“Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.” – The Alchemist

Life will bring waves. Emotions will rise. Change will crash. But there’s always a current of calm. And we forget that at our own expense.

In a world that never stops talking, silence can feel threatening. But over the years I’ve learned—It isn’t the absence of something. It’s the presence of everything.

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.