Hello from sunny Greece! 🇬🇷 ☀️
I’m lucky, I know.
For the past few summers, I’ve been able to spend a couple of weeks somewhere far away and beautiful. And the best part? I get to see two of my favorite humans: my niece and my nephew.
I’m happy to be here.
But I’m also a little sad.
Sad that it’s temporary. Sad that I don’t get to watch them grow up close by. Sad, too, because I sometimes find myself comparing — I wonder what my life might’ve looked like if I’d taken a different path. (That’s a harder truth to admit. And one I’ll explore more, someday.)
Before the trip, I was excited… but also anxious. The line between the two felt blurry.
Grateful for the chance to travel, but overwhelmed by the things I’ve put on pause. The endless list of “shoulds” creeping in: edit podcast episodes, write proposals, make career decisions.
What I’ve realized is that this mix of feelings is not uncommon. And I can hold both.
I can feel happiness and sadness.
Dread and excitement.
Anxiety and joy.
Hope and hesitation.
I can find myself somewhere in the middle.
That’s what this minisode is about. The weird, in-between emotional space I’ve been sitting in lately. One I’ve started calling neutral.
And I’m not just talking about this trip. I’m talking about something bigger. Something more general and more subtle. A shift I hadn’t quite named until recently.
It’s not a bad place. But it’s unfamiliar.
And I imagine some of you have found yourselves in this kind of space at one point or another.
Listen to this episode if you want my take on this feeling, how I’m making sense of it, and what I found when I went down a bit of a rabbit hole.
Hugs,
M.
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(And while you’re there - don’t forget to hit subscribe and leave a rating 😁)
🧰 From The Toolbox
A Buddhist Detour
I mention Buddhism a few times in this episode, so if you’re curious, here’s some context and a few starting points.
I started learning Tibetan Buddhism when I was a teenager and even did my first retreat at 14 (more than being lucky, I’ll say I have great karma and a very thoughtful mother). I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual, and Buddhism has always made the most sense to me. Most of what I learned comes from Diamond Way Buddhism and the Karma Kagyu lineage. Just flagging that because different schools teach in different ways.
If you want to learn more, here are a few links I like:
🌀 What is Buddhism? – a quick overview from the Diamond Way perspective.
🧠 What is Buddhist Meditation? – a very philosophical and reflective video by the 17th Karmapa. It’s not super practical, but it’s a thoughtful take on what meditation really is.
🧘♂️ Guided Meditation for Beginners – also from the Karmapa, and much more hands-on if you’re looking to try it.
Just a little rabbit hole in case something in the episode sparks your curiosity.
Naming Your Feelings
A few months ago, I had Esther Boykin on the podcast to talk about self-compassion. During our conversation, she mentioned that one powerful practice is taking a moment to really understand how we’re feeling. She suggested using a feelings poster and later emailed one to me.
It’s been a helpful tool, so I’m sharing it here in case it’s useful to you too. You can download it from her website. Heads up - it will ask you for an email to download.
🎯 Try It for Yourself
This week, take five quiet minutes. No agenda. No goal. Just sit. Notice what you feel. You don't need to meditate or breathe deeply or make it a whole thing. Just listen inward.
Then try writing down how you're actually doing. Not the version you'd post. Not the polished or dramatic one. Just the truth.
If you're up for it, share that version with someone you trust. A friend. A sibling. Yourself, in a voice note. No hype. No apology. Just, “Here’s where I am.”
You don’t have to solve anything. Just practice telling the truth without performing it.
And if that neutral space feels steady, or even a little unfamiliar, write down what that feels like too. You might want to come back to it in a moment when the highs or lows start to pull you off center.
If you try this, I’d love to hear how it lands.
🎵 Just For Funsies: Quarantine Dance Party
I made this Spotify playlist during peak lockdown, dancing around my tiny NYC apartment trying to shift the energy. It doesn’t have a real theme, but it definitely has a vibe — and yes, a few very on-the-nose pandemic-themed songs. You’ll probably be able to spot them.
Recording this minisode made me think of it, so I’m dusting it off. In case you need a little kitchen dance break too.
💖 That’s all for now!
If you’re in a moment that’s not a high or a low, I hope this one gave you a little language for it. It might just be a great place for growth.
Let me know what resonated. Or just tell me how you’re doing. No hype required.
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