While pondering a big decision recently, this question floated through my mind. What would my ancestors do? This question added a totally new dimension & depth to my pondering. I began to see the situation differently, in a bigger context. So I want to share this question with you, too, and let you curiously notice whatever comes up. Pick 1 decision that you’re mulling over. It can be big or small — whether to stay where you are or go somewhere else; whether to commit to project A or B;...
10 days ago • 2 min read
What was the last thing you saw on social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)? An ad, a funny post, a talking head, someone’s dreamy beach vacation? How did it make you feel? And just as curious – did you choose to see this content (because you opted to follow a specific page or account), or was it randomly put in front of you, via the algorithm? (Ah, the almighty and mysterious algorithm…) This year, I’ve been noticing how being on social media makes my head spin & my attention scatter. On...
17 days ago • 2 min read
If I could give my 5-year-old cat, Tiger, one of those yearbook superlatives (like, Most Likely to… Be Famous, Cure a Disease, Set a World Record), hers would be... 🙌🏽 Most Likely to Not Care What Anyone Thinks 🏆 Granted, most cats don’t really care what others think. They don’t get self-conscious, the way we humans do. Somewhere in there is a lesson about how to unmask & be authentically yourself. First, let me tell you about my orange cat. When Tiger is uncomfortable, she does whatever it...
24 days ago • 3 min read
💬 3:02pm: Taking off soon from Chicago. On the plane. I think I got the last seat - it’s packedddd 💬 3:03pm: I mean TO Chicago 💬 3:03pm: Idk where I am lol I was sitting on a plane on a runway in Dallas, Texas, when I wrote those texts to my friend — tired, confused, and in a haze. It was supposed to be a simple travel day: 2 flights, 1 carry-on, and a dozen podcast episodes on my phone that would make the hours fly by. My itinerary was as follows: Santa Fe, New Mexico —> Dallas, Texas...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Delicious food from every corner of the world. Dozens of languages being spoken on the streets — music to my ears. A functional, 24/7 public transport system that zips me from art galleries to comedy shows to hot pot with friends. 👆🏽 These are some of the things that make New York City one of my favorite places to visit. By the way — you know what’s one of the most overwhelming places I’ve ever visited? Also NYC. Yes, you read that right. NYC is one of those rare destinations that makes me...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Would you rather… have a one-on-one hang out with a close friend, or attend a big party next Friday night? spend 1 hour watching entertaining TikTok videos, or diving into a book from your favorite genre? jam out to your favorite same song on repeat, or set your playlist on shuffle and go with the flow? There’s no right or wrong answer. Rather, your answers might reveal whether you prefer horizontal or vertical experiences. Let me explain. Vertical experiences are like digging a hole in the...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
“It’s too quiet here,” one of my college dorm mates is saying. “I couldn’t even sleep last night.” It’s our second day attending college in middle-of-nowhere, Vermont, and we’re still acclimating to our new rural environment. Half-unpacked suitcases lay in our half-decorated rooms. Everyone is still learning each other’s names and how to not get lost on the way to the bathroom. My dorm mate explains that, having grown up in a big city, they aren’t used to pitch-black nights, where you’re more...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
My friend’s mouth is moving and sounds are coming out, but my brain is comprehending about 50% of it. Inside, I’m scrambling. What are we talking about? How should I respond? Then it hits me. “Wait,” I say. “Can we turn off that fluorescent light?” We’re sitting in my living room, and it’s occurred to me that the lights are way too bright. Bright enough to give me a headache. We turn off the fluorescents and replace it with a calmer blue lighting. Ahhh. My nervous system immediately sighs...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Pssssssssshhhhhhhh. That’s the sound I hear when my pot of milk boils over and spills onto the stove. Oops. Drinking cacao is part of my morning ritual. It’s simple enough: I boil almond milk and mix it with cacao powder. I love the warmth & rich flavor of cacao, and the way it wakes me up but doesn’t give me jitters like coffee. Some mornings, it’s also part of my ritual to clean up spilled milk, because I wasn’t paying attention to the stove and the milk boiled over quicker than I was...
2 months ago • 2 min read