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Bodhisattva Wannabe

Insight from a wannabe bodhisattva living in Los Angeles.

Attention
Purpose in Life Is Like the Bass Guitar in a Band

Maggie Rowe on October 28, 2024

A Personal Perspective: You seldom hear people say, "I love the bass guitar in that song." But the bass holds the whole darn thing together. That's what purpose in life is like.

A Personal Perspective: You seldom hear people say, "I love the bass guitar in that song." But the bass holds the whole darn thing together. That's what purpose in life is like.

Attention
Why the Limits of Language Are the Limits of the World

Maggie Rowe on October 25, 2024

If Inuit languages have 50 words for snow, then the English language is missing a lot of words for snow. What else are we missing? I am trying to find out.

If Inuit languages have 50 words for snow, then the English language is missing a lot of words for snow. What else are we missing? I am trying to find out.

Fear
Releasing Fear: Shake It Off!

Maggie Rowe on October 21, 2024

A Personal Perspective: The phrase "shake it off" may be wiser than we think. I've started shaking and I think it's doing me some good.

A Personal Perspective: The phrase "shake it off" may be wiser than we think. I've started shaking and I think it's doing me some good.

Education
Old Dog Learning a New Trick

Maggie Rowe on October 6, 2024

Do you hope to remain a student of life? The Japanese word "shoshin" describes the spirit of beginner's mind and might be the key to staying young.

Do you hope to remain a student of life? The Japanese word "shoshin" describes the spirit of beginner's mind and might be the key to staying young.

Imagination
Imagination: It's Not Just for Children

Maggie Rowe on June 9, 2024

Personal Perspective: When we use our imagination, it is often in the service of productivity. What if we used our imagination to transform our entire lives?

Personal Perspective: When we use our imagination, it is often in the service of productivity. What if we used our imagination to transform our entire lives?

Fear
Torchlusspanik: The Fear of the Gate Closing

Maggie Rowe on December 20, 2023

Personal Perspective: Do you have a consistent fear of being shut out of opportunities because you haven’t acted quickly enough? I do, and I’m ready to let it go.

Personal Perspective: Do you have a consistent fear of being shut out of opportunities because you haven’t acted quickly enough? I do, and I’m ready to let it go.

Self-Help
Lazy Is a Lazy Word

Maggie Rowe on May 30, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Have you ever called yourself lazy? I have. But I'm not going to anymore because I am deleting the word from my vocabulary. And I think you should too.

A Personal Perspective: Have you ever called yourself lazy? I have. But I'm not going to anymore because I am deleting the word from my vocabulary. And I think you should too.

Friends
In Praise of Helplessness

Maggie Rowe on January 19, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Are you scared to be out of your element? Here's why it might be worth it.

A Personal Perspective: Are you scared to be out of your element? Here's why it might be worth it.

Fear
In Praise of "Missing Out"

Maggie Rowe on December 11, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Do you experience "cancel-elation" when you find out plans you've made have fallen through? I do and I think I've figured out what that is about.

A Personal Perspective: Do you experience "cancel-elation" when you find out plans you've made have fallen through? I do and I think I've figured out what that is about.

Boredom
In Praise of Boredom

Maggie Rowe on October 12, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Do you find yourself desperate to keep yourself entertained? I do, but I am ready to drop my love affair with distraction.

A Personal Perspective: Do you find yourself desperate to keep yourself entertained? I do, but I am ready to drop my love affair with distraction.

Unconscious
In Praise of "Not Being Nice"

Maggie Rowe on September 29, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Do you feel trapped in a "nice" personality? It's not too late to get out.

A Personal Perspective: Do you feel trapped in a "nice" personality? It's not too late to get out.

Deception
In Praise of Poking Holes in Your Own Story

Maggie Rowe on May 31, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Have you tried turning the power of criticism you use on others on yourself? It hurts, but it might be the best thing for you.

A Personal Perspective: Have you tried turning the power of criticism you use on others on yourself? It hurts, but it might be the best thing for you.

Shyness
In Praise of Shyness

Maggie Rowe on May 3, 2022

A Personal Perspective: I have spent much of my life combatting shyness, but I am now learning to embrace it.

A Personal Perspective: I have spent much of my life combatting shyness, but I am now learning to embrace it.

Friends
In Praise of Gossip

Maggie Rowe on March 17, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Gossip gets a bad rap. But does it actually enrich our lives?

A Personal Perspective: Gossip gets a bad rap. But does it actually enrich our lives?

The Land of "Wannabe Somebodies."
Career
The Courage to Be an Absolute Nobody

Maggie Rowe on February 26, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Are you exhausted from trying to be a "somebody?" It's possible to have the courage to be an absolute nobody.

A Personal Perspective: Are you exhausted from trying to be a "somebody?" It's possible to have the courage to be an absolute nobody.