically yours,

Maile

#hobbies #Music #kravmaga #Videogames #Horsebackriding