The ritual itself wasn’t new. Many people have their version of it—coffee, cigarettes, scrolling, distraction, noise, something to soften the sharp edges of being human. But this morning felt different. The sun hadn’t fully claimed the room yet, and somehow a single question rose from somewhere deep inside me: “What’s lacking in my life?” Not financially. Not socially. Spiritually. That question sat heavy in the room. And when a question like that arrives honestly, there is n

Burnout Is What Happens When You Stop Feeding Your Own Life

When I was little, I used to hear the elders in my life say, "Ignorance is bliss." It took me a long time to understand what that really meant. Once I understood the words, I realized it was basically saying that not knowing is somehow a happy place to be. But the older I've gotten, the less I agree with that idea. In fact, I've come to believe that ignorance can sometimes be downright dangerous. Let me explain. Growing up, my mother was deeply rooted in her faith. She knew t