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Month: April 2026

Why Is It That Grandma’s Cooking Always Hits Different?

Published on April 8, 2026

Even when you follow the exact recipe… use the exact ingredients… in the exact proportions and prepared in the exact same ways… as is described exactly by your grandma herself?

How is it that it always tastes better when it’s done by her?

…I think it’s because love is an ingredient.

And I mean it in the same way that onions or garlic might be an ingredient.

Love transcends the metaphysical and becomes something tangible… something tasteful… something delicious…

It becomes a literal part of the recipe. And there’s no good substitution for it.

You either pour your heart into the recipe or you compromise and try “Attentiveness” or “Precise” or “Careful” or “Good enough” or “That’ll do…”

But you’ll always taste the compromise. Nothing tastes the same as pure, unconditional, un-rushed love.

And so it is for just about everything else you choose to do and make and create in this life.

On Seeking vs Attracting

Published on April 7, 2026

My aunt has this young, 1-year-old black cat.

She’s curious and playful, but more often than not, uninvolved and off doing her own thing.

My aunt and cousins would call for her, play with toys to attract her, and try to entertain her frequently throughout the visit. And she would usually oblige for a few minutes… but then would carry on her way and unassumingly find something else to do.

I’m allergic to cats so I didn’t give forth that same kind of energy.

Well on the last night of my visit to my aunt’s house, I was sitting in meditation after everybody else had gone to sleep when suddenly, I hear the cat poking around. I opened my eyes and there she was, staring straight at me from the staircase.

It was strange because even when I was blowing her face trying to get a rise out of her, it felt like she was looking through me… or thinking carefully about something else while her eyes rested in my direction… never at me.

And yet… on this last night… as I sat there in a crossed-legged meditation position… she stared me down… unwaveringly… intensely… deliberately… and approached me slowly… slowly… until she was directly by my side… on the couch where I sat… sniffing… eyeing… evaluating…

…Until she eventually settled onto her legs, swallowing them up into her own meditation position of sorts, and closed her eyes.

It was strange that in that moment when I was still… un-seeking… and unassuming in a way myself… that it attracted the very cat that was being pursued… sought out… who seemed to have spent most of the weekend fleeing…

Become The FOMO

Published on April 6, 2026

The secret to not having FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is to bring all of your presence into the moment you’re already in.

Lean into courage. Find the curiosity. Fill yourself up with everything already around you. Create and emit the energy you find yourself looking elsewhere for. Get others to jump on board. Become the FOMO others think about—not to make them feel bad, but because that thought will guide you forward towards the time you most want to have. You’re only missing out if your mind is elsewhere of your body. Keep the two together and suddenly, your spirit will start to shine unconditionally bright.

“Things”—A Game To Create Organic Connection

Published on April 5, 2026

The game is simple.

Make up and share an unfinished story with a few folks.

You might say… “It was late at night and I heard a loud, scary noise come from the basement… I decided to investigate and when I walked down the stairs I found…”

Then everybody writes a short conclusion to the story on a sticky note or small piece of paper and hands it anonymously to the person who began it.

After each is read out loud, the reader picks which conclusion they like the best and whoever authored it, wins a point.

The game continues until a certain score is reached or it reaches its natural conclusion.

The best part about the game is that it creates an ending to a story from a day that feels unfinished…

P.s. Credit for this game goes to my student, Fatou.

Can’t Make Dinner

Published on April 5, 2026

A friend invited me over for Easter dinner—featuring vegan main dishes and all.

After responding with a bunch of gratitude, I realized it wouldn’t work out because I would be out of town.

Rather than say, “Sorry, I’m gonna be out of town and can’t make it. Thanks though!”

I took a little extra time and wrote:

“Dear V,

Matt here. Writing to you this afternoon to inform you, with regret, that I will be unable to attend your, what’s sure to be off-the-effin-chain, Easter dinner gathering. I apologize for any additional forethought and work that may have gone into your thinking/preparation for this event with my vegan butt in mind. See what happened is, my vegan butt will be planted in a chair at my aunties in Philly at, more than likely, the same time you and your amazing guests will be planted in theirs in Buffalo. Flights back are out of the question because I am my mom and grandma’s chauffeur home on Monday. I hate to back out of a good time offer, but twas necessary in this case. Please accept my apology and keep me in mind for future threats of potential good times.

Thank yew.”

To be clear, I’m not recommending you reply like this to everything you need to reply to.

However, every now and again, or whenever you think to do it, it’s never a bad thing to do.

People notice the effort. They appreciate the energy. And it becomes a memory that gets talked about over and over and over again.

…All from a 5-minute investment.

And don’t think even for a second that you “don’t have that kind of time.”

On Arriving Quick

Published on April 4, 2026

I went on a 6-hour roadtrip with my mom and grandmother today—neither of whom I get to spend too much time with on a regular basis.

This was not the time to be in a hurry to arrive… or to bring an anxious energy into the space… or to cycle through thoughts in my own head…

This was the time to slow roll… to bring a relaxed energy into the space… to ask interesting questions…

The point of a trip isn’t to quickly get where you’re going and then back (otherwise, why go at all?). The point of the trip is to uniquely experience as much as you can while you’re gone.

And nothing blocks experience like rushing and trying to arrive elsewhere quick.

On Practicing Death

Published on April 2, 2026

We practice death every day.

Every time something comes to an end we’re given a chance.

A song. A dance. A day.

We can practice kicking and screaming or ignoring and suppressing or distracting and distancing…

Or we can accept that what made it so beautiful was that it ended after all. And we can cherish… savor… appreciate…

…And try to more fully receive all that’s packed inside the moments that come next.

…In those moments where we so fortunately get to practice again. And again. And again.

…All the way until The End.