“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” — Kahlil Gibran

 The Phoenix and the Fire

In ancient myth, the phoenix is a radiant bird that lives for centuries before building its own funeral pyre. It burns in the flames, only ...

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” — Brené Brown

Tonight, I had a panic attack in martial arts class.

Sweating. Shaking. Breathless. The room spun. I had to sit down while everyone looked on, asking if I was okay. I wasn’t. And I...

A few years ago, someone I worked with told me — months after we’d become friends — that they used to think I was snobby and unfriendly. It caught me off guard. I remember laughing awkwardly, then admitting, “I’m actually just shy. I’ve always been that way.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard s...

I hate looking at the news lately.

Every headline feels like a gut punch — war, inflation, climate chaos, political tension. I want to stay informed, but I also want to stay sane. It’s a daily tightrope walk: balancing awareness with emotional survival.

Some days I scroll with dread. Other d...

In the documentary The Wisdom of Trauma, Dr. Gabor Maté reframes trauma not as a rare affliction, but as a universal experience — one that disconnects us from our true selves. He doesn’t offer a cure. He offers something more radical: the idea that healing is possible, not by erasing pain, but...

I used to think I was just chill. But emotionally? I was like a phone with 3% battery and no charger in sight. Functional, barely. Available? Not really.

If someone offered help, I’d say, “Oh no, I’ve got it!” while juggling flaming swords, a broken heart, and three overdue therapy sessions. ...

There’s a moment after a relationship ends when everything feels louder. The silence in your home, the absence of texts, the empty space beside you in bed—it all echoes. And in that echo, it’s easy to believe the grass must be greener somewhere else. That maybe if you just found someone new, you’...

Last week, I went to dinner with a dear friend who’s been navigating life after a long-term relationship ended six months ago. Between bites of pasta and sips of wine, she looked up and asked, “How do I let go?”

Her voice was steady, but her eyes carried the weight of something deeper—grief. Not...

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 ...

Personal Story: When Giving Became a One-Way Street

A few years ago, I was in a relationship with someone who seemed to genuinely care about me. He admired my drive, my ambition, and especially my ability to give—emotionally, mentally, even logistically. I supported him through career changes, p...