“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” – Oscar Wilde “I’m afraid that is the reality of the situation, Seline.” My counselor looked at me with consoling eyes after our lengthy discussion about my complicated family dynamics and how they could impact my future. I looked out the window for a brief respite, trying…
How to Stay Hopeful When You’re Disheartened by the News
“Carve a tunnel of hope through a dark mountain of disappointment”. ― Martin Luther King Jr. The sun is shining bright. The birds are singing. You feel top of your game as you prepare for the day ahead. You’re full of hope and positive expectations. Until you turn on the news. You freeze as you…
The Subtle Art of Healthy Detachment
“Remain in the world, act in the world, do whatsoever is needful, and yet remain transcendental, aloof, detached, a lotus flower in the pond.” ― Osho, The Secret of Secrets “The root of all suffering is attachment.” – The Second Noble Truth of Buddhism. To understand the real meaning behind this truth, try to recall…
4 Essential Things to Consider When Creating a Life Plan
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon The concept of a ‘life plan’ is an oxymoron to most people. After all, life by nature is not predictable – it seldom goes precisely according to plan. I’ve seen this truth play out in my own life. When I…
5 Things You Should Not Compromise On
“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got” – Janis Joplin The success of any relationship is incumbent on the involved parties’ ability to compromise. When two or more entities that are as unique as snowflakes join forces, there is a blend of disparate energies. While there will be some overlap in perspectives, proclivities, behaviors,…
Why the Grass is Not Always Greener on the Other Side
“You may think the grass is greener on the other side but if you take the time to water your own grass it would be just as green.” – Unknown On April 29, 2011, an estimated 200 million spectators tuned in to watch the Royal Wedding. After so much hype and publicity, the day had…
How to be a Balanced and Respectful Feminist
“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” – Sheryl Sandberg The term ‘feminism’ has become a loaded word. Over the years, all the political, economic, and social movements that have stemmed from it, have given the term a lot of baggage. Consequently, many people, including women, have developed…
5 Differences between Being Busy and Being Productive
“It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau According to research the average human lives 25,915 days (71 years). A huge chunk of that time is spent sleeping, or at work. When you look at your life from this perspective,…
How to Avoid Getting Involved in Unnecessary Drama
“Difficulty in inevitable. Drama is a choice.” – Anita Renfroe As humans, we’ve always had a natural penchant for drama. The ancient Greeks, for instance, had a flourishing theatrical culture. They built massive amphitheaters where spectators could enjoy performances ranging from tragedy to comedy. The Greeks were passionate about using drama as a medium to…
The Importance of Honesty and Integrity
“Wisdom is knowing the right path to take…integrity is taking it.” It was a sunny, spring morning in Kyoto. The Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom, spreading their sweet fragrance across the green landscapes of the Japanese archipelago. The Nijō Imperial Palace looked postcard-perfect in this idyllic setting. I took a minute or two…
