These are my thoughts and recommendations for my favorite art — books, shows, films, and albums — that I consumed in January 2021 (no spoilers). These are not art that came out in the aforementioned timeframe, but just art of any time period I consumed during the month. Books (Non-Fiction) Psychology of…

Self-care is at the core of humanity. While it has become a prominent buzzword in recent years, the basic methods of self-care — breathing, hunting for food, and finding shelter — have been the basis for the prolonged existence of the human race. As we evolved, so did our ability…

The passage of time is too surreal to be reality. The subtle and idiosyncratic changes to the skin on our body, the gradual molding and hardening of the creases on our brain, the cultural patterns and social mores that configure and break apart the identity of our society, and the…

We worship the youth. Whether it be worldwide fanaticism over the next teen pop star, adoration of university grad programmers over experienced tech workers, or the prevalence of plastic surgery to maintain an image of immortality, we as a society put youthfulness on a pedestal while simultaneously shaming the natural…

Solitude has a stigma. Our society harshly judges a solo life in any capacity — from the simple decisions of attending a movie alone to the major life choices of not getting married. When we see people alone, we may think they are antisocial, defective, or even criminal in nature…

Emotions are not for the faint of heart. We live in a world that pushes eternal positivity and shames those who sometimes feel otherwise. Yet we can not enjoy the euphoria of new experiences, the passion of artistic interests, or the peace of exploring spiritual pursuits, without bracing for the…

The idea of being reborn is fundamental to almost all major religions. In Christianity, one is reborn and starts a new life once they repent for their sins and profess a life for Jesus Christ. In Hinduism, people are literally reincarnated after they die, an experience known as Samsara —…

We search for meaning. The quest to make our life matter is fundamental to human nature. Despite the universality of this pursuit, it can materialize in so many different ways. We may feel like we matter when we provide for our family. We may feel like we matter when we…

Activism emerges in many forms. We may think it manifests solely as widespread protests and movements, as these have often been the most effective and noticeable avenues to promote change. Yet it can come in subtler, more introverted, and more avant-garde ways. If the internal fire exists to improve the…