Sometimes a key moment can make a world of difference in our lives. Those moments are deeply underrepresented in our conversations relative to the importance they play in our lives. We hope to begin to remedy that below.
Nianxin Li
One evening, I was sitting in a car listening to music. The sky was dark but still a pale blue. Suddenly, it felt as if the whole world had vanished with the song — all that remained was the music and the red taillights of the car in front. Then I fell asleep. Read More>>
Kate Dawson
Being diagnosed with leukemia. Hands down, that moment flipped my world upside down… and somehow, right-side up again. It made me realize I’d been racing through life… chasing deadlines, saying yes to every project, trying to do it all, be it all, design it all. I was sprinting in some invisible race that doesn’t even exist. Read More>>
Aida M Valencia
None Read More>>
Judy Ryan
I have always been drawn to unorthodox methods for forming authentic community and developing people into good citizens. Read More>>
Christopher Brown
On the 1st day of my time as an undergrad at Rutgers University I encountered a man named William Fielder. And the first question he asked me (even before my name) was what the definition of Jazz was. Read More>>
Ana Rondon
The first time was when my boyfriend died, and the second was when I discovered I have a rare illness. Now i live with greater happiness, compassion, and strength, and I focus on truly enjoying the present. I realize life is just too brief not to appreciate all the existing beauty and to love with intensity. Read More>>
Selena Conmackie
I was a young manager in the restaurant industry in Hawai‘i, and we had a big event with our regional team flying in from Florida. Read More>>
Vandana Jain
Growing up in India, I was always surrounded by vibrant colors and the quiet poetry of nature. That early exposure shaped how I see beauty and continues to influence my art. Later, my time in Africa became one of the most transformative chapters of my life. Read More>>
Jennifer S. Hicks
Losing my mother in 2021 was the moment that truly changed how I see the world. Her passing reminded me just how fragile life is and how important it is to live with purpose. Read More>>
Kirschen ‘TeX ‘ Wolford
A moment that really shaped how I view the world is the day my baby sister passed away to kidney failure. It showed me how life is not fair. After falling into a mental crisis, I became more aligned. I started being more aware of time. I walk by faith even more. I take more risks. I’m never afraid of embarrassment or failure. Read More>>
Shannon Nelson
One moment that truly shaped how I see the world was the very first time I traveled internationally on my own terms. It wasn’t just about the destination – it was the freedom, the culture shock, the self-awareness that came with navigating unfamiliar spaces. Read More>>
Lilli 
One moment that truly shaped how I see the world was the first time I stood beneath Cascade Waterfall in Portland — what I now call One Drop Waterfall. I had visited after a long, stressful week in the city, and the moment that icy water touched my skin, everything slowed down. Read More>>
Whitney Outerbridge
I wouldn’t say there was a single moment that reshaped the way I see the world; rather, I credit the entirety of my relationship with my grandparents for the lens through which I view life today. My grandfather was a man of quiet humility, spending his years after his invention traveling the world with a steady, unassuming curiosity. Read More>>
LaMeika Draughn
A moment that really shaped how I see the world was when I thought my opportunity in this field had already passed me by. I watched so many others in my industry grow and succeed while I felt like I was falling behind. For a while, I convinced myself that maybe this career wasn’t meant for me. Read More>>
Kalvin Echelon
Honestly Moving to New York City in 2023 really made me morph into my man era and look at the world differently and think more strategically. It’s so hard out here especially without support. I grew up spoiled by my family so to be on my own was a huge difference but a blessing so that I can stand on my own 2 feet. Read More>>
Matt Nguyen
I got lost in the wild as a kid while on a family camping trip in Wisconsin. As an independent ten year old kid, I took off on a solo hike— backpack, water, snacks and all. Read More>>
Mehdi S.Fallah
One moment that really shaped how I see the world was when I started working on international projects and creating a platform to connect with people from different countries. Experiencing these connections firsthand strengthened my human-centered perspective. I realized that, at their core, people everywhere are fundamentally similar. Read More>>
Stacy Fritz
Losing my younger brother Brad changed me in ways I’m still uncovering. He was a pilot, a father, and the kind of person who brought joy without trying. Watching him face cancer was devastating. But what struck me most wasn’t the pain, it was the grace. The presence. The way he stayed grounded, even as everything was being taken from him. Read More>>
Sakina Williams
Becoming a mother changed everything for me. The first time I held my daughter, my entire perspective shifted and I suddenly understood love and responsibility on a level I had never known before. She’s been my greatest teacher, showing me what resilience, patience, and unconditional love truly look like. Motherhood pushed me to grow not just for myself, but for her. Read More>>
Shelley Avellino
Oh this is a great question. Actually something that happened to me quite recently opened my eyes. I was lucky enough to go on a trip of a lifetime. I went on vacation to Johannesburg in south Africa and spent 10 days in two areas on Safari with my Mother and Sister. Read More>>
marla faith
Spending a year traveling in Asia when I was in my mid 20s was an awakening in how I saw the world. I will remember women sweeping in front of their poor huts in India, keeping what little they had clean, and then sketching designs with white chalk onto the ground there. Read More>>
Cici Zhao
For me, it was the moment I realized what I truly wanted to do—without following the path my parents had in mind. Growing up in an Asian cultural background, you’re often expected to listen to your parents when it comes to major life choices—choosing a major, finding a “stable” job, or even how you should live your life. Read More>>
Ava Adames
⚠️ Trigger Warning: Suicide Loss The following shares personal reflections on the passing of my son by suicide. Please take care while reading. The passing of my son by suicide is the moment that has most deeply shaped how I see the world. It is the greatest challenge I have ever faced—and one I will carry with me always. Read More>>
Madison Thurman
A moment that really shaped how I see the world was when I was able to travel and share my artwork with more than just Kansas City. Read More>>
Christine Germain
The moment I lost my home to hurricane sandy in 2012. I didn’t realize how precious life was until I was met with a natural disaster and learning that I had to make choices at that instant to leave my flooded home and leave behind all my cherished belongings. Read More>>
Kirk Agostini
It wasn’t one single moment so much as travel itself: meeting people, seeing how others live, and getting uncomfortable in the best way. Those experiences reset my perspective and taught me lessons you can’t get from a book or seeing it on social media. Read More>>
Jeanette Salzburg
When I began studying Shamanism. Journeying to the depths of the Spirit World has given me a deeper understanding of myself and my work. Sometimes my doodle sketches will often take on a more surreal vibe, so I will just let that take me to a deeper dimension of creativity. Read More>>
Linda Konde
When I moved to Los Angeles. Most people stick to their city when they first leave home, but at 22, I packed my bags and flew to LA without ever having set foot in the US before. At the time, it didn’t feel like a huge deal to me, but looking back, it really was a bold leap of faith. Read More>>
Dayna Steele
A moment that forever shaped how I see the world was the day my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Sitting in that doctor’s office, hearing the words, I felt the ground shift beneath me. Suddenly, life wasn’t about career goals, book deadlines, or radio ratings—it became about caregiving, patience, and finding grace in the hardest moments. Read More>>
