It Only Happens Once

conditions, not character

Our obsession with grit, willpower, and human tenacity blinds us from systematically understanding how individuals actually become who they are, and thus why they do what they do.

right thing, right now

In every moment, we fight a constant battle against complacency. Things are not okay, and we should never pretend that they are.

the proving ground

We spend half of our waking hours in life at work. It is our chance to prove that we can cooperate to do something worthwhile, to do what's right, and to make things better for people who care, so that in this wayward and chaotic world, we will be prepared when the stakes are inevitably higher.

it only happens once

“You” or “I” is a ever-changing concept where at any given point in time, it constitutes a unique, one-of-a-kind alignment of circumstances that can never again be replicated. It gives us a reason to hope, to have gratitude, and to bestow grace.

what is human deserves our affection

The way we orient and conduct ourselves towards others in the world matters immensely toward the change we seek to make.

put away your books

The accumulation of knowledge does not always correlate with the cultivation of wisdom. To live a life well lived usually means knowing that there is as much truth in books as there are in the simple things of this life—the fabric of our emotions, the minutiae of daily life, and the beauty that pervades every moment.

the heart and the mind

The human condition is ruled by this tension between the heart and the mind, between emotion and reason, between the incessant waves of our thoughts and the tugging tides of our intentions.

if nothing else, I love you

On dating, love, and romance in this tumultuous and conflicted world we live in.

the blizzard covers us all the same

Both triumph and tragedy occur in our world, often without rhyme nor reason. A defining aspect of the human condition that almost all of us can understand is that while we have the agency to change our conditions and improve our chances of success, the world we live in is ultimately indiscriminate; the notion of "deserving," whether in our present life circumstances or our posthumous legacy, is a concept farfetched from the reality of our wayward universe.

wayfinding—for yourself, and for others

The hapless cycle of trial and error and the wearisome vacillation between starting and quitting isn't a rite of passage. Not everything has to be learned the hard way. Where our distinct paths in this uncertain life converge, we can—and should—help each other along the way.

to be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over

This life is wayward, unfair, and often miserable. How can we maintain composure?

an inseparable truth

As humans, suffering and failure is inevitable, and the yearning for meaning and purpose is inexorable. The human condition is defined by this very notion that they two can never be separated.

Constellations