Tag: love

If you think you’re alone, well—I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we’re all playing the same game in this playground called life.

It happens all the time. Some difficulty pops up, and I find myself sitting there thinking, Why me? How come no one else has to deal with this? Why am I so alone?

But the truth is, I’m not alone. You’re not alone. None of us are.

It may feel that way because we only see the inside of our own lives. We don’t always see the struggles other people are carrying. But if you could peek into other people’s lives, you’d quickly realize that many of them are fighting battles that look a lot like yours.

This hit me recently while I was listening to the Dave Ramsey podcast. He made a comment to a caller, saying, “One day, you’ll read the menu from left to right instead of right to left.”

That one line brought me straight back to my childhood. I remembered sitting in restaurants as my parents told me, “That menu item is too expensive—pick something else.” Later, when I started going out with friends or on dates, I found myself focusing more on the prices on the right side of the menu than the actual food on the left.

And to make matters worse, once I lost the ability to read menus on my own, I had to constantly ask people to tell me the prices out loud. Trust me, that is not a great look when you’re on a date.

It reminded me of the movie Half Baked where Dave Chappelle goes on a date with only five dollars in his pocket. The whole scene, you see his cash balance shrinking with every purchase. At one point, he even tries to sneakily grab money out of a Santa donation bucket just to keep up. (For the record—I’m not saying it’s okay to steal from Santa! But you get the point.)

The reality is, many of us are in that same spot. We’ve got a certain amount of money in our pockets and it has to last until the next paycheck.

And it’s not just money. People are struggling with health challenges, broken relationships, parenting stress, you name it. The list goes on and on.

What makes it so heavy sometimes is that when those overwhelming moments hit, it feels like no one else is around. But that’s a lie our minds tell us. You are not alone.

For some people, simply knowing they’re not alone is enough. For others, it’s about finding a community—whether that’s a friend, a group, or even an online circle of support. And if you’re not into connecting with people directly, there are still ways to remind yourself: read a book, listen to a podcast, follow someone trustworthy on YouTube. Just don’t retreat and isolate yourself.

In Jiu-Jitsu, there’s a position called the “turtle.” It’s when you curl up and protect yourself—but it’s not a winning strategy. The real move is to turn back, face the challenge head-on, and fight with everything you’ve got.

Life works the same way. Retreating makes you feel safe for a moment, but it won’t move you forward. Facing your struggles—this time knowing you have resources, perspective, and community—gives you the strength to overcome any adversity.

So no—you’re not alone. And you never have to be.

Sometimes a break from reality is exactly what you need to reset your mind and rethink your life and choices.

For a long time, I kept waiting for a miracle—or someone to swoop in and save me. I put my faith in the latest “money-making strategy,” shiny investment scheme, or the next big thing that promised instant wealth. Each time, I crossed my fingers and hoped this would finally solve all the problems in my life.

Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve also thought, “If I could just win the lottery, everything would be fixed.”

The truth? That’s wishful thinking. And while hope is beautiful, it’s not a financial plan. The odds of hitting the jackpot are slim, and pinning our future on a miracle keeps us stuck in fantasy land rather than dealing with reality.

The real solution is often less glamorous but far more effective: work at your problems. Don’t just wish them away. Roll up your sleeves and tackle them head-on.

For me, this year’s vacation became a wake-up call. I realized one of my biggest stresses wasn’t just life itself—it was finances. I kept gambling my income, trying to “invest” into something that would deliver that big win, but in reality, I was just playing roulette with my future.

The mindset shift I needed was simple:

• Pay off debt.
• Save consistently, even if it’s small.
• Apply for assistance if it’s available.
• Live with family if it helps cut expenses.
• Do whatever it takes to stabilize first.

No miracle, no magic trick. Just practical steps that give real, solid results.

I know not everyone can take a vacation to reset, but here’s your wake-up call: Find that one area in your life you’re tired of being stuck in, and commit to doing the work. Drop the pride. Be open to help. Get creative with your solutions.

Yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will take emotional and physical effort. But the first step is simply starting. Once you move, support will show up along the way.

So, stop waiting for miracles. Start building your own breakthroughs—one step, one choice, one reset at a time.

Now that I’m back, I’ll be sharing more reflections from this reset. I even typed up a few entries while on vacation—though being sick kept me from posting them. So, consider this a bit of “make-up blogging.”

Because just like life, sometimes you fall behind—but what matters is that you keep going.

When Life Gives You Reasons (to Quit), Don’t Turn Them Into Excuses

This week, life handed me a very good reason to stop doing everything.

Let’s just say my stomach decided to launch a full rebellion. Whether it was my last meal in Thailand or my first dish in Taiwan, I got hit hard—stomach flu or food poisoning, take your pick. Either way, I was bed-bound for nearly five days, feeling like I’d been steamrolled by a buffet gone rogue.

I couldn’t eat, couldn’t think, and definitely couldn’t do much besides occasionally wondering if I’d ever feel normal again. Even now, my appetite isn’t fully back. Certain foods still make me queasy, and I’m still low on energy. Let’s not even talk about the bathroom situation—I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say the plumbing got a workout.

But here’s what struck me: when you’re sick, it’s incredibly easy to put things off. You give yourself a free pass—and rightly so at first. Rest is important. But then a funny thing happens… that legitimate reason slowly starts turning into a comfortable excuse.

I caught myself doing it. I signed up for a Jiu-Jitsu competition this year—something I do annually to challenge myself. But as I lay in bed, barely able to eat rice, my brain whispered:
“You’ve been sick. You’re not at 100%. Just skip it. You’re not a pro anyway, right? No one will care.”

And honestly? That reasoning felt so good. It made me feel safe. It made me feel justified. But underneath that warm blanket of logic was a cold truth:
I was using a real reason to dodge something hard. That’s how reasons slowly become excuses.

It’s a sneaky shift. Maybe you’re facing something real—illness, loss, disability, burnout—and your reason is 100% valid. But eventually, if we’re not careful, that reason becomes our new normal. We start using it as a shield against everything uncomfortable, boring, or difficult.

And that’s where the danger is.

So today, I reminded myself: Don’t let this reason become an excuse.

I took a deep breath. Got out of bed. Told myself, “You’re good enough to get back up. You’re strong enough to walk out that door.”

Was it easy? No. I still felt tired. I still felt off. But I wasn’t going to let my comeback story be hijacked by a leftover noodle or a bowl of questionable street food.

Because the moment you stop showing up for your life—even in small, wobbly ways—that’s the moment the excuses win.

So here’s my message to you (and to myself): If life gives you a reason to pause, take the pause. Rest. Heal. But when it’s time to move again, don’t let that reason turn into an escape hatch.

You’re stronger than that.
And you’ve got too much potential to waste it in bed binge-watching regrets.

Sometimes, you just have to do what you’ve got to do.

As I’m learning during my time in Thailand, the Grab app (the Uber equivalent here) is a bit like rolling the dice—sometimes it gets you where you want to go… and sometimes it almost does. And when you’re blind, “almost” can make all the difference.

Navigating transportation here comes with its own little adventure menu:

• Buses? A hard no—for me, and honestly, for some sighted folks too.
• MRT (subway)? Doable! The staff are helpful, and with a little orientation, I can make it work. But you still have to walk to your exact destination, which isn’t always easy.
• Taxis or Grab? Let’s just say… it depends. On GPS accuracy. On rain. And most of all, on the kindness of your driver.

Now, let’s get to the story.

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It was one of those days where everyone in my group was tied up, but I didn’t want to waste the entire day sitting indoors. So I made a solo mission out of it.

I called a Grab.
I explained my destination.
I prayed for the best.

The driver dropped me off… somewhere. Was it close? I think so. Was it the place? Not quite. To add drama to the scene, cue the sudden Thai downpour—the kind that laughs at umbrellas and turns streets into rivers.

Being blind, I couldn’t wander around looking for signs or landmarks. I also couldn’t see shelter ahead. So I did what any logical person would do: I found a covered area and waited. Waited for the rain to ease, for the GPS to hopefully update, and for some miracle of human kindness to arrive.

Time slowed.
The rain didn’t.
No one around me spoke English, and my Thai is… let’s just say in development.

Eventually, more rain-soaked souls gathered under the same shelter. I heard some English being spoken—a beacon of hope! I politely asked one man if he could help me figure out where I was. Not only did he speak English, but he went above and beyond. He walked to the store I was looking for and brought back a staff member—umbrella in hand—to walk me over safely in the rain.

Talk about a plot twist.

Once I arrived, I got to sit down, enjoy a snack, and relax while waiting for my group to arrive a few hours later. What started as a frustrating, wet, and uncertain moment turned into one of those little stories that sticks with you—not because it was dramatic, but because it was human.

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This may seem like a small thing, but in moments like these, you realize how far positive thinking, a little patience, and faith in the goodness of others can take you.
It could’ve gone another way. But it didn’t. And I’m thankful for that.

Traveling blind has its challenges, sure. But it also gives you the chance to witness the invisible beauty—like kindness, connection, and resilience.
Rain or shine, lost or found, there’s always a way forward.

Just because I’m blind doesn’t mean I sit at home while the world has fun after dark.
Sure, going out at night can sometimes be a little tricky—but when the opportunity presents itself? I take it. No hesitation.

And let me tell you, Thailand’s nightlife is very much alive.

From open-air night markets to neon-lit bars, thumping clubs, and food stalls that stay open well past midnight—this place doesn’t slow down when the sun sets. If anything, it comes alive.

Now, I know what you might be thinking:
“But isn’t nightlife kind of a visual thing?”

Well… yeah.
Some of it is.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to see the lights to feel the energy.

I can hear the music.
I can taste the food.
I can enjoy the people, the conversations, the laughter, the vibe.

And in Thailand? It’s all so much more accessible—especially compared to back home in the States.
Getting around here at night doesn’t require draining your wallet or bribing your rideshare app to show up on time. Taxis and tuk-tuks are affordable and everywhere. That alone makes it easier for someone like me to say, “Yeah, let’s go out tonight.”

There’s something beautiful about being in a place where your “limitations” feel a little less limiting.

Sure, I still have to navigate a few bumps in the road (sometimes literally), but the rhythm of this country—especially at night—is something I can feel. It’s not about seeing flashing lights or fancy drink menus. It’s about being part of something bigger, something alive.

So what’s the point of this blog?

It’s simple:
Get out there and live a little more.

We all have limitations—physical, mental, emotional, or otherwise. But sometimes, stepping outside your comfort zone—or your country—can reveal new tools and new opportunities.
You might find that in a different environment, with different systems and different energy, the things that normally hold you back… don’t.

I may not see the fireworks, but I can still feel the spark.
And here in Thailand, the night sparkles in ways I never expected.

So go ahead.
Try that late-night snack.
Dance (or shuffle) to that street-side band.
Say yes to the invitation.
Take the ride.

Even if you can’t see the lights—you can still be part of the night.