"Excuses," my father says, "are an abdication...to step down and give up a major responsibility." His words settled in on the drive back from his surgery. This past week has been an impossible contrast. In the same few days I’ve been navigating hospitals, I also submitted my final manuscript—a huge step toward my goal of becoming an author.

This gave me a moment of clarity. The choice I made two years ago—to be a creator, not a complainer—is what allows me to see this week not as a crisis competing with a milestone, but as a life fully lived. When you stop making excuses, you unlock the capacity to hold it all. The way to do that is to let the light through the gaps, a beauty the Japanese call Komorebi. It’s knowing when to push and when to flow... "Excuses," my father says, "are an abdication...to step down and give up a major responsibility." His words settled in on the drive back from his surgery. This past week has been an impossible contrast. In the same few days I’ve been navigating hospitals, I also submitted my final manuscript—a huge step toward my goal of becoming an author.

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In coaching, the phrase “and so” signifies a moment of insight, a shift from reflection to action. It marks the point where thoughts connect, realizations surface, and clarity unfolds, guiding the conversation towards meaningful change. Much like the Zen concept of ensō, representing a continuous journey, "and so" embodies growth and transformation. Discover how listening deeply to these moments can empower you to align your inner world with the life you want to create.