Skip to main content

Posts

Seven Scars

I have seven scars. The very first one was caused by a vaccine that didn’t react well on my shoulder when I was a newborn. For many years, that scar was a source of embarrassment. People would point at it and ask what had happened. I knew it wasn’t my fault, yet it felt so visible, so difficult to hide, that I avoided sleeveless tops and dresses for a long time. My second set of scars is more hidden. Unless you are part of my family, you probably don’t know about them. I had surgery on both of my thumbs when I was about one year old because I couldn’t fully bend them. These marks are quiet reminders of something overcome long before I could even remember it. The third and fourth scars came from bicycles and skates. My poor mother endured a lot because of me. She would clean my wounds while insisting I stay still, doing her best not to hurt me. There were countless scraped knees and forearms. I loved speed. I loved pushing my limits. And, of course, falling was part of that story. The f...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

Important or Urgent? Finding Clarity in the Middle of It All

Lately, I’ve had tons of ideas in my mind—plans, projects, and things to do. Some of them are exciting, and I feel deeply passionate about them. Others are more routine, not too pleasant, but still necessary. Time feels so scarce that not only is it hard to prioritize everything, but it’s even harder afterward to know whether we’ve chosen wisely. How can we do this? Many years ago, I learned about the Eisenhower Box. To maintain high productivity over decades, Eisenhower developed strategies for managing time, tasks, and productivity that can still be extremely useful in our daily lives. I may not be nearly as busy as he was, but regardless—we both face the same limitation: time. The Eisenhower Box is a simple 2×2 grid where we categorize tasks, projects, or plans into two main dimensions:  Important  and  Urgent . The intersection of these two dimensions creates four categories:   1.       Important and Urgent — DO  (tasks that must be ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Letting the Sand Settle

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where there was no right thing to do? That was me a couple of days ago. I was listening to a loved one going through a difficult time, and I felt completely helpless. I couldn’t solve the problem. I couldn’t find the right words to comfort them. Nothing I said seemed helpful—and even staying silent, simply being there, didn’t feel like enough. I’ve been in situations like this before. And every time, I notice how deeply it unsettles me. I feel powerless, almost useless. It frustrates me. It shakes my inner peace. I know it may seem irrational—the problem isn’t mine—but knowing there is nothing I can do, and that anything I try might be the wrong move, leaves me feeling stuck… and a little hopeless. My instinct, in those moments, is to step away. To give the other person space. To wait until I can actually be helpful. But someone gently pointed out something I hadn’t fully seen: when I do that, I may leave the other person feeling confused—or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Aroma of Safety

Smells—odors, fragrances, aromas—have a powerful way of awakening memory. I don’t think I have an especially refined sense of smell, yet I often find myself drawn to, and even distracted by, the scents I encounter throughout the day. Basil, for example, takes me back to the hot summers of my childhood and the dishes prepared with it. Every time I catch its scent, I’m transported there. To me, basil smells like summer—and if I had to put that into words, I would say it smells like hope. Something similar happens when I smell coffee—which, luckily for me, doesn’t interfere with my sleep at all. Its aroma brings a deep sense of warmth. I associate it with moments shared with loved ones: long conversations, genuine connection, and, of course, tons of laughter. Perfumes hold a special place in my emotional memory as well. Sometimes, while walking, I pass someone wearing a fragrance that reminds me of one of my children. Instantly, I feel joy. It’s as if the scent carries their presence with...
Post a Comment
Read more

Maybe the Real Challenge Isn’t Using Every Minute.

The other day, I was ready to leave the house when I realized I was a little early. Those extra ten minutes felt like an unexpected gift from God. Suddenly, my mind filled with possibilities—so many things I could do, so many tiny tasks I could squeeze in. I had to choose quickly and wisely. Since I was already in the kitchen, I started there. I put away the clean dishes, watered a plant, erased and rewrote my board, and fed the dog. I was on a roll—so productive that I began to surprise myself. Look at all I’m getting done, I thought… wait. It’s been more than ten minutes! Has that ever happened to you? You start “playing” with those extra minutes, only to realize you’re now at risk of being late to the very commitment you had carefully planned for. Those elusive extra minutes can be a real temptation. We get a little greedy. We try to maximize them, squeezing in just one more task to “save time” later. But in doing so, we often sabotage ourselves. All the effort we put into being on ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Friend, Foe, and Worthy Adversary

Not long ago, I heard someone refer to a friend as a worthy adversary during a class. I had never thought about friendship in that way. The reference came from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essay on Friendship: “…Let him be to thee forever a sort of beautiful enemy, untamable, devoutly revered, and not a trivial convenience to be soon outgrown and cast aside.” When I heard the quote, the first image that came to mind was two people fencing. I could imagine the steady back-and-forth—the rhythm of attack and defense—where neither is trying to hurt the other. Each movement demands attention, presence, and respect. With every push, the other is forced to improve, to become faster, sharper, smarter. Simply better. This is not a foe. Not someone who wishes you harm, unhappiness, or failure. Not someone who wants to see you wrong. One of the things I value most in friendship is precisely this: finding those worthy adversaries who are willing to test me, push me, and—even at the risk of my temporary d...
Post a Comment
Read more

As Fast as the Slowest

I love to drive. Being on the road with a destination set—when I’m not running late—is always somewhat entertaining. Over the years I’ve learned to enjoy the ride as much as possible and to plan for it when time allows. I might make a phone call, record an audio message for someone dear, or play music on the fly—depending on my mood, where I’m going, or who’s sharing the ride with me. Other times I hold a Rosary and pray, listen to a podcast, or remain completely silent. As I drive, my mind is rarely still. I let my thoughts drift and wander freely. Sometimes I’m lucky and have one of those aha moments; other times I simply sing my soul out. And no—you probably don’t want to hear my playlist. One thing I’ve realized is that, within the speed limit, we can only go as fast as the slowest. This often makes me impatient, disrupts my flow, and occasionally ruins my mood. That said, on a couple of occasions it has also saved me from getting pulled over. Going as fast as the slowest isn’t jus...
Post a Comment
Read more