How Pain Quietly Prepares You to Help Others
You don’t need a degree to help someone through grief. You just need to have survived it yourself. Why your struggles are actually your best qualification for connecting with others.
When Nothing Else Works, Put On Music
When overthinking kicks in and your mood drops, you’ve probably tried scrolling, snacking, or analyzing your way out of it. But there is a simpler fix you might be overlooking. Here is why putting on the right track works when nothing else does.
Why We Keep Chasing What Doesn’t Fit
Have you ever caught yourself working toward a job, a goal, or a relationship that feels off? I’ve spent years watching myself chasing the wrong things just because I thought I “should.” Here is what I’m learning about why we do this, even when it quietly costs us our peace of mind.
When Your Mission Ends: Finding Purpose After Loss (人生の目的)
In feudal Japan, a samurai without a master became a ronin. If you feel lost after a major life change, this ancient mindset can help you rebuild.
Are You Mentally Healthy or Just Good at Coping?
You show up for work and smile at the right times. But inside, your mind is racing. This is the dangerous gap between looking fine and actually being fine.
The Quiet Panic of Not Having Enough Money
I have lived out of convenience stores for 20 years. I have less, but I owe nothing. This is a look at the quiet dignity of living tight, without the crushing weight of modern debt.
When Did Work Get Put on a Pedestal? (And What Happens When You Take It Down)
Four days off over New Year taught me something that years of working never did. Regulating your schedule might matter more to your happiness than your salary or success.
Be Kind to Others (Be Kind to Yourself)
I warned a stranger about his untied shoelaces outside a 7-Eleven today. That tiny interaction lifted my mood more than I expected on a freezing winter morning.
Everyone Has a Niken
I am weighing up a return to the UK to care for my father. But a clash over a motorcycle reminded me of the difference between going home and going backwards.
A Year Without Resolutions (But Not Without Direction)
If January 1st felt more like pressure than a fresh start, consider skipping the big goals. See why small, daily steps are enough to keep you moving forward.
When Does Gossip Cross the Line? (And Why We Love It Anyway)
A student saw me walking with a female friend and called my boss to report a secret romance. Here is why innocent friendships still trigger outdated assumptions.
When Love Isn’t Enough (When You Can’t Be Everything They Need)
I watched my wife leave for work in tears and wished I had the money to stop her pain. But I was just a teacher. This is what happens when love isn’t enough.