Tag: writing
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Voting with Intention: Faith and Civic Responsibility
This is a reflection on the quiet power of voting without partisanship—choosing unity, justice, and service over division.
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Overcoming Presentation Anxiety in Technical Fields
In the conference room, that moment when all eyes turn on you still triggers a familiar tightness in my chest. Despite years of experience, explaining complex technical concepts in meetings remains my professional Achilles’ heel.
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Mindful Social Media: Authentic Island Living
My approach to social media is intentional, focusing on where my passions for island living, mindfulness, and wellness intersect. These, to me, are more important than chasing algorithms or metrics.
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A Life-Changing Airport Encounter: My Meeting with Swami Krishnananda
At 19, disciplined practice dominated my world. My karate training had conditioned my body for the past 4 years. Additionally, the classical guitar, the flute, and the readings consumed my evenings. I was unaware that someone would soon occupy the empty seat beside me. This person would reshape my understanding of these pursuits.
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Exploring Independence Avenue: A Cultural Journey in Toamasina, Madagascar
Walking along Independence Avenue in the city of Toamasina is a spectacle. It’s as if you’ve walked into a living museum where Madagascar’s past and present collide. Avenue de l’Indépendance is the main artery of Madagascar’s biggest port city. It isn’t merely a street. It’s the very pulsing heart of this coastal gem. Its veins of asphalt…
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The Power of Lifelong Learning
Upon first reading Peter Drucker’s writings about continuous education, I was deeply moved by his commitment. His dedication to learning a new subject every few years resonated with me. It resonated deeply within me.
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Lessons from High School Literature that Transformed My Perspective
High school can feel like an academic assembly line with a rote memorization, regurgitation, and repetition process. Yet occasionally, transformative learning emerges from unexpected corners of the curriculum. For me, that corner was Mrs. McQueen’s English Literature class, junior year. While my classmates groaned at the hefty reading list, I was intrigued by two particular…
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Finding Purpose: My Ikigai Journey
I never planned to discover my life’s purpose while hiding from the Port Louis, Mauritius rain. Yet there I was, ducking into a bookshop in Caudan one dreary Friday afternoon in October. I was shaking droplets from my shirt and wandering aimlessly through the shelves. At that moment, I saw the spine of “Ikigai: The…
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Adapting Professionally Post-Pandemic: Key Changes
When the pandemic struck, I never anticipated how dramatically it would reshape my professional identity. Having personally battled COVID-19 and lost colleagues and friends to this disease, my perspective on work and life fundamentally changed. I now share these reflections on my adaptation journey. Redesigning My Workspace: From Afterthought to Architecture Before the pandemic, my…
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Unlocking Your Unique Identity: Beyond Personality
Introduction During my many years working as a national and international civil servant, I have led many initiatives. These initiatives have been in many countries. I’ve worked with hundreds of young professionals. One question consistently emerges during training or mentoring sessions: “How do I stand out in my field?” The assumption is that uniqueness is…
L J Padayachy 