It's Day 4 of my 21-day fast, and I haven't called anyone.

But I did something different today. I reached out to a college friend I hadn't talked to in a couple of months.

And it changed how I'm thinking about this entire fast.

I sent her a text asking why we haven't talked for a while. I reached out first.

And she was honest with me. She's busy. She has a lot going on that I wasn't aware of.

And instead of feeling rejected or hurt, I felt... relieved.

Because I realized something: By putting myself first doesn't mean I depend on others to fill the void. And it doesn't mean I prevent other people from putting themselves first either.

My fast isn't about punishing people. It's not about waiting to see who reaches out. It's about me staying in my lane.

I love hearing about her growth. Her life changes. She inspires me. I truly look up to her as a role model.

And I realized: I don't need her to reach out to me first to feel valued. I can reach out to her, hear that she's busy, and still feel good about the connection.

Because ultimately, it's my journey that matters most in my life.

Not whether she calls me back. Not whether she's as invested as I am. Not whether she has time for me right now.

My journey. My growth. My life.

That's what matters.

And when I stay in my lane, I can celebrate her lane without needing her to validate mine.

Saturday, I put up hooks by the door of my studio.

It's a small thing. But it's me getting comfortable in a new place. It's me making this space feel like home.

I'm not just living here. I'm building here. I'm decorating. I'm making it mine.

And hooks by the door are part of that.

Saturday night, I hosted a space on X today with the Misfits and Nomads community. The topic: Should all drugs be legal or illegal?

There were about ten people. The energy was lively. People were engaged. People were thinking.

And we came to a conclusion: People abuse freedom. Therefore, creating boundaries and restrictions on drugs is important.

But more than that, I thought about my friends. My family. Myself. My future.

I want the best for them. And drugs do not bring out the best in people.

Having intellectual and engaging conversations is important in life.

It's easy to just scroll. To consume content. To stay in your bubble.

But to sit with people and actually think about hard topics? To hear different perspectives? To come to conclusions together?

That's a real connection.

That's community.

And that's what the Misfits and Nomads are about. We're not just hanging out. We're thinking. We're engaging. We're growing.

It's Day 4, and I'm still not calling anyone.

But I'm also not avoiding connection. I'm just being intentional about it.

I reached out to my friend. I hosted a space. I'm putting up hooks in my studio.

I'm connecting on my terms. With people who matter. In ways that feel authentic.

And that's the whole point of this fast.

It's not about isolation. It's about intention.

I'm learning that putting your pride aside doesn't mean abandoning yourself. It means recognizing that other people are on their own journeys, too.

I'm learning that staying in my lane doesn't mean being selfish. It means being clear about what's mine to manage and what's not.

I'm learning that connection is possible without constant reaching out. Without always being the one who initiates.

I'm learning that I can celebrate other people's growth without needing them to celebrate mine.

And I'm learning that intellectual conversations, hooks on the wall, and a 21-day fast are all part of the same thing: Building a life that's intentional, authentic, and real.

What's a hard conversation you've had recently? What did you learn? I'm curious what topics are important to you and why.