When Does Devotion Become Obsession? (And How Would You Even Know?)
I woke up at 3 AM excited to blog. Then I debated whether I really needed to shower. This is my honest look at the line between healthy passion and quiet obsession.
Overthinking
Identifying and trying to break free from the exhausting mental loops of overthinking when life gets a bit too heavy.
When You’re Great at Your Job But Awkward at Office Parties
I can stand in front of 30 students and teach with total confidence. But put a beer in my hand at a party, and I crumble. Why do competent professionals still feel awkward socially?
Are You Too Comfortable? A Question To Consider
It is easier to teach English than to care for a parent with dementia. Sometimes we choose the service that feels good over the service that actually costs us something.
When You Get Good at Things You Never Felt Passionate About
I used to think passion had to come first. But after 505 days of Japanese practice, I realized I had it backwards. Here is why competence creates passion, not the other way around.
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?
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.
Don’t Throw in the Towel!
If everything has gone wrong and life feels like more than you can handle right now, don’t throw in the towel. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do isn’t taking action – it’s just sticking around.
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.”
