Many face bad news and unexpected changes that deeply impact their lives. For me, May 2026 looms with apprehension and fear. Global events and personal upheavals weigh on me. Family job changes, an international move, and loved ones’ health diagnoses leave me exposed and powerless. While I can’t control events, I can choose my response. …
Breath connects us—within, to others, and to ancestors. Our breathing shows our physical and emotional states. For instance, shallow chest breathing links to anxiety. Breath and anxiety affect each other. This can create cycles that worsen over time. We cannot control all triggers. However, we can control our response. Mindful breathing reduces reactivity and stress. …
Holding Grief In our daily experiences, whether pursued or not, we encounter many challenges. Some are more painful than others. Some are external and seem beyond our control. Recently, my beloved family and I faced a sudden loss—the loss of our dear Beni, a wonderfully spirited fur-baby, Morky, which has brought us great suffering. Naturally, …
Have you ever noticed that the English word ‘dog’ spells ‘god’ backwards? Though this may not be a new discovery, it intrigues me. Maybe it’s something to do with a dog’s inherent goodness. As I write these words, I feel my heart fill with gratitude. In Buddhism, the term appreciative joy (mudita) correlates to gratitude, …