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Category: Living Well

Doing Good Irrespective Of Impact Size

Published on October 13, 2026

I saved a bee this morning.

It was stuck in my window. Moving quite slowly. Seemingly near the end of its life.

I got a cup and paper towel.

I guided the bee into the cup and used the paper towel to keep it inside while I walked downstairs to let it outside.

Once outside, I let off the paper towel by a tree so that it could walk onto a branch.

To my delight, it flew away as soon as it sensed fresh air.

It took me less than three minutes to do this.

Will this action change the world?

No.

…Not in any grand way at least.

But will this being-willing-to-do-something-for-the-greater-good-irrespective-of-impact-size attitude change the world?

…I’d say in more ways than the number of dollars on this earth.

Life Is Not Moving Anywhere

Published on October 6, 2026

“Life is not moving anywhere. It is simply dancing here.” ~ Osho

And if you’re waiting to do all of your dancing until some “down the line” part of your timeline…

…It might be too late when you finally realize—the dancing was available here all along.

Making Magic Happen

Published on October 1, 2026

Something magical happens when people come together with the intention of giving and sharing versus getting and receiving.

Think about the morning of a gift exchange. If all people come together leading with the intention of giving and sharing—it’s magical. Everyone gives… yet everyone leaves with more than they gave. Which is even true if they happened to receive something, too. The total of what’s given is greater than the total of the individual gifts. Magical—I know.

…When people come together leading with the intention of getting and receiving, however, the outcome changes dramatically. Even at the same gift exchange mentioned above… if the person’s focus is on themself and purely what they’re getting out of the exchange… the magic disappears. The total of what results is equal to or even less than the sum of the individual parts. Magic gone.

I met up with some friends this past weekend to discuss a trip we’re planning on taking together. This was not a gift-giving occasion by any means… yet tons of gifts were exchanged.

We all showed up with the intention of giving and sharing with each other… and a magic took over the evening. We shared food. We gave conversation. We shared laughs. We gave attention. We shared stories. We gave kindness. We shared games. We gave memories…

What resulted was worth exponentially more than the individual words and actions we took. And had we shown up with the intention of getting taken care of and/or receiving entertainment… the energy would’ve been drastically different that night.

Magic gone.

Same night.

Simple change in intention.

Maybe give it a try at your next gathering of people.

“You’ve Been Exposed”

Published on September 25, 2026

I remember a time when I was a young teenager and I was asked to teach an adult martial art class knife concepts.

I can vividly recall feeling wildly underprepared and underqualified—we had only ever practiced and trained basic concepts at this point in my martial arts journey.

I also distinctly remember there being an adult in this class who intimidated me. Even though he was a lower rank, he had this aura that gave me the impression he knew combative concepts—maybe ex-military or law enforcement or just serial martial artist.

And because of those two forces I remember hesitating, stumbling over my words, getting red in the face…

And I remember it as clear as if it were yesterday… the moment I looked that student in the eyes and he gave me that, “you’ve been exposed” look.

…And boy did I hate that feeling.

We ended up taking knife out of our program shortly thereafter to focus on other areas… what’s interesting, however, is that as of late, I’ve found myself feeling strongly pulled towards learning knife concepts again.

And I suddenly have this insatiable desire to learn as much about it as I can—even though it’s still not something that’s being taught in our school.

My inner work thought today was wondering if those two events are connected…

Wondering if a seed was planted in that moment all those years ago that’s grown into this big energy I’m feeling for that topic today…

And I wonder for you if there’s a similar experience from your past that might contain a topic worth exploring and reinvesting in today?

When Paths End Before They Ever Begin

Published on September 23, 2026

Whether you’re born privileged or born poor…

Whether you grow up with a large family or are raised as an only child by a single parent…

Whether you have 50 friends or one friend…

Whether you graduate top of your class with a Ph.D. or drop out after high school…

Whether you climb the corporate ladder or work minimum wage jobs throughout your life…

Whether you have kids at 16 or 46 and whether you have 1 kid, 4 kids, 8 kids, or none at all…

Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent…

Whether you have exceptional abilities or a disability…

Whether you travel the world or live in the same place your whole life…

Whether you have access to all of the latest technology or none of it at all…

All of the above have examples of people—both alive today and from throughout history—who have lived incredible lives despite their starting or ongoing circumstances.

So long as there is an unfolding path in front of you, there’s a chance for self-actualized beauty, inspiration, and awe in one’s life.

Where the argument can’t be made, however, is when innocent people’s paths are abruptly and tragically ended.

And right now, there’s a genocide happening in our world—in 2026—in Gaza.

As of today, 21,000 children have been confirmed killed in Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.

…Children.

Little people who will never get the chance to walk their path towards self-actualized anything in their life.

…And the killing is still happening today.

My mind can’t grasp it. My heart breaks. My soul feels enraged.

My inner work thought of the day is simple: Free Palestine.

Don’t Learn How To Speed Read

Published on September 22, 2026

I used to think there was something wrong with me because I didn’t know how to speed read.

I couldn’t turn off the “voice” in my head.

I couldn’t use my peripheral vision to read multiple words at the same time.

I couldn’t read faster than my natural pace allowed for and retain anything read.

Then I realized reading isn’t something that needs to be rushed anymore than lovemaking is.

Reading is sacred. Reading is intoxicating. Reading is transformative.

Reading is something that needs time… patience… effort… undivided attention… surrender…

It is only then that the real pleasure is found.

…Not in the efficient extraction of information.

…But in the savoring of the adventure, insight, and/or transformative experience being shared with you by another human across space and time.

Getting To Through [Poem]

Published on September 21, 2026

Getting to out…
Getting to face-to-face and in person…
Getting to you…
Getting to eye contact and approaching…
Getting to a line… or a move… or two…
Getting to shamelessly…
Getting to intimately…
Getting to, “What’s your number?”…
Getting to, “I’d love to…”
Getting to, “Let’s spend the night together…”
Getting to, “I like you…”
Getting to, “Let’s move in with one another…”
Getting to, “Will you be…”
Getting to, “I love you…”
Getting to, “We’re going to be…”
Getting to, “Congratulations, it’s a…”
Getting to, “I do…”
Getting to sit and watch and wonder…
Getting to raise a human better than me or you…
Getting to build and connect and share…
Getting to read and write and stew…
Getting to legacy that’s carried…
Getting to the most evolved version of me or you…
Getting to bedside with me…
…Or me with you.

Yours won’t read like this or in this order…
Some lines won’t make their appearance at all…
Getting to through should always be carefully contemplated…
For indoctrinated is probably already you…
Order matters only to the orderer…
Getting to lived is whatever it means to you…
Even if that means starting over yet again…
Be thoughtful… be deliberate… be picky…
And most importantly… be true.

P.s. You can read my other poems here.