Something Unexpectedly Good
When Someone I Respected Violated My Trust…
“This above all: to thine own self be true.” ~William Shakespeare
Though I appeared pretty high-functioning and what you might call “normal” as a kid, I was a ball of self-doubt and insecurity from an early age.
Overthinking, scrutinizing my actions, and generally worrying about what people thought came as naturally to me as breathing. Life felt like a great balancing act between who I thought I should be and who I actually was—and it was pretty exhausting.
You can imagine my relief when, while browsing for a textbook in the library at eighteen, I discovered the self-help …
5 Positive Lessons from the Coronavirus Crisis
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can find a number of helpful coronavirus resources and all related Tiny Buddha articles here.
“What is to give light must endure the burning.” ~Viktor Frankl
The world is facing challenging times of crisis. Closed borders and travel bans, quarantine, shortage of food supply, scary news, and much fear. Viruses don’t care about our status, money, or fame, spreading from state officials to famous actors.
Being a human right now is not easy. My thoughts are with those who lost a family member or a friend. I can’t imagine the pain of those battling mental or …
HumanKind: A Book That Will Inspire You and Help Change the World
I have always believed that kindness is the truest measure of beauty. And I need only think of my grandmother to confirm that this is true. Giving, nurturing, understanding—she was all these things till the day she died, undeniably radiant, at the age of eighty-four. She smiled with her eyes and loved out loud, and that’s who I want to be.
If you’re fortunate, you’re close to someone like this, a person who exudes warmth and meets you with gentleness and compassion, even when you’re not at your best.
If you’re observant, you’ll see people from all walks of life …
Disconnected and Strong in the Face of COVID-19
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can find a number of helpful coronavirus resources and all related Tiny Buddha articles here.
“Distance sometimes lets you know who is worth keeping, and who is worth letting go.”
~Lana Del Rey
As COVID-19 started to change my life I found myself thinking about my family. My parents who I haven’t really spoken to much since 2007, and my sister. I wondered how they were doing and what they must have been feeling at that moment.
Then I stopped myself and reminded myself why I had cut connections with them in the first place. …
How to Be Really Great at Failing
One of my dad’s favorite stories to tell about me when I was a kid is when I played catcher in Little League. I was probably around seven years old, but I had (and still do have) an intensity that wasn’t matched.
I would squat behind home plate, the catcher’s gear a little too big for me, and punch my fist into my catcher’s mitt, just like my favorite player Mike Piazza. And like Bruce Lee, I’d point my index finger at the pitcher and signal him to “bring it.”
One time, a foul ball was hit into the air. …
How to Tame a Worrying Mind During Difficult Times
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can find a number of helpful coronavirus resources and all related Tiny Buddha articles here.
“Mental health is just as important as physical health.” ~Unknown
Our main focus during this challenging time is quite rightly on our physical well-being. But we shouldn’t forget about our mental health considering these are stressful times for all of us.
Will we get sick?
Will our loved ones die?
Will we have enough food to feed the family?
How will we pay the bills?
Will things ever get back to normal?
So many questions, so many worries.
Worrying used to …
What I Learned About Love and Grief When I Lost My Cats
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~Anatole France
Unconditional love.
The thought of my cats envelops me with warmth whenever I think of them.
Why? Because we’re so connected. It’s an ethereal thing. Beyond words. Beyond reality. Beyond rationality.
When I’m holding them, I feel so spiritually connected. They stretch out as I start to scratch their backs, signaling that they like it. A welcome sign I should continue.
They stare with their mysterious eyes. Their stares are hard to read. Yet, they tell you a lot of things. They open the flood …
Beating the Coronavirus Pandemic: It’s All About Endurance
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can find a number of helpful coronavirus resources and all related Tiny Buddha articles here.
“When you’re going through hell, keep going.” ~Winston Churchill
A couple weeks ago the Greek government announced that our quarantine would continue “well beyond April 6th,” the original date for which it had been set. We knew this was coming, but it was still hard to hear. And it was this same moment that my memories as a long-distance runner came flooding back.
I started running track and cross country when I was eleven years old. I joined the Los Gatos …
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine.