“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” – Michelangelo After reading one of my recent blogs — “If That’s Good, Am I Bad? Why Appreciation Isn’t a Competition” — a friend gave me…… Continue reading The Praise Paradox: When Recognition Becomes a Roadblock
When Caring Creates Distance: The Strange Aftermath of Being There
“The truth is, belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance.”— Brené Brown Most of us have been there. We’ve stood by someone through their darkest moments—grief, trauma, heartbreak, or a personal breakdown. We offered what we could: our time, our words, our quiet presence. And…… Continue reading When Caring Creates Distance: The Strange Aftermath of Being There
Grow Through What We Go Through
Grow through what we go through.. one of my favourite lines.. As we move through life, we pick up more than just candles on a birthday cake—we gather little nuggets of wisdom along the way. Our perspective starts to shift. The things that once felt like a big deal somehow lose their grip, making space…… Continue reading Grow Through What We Go Through
“If That’s Good, Am I Bad?” — Why Appreciation Isn’t a Competition
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” — Voltaire ” The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated. ” — William James Now that kids are in campus, when they come home for a break, one of the most common questions…… Continue reading “If That’s Good, Am I Bad?” — Why Appreciation Isn’t a Competition
What’s In Your Brain’s Attic?- A life lesson from Holmes
“The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in.”— Henry Green Have you ever felt like your brain is too full? Like there’s just too much going on — homework, work deadlines, things people said, media posts, past trauma — and you can’t focus on what really matters? Guess what? Sherlock…… Continue reading What’s In Your Brain’s Attic?- A life lesson from Holmes
The Wabi-Sabi Way: Finding Beauty in Letting Things Be
“Imperfection is a form of freedom.” – Anh Ngo Have you ever held a chipped mug that somehow became your favorite one? Or felt the familiar comfort of an old bedsheet or shirt and smiled without meaning to? There’s something quietly beautiful about things that aren’t perfect — and that’s exactly what the Japanese philosophy…… Continue reading The Wabi-Sabi Way: Finding Beauty in Letting Things Be
Window to Aisle
Once upon a window seat—be it on a flight soaring above continents, a train winding through countryside, or a bus trundling past sleepy towns—I was that eager traveler, nose to the glass, soaking in the world as it passed by. There was magic in being tucked away, a silent observer to vast landscapes and fleeting…… Continue reading Window to Aisle
The Lost Art of Being Present
“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.” – Thich Nhat Hanh I’ve been noticing something increasingly common—and unsettling—around me. My househelp walks in with a phone to her ear, continues to do her work with her head bent and the phone wedged between her shoulder and cheek. Often, she hands me…… Continue reading The Lost Art of Being Present
Virtue Ethics: Becoming Good, Not Just Doing Good
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle Ever noticed how some people just seem effortlessly kind, wise, or brave? They don’t follow a rulebook to be good—it’s just who they are. That’s the heart of virtue ethics. More Than Just Right and Wrong Most ethical…… Continue reading Virtue Ethics: Becoming Good, Not Just Doing Good
Shifting Baseline Syndrome: When “Normal” Isn’t What It Used to Be
“What we call normal is nothing more than the collective habits of our time.” – Deepak Chopra Ever had an elder in the family sigh and say, “Winters used to be colder,” or “We used to see so many more sparrows around”, and you just nodded along while scrolling on your phone? Turns out, they…… Continue reading Shifting Baseline Syndrome: When “Normal” Isn’t What It Used to Be
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