I’d Die for My Family
How 10 Days of Silence Brought Me Perspective and Peace
“Removing old conditionings from the mind and training the mind to be more equanimous with every experience is the first step toward enabling one to experience true happiness.” ~S.N. Goenka
I just spent ten days sitting in absolute silence with about 100 strangers, time I previously thought I should’ve spent networking and applying for jobs as an unemployed twenty-something with little savings and no assets, living in a completely new country with no network or job prospects.
There were no conversations, no eye contact, no listening to music, no exercise, no reading or writing—just silence, with twelve hours of meditation …
Tiny Buddha’s 2025 Day-to-Day Calendar Is Now Available for Purchase
Hi friends! I’m excited to share that the 2025 Tiny Buddha Day-to-Day Calendar is now available for purchase!
Uplifting and healing, this calendar offers daily reflections from me, Tiny Buddha contributors, and other authors whose quotes have inspired and encouraged me.
Featuring colorful, patterned tear-off pages, the calendar is printed on FSC certified paper with soy-based ink. Topics include happiness, love, relationships, change, meaning, mindfulness, self-care, letting go, and more.
Here’s what Amazon reviewers had to say about the 2024 calendar:
“I love how the quotes are diverse and relevant, offering something for everyone regardless of where they …
The Perspective Shift That Helped Me Overcome My Perfectionism
“Perfectionism is the exhausting state of pretending to know it all and have it all together, all the time. I’d rather be a happy mess than an anxious stress case who’s always trying to hide my flaws and mistakes.” ~Lori Deschene
When I got my start as a math teacher, it was 2012, and I had not been in a classroom in over ten years. I really wasn’t sure how teaching got done anymore.
I came into my first class with a piece of paper and many examples to share. I got up and started writing the examples on the …
Why People Ghost and Advice for Coping (or Stopping)
“Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” ~Rumi
A few months ago, someone I had dated briefly seven years ago reached out to apologize for his past behavior.
Many of us know how being ghosted can evoke a mix of frustration, bursts of anger, and an underlying sense of utter powerlessness. Degrees of intensity can vary, of course, depending on the depth of the relationship and personal circumstances. This was not one of those heart-wrenching cases, and in a way, an apology seemed excessive. I had long forgiven and forgotten.
Nonetheless, I almost immediately realized I was …
Lost, Scared, and Broken: How Self-Awareness Saved My Life
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” ~Nathaniel Branden
I felt lost. I felt broken. I felt scared.
As I sat alone in that cold, dark jail cell, I felt like I had hit rock bottom.
My feet chilled against the cold stone floor. The creaky wooden bench, stitched together with narrow strips, tormented me.
Inmates shouted all around me. Their voices echoed in the dark. It was like the noise of the outside world had finally caught up with the noise inside my head. I just wanted to scream.
I was sixteen, but I …
Celebrating Six Years Sober: Here’s How I Did It
“I chose sober because I wanted a better life. I stay sober because I got one.” ~Anonymous
Seven years ago, I never thought I would be able to say that I have been six years sober! I didn’t think I was physically addicted. I never got the shakes, never morning drank, never drank daily unless on vacation, never got a DUI (even though that was lucky), and never lost a job or a relationship because of drinking. I was, however, incredibly emotionally and mentally addicted.
I am fifty-six years old and started drinking in high school. Except when pregnant, I …
The Truth Behind Imposter Syndrome: What It’s Really About
“We are who we believe we are.” ~C.S. Lewis
Have you ever caught yourself hiding behind the term “imposter syndrome”? I know I have—more times than I’d like to admit.
We hear the phrase so often now, and it’s almost become a catch-all for our fears, doubts, and insecurities. But what if I told you that imposter syndrome isn’t what you think it is? What if it’s something deeper that has been with you far longer than your career or the roles you play in your life?
Let me take you on a journey that may mirror your own. …
How to Ease Pain and Anxiety Through Meditation
“If nothing changes, nothing changes. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’re getting. You want change, make some.” ~Courtney C. Stevens
If someone looked at my life when I was younger, they would think that I had it all together. I went to college to obtain my bachelor’s in psychology and social work, followed by my master’s in social work. I have always had good friendships and family relationships. I traveled regularly. I was and still am young and living my life. Little would they know that so much was brewing inside…
The …
Free Download, Living Without Hurry: It’s Time to End the Rush
Do you ever feel like you’re living your life racing toward someday when everything feels better or easier? Like you’re constantly chasing something—maybe a dream, money, the perfect body, or love and, at the core of it all, happiness?
I chased all these things for years, filling most of my time with activities to attain them, all the while neglecting my deepest needs and ultimately feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
It’s one of life’s greatest ironies—we push ourselves so hard to find peace and fulfillment in the future without realizing both are available right now if we could only create space …
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. 