Buffalo seasons Awareness in life
Embracing the Presence of the Other
Thich Nhat Hanh once taught that the most magical words we can ever offer another are also the simplest: “Dear one, I am really here for you.” I return to these words again and again in my own life and in my work with couples. They are both balm and mirror—balm because they soothe the ache of longing to be seen, mirror because they reflect back how often we live side-by-side yet fail to arrive in each other’s presence.
No Mud, No Lotus: The Transformational Power of Dis-Ease
At its heart, Buddhism does not deny the presence of dis-ease—it teaches us how to be in relationship with it. Rather than turning away, it invites us to lean in with curiosity and compassion. Dukkha is not seen as a flaw in the system, but as a gateway to understanding. Through mindfulness and presence, we learn that pain and joy are not opposites—they are intertwined. The lotus, after all, blooms not in spite of the mud, but because of it. In this way, Buddhism offers a deeply hopeful path, one rooted not in avoidance, but in transformation.