Step into Nepal’s current political situation through the eyes of a young, visionary doctor I met during my pilgrimage. Continue reading Nepal’s Unrest Through the Eyes of a Young Visionary Doctor
The “Two Random Questions” concept is a simple conversation game where you ask someone two questions that neither of you knows beforehand. Each person gets about two and a half minutes to answer each question. The goal is to spark spontaneous, honest, and often surprising conversations—connecting with someone in a way that’s unexpected and playful. Continue reading The Power of a Random Question
“In the quiet charm of Pai, a conversation about Muay Thai turned into one of the most fascinating — and so wildly different from my own life — exchanges I’ve ever had, blending shared ground and stark differences Continue reading Meeting Chris in Pai: Muay Thai, Life, and the Stories I Didn’t Expect
We often talk about politics as if it’s something outside of us — distant, disconnected.
But what happens when it seeps into our relationships, our identities, our hearts?
Today, I saw more clearly how our personal stories and lived experiences shape the way we show up in the political space. How our pain, our history, and our longing for belonging all get projected into the public sphere — often without us realizing.
Whether it’s an American grappling with their country’s choices, or a Jewish person reckoning with the actions of the Israeli government — behind every opinion is a human story.
This post isn’t about taking sides.
It’s about remembering our shared humanity in a world that so often forgets it Continue reading When Politics Hurts: The Conflict, Connection, and Unspoken Pain We All Carry
What does hope look like when you’re building a life from scratch—with no safety net, no shortcuts, and no guarantees?
In this interview, I speak with the owner of a small hotel in Nepal about dreams, resilience, and what it means to keep going—day by day, with intention and grit. Born of curiosity and edited through challenge (between the relentless heat and a MacBook that kept freezing), this story is for anyone navigating uncertainty and choosing to begin again and again—because they dare to dream, and they’re determined to create. Continue reading Grit, Growth, and Everyday Courage in Nepal
Japanese culture has certain concepts that stand out for their depth and significance. One such concept is “nakama” (仲間), a term that embodies the essence of camaraderie, friendship, and belonging. Understanding nakama offers a glimpse into the values that bind Japanese society and inspire its storytelling traditions. The Meaning of Nakama Nakama translates to “friend,” “teammate,” or “comrade,” but its meaning extends far beyond these … Continue reading Nakama: The Japanese Concept of Belonging and Camaraderie
How do young people in Nepal see their own culture? Are they content with tradition, or do they seek change? In this conversation, a 23-year-old Nepali shares his thoughts on his country, daily life, marriage, and the future. Through his eyes, we get a personal glimpse into the balance between tradition and modernity in Nepal. Continue reading A Young Man’s Perspective on Nepalese Culture
What happens when a simple case of lost flip-flops turns into a divine sign? In this lighthearted conversation, one person misplaces their flip-flops, while another believes they’ve received a message from above—mistaking flip-flops for chapels! The result? A wonderfully absurd and funny story where language barriers, interpretations, and a touch of fate collide. Continue reading The Flip-Flop Sign from Above” – A Fun & Unexpected Story
On Friday, I spent a lovely day in a nearby town with my high-school girlfriends. We visited small shops and enjoyed a delicious lunch at a Mexican restaurant. It was a refreshing change from shopping online or at generic big box stores, and it reminded me of the wonderful benefits of shopping local. In recent years, shopping has become very impersonal. We do more of … Continue reading Consider the Benefits of Shopping Local
In 2018, during my trip in South America, I visited one of La Paz’s bustling food markets. I was told that I should try Pan America’s pizza when I reach Copacabana. This tip came from fellow travelers I connected with in La Paz, a city nestled at staggering altitudes between 10,650 and 13,250 feet (3,250 and 4,100 meters) above sea level, making it the world’s … Continue reading Change of life through community work
In August 2022, I dived into the heart. I did it by visiting the Anahata Ayahuasca Retreat Centre in Pisac, Sacred Valley of Peru. I was there for my own reasons, but once again, my journey had led me to someone who had been pushed into a corner by life and forced to make a change. During my trip to Peru ( July to October 2022), … Continue reading Dreaming into heart
It’s that time of year again when people think about the new year and how they’d like to make changes in their lives going forward. We often refer to these proposed life modifications as “new year’s resolutions.” The other day, while stepping out of the shower, the idea hit me—insights come as flashes of insight and often at the strangest times—that the way we verbalize … Continue reading Repost: The Importance of Language When Making New Year’s Resolutions
You know Lennon, McCartney and Clapton and Dylan
Bacharach, Parton & TSwift are killin’
But do you recall
The most Christmassy songwriter of all? Continue reading The Man Who Soundtracked Christmas
In “What I’ve Learned about Life while Watching My Father Age,” a blog I wrote several weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d been reading On Death and Dying, a wonderfully insightful book written by Elisabeth Kϋbler-Ross. Throughout that tome, the author argues that doctors need to take a more “human” approach while treating dying patients. She also points out that the field of medicine stresses the … Continue reading Repost: The Real Secret to Being Happier and More Successful in the Workplace
My family’s musical project to help the unhoused both at home and in Hawaii. Continue reading Holiday Homelessness
My greatest regret during my Peace Corps experience is that I wasn’t into taking photos at that time. I was into living life, though, as hard as it could be lived, tiptoeing right up to the line of being wildly self-destructive. It’s just that I don’t have much of a photographic record of all that living beyond the boundaries. I do have memories, tons of … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Three
Where is home? It is a question that has been growing within me more, the older I become. My life has been greatly affected by politics, moving, and family patterns. This has given me a broader insight regarding life, the world and humanity, than most people around me. In this video, I am talking about where is home, my experience as a foreigner and uprooting … Continue reading Where is home? They say home is where your heart belongs
So I just got back from a 2-week trip to Hong Kong. A quick ding dong to say how do you do. I was there to organise several things related to my license that needed sorting. It was the first time I’d gone back since I left my former lover in difficult circumstances over a year ago. It was a very interesting experience indeed. What … Continue reading A Hong Kong Ding-Dong
If you read my first installment, you know that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and was sent to PĨock, Poland, a beautiful and fascinating city located on the Vistula River, to complete my Pre-Service Training (PST), a demanding educational regime that was designed to see if I’d be up to the various challenges I’d certainly encounter once I was sent off to the town or city … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment Two
My mind works in mysterious ways. For example, three or four days ago, for no particular reason, the following question popped into my head: I wonder who said, “Clothes make the man”? I then almost immediately forgot that I’d asked this question—my brain having its own unique way of functioning—and went about my daily business. This morning I got online and found out that Mark … Continue reading Repost: Places that “Made” Me: Installment One
