Sometimes, a beautiful experience can open a part of us we didn’t even realize had closed. After an unexpected trip to the beach left me overwhelmed with joy and feeling deeply cared for, I began reflecting on the words of Julia Alvarez, Ram Dass, Audre Lorde, Rumi, and Henry David Thoreau. Their insights led me to a surprising realization: life’s unexpected moments, whether challenging or wonderful, can reveal strengths we didn’t know we had and beauty we may have forgotten how to see.

In this episode, I explore the connections between gratitude, vulnerability, love, and the barriers we build around our hearts. I’m discovering that being open to life means allowing ourselves to receive as much as we give, to say “I love you” more freely, and to welcome joy without needing to explain it away. Perhaps the secret isn’t changing what life brings us, but learning to see it differently. As Thoreau reminds us, it’s not what we look at, but what we see that matters.

Akasha’s Book

A spirited memoir of bold adventures, unexpected detours, and one woman’s journey to create a life on her own terms, “Unbecoming Behavior, A Southern Memoir of Adventurous Choices by Akasha Halsey.” is now available! Learn more and purchase here: https://nowthatyouaskpodcast.com/unbecoming-behavior/

About the Show

Now That You Ask is a podcast that looks at topics that range from death to desire, and from wondrous to downright whacky. Join host, Akasha Halsey as she takes listeners on a journey through her writing and experience with life’s most persistent questions.

Thank you for listening!

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