Repetition, Devotion, and the Spiritual Practice of Showing Up
“The only way to get good at something is to work on it every day.” — an unnamed martial arts instructor (shared with respect, as I don’t have permission to use his name)
On Wednesday night, that same martial arts instruc...
“Don’t get too comfortable. You are only walking home.” — Rumi
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” — Michael Jordan
Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken some of the biggest risks of my life: starting my own business, letting go of...
The Personal Beginning
Self-love was never role-modeled for me. Honestly, for most people it isn’t. We’re taught to measure our worth by our looks, our status, or what we’ve achieved. And then we wonder why, even after checking all the boxes, we still feel enormous self-loathing.
For me, the...
The other day, a friend and I were talking about dating. Naturally, the conversation turned to red flags. It’s become one of the most popular terms in modern dating — almost like a checklist we carry around in our heads. But here’s the truth: we all have red flags. Every single one of us has f...
A World on Fire
Not long ago, the headlines were filled with images of people in the streets—voices raised, fists clenched, demanding change. Commentators called it chaos, anger, unrest. But beneath the noise was something deeper: a collective eruption of rage, a fire rising from broken bound...
Our obsession with sameness and screens is eroding empathy, diversity, and resilience. The next generation is watching.
“Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” — Brené Brown
We live in an age of constant contact, yet genuine connection feels inc...
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...
“The creative adult is the child who survived.” – Ursula K. Le Guin
When I was younger, I was told more than once that I could never make money being creative. Productivity and ambition were celebrated, but creativity? That was seen as frivolous, impractical, even a waste of time. So, I ...
“…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...
I used to ride my bike around the neighborhood until the streetlights flickered on. I’d explore with my friends, chase fireflies, eat popsicles that stained my lips neon red, and sculpt masterpieces out of mud. I didn’t care about getting dirty. I didn’t care about being perfect. I just wa...
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...
