How martial arts, Bruce Lee, and resilience teach us to rise again

Last night in Jiu Jitsu class, the instructor paused as my partner and I practiced a strike. He looked at both of us and said, “You can hit harder—because you’re learning to protect yourself. You can take the hit and not be hu...

This week, I took my mom to a movie--she is turning 80 this week, so I try to grab moments when I can.  We went to see "Regretting You." I didn’t know what it was about but, It turned out to be a story of loss, betrayal, and the complicated ways parents try to protect their children from truths t...

“…But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own…” — Mary Oliver, “The Journey”

After betrayal, heartbreak, or deep loss, one of the most common questions people as...

In today’s world, hustle culture has become a badge of honor — a relentless push to be productive, successful, and constantly “on.” Social media amplifies it with slogans like “rise and grind” and “sleep is for the weak,” glorifying overwork and making rest feel like failure. But beneath this ...

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.” — David Morrison

There was a recent article in a UK magazine that described having a boyfriend as “embarrassing.” Not toxic. Not problematic. Just... embarrassing. That word stuck with me. It felt like a symptom of something deeper—som...

1. The Ongoing Work of Boundaries

I haven’t always trusted my gut. And every time I ignored it, I paid for it.

I didn’t want to make a scene. I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. I worried—like I always do—about what people would think.

I’d see someone blow past my boundaries, and I’d g...

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” — Maya Angelou

I grew up with her. She’s beautiful inside and out—smart, driven, compassionate. A true professional who worked hard to get where she is. Nothing was handed to her. She earned every bit of her success.

So ...

I was criticized recently for sharing my vulnerabilities. I expected it. Still, it stung. I felt myself get defensive. But here’s the truth: I will not stop. I will not shrink. I will not silence myself to make others comfortable.

Because sometimes people lose hope—not because they’re weak, but ...