Vanessa Harris

A friend of mine recently shared something that’s been on her mind since moving across the world. She told me about the expectations she carried, how she imagined her time abroad as this life-altering experience. But the more she tried to make the experience profound, the less she actually felt it. She told me about a passage from Zhuangzi, the story of an archer who, when shooting for nothing, has all his skill. But the moment a prize is introduced (a copper coin, or worse, a golden one) he...

I was recently listening to Soul Gum one morning (a podcast by Victoria Hutchins that explores creativity and growth). A line she said stopped me in my tracks: ❝ “Your new life will cost you your hollow sense of balance.” Victoria Hutchins, Soul Gum Podcast ❞ Her words landed like a quiet challenge. They made me question how often I treat balance like an accomplishment, something to check off once I’ve achieved the perfect ratio of rest, productivity, and peace. Even within the world of...

There are mornings when I lace up my shoes and step into the gym to teach yet another class. The bikes are lined up, the mats are...