This image has stayed with me ever since I first saw it: a massive elephant standing still, held in place by a small rope tied to its leg. At first glance, it feels absurd. An animal with enough strength to pull down trees, restrained by something it could snap without effort. And yet, the elephantContinue reading “The Rope Was Never the Enemy”
Tag Archives: self-awareness
The Permission Slip You Never Asked For
Some days you wake up already tired. Not the kind of tired a good night’s sleep fixes, but the kind that sits deeper. The kind that comes from carrying too much for too long. On those days, the advice is always the same: take a break, slow down, ask less of yourself. And sure, thatContinue reading “The Permission Slip You Never Asked For”
The Storm That Made Sense Later
There are seasons in life that don’t make sense while you’re in them. Everything feels loud, messy, and unsettled. You’re doing your best just to keep your footing, wondering what you did wrong, or what you could have done differently to avoid the chaos. When you’re in the middle of a storm, perspective is aContinue reading “The Storm That Made Sense Later”
Stand for Something (and You’ll Never Blend In Again)
There’s a lot of pressure these days to “stand out.” Be louder. Be faster. Be more visible. Post more. Network more. Learn more. Achieve more. Prove more. And honestly… it can get exhausting. Because when standing out becomes the goal, you start chasing everything that looks impressive from the outside—without always knowing whether it actuallyContinue reading “Stand for Something (and You’ll Never Blend In Again)”
Still Early. Still Becoming. Still Yours.
There’s a quiet kind of power in realizing that the voice in your head is not always telling the truth. Especially the one that whispers limits. The one that says you’re late, behind, not ready, not capable enough. That voice sounds convincing because it’s familiar, not because it’s right. You are more than you thinkContinue reading “Still Early. Still Becoming. Still Yours.”
Still a Student
Somewhere along the way, many of us quietly stop being students. Not because we’ve learned everything—but because we start protecting the image of knowing. We avoid questions that might make us look unprepared. We hesitate to try new things in front of others. We trade curiosity for competence, and without realizing it, growth slows toContinue reading “Still a Student”
Yesterday Taught Me. Tomorrow Calls Me Forward.
There’s something quietly powerful about standing between what has been and what is still becoming. Yesterday sits behind us like a patient teacher. Tomorrow waits ahead like an open door. And right here—right now—we get to choose how we carry both. 2025 taught me more than I expected. Not in loud, dramatic ways, but inContinue reading “Yesterday Taught Me. Tomorrow Calls Me Forward.”
The Gifts That Don’t Need Wrapping
Around Christmas, everything feels wrapped in something. Boxes stack up under trees, paper crinkles, ribbons curl, and we try to guess what’s inside before it’s time. There’s a special kind of joy in giving and receiving gifts this season, in watching faces light up and sharing in that small moment of surprise. But somewhere betweenContinue reading “The Gifts That Don’t Need Wrapping”
Popcorn Timing
It’s hard not to look around and measure. At birthday parties, playgrounds, school drop-offs, even family gatherings, the comparisons sneak in quietly. Someone else’s child is talking sooner, reading earlier, sitting still longer, understanding faster. And without meaning to, you start asking yourself questions you never planned to ask. Is my child behind? Am IContinue reading “Popcorn Timing”
The Feeling People Carry After Working With You
There’s a lot of emphasis on skills these days. What you know. What you’ve shipped. How fast you can deliver. The stack you’ve mastered. The results you can point to on a slide. All of that matters, of course. Competence is table stakes. But it’s rarely the thing people remember most. What lingers is theContinue reading “The Feeling People Carry After Working With You”
Kenrick Vaz 