Hi there, Day two at the ostomy conference. Large groups aren’t my thing. I like smaller group settings where it's easier to connect. I came here solo so I’d have no choice but to push myself into conversations. And I haven't been great about it. But, I’ve done it before so I know I can do it! The first time I left the country was at 20, flying to Beijing without knowing a single person. I didn’t speak the language. I wasn’t afraid to talk to anyone, I felt fearless. Somewhere along the way...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hi there, Yesterday was the last leg into Orlando after a long run of travel. Dumped my bags at the hotel, finally did laundry for the first time since England. Which means some of it dated back to India. Disgusting, I know. Went to the gym. Ordered food. Took a big dose of NyQuil and finally slept hard for the first time in a while. Today kicks off the United Ostomy Association of America national conference. First time since surgery that I’m in a room full of people with bags. Until now,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Hi there, BOGO special today since I missed yesterday. The past two days’ chapters lined up well. The wave and the shore story was about giving without keeping score. The wave offers shells because that is its nature. In giving, it receives. It is renewed by the act itself. The butterfly and the wind chapter was about resistance being the thing that makes you stronger. The wind was not the butterfly’s enemy. It was its training partner. Remove the wind and you remove the growth. Together,...
9 days ago • 2 min read
Yesterday started fine. We got through the quarterfinals, closer than it should have been, but we closed it out 11-1 in the third. Then in the semis, Aiden Schenk and Clayton Powell just steamrolled us. Credit to them, they played well. But the score isn’t the story. After the first game of the quarters, I could feel my bag filling. And it didn’t stop. All day, constant output. The outer seal had completely lifted, which meant the inner ring was living on borrowed time. Once moisture gets in...
11 days ago • 4 min read
Hi friend, This morning's story in The Zen Monkey and the Lotus Flower (last couple chapters, almost on to a new book) was about a young monk named Dawa who was sent into the forest to find the most beautiful plant. He passed countless tall trees and bright orchids, searching for the one that felt right. Eventually, he came across a primrose, small, shaded, and unassuming. No flashy colors. No grand size. But it had its own quiet beauty. His master told him it was a symbol of modesty. It did...
12 days ago • 1 min read
Hi there my friend, Yesterday’s story was about a turtle named Kalyana who wanted to see the sea. The animals laughed at her. Too far. Too slow. Not possible. But she kept moving. A little every day. Until years later, she made it. For me, that’s the reminder to stick to the clean, consistent habits that keep me feeling good. Sufficient sleep. Clean food. Intentional hydration. All the stuff that’s easy to skip when life gets hectic. I’m still figuring out what works with the fistula and...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I’m in Telford today, doing commentary at the English Open. Body feels a little off. Travel, bad sleep, too many croissants. Five Guys last night probably didn’t help either. I’ve been a little loose with the whole “play clean” philosophy, at least when it comes to food. The irony isn’t lost on me. But I’ve been thinking about a feather in this morning's chapter. Gawa, the monk, held it up to his village and reminded them that lightness isn’t about resisting the wind. It’s about...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Clear skies over Monkey Island Estate, just outside of London, this morning. Sixty degrees. Cool, still, quiet. This is my ideal temp. 55 to 65. Cold for most, but I love it. Yesterday I sat by the Thames and just watched. Ducks drifting. A light drizzle. No rush. No noise. It felt good to not be doing anything. It’s a long way from Mumbai a few days ago. From the full trip, really... California to Manila, to KL, to Mumbai, and now here. I head back to Florida next week. The...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Five weeks down. One to go. I’m writing this from the Mumbai airport lounge. My flight to London boards soon. This has been a six-week stretch across Asia and Europe. Tournaments. Clinics. New people. New places. It’s also been my first time doing all of this with a colostomy. And honestly, it’s gone better than I expected. But it hasn’t been easy. I packed light. Two carry-ons. I brought what I thought I’d need. Ostomy belts, bags, powder, barrier rings, one bottle of skin...
17 days ago • 2 min read