When AI Summarizes Your Life (And You’re Not Sure If It’s Being Too Kind)
AI analyzed my life choices and I wasn’t sure if it was being too kind. From helicopter pilot to Japan teacher to farmer – do my decisions show purpose or drift?
Authenticity
Honest thoughts on dropping the act, showing up with authenticity, and the unexpected relief of just being yourself.
Is Everyone Real or Are Some People NPCs/Bots?
You do not get mad at a vending machine for not listening. So why get mad at people who cannot connect? Viewing unresponsive people as “NPCs” might be the secret to your sanity.
Spiritual, Open-Minded, or Just Crazy? (The Things We Usually Keep to Ourselves)
I needed 3,000 yen for groceries. As I watched a car drive by, three 1,000 yen bills literally materialized from under it. This is my story of unexplainable coincidences.
The Balance Between Talking About Pain and Getting On With Life
I have a slogan on my fridge: “Shut up. Suit up. Show up.” It reminds me that sometimes talking keeps you stuck, and action is the only way forward.
The Family Outsider: When You Love Them But Live Differently
My sister sent a photo of her and my dad eating at McDonald’s. It reminded me of everything I am missing. But it also made me realize something else: I am the family outsider.
It’s All Relative (But Is That Comfort or Cop-Out?)
Yesterday, I cycled to work in the pouring rain. At 56, it felt both liberating and slightly absurd. Part of me felt like a happy kid. Another part wondered if this is “failure to launch.”
What’s Your Sanctuary?
Sanctuary isn’t just a place. It is the feeling of exhaling after holding your breath all day. For me, it is a 4 AM walk. Where is the one place where you can finally stop performing?
The Quiet Practice of Being Grateful
Some mornings at 4 AM, walking to 7-Eleven, I have a conversation with something larger than myself. It is not formal prayer. It is just acknowledging that I have enough for today.
The Guilt of Saying No (And Why It Gets Easier After 50)
At 4:30 PM, covered in mosquito bites, my boss asked for one more thing. I felt guilty for even thinking “no.” Here is why I am finally learning that boundaries are not character flaws.
