Page 4 – Tiny Buddha

Break the Cycle: How to Heal the Patterns You Didn’t Choose

“We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” ~Native American Proverb

For years, I blamed my parents for my anxiety, my defensiveness, and my need to be right. Then I learned they inherited the same patterns from their parents. And theirs before them.

This wasn’t about blame. It was about breaking a cycle nobody chose.

The Stutter That Taught Me Everything

As a teenager, I developed a stutter. Not just occasional hesitation—paralyzing anxiety about speaking.

I’d anticipate making mistakes when reading aloud. Starting conversations felt like walking through a minefield. The fear of stuttering …

If You’re Feeling Empty, Lost, or Beaten Down by Life

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

If Everything Is Going Wrong

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Grieving the Parents You Needed but Never Had

By Shobitha Harinath in Blog

“We can’t receive from others what they were never taught to give.” ~Unknown

When I was younger, I believed that love meant being understood. I thought my parents would be there for me, emotionally and mentally. But love, I’ve learned, isn’t always expressed in the ways we need, and not everyone has the tools to give what they never received.

As an adult, I’ve learned something both liberating and heartbreaking: Parents can only give what they have.

I used to get frustrated that my parents couldn’t really understand my mental health struggles. The realization didn’t hit me suddenly. It …

If the Holiday Season Isn’t Magical to You

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

A Calm Voice Can Still Make a Point

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

You Might Feel Lost, but You’re Not

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

When Life Feels Overwhelming

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

It’s Always Going to Be You

By tinybuddha in Fun & Inspiring

How to Cope When Trauma Stole Your Childhood Memories

By Erika Sardinha in Blog

“It’s all right if you can’t remember. Our subconscious is spectacularly agile. Sometimes it knows when to take us away, as a kind of protection.” ~Kathleen Glasgow

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself crying in the park. It was supposed to be just a typical summer day. I was enjoying my usual stroll with my dog, Boni. The sun was shining, and the shade of the trees provided a very welcoming shelter from the burning sun.

Children were running and laughing, and their joy drew me in. Two of them, tiny three-year-olds, were squealing, all happy, wearing Hawaiian-style …

Your Job

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Choosing to See the Good

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Not Everyone Will Be “Merry” This Christmas

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

I’m Proud of Myself for Surviving

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

You Haven’t Failed

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Why Listening Matters More Than Giving Advice (A Barbershop Lesson)

By Timothy Warden in Blog

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” ~Stephen R. Covey

I used to think running a barbershop was all about haircuts, schedules, and keeping clients happy. I measured success by the number of chairs filled, how quickly we moved through the day, and whether everything ran smoothly. Efficiency felt like the most important thing.

Then one afternoon, a moment with a customer changed everything.

Mr. Hicks, a regular, came in looking unusually quiet. He slumped in my chair, barely making eye contact, and gave only short, mumbled answers when I …

We’re All Figuring Things Out as We Go

By Lori Deschene in Fun & Inspiring

Learning to Feel Safe Resting After a Lifetime of People-Pleasing

By Maya Fleischer in Blog

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ~John Lubbock

For years, I thought exhaustion was a sign I lived fully and did my best that day. I felt proud of being exhausted. I squeezed every bit out of the day, and there was nothing left.

If I felt tired, I pushed myself to do just one more thing. It was always just one more thing. If I needed …