Countless times, people have heard parts of my story and asked if I would change anything about my life.

My response is always the same: ‘Not a chance! I’m more content and happier than I ever imagined I could be.'”

Someone once asked me, “Wouldn’t you want that house with the white picket fence, more money, or that animal sanctuary you’ve always dreamed of? Surely there’s something you’d change, right?”

My response was simple: “No.”

I’m already happy, and who knows how much more money might change my life?

Here’s how I see it: if life were a chocolate buttercream cake recipe that I’m striving to perfect, I’ve finally nailed the balance—just the right amount of salt, baking soda, cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and all the rest.

Adding more salt, for instance, wouldn’t necessarily improve the cake—it might even spoil it!

So, if you’re dissatisfied with your life, identify the bitter ingredients and remove them. Don’t fall for the commercials and social media that tell you to just add more frosting on top—you’ll end up with a cake that’s still bitter, just covered in frosting.

People often think, “If I just escape to a retreat in Costa Rica or take a vacation in Maui, everything will get better!”

The reality is that when you return from Rio de Janeiro (or, in other words, once you’ve finished enjoying the frosting), the bitter chocolate cake of your life will still be there, waiting for you.

Here’s the best part: when you get the ingredients just right, your life becomes extraordinary—even without extra frosting. Anything fun or exciting you add on top is the icing on the cake!

Each morning gives us a fresh opportunity to create new recipes, especially when living life to the fullest.

Today, I made seeded whole-wheat banana bread for the third time.

Once, I added too much oil, which made it bitter. Another time, I didn’t use enough whole-wheat flour.

There’s no one to blame when it doesn’t turn out as planned—we’re the ones baking our recipes.

Here’s a little secret: while everyone’s recipe is unique, the key ingredients for a successful batter are acceptance, gratitude, kindness, love, and patience.

On the other hand, the most common ingredients that can make your cake bitter are distrust, fear, hostility, insecurity, judgment, and pessimism—so steer clear of those!

I wish you all joyful baking!