Lead by Example Like a Parent
One of the biggest lessons we learn from parents doesn’t come from what they say—it comes from what they do. Children may hear rules and guidance, but what really shapes them is the behavior they’re surrounded by. When kids see patience, they learn patience. When they’re spoken to with kindness, they internalize kindness. When a […]
Use the Right Tool Like a Chef
Sometimes when I cook, I flip the food in the pan with my fingers. Not because it’s the best way—but because I don’t want to dirty a spatula or a pair of tongs. To keep going, I end up reaching for whatever’s nearby—a fork, a spoon, the wrong lid—just so I don’t have to clean […]
Find Patience Like a Chef
Patience is tough—especially in the kitchen, where waiting feels optional. I’ve been completely full by the time I finished cooking a meal, just from all the tasting. I’ve thrown ingredients into the pot too soon, turned the heat up too high, or skipped steps because I was too impatient to wait. But every time I […]
The No Blame Challenge
It’s easy to blame. I can blame my parents for not knowing exactly how to handle my thoughts and emotions growing up. I can blame my exes for hurting me, misleading me, or even lying. I can blame society for not being fully equal or making my day-to-day life harder. And frankly, the list could […]
The Scar Experiment
In 1997, Harvard researchers ran a study that revealed something surprising about self-perception—what we believe about ourselves changes how we think others see us. Participants were told the study was about how facial scars influence social interactions. Makeup artists applied a realistic-looking scar to each participant’s face, making them believe they had a noticeable disfigurement. […]
FINE – Feelings Inside Not Expressed
There have been times when I’ve felt so low, but I didn’t ask for anything. Not because I didn’t need it, but because I couldn’t bring myself to say it. It felt embarrassing to admit something as simple as I need love and affection right now. I wanted the comfort, but I also wanted the […]
HOPE – Hold On, Pain Ends
Pain rarely comes one piece at a time. It usually arrives in waves, piling up until it feels impossible to catch a breath. It’s not just one bad day at work—it’s an argument with someone you love, a financial hit, and a phone call with terrible news, all landing at once. A few years ago, […]
FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real
Fear has a way of making things seem way bigger than they actually are. I’ve avoided so many things—not because they were impossible, but because they felt impossible. But looking back, most of the time, what I feared wasn’t reality. It was just False Evidence Appearing Real. One example that sticks with me is when […]
WAIT – Why Am I Talking?
I had to find a way to stop myself from getting trapped in the same frustrating cycle—repeating myself, saying the same things over and over, desperately trying to get someone I love to finally understand me. I’d catch myself in the middle of a monologue, saying it again for the 58th time, hoping that this […]
Bounce Back Like a Game
Life doesn’t always move in a straight line. Sometimes, it feels like just when we’re climbing up, we hit a slide that sends us back down. It’s frustrating, disheartening, and often, it feels unfair. I’ve felt this in so many ways. In my 40s alone, I’ve faced open-heart surgery, a serious knee injury, and being […]
