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Bodhisattva Wannabe

Insight from a wannabe bodhisattva living in Los Angeles.

Happiness
There's Always Something

Maggie Rowe on March 6, 2025

Recognizing that life is never going exactly the way we want it to might be the key to changing everything.

Recognizing that life is never going exactly the way we want it to might be the key to changing everything.

Wisdom
The Word That Makes You Taste the World

Maggie Rowe on March 2, 2025

What if honey wasn’t just sweet, but a time capsule of its surroundings? The word apisoir conveys how every spoonful carries the taste of its place. Perhaps we do as well.

What if honey wasn’t just sweet, but a time capsule of its surroundings? The word apisoir conveys how every spoonful carries the taste of its place. Perhaps we do as well.

Neurodiversity
Reading After All These Years

Maggie Rowe on February 28, 2025

Personal Perspective: Joanna hadn't read for pleasure in almost 50 years. Now that she has started, nothing is stopping her.

Personal Perspective: Joanna hadn't read for pleasure in almost 50 years. Now that she has started, nothing is stopping her.

Shame
The Power of Representation

Maggie Rowe on February 21, 2025

When Joanna watched "The Good Doctor," she saw herself in a way she never had before—and it changed everything.

When Joanna watched "The Good Doctor," she saw herself in a way she never had before—and it changed everything.

Neuroscience
Mondegreens: When Lyrics Play Tricks on Your Mind

Maggie Rowe on February 20, 2025

Do you find yourself mishearing lyrics? I do all the time. I recently learned the word for this phenomenon—mondegreen—and how it got its name.

Do you find yourself mishearing lyrics? I do all the time. I recently learned the word for this phenomenon—mondegreen—and how it got its name.

Emotions
Beyond "I Love You"

Maggie Rowe on February 13, 2025

Have you ever felt more aspects of affection than the word "love" can cover? Languages around the world can help you express your feelings.

Have you ever felt more aspects of affection than the word "love" can cover? Languages around the world can help you express your feelings.

Gratitude
Gratitude Prisoner

Maggie Rowe on February 1, 2025

Personal Perspective: Do you feel stuck in the same patterns? I do, and I'm trying to get stuck in a new pattern: gratitude.

Personal Perspective: Do you feel stuck in the same patterns? I do, and I'm trying to get stuck in a new pattern: gratitude.

Mindfulness
The Universe Is Winking at You

Maggie Rowe on January 30, 2025

Personal Perspective: Do you notice connections everywhere? I think that's a great thing. Here's why.

Personal Perspective: Do you notice connections everywhere? I think that's a great thing. Here's why.

Empathy
The Value of an Empathy Walk

Maggie Rowe on January 25, 2025

What if you could foster empathy during a simple walk into town? We can call it an "Empathy Walk" and I think you should try it.

What if you could foster empathy during a simple walk into town? We can call it an "Empathy Walk" and I think you should try it.

Mindfulness
Rebelling Against the Tyranny of Busyness

Maggie Rowe on January 17, 2025

Tired of the hustle? Fjaka, a Croatian word for deliberate stillness, might be the antidote you didn’t know you needed.

Tired of the hustle? Fjaka, a Croatian word for deliberate stillness, might be the antidote you didn’t know you needed.

Dreaming
Waking Up in the Waking World

Maggie Rowe on January 15, 2025

Is life as solid as it seems, or is it fleeting, shimmering, and dreamlike? A single word from Pashto will make you wonder.

Is life as solid as it seems, or is it fleeting, shimmering, and dreamlike? A single word from Pashto will make you wonder.

Mindfulness
The Radical Lesson of Just Enough

Maggie Rowe on January 12, 2025

Do you sometimes consume and consume only to discover that you're less satisfied than when you began? I sure have. Then I learned about the Swedish concept of "lagom."

Do you sometimes consume and consume only to discover that you're less satisfied than when you began? I sure have. Then I learned about the Swedish concept of "lagom."

Emotional Intelligence
The Joy of Suffering

Maggie Rowe on November 18, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Why do we love wallowing in our misery? This post unpacks why suffering might be our greatest (and grouchiest) teacher.

A Personal Perspective: Why do we love wallowing in our misery? This post unpacks why suffering might be our greatest (and grouchiest) teacher.

Social Life
Snoob: The Awkward Art of Embracing Silence

Maggie Rowe on November 12, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Do you hate those awkward moments in conversation (snoobs)? I do too, but I'm learning to love them.

A Personal Perspective: Do you hate those awkward moments in conversation (snoobs)? I do too, but I'm learning to love them.

Relationships
Why The Yiddish Word "Machetunim" Matters

Maggie Rowe on November 11, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Did you know there’s a Yiddish word—"machetunim"—for your child’s in-laws? Imagine if we had words like this for all the overlooked connections in our lives.

A Personal Perspective: Did you know there’s a Yiddish word—"machetunim"—for your child’s in-laws? Imagine if we had words like this for all the overlooked connections in our lives.

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.