#cmphx

The world feels hard in so many ways. Couldn’t we all use more softness? Soft is gentle, empathic, and vulnerable. But being soft is not a weakness. It is a sign of deeper strength. Having the courage to walk through life without armor. A willingness to listen before speaking. Welcoming whatever comes with open palms. Pulling someone close for a hug. What if our work was softer? What would we make with a little tenderness? Art that truly resonates. Innovations that heal instead of harm. Communities that hold one another instead of tearing other people down. Soft can be a quiet form of resistance. Practice subtlety, trust, and intimacy in a world that celebrates loud braggadocio, knee-jerk reactions, and blunt force. Let’s snuggle up and let down our guard. Soft can be our salvation.

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. It’s the same for creativity. Our next idea lies dormant, while we fertilize our mind. With attention, protection, and space to play, our work becomes what it is meant to be. Petal by petal, the passion inside us bursts into a glorious bouquet. But remember that flowers don’t bloom purely for their own sake. They share their fragrance, attract pollinators, and serve the larger ecosystem. Your creativity needs to pollinate as well. So, share your gift. Spread more ideas, more beauty, and more courage. To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color to the world! Ask yourself, “what within me is ready to blossom?” “What can I nurture to help others do the same?”

Some people feel compelled to travel from place to place. To live outside the confines and constraints of a permanent address. Others have no choice but to leave home in search of a better life. A nomad embraces discomfort, welcomes the unknown, and sees every detour as a new adventure. Have you heard the call of the open road? Ever dream of being a digital nomad working from exotic locales? Crossing borders and time zones to discover fresh inspiration and share-worthy views. But following your nomadic spirit doesn’t require collecting stamps in your passport. The act of creating is its own journey. So, meander through your ideas. Roam between different executions. The most important thing is to take the first step. It doesn’t matter where it leads, because the joy is suddenly finding yourself somewhere unexpected. Whether you’re racking up frequent flyer miles or navigating a change in your creative career, remember that motion fuels imagination. Wander. Wonder. Repeat.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers. A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room. Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind. So, ask for help. We all could use a guide as we climb. Find your mentors and be a mentor in return. Your plans for growth are more likely to succeed if they include lifting others up as you rise.

Does the system feel broken Staring at our screens Not hearing the screams Wake up wake up wake up We’re not meant to go it alone Find your people lift them up Do what you can with what you got Wake up wake up wake up Your creativity can save you What you gonna make What you gonna change Wake up wake up wake up 🎸🎵🧷

It’s up to you to distill the best of the past and create a better future.

We all reach turning points in life that change the course of our destiny. Should you continue straight? Or turn left? There’s no map that shows where the consequences lead. In folklore and mythology, crossroads represent a gateway between our mortal coil and the supernatural realm. An in-between place of transition, where anything can happen next. How do you decide which way to go? There’s no wrong choice. Only different journeys to where you’re meant to be.

Like train tracks receding in the distance, our lives eventually hit the end of the line. Along the way, people tend to live parallel lives. Work. School. Eat. Sleep. Rinse and repeat. We exist side by side with strangers. Always keeping the same distance of anonymity between us. But unlike those tracks, our paths don’t run in straight lines. We can meet someone new at every turn. We may be living parallel lives. But we don’t have to go through them alone.