I recently returned from two weeks in Japan—first in Nozawa Onsen, a small farming and ski village where the way of life is simple, deeply connected, and slow—before exploring the rich culture in Kyoto and Tokyo. There’s a Japanese phrase that echoed through every part of my trip: Ichigo Ichie. "One moment, one time. Never again."

This week, I’m sharing a reflection on compassion: not as something we give, but as something we practice returning to. Inspired by Reverend Gregory Boyle and Pema Chödrön, this piece explores how self-judgment blocks our ability to connect—and how softening inward is what helps us meet others with grace.

"Every night, I choose to die…I let my ego, my known 'self' die, and I wake up each day, ready to be reborn."

We don’t just suffer when something actually goes wrong. We suffer every time we relive it in our heads—before, during, and long after it’s passed.  Our minds are wired to scan for danger—they do this brilliantly.