I’m not aiming for a perfect year, or a dramatic reinvention. In 2026, I’m choosing steady growth, thoughtful creation, and influence built quietly, over time.

What we seek, clarity, courage, and creativity, is often already within us.

Over Thanksgiving break, I returned to Florida with my family to revisit the mentors, friends, and familiar places that shaped my early years in the U.S. Walking those old paths reminded me of the people who helped me grow - and why it matters to stay connected to where we began.

Inspired by a line under Tiny Thoughts Section of Brain Food : “When people feel like you deserve more than you have, they'll go out of their way to help you. But the minute you forget you were once the underdog, they'll root against you.” It made me think about how success changes both how others see us and how we see ourselves. When we are still working our way up, people often want to help. They notice our determination, our hard work, and sometimes see their own struggle

Today, I want to share a story that made me pause and reflect more deeply. One of my former colleagues, Matt West , recently shared an...