Blind Can You Can

Category: Uncategorized

  • Shiny Object Syndrome: Finding Your True North in a Noisy World

    We live in a world where the next “big thing” is always one click away. A new hustle. A new side gig. A new promise of overnight success. Welcome to the world of Shiny Object Syndrome—where every opportunity looks like gold, and it’s easier than ever to lose sight of your true path.

    Let’s be real: if you don’t have a firm grasp on your North Star, it’s easy to get swayed by the latest trend or someone else’s definition of success. A wandering mind is like a Wi-Fi signal on a rainy day—easily disrupted.

    It kind of reminds me of a Jedi mind trick. As Obi-Wan said, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…”—and you nod along, even when they’re clearly your droids. That’s how it feels when the world keeps telling you who you should be, what you should chase, and why you’re “behind” if you’re not doing it their way.

    I’ve been listening to Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck, hoping to find some clarity myself. And let me tell you—this whole “life purpose” thing sometimes feels like a superhero origin story. You know, a regular person gets bitten by a radioactive spider or injected with super-soldier serum and suddenly finds their destiny. I wish it were that easy.

    Truth is, many people spend their whole lives searching for their purpose… and some never quite find it.

    Worse, the world is full of people and programs ready to exploit that search. Social media, YouTube, emails—everywhere I look, someone is trying to sell me their version of purpose. “Become a stock trader!” “Flip real estate!” “Go viral on YouTube!” “Sell digital assets!” Each one is pitched as the golden ticket to financial freedom.

    And if you’re not jumping in, the message is clear: you must not want success badly enough.

    It’s exhausting. It makes you feel like a failure for not joining their “cool kid” club.

    Now, I’m not saying all these paths are scams—some might work for the right person. But the point is, there’s a lot of noise. And that noise can make it harder for regular folks like us to hear our own voice.

    Here’s what I believe: we weren’t all meant to do the same thing.

    We each have God-given gifts, and we were built to play different roles. Not everyone is supposed to be the quarterback. Some of us are wide receivers, linemen, coaches, even bench players who come in at the exact right time and change the game.

    It doesn’t make one person better than another—it just means we all have a different assignment.

    And only you know yours.

    It’s not something someone else can sell you. It’s not something an algorithm can predict. Your North Star is already programmed into your DNA. You just have to listen. Your body, your heart, your soul—they’ll tell you when something is right. It won’t just feel like, “That sounds nice.” It’ll be more like a full-body “YES.” That’s when you know.

    I wish I could say I’ve found my North Star already. The truth is—I’m still looking.

    Sure, I’ve dabbled in things like stock trading or thinking about becoming a real estate investor, but if I’m being honest, those things sound nice mostly because they promise money. They don’t light my soul on fire. They don’t feel like a calling. I want something I’d still love—even if it never made me rich.

    Something that serves others. Something that leaves a mark.

    I don’t think I’m alone in that.

    Maybe my purpose is to share my journey—my highs, my lows, my lessons—so others can find their own path a little faster. I believe we all have value to give, and I believe we need each other to get where we’re meant to be.

    So, to those of you still searching: you’re not alone.

    To those who’ve found your true North: don’t forget to lend a hand to the rest of us.

    And to the dark side and its shiny Jedi mind tricks? Nice try. We’re not falling for it anymore.

  • Dig Deep, Push Forward: Growth Lives Outside the Comfort Zone

    Digging Deep and Pushing Forward

    I was reading The Way of the SEAL by Mark Divine today. Tons of great takeaways, but one really hit home: pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

    Let’s be honest—humans love habits. We’re practically programmed to stick with what’s easy, convenient, and comfortable. That’s great for ordering takeout or watching the same Netflix show on repeat—but not so great for personal growth.

    Getting too comfortable can quietly trap you in a rut. It stunts your potential, locks you into bad routines, or worse—makes you settle for a life that’s “just okay.”

    I truly believe that no matter where you are in life, there’s always room to grow. As a Chinese saying goes:
    “Live till you’re old, learn till you’re old.”
    (Or in modern terms: lifelong learning > lifelong lounging.)

    Yes, growth is uncomfortable. But that’s why it works. That’s when we have to dig deep.

    You’ve heard it before: “No pain, no gain.” Mark Divine, a former Navy SEAL, shares stories from his training that sound like something straight out of an action movie… but with way more sand and shouting. Still, through it all, he learned to calm his mind and push through. And if it works for SEALs crawling through freezing mud for fun, maybe there’s something to it.

    The truth is—it’s hard, not impossible.

    Our minds are incredibly powerful. With the right mindset, we can endure far more than we imagine. When things get tough, finding the joy—or at least the purpose—in what you’re doing can make all the difference.

    Look at elite athletes. They train relentlessly. But when they’re in the zone? They say things like:
    “We just went out there and played our game.”
    “We just had fun.”
    That mindset—being fully present, enjoying the process—is what helps them perform at their best.

    For me, one of my “happy places” is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Being blind limits what I can do in many sports, but on the mats? I feel free. For those few minutes, I’m not thinking about bills, stress, or anything else. I’m just rolling, learning, flowing. No distractions—just focus. And that, my friends, is the zone.

    That’s how I want to take on life.

    Whether it’s work, school, or parenting—I want to show up, dig deep, push forward… and crush it. I want to learn from my mistakes, grow a little every day, and keep stretching that comfort zone. Not because it’s easy—but because it’s worth it.

    So, let’s challenge ourselves.

    Shake things up a bit:

    • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
    • Try a cold shower (yep, they’re brutal but oddly energizing).
    • Visit a new restaurant instead of the usual spot.
    • Say hi to a stranger—who knows, they might be awesome.

    Each small step outside your comfort zone is a step into a bigger, bolder version of you.

    We’re all capable of more than we think. So don’t wait for the perfect moment.
    Get in the zone, dig deep, and push forward.

  • Why Me? Turning Life’s Hard Questions into Personal Power

    Why Me? Flipping the Script on Life’s Toughest Questions

    “Why me?” That’s the question we ask when life throws us a curveball—or ten. I’ve asked it many times. Actually, I asked it today.

    Why am I blind?
    Why am I broke?
    Why am I alone?

    Why me?

    But maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe we should be asking: Why not me?

    It’s kind of like turning a frown upside down. When we ask “why,” we often assume something’s wrong—like we’ve been unfairly singled out by the universe. But problems without solutions just become stress. And stress, as you might’ve noticed, doesn’t fix anything—it just drains your battery and your soul.

    So, let’s flip the script.

    Instead of asking why—ask what.

    • What can I do because I’m blind?
    • What can I do because I’m broke?
    • What can I do because I’m alone?

    Let’s turn that pain into power. That problem into purpose. That frustration into fuel.

    I know—it’s easier said than done. Asking someone to turn their challenges into strength can feel like asking them to turn coal into diamonds. But you know what? That’s literally how diamonds are made: with pressure, time, and grit. So yes, it’s hard. But it’s not impossible.

    One of my biggest pet peeves is when people point out problems without offering solutions. It creates stress, negativity, and leaves people hanging. But when someone acknowledges a challenge and offers help? That’s gold.

    Like when someone says,
    “Sir, this place is crowded—can I guide you to where you need to go?”
    Boom—problem acknowledged, solution offered. That’s service. That’s kindness. That’s what makes life easier for everyone.

    Think about it:
    If the food’s wrong at a restaurant, the server doesn’t just say “Yeah, that’s tough.” They say, “Let me fix that for you.”
    If your team’s short-staffed, and a coworker says, “I can stay a bit longer to help”—that’s someone who gets it.
    If you see someone struggling, just offering to help them find what they’re looking for changes the whole experience.

    Nobody likes to be left hanging. Not even you.
    So when you ask “Why me?”—don’t leave yourself hanging.

    Be the one who steps up for yourself. Offer your own soul a helping hand.
    You noticed a problem—great. Now do yourself the courtesy of working on a solution.

    So next time you ask, “Why me?”
    Take a breath.
    Stay grateful for what you do have.
    And ask:

    • What can I learn from this?
    • What can I do better?
    • What strengths can I grow because of this limitation?

    Because here’s the truth: every adversity carries the seed of a greater strength.

    Your limitations don’t define you—they refine you. They sharpen the parts of you that need to shine.

    You’ve got this. Diamonds aren’t born overnight—but they are made under pressure. Keep shining.

  • Stop Waiting for the Perfect Moment: Life Lessons from Procrastination and Missed Shots

    I remember my college days vividly—especially the nights I crammed right before an exam, waiting until the last minute to start a project, and pulling all-nighters like it was some kind of rite of passage. I wish I could say I aced all my classes and graduated with honors. Truth is, I barely scraped by. And honestly? That habit didn’t end with college—I started scraping by in life, too.

    Looking back, I think part of it came from a lack of direction and discipline. The other part? Feeling completely overwhelmed. Sometimes when you’re too sheltered growing up, you don’t develop the coping skills needed to face the real world head-on. That was me—great at memorizing flashcards, not so great at handling stress, deadlines, or real-life decisions.

    Now as an adult, I’ve had to learn life’s lessons the hard way. And yet, even now, I still procrastinate. Most of the time, it’s because I’m scared—scared of making the wrong decision, scared of failing, scared that I don’t have what it takes. So instead of taking action, I freeze. I don’t even start.

    Sometimes, all my focus gets sucked into one specific thing—like waiting for a job interview result—and everything else gets swept aside. It’s not because I’m lazy, but because I’m stuck. I’m anxious. I feel like I can’t move forward until that one thing moves first. And sometimes, it’s as simple and real as not having enough money to pay the bills, which can feel paralyzing.

    That’s exactly how I feel right now. I want to be motivated, but it seems like the world isn’t cooperating. Things aren’t moving at my speed. Take the interview I had last week—I’ve been anxiously waiting for the outcome. It feels like life is in limbo until I hear back, and that limbo is exhausting.

    But here’s what I’ve come to realize: sometimes the ball isn’t in your court, and all you can do is shift focus. Waiting in anxiety won’t make decisions come any faster. We need to accept the moment we’re in and move forward with the things we can control.

    It’s okay to feel scared, anxious, even drained—especially when you’ve poured all your energy into one thing. But we can’t just stand there, staring up at the shot we took, hoping it lands. Like in basketball, whether the ball swishes through the net or bounces off the rim, the game continues. You either get ready for the rebound or sprint back on defense.

    You can’t win the game by standing still.

    This reminder is as much for me as it is for you: stay focused, stay moving. Don’t wait until the last second to get into position—it’ll cost you the game. Life doesn’t always move at our pace, but that doesn’t mean we stop moving altogether.

    We might not always control the outcome, but we do control how we show up for the next play.

  • Show Me the Money—But What’s It Really Worth?

    “Show Me the Money!”… But What’s It Really Worth?

    You know that iconic line from Jerry Maguire—“Show me the money!”? Classic. And let’s be honest, it feels like money is always at the center of everything.

    I grew up in a middle-class household. My parents immigrated to the U.S. with barely anything in their pockets, just big dreams and the kind of grit that doesn’t come with a price tag. So yeah, I heard my fair share of: “We can’t get that—it’s too expensive,” or “No, we don’t have the money for that.” And as I got older, I realized something deeper was at play: money didn’t just buy things—it bought status. At least, that’s what the world wanted me to believe.

    Culturally, and maybe a little emotionally too, money seemed to equal power, value, and respect. If you didn’t have it? Well, it felt like society decided you weren’t as important, as capable, or as worthy of a good life.

    That mindset stuck with me more than I’d like to admit. After college, I watched how we were suddenly compared by salaries instead of report cards. First it was grades, then college acceptances, then internships. Now it’s about how much you make, what neighborhood you live in, the car you drive, and which resort you took your family to over spring break. And guess what? Even when you do “measure up,” it can still feel… hollow.

    Let me be clear: I have nothing against money. Money is a powerful tool. It gives you choices. It helps you provide for your family. It enables you to give back. But what I can’t get behind is the idea that money defines your worth.

    I am a valuable human being—with or without money. And let me tell you, that’s a reminder I have to give myself more often than I’d like. Money doesn’t define who I am. It just shapes some of the options I have. And honestly, I’m content with a simple life. I don’t need a mansion or a Lamborghini—especially because I’m blind, and let’s face it, I can’t drive anyway.

    Lately, as I learn more about financial freedom, building wealth, and growing that so-called “money snowball,” I’ve started to see something bigger than just numbers. True wealth isn’t about having the most—it’s about using what you do have to lift others up. Whether it’s helping family, supporting friends, or giving back to the community, that’s what gives wealth its meaning.

    If all I’m doing is chasing money for fame or power, then that’s just an endless treadmill with no off switch. But if I can use money as a tool to serve, to support, and to fulfill my purpose—even in small ways—then that’s a path worth walking.

    I’m not here to be the richest guy in the room. I just want to live with intention. If I can take care of my responsibilities—those sacred assignments God’s entrusted me with—then I’m doing something right. We all have different capacities, different talents, and different definitions of success. But I believe we’ve all been given some form of abundance. Sometimes we just have to open our eyes to see it.

    Here’s something I truly believe: when we show that we can manage what we already have—when we’re grateful, responsible, and generous with it—more comes. It’s like a universal law… or maybe just good parenting.

    Think about it: as kids, when we show we can handle chores and be responsible with our allowance, we get rewarded. Maybe even with that puppy we’ve been begging for. In school, if we manage our workload well, we earn good grades and honors. In college, proving ourselves in an internship can lead to a full-time job. At work, doing well in your current role might lead to a raise or a promotion.

    I think money works the same way. If you can show that you respect it, understand its value, and use it for good—not waste—it, then more will come. Not just more money, but more peace. More joy. A truly richer life.So yes—show me the money—but show me the meaning, too.