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Showing posts from 2025

Playground Joy, Grounded Wisdom

There’s a special kind of happiness found in the playground — the pure, unfiltered joy of running, climbing, and playing without a care. But as the years pass, that boundless energy naturally gives way to a quieter kind of strength: grounded wisdom. The secret to truly embracing both? Starting early. When I was 14, my neighbor Jason used  to wave to me from his porch while his two young kids ran circles around him. He was in his early 30s — laughing, chasing them, and somehow still had the energy to run and jump about in the playground. One day, he said something I didn’t fully understand at the time: “I’m glad I started early. I still have the knees for this.” I laughed, thinking it was just a joke about aging. But a year later, I began to feel the tiniest signs of my own body slowing down, and his words hit me differently. I found myself wondering: Why not start having kids earlier? Having kids when you’re younger isn’t about “getting it over with” — it’s about having the energy,...

Let Them, Let Me

Let them be who they are. Let them speak their mind, make their choices, and live their lives as they see fit — even if I disagree, even if I wish they would change. Let them be flawed, unkind, or even wrong in my eyes. I am not here to judge, or fix, or even correct any path. The more I try to control others, the more I tie my own peace to something I can never truly hold. So I release that grip. I let them be them. Let me be who I want to be. Let me choose kindness, not because it’s easy or because I’m guaranteed it will be returned, but because it aligns with the person I hope to grow into. My actions are not a mirror of others; they are a reflection of my values.  My character is mine to shape, my will is mine to choose.  And in that, I am free.

It Starts with Them: Why Forgiving Others Unlocks Self-Kindness

Forgive Outward, Heal Inward isn’t just a nice phrase. It is a mindset shift that can change the way you see yourself and others. When you choose to forgive, you’re not excusing what happened or pretending it didn’t hurt. You’re simply deciding that the weight of anger, resentment, and grudges will no longer be the chains you carry. Extending kindness and forgiveness to others can clear the space in your heart for peace. And in that space, self-kindness can finally grow within you. Being kind to others is not only an act of generosity. It is a quiet investment in your own character. Every time you choose patience over irritation, or understanding over judgment, you’re strengthening the part of you that sees the world with compassion. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone or tolerate their behavior. It means you decide to be the person who adds gentleness to the world, even when it’s not easy. Over time, this habit changes your perspective, allowing you to see life less as a...