Who Do You Admire?

This isn’t a post about seeking perfection or trying to be someone you’re not.

It’s a simple question that I have found asking myself more frequently recently — and maybe have you.

For me, one of the ways to take care of my mental health in the midst of witnessing a genocide is to listen to those whose life’s work I deeply admire. People who I see as a rays of light that are always there, unwavering, ready for me to turn to them. But not in some messianic way; rather, when I seek strength, humanity, and common sense.

“Who do you admire?” I ask myself.

Who do you really admire when your elected leaders are putting their Fascist views on display?

Who do you really admire when some authors and teachers you’ve been quoting so lovingly turn out to be white feminists, staying silent on or both-siding the worst atrocities of this century?

Who do you really admire when some of your friends don’t have the courage to speak out, or awareness and empathy to check on those who are suffering?

The context of this question is really heavy.

But the question itself isn’t.

I think ultimately, asking who we admire is asking a stupidly simple question: what’s important to us? What’s at the core?

I know I’ve explored it in my previous posts: most recently, it’s on how you’d like to show up this year (and in life in general), and what you are really about.

But maybe this question goes even more deeply.

Thich Nhat Hanh says,

Our own life has to be our message.

Our own life has to be our message.

Today, I’m sharing a video of Angela Davis and Gabor Maté, two people who I deeply admire and whose lives have been messages of curiosity, courage, love, and speaking out against oppression.

Maybe they can be those rays of light for you, too, in these times of darkness.

Justina

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The Fires, The Multiple Fires

“Let everything burn, except your desire to fight” – my year started with this writing that I saw in a beautiful graffiti project. It turns out, no matter how lovely this metaphor, the process itself can be quite heavy. And if your end of year doesn’t feel necessarily light, my piece is definitely for you.

December 17, 2025