I was watching Mad Men the other night, and I couldn’t take my eyes off Don Draper. He’s magnetic—sharp suits, smooth words, a mind that dances through pitches like poetry. But beneath all that charm is a man emotionally locked down. He seduces a room but can’t sit still in his own feelings. And ...
We’re sold a version of confidence that’s all noise.
It’s the influencer who mocks others for clout. The CEO who threatens instead of inspires. The reality show contestant who dominates the room with bravado.
But that’s not confidence — it’s performance.
Real confidence isn’t about being the l...
It was Saturday morning, crisp and quiet, and I was walking around the lake with a friend. The water was still, the path familiar. We talked about life, work, the usual things—and then she said it: “I know he isn’t what I want long-term.” Her voice was calm, almost detached, like she’d rehearsed...
Infidelity is one of the most condemned relationship violations—and yet, it’s alarmingly common. Research shows that betrayal in relationships often stems not just from dissatisfaction or desire, but from a deeper issue: misalignment with personal values.
A 2025 study on moral foundations and fi...
I hear it all the time.
“There’s no one good out there.”
It’s the refrain of so many singles—smart, kind, emotionally aware people who genuinely want love but feel defeated by the search. They’re not wrong to feel disillusioned. But what if the problem isn’t the people out there? What if it’s t...
It starts with a kiss in the rain. Think The Notebook, Titanic, or Twilight. Hollywood has taught us that love is dramatic, all-consuming, and destined. We’re told that when it’s “real,” it defies logic, overcomes all odds, and feels like fireworks every day.
But here’s the truth: those stories ...
The Storm That Cleared My Path
About 5 years ago, I lost three things: a job I thought I’d retire from, a friendship I thought was forever, and a relationship I thought was “the one.”
I didn’t see it coming. I felt like I was being stripped bare. I kept asking, Why is everything falling apart? ...
Every day, the headlines scream. War. Division. Disaster. Another tragedy. Another scandal. Another reason to feel unsafe.
The news cycle has become a relentless reel of heartbreak — and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, even numb. We scroll through chaos, absorbing fear like secondhand s...
“I didn’t lose my softness. I chose to carry it through the fire.”--Leslie Noble
The Chipped Teacup
There was a woman I once worked with who kept a chipped teacup on her desk. Not tucked away—displayed. She told me it had cracked during a fight with someone she loved. She’d thrown it, then r...
It Started With a Windy Afternoon in St. Petersburg
I met my son when he was 11 months old, bundled in layers inside a quiet orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russia. He had spent the first part of his life in institutional care—no toys, no family, no wind on his face. And yet, when I brought him hom...
What True Love Actually Looks Like (Spoiler: It’s Not a Montage)
We grew up on slow-motion kisses, dramatic airport chases, and rain-soaked declarations. Hollywood taught us that love is supposed to feel like a climax—loud, chaotic, and impossibly perfect (I still love watching those movies).
B...
I saw a TikTok yesterday. A woman stood in front of her bathroom mirror, mascara smudged, holding a sticky note that read: “I am still worthy.” She whispered it like a secret. The caption said: “Day 37 of loving myself after betrayal.” It had 2.3 million views.
There’s a whole genre of these now...
