The Real Win

This morning, I was putting some things away in my nightstand when I stumbled across one of my daughter’s notebooks of quotes. 

Out of curiosity, I flipped it open — and landed on this line: “If you stay positive in a negative situation, you win.”

So simple, timely, and spot on.

Lately, much of my work has centered around conflict resolution. Again and again, I hear people grappling with rightness. The drive to prove a point, defend a stance, or “win” the argument feels almost irresistible. 

And I find myself reminding them — and myself — that being right isn’t always the real victory.

Sometimes the true win is how we show up.
The vibe we bring into the room.
The energy we leave behind.
The ripple our actions and words create.

Because let’s be honest — proving you’re right may win the moment, but it rarely builds the bridge. Real winning is about impact. It’s about moving things forward in a positive direction, creating trust, calm, or possibility. It’s about asking: Did I bring hope instead of more heat?

That’s what my daughter’s quote brought home for me — the reminder that positive vibes can win. And it’s no surprise coming from her. Positivity is one of her top five CliftonStrengths, and goodness does it shine, especially in moments of conflict (which she dreads!). She has this natural way of making moments lighter, brighter, and more hopeful, even when they’re tough and tense. Watching her reminds me that positivity isn’t naïve — it’s powerful.

So how do we bring that kind of positive energy into tough moments?

• Recognize: pausing before responding is okay; silence can create space and steady a moment.
• Ask: Am I adding fuel, or am I bringing calm?
• Consider: Am I seeking to prove I’m right, or to solve the issue at hand?
• Reflect: Is this about my ego, or the actual problem?
• Expand: choose words that open possibilities rather than close them.
• See differently: identify the sliver of good, even in the mess.
• Understand: it is possible to be both kind and right.

It’s worth noting that staying positive doesn’t mean ignoring the challenge or pretending everything is fine. This isn’t about fake positivity. It’s about genuine hope, belief, and perspective. Owning the moment, being intentional, and refusing to let negativity lead.

Choosing to stay positive in the hard moments — and acting from a place of kindness, hope, and strength during the biggest challenges — is the real win. It’s the win that ripples outward, lifting others and making the world a little better.

The Odds Are In Our Favor

I was on my daily walk when a song I’d never heard before floated into my headphones. The track was called “Odds Are” by The Barenaked Ladies. 

One line stopped me in my tracks: “The odds are that we will probably be alright.”

Simple. Direct. And exactly what the world needs to hear in this moment.

And honestly, I believe it - the odds are that we will probably be alright. And you know me, I’m not a math person, but even I can see the odds are in our favor.

The truth is, the world feels noisy right now. Every time you flip on the news or scroll your phone, the headlines scream about chaos, disaster, and collapse. The volume is turned all the way up on fear. 

But when you step back, you realize much of it is just that — noise. And noise is not the whole story.

The odds are that we will probably be alright.

Think about it: we’ve already survived 100% of our hardest days. Humanity has lived through countless upheavals and still finds ways to grow, innovate, laugh, and love. 

On a personal level, many of us have weathered storms we once thought might break us. Yet here we are — moving forward.

That lyric reminded me of something important: we can’t always change the noise, but we can choose what frequency we tune into and how we look at things.

We can:

• Look for the good where it flickers, even if it’s small.
• Seek out the joy where it hides, even in ordinary moments.
• Remember that this, too, shall pass.
• Choose to laugh through the toughest days.

When life feels chaotic or overwhelming, it helps to anchor back to perspective. 

Odds are, we are going to be okay. 

Odds are, we as a collective will find our way through. 

And when we hold onto that knowing, we create space for kindness, hope, and joy to slip back in.

So maybe that’s our reminder for today: the chaos may be loud, but it isn’t everything. The odds are that we’ll probably be alright. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll be more than alright — we’ll find the joy that carries us through and build our resilience in the process.

Simulation Theory: Believing is Seeing with Intention

I’ve always sensed that life might be more than it appears — long before I had a name for it. Call it intuition, call it awareness, call it uncanny luck. Something about the world has always felt designed — not rigid or pre-programmed, but playful, interconnected, and alive.

Recently, I read The Simulation Hypothesis by Rizwan Virk. From a practical lens, it validated so much of what I’d felt. Virk approaches the idea with science, logic, and technology, while also weaving in spiritual and religious connections — a combination I found quite effective.

I’m more intuitive than mathematical — I don’t need hard data to feel something is real. (I always think of that line from The Santa Clause: “Believing is seeing.”) At the same time, I love books that bring science and understanding to things that feel opaque.

For me, the simulation shows up not in equations but in everyday magic:

• The déjà vu that makes us pause.
• The intuitive moments we lean into.
• The chance encounters at just the right time.
• The breadcrumbs that nudge us forward.
• The synchronicities that catch our attention.
• The “coincidences” that feel anything but random.

Why It Matters

A lot of people resist the idea of a simulation because it disrupts their worldview. But to me, it expands it. We can hold opposing elements together — that’s the beauty of a paradox. And honestly? It’s kind of fun.

• Fun because it makes life feel more connected.
• Fun because it invites curiosity and play.
• Fun because it opens the possibility that everything — the wins, the misses, the twists — might be part of something bigger and more meaningful than we realize in the moment.

For me, the simulation isn’t a cold theory or distant “what if.” It’s a framework — a lens that makes life feel more alive, expansive, and joyful.

The Power of Intentional Growth

In my mind, the simulation isn’t about detachment — it’s about growth. Just like in a game, we’re here to learn, stretch, and level up. Every challenge is a chance to choose differently, more intentionally, and more in alignment with who we want to become. That perspective makes life actually feel more meaningful. It shifts the focus from fearing “game over” to embracing growth — seeing each setback, lesson, or synchronicity as part of a design that helps us reach our highest potential - to grow and become the best version of ourselves.

A Shift in the Lens

When I hold it this way, the simulation isn’t a trap. It’s not a sterile game of rules or restrictions. It’s a playground. A stage. An invitation to wonder, laugh, explore, grow, and connect the dots as they appear. It encourages me to treat every moment, breadcrumb, synchronicity, and unexpected twist as:

• A reminder to stay curious.
• A nudge to keep exploring.
• An opportunity to trust the unfolding and choose with intention.
• A call to believe in abundance over scarcity.

Final Thought

You don’t have to be a physicist or philosopher to play with the idea of the simulation. You just have to be willing to notice — the nudges, the sparks, the playful coincidences.

Because maybe this simulation isn’t about proving something. 

Maybe it’s about experiencing it. 

Living it. 

And delighting in the possibility that the rules of the universe were designed not just to be survived — but enjoyed.

(And if you do crave the science and physics, Virk’s book brings it all together beautifully.)

Beyond Scarcity — A Moment to Reimagine Value

There was a time when salt was wealth. In fact, in Ancient Rome, soldiers were sometimes paid in salt — the word salary even comes from salarium, meaning “salt money.” Whoever controlled salt controlled trade, armies, even nations. 

Today, salt is on every grocery shelf — still useful (and I find it delicious), but no longer currency. Its value didn’t disappear; its scarcity did.

Money, too, is built on shared belief. It holds value only because we’ve all agreed it does. But what happens when the world begins shifting beyond scarcity — when technology and human creativity start to make the essentials of life more abundant?

Scarcity as Teacher
For generations, scarcity has been the teacher of this simulation we call life. It taught us resilience, innovation, generosity, and even compassion. We’ve learned what it means to give when resources are tight, and to value what we work hard to obtain. Scarcity shaped human storylines — but perhaps it isn’t meant to be our forever story.

The New Tools of Abundance
Artificial intelligence, automation, renewable energy, and global networks are starting to change the equation. Tasks that once took hours, days, or even lifetimes can now be done in moments. Knowledge, once hoarded in libraries or ivory towers, is accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Energy, food, and even healthcare are moving closer to breakthroughs that could make “not enough” less defining.

These shifts don’t erase the importance of human contribution — they amplify it. As scarcity loosens its grip, the question becomes: What do we choose to give?

From Money to Contribution
If money is just a symbol of value, perhaps its role is fading as our collective story evolves. In a post-scarcity world, what becomes valuable isn’t accumulation, but contribution. What we each bring to the table — creativity,  service, compassion, perspective — may become the new “currency.” Not because it can be traded for survival, but because it expands the richness of human life.

The Ripple We Can Start Now
We don’t have to wait for global systems to catch up. We can begin living as if enoughness is already here:

• By practicing generosity where we can.
• By honoring contribution as much as consumption.
• By redefining wealth not just as what we have, but what we share.

Each small act — a gift, a service, a willingness to create without hoarding — ripples outward. It models a new economy of value, one that AI and technology may help us scale in the decades ahead.

A New Story of Value
Salt once shaped civilization, until it didn’t. Money may feel immovable now, but it too is a story we’ve agreed to tell. Perhaps this moment — with AI accelerating possibility — is our chance to write a new story. One where enoughness is the baseline, and contribution becomes the measure of what we value most.

The Shimmer of Perspective

Lately, I’ve found myself surrounded by winged visitors — butterflies drifting in the sunlight, hummingbirds darting with impossible speed, and most recently, dragonflies floating into my path - I almost feel like a Disney character surrounded by these tiny flying creatures. 

At first, I chuckled, thinking they must like my Magnolia perfume, but then it struck me: maybe these small encounters are gentle reminders on our lens to the world. 

Walk with me for a moment and let me share what I mean here.

The Trio of Winged Messengers

Each of these creatures seems to carry their own wisdom, significance, and symbolism:

• Butterflies remind us that transformation is possible — that change can be graceful, even beautiful.
• Hummingbirds teach us joy and precision — that the sweetness of life is often found in the smallest details.
• Dragonflies invite us to pierce illusion and explore new ways of seeing.

Together, they’ve become a quiet trio emerging in my days, nudging me to notice more, pause more, and shift my perspective when life feels too rigid, complicated, confusing, or narrow.

Dragonflies as Teachers

Dragonflies have become particularly interesting to me, as I don’t recall ever seeing them float through my neighborhood until just recently. What fascinates me most is how they shimmer. Their wings refract the light, so depending on your angle, they can look entirely different — translucent, iridescent, or flashing with color.

That play of illusion and truth feels like a lesson in itself: perspective changes everything. 

What seems obvious in one light may reveal a completely different truth in another. How often do we take what we see at face value, when a shift in angle might reveal something different, missing, or completely new?

Perspective as a Practice

It connected me back to a book I recently read, The Art of Happiness, in which the Dalai Lama reflects on how changing perspective can alter our experience more than changing circumstances ever could. Whether it’s a stressful day, a difficult conversation, or a season of uncertainty, sometimes the invitation is not to push harder but to tilt our view. 

To ask: What else might be true here? What’s the shimmer I haven’t seen yet?

Closing Thought

The next time you notice a butterfly, a hummingbird, or a dragonfly, let it be more than a passing glance. Let it be a gentle reminder: the way we see the world shapes the way we live in it. And sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to discover beauty, truth, opportunity, or possibility that was there all along — waiting for us to see it with a fresh lens.

When the World Feels Heavy, Compassion is Key

Some news catches us, and sometimes it shakes us to the core. After the tragic violence of yesterday — and considering that today marks the 24th anniversary of September 11 — the world feels heavy.

Violence in public spaces, harm done to people (even those we may disagree with) lands heavy in the heart. When the headlines hit, people feel a mix of emotions: shock, anger, grief, even numbness. 

And it’s easy to lose sight of something simple and profound: behind every opinion, every role, every headline, there’s a human being.

Tragedy reminds us how connected we really are. What one person experiences ripples through families, communities, and, in some quiet way, all of us. None of us stands apart from that web.

While we can’t undo every act of harm, we do hold the power of how we respond. We shape the culture around us in a thousand small ways: in how we speak to people we disagree with, in the tone of an online post, in how we listen, in how we teach kids to see one another as whole people. Compassion isn’t weakness; it’s strength aimed at healing.

As I think about yesterday — and the conversations emerging today about democracy, violence, politics, and gun rights — I want to be clear: this isn’t about agreeing with every opinion or cause. It’s about caring for people and refusing to let harm define how we treat one another.

Maybe, underneath it all, this is about something deeper: our shared humanity.

Perhaps this is an opportunity for a turning point — in how we treat one another, how we express and hear viewpoints with empathy, how we connect, and how we bring compassion, kindness, and heart into our everyday moments.

And not because tragedy is ever “meant to be,” but because what happens next is still unwritten — and it’s up to us to build better possibilities for tomorrow.

I also understand that some people need to grieve and search for answers after tragedy — that’s valid and necessary. For me, I tend to look ahead. I can’t change what has already happened (though I wish no one would ever be harmed by violence), but I can ask how we take these moments and learn from them, turning tragedy into resolve to build something better.

How we respond to and engage with each other matters. Tragedy and violence will never make sense, but they can call us toward better ways of being — if we let them. They can become catalysts for change, strengthening us as we step into the future together.

We can be gentler with one another.
We can pause before reacting.
We can soften the sharp edges of hate.
We can choose empathy over escalation, connection over contempt, heart over harm.

Moments like these invite us to shift: for humanity, for our communities, for how we speak, listen, and lead. Not because loss is ever justified, but because what happens next is still unwritten.

So as we move through our days, let's speak with more care, listen with more patience, judge more slowly, be kinder with our words. We can’t fix everything at once, but one conversation, one choice, one act of kindness at a time, we can tilt the future toward compassion and build a better tomorrow.

Teen Slang Meets Cosmic Truth: "6-7" = 42

Lately, teenagers — especially in the middle school to early high school range — have latched onto a random piece of slang: “6-7.” They say it everywhere: in the halls, at practice, at home.

And heaven forbid those numbers appear on a sign — the chant begins: “6-7! 6-7! 6-7!”

The funny part? It means absolutely nothing.

At least, not in their world.

They picked this up from a rap and just keep repeating it.

But here is where I’m chuckling…maybe there’s meaning behind the numbers. Or maybe the universe is just having a good laugh. Because you know what the math equates to, right? 6 × 7 = 42.

And if you have read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, then you know that 42 is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

So maybe the kids are onto something after all. Maybe their nonsense has more truth hidden inside it than they realize. Maybe “6-7” is both hilarious and cosmic.

My Slang Game

Now, anyone who knows me knows I keep up on the evolving slang. My kids roll their eyes, my niece applauds, and every once in a while, I drop a “low-key fire” at just the right moment. But 6-7? I couldn’t quite get behind it. It just seemed… well, nonsense.

Well, that is, until this 42-realization: maybe nonsense isn’t so random. Maybe the universe has been in on the joke all along. These kids might think they’re just chanting numbers for fun, but unknowingly? They’re cracking the code. What are the odds that this silly little chant just happens to equal 42 — the ultimate answer? The universe has a sense of humor. And I think it’s chuckling at this one.

So next time I hear “6-7”, I am going to shout “42!”

There is Magic in the Mundane

So let this be a great reminder: meaning can show up in the most unexpected places. 

A silly chant. A math equation. A cosmic connection hiding in plain sight.

Sometimes, it’s just nonsense. Sometimes, it’s just math. And sometimes, it’s a breadcrumb — a wink from the universe reminding us not to take life (or slang) too seriously.