Mumbo Jumbo is Gumbo

Things can get messy before they get pretty, just like the flower of life. That’s how our thoughts and emotions can be—all over the place. They’re always cooking up something, if we let them with intention. It's a dish in the making.

So the next time you find yourself going off on tangents and your mind is wandering into different places, allow those thoughts to flow and quiet them with critical thinking so you can reflect and integrate. Sometimes, we get stuck on how things should be, rather than how they could be. And when we do that, it doesn’t always turn out as we expect. So, give yourself permission to experiment, explore, and have some fun in the messiness. Now is the perfect time to do it—so step out and go play in the leaves.

It’s okay to not have everything figured out. The moment you realize this, you will open yourself up to much more creativity and personal growth, similar to the cyclical nature of transformation. It happens in color, shape, and soundness. Things does not always "appear" to make sense right away and it doesn't always go as planned. Let this be a reminder that your fluidity, adaptability, flexibility, and spontaneity are gifts when you need them the most.

So much of life is about allowing the process to unfold, even when you can’t see the end result. It's not always about the destination, but the journey. Often, it’s not until we step back and look at the bigger picture that we understand how all the little pieces came together as a whole. Continue to let it cook and simmer, then step back and come back to it.

In the meanwhile, what’s most important is trusting your gut and taking initiative, even when the path ahead feels unclear. It’s about embracing the unknown and uncertain with curiosity, and enthusiasm—all of which are completely normal traits to have as human beings while having this experience. It’s about taking that first step and allowing your instincts to guide you forward. Life isn’t a straight line—it’s a series of movements, choices, and chances. Some may seem random or chaotic at the time, but when you look back, you’ll see how they fit together in ways you couldn’t have imagined before.

Your instincts may not always have the "logical" answers as soon as the questions arise, but by staying open, receptive, and reflective, you can bring clarity and understanding to those gut feelings. Sometimes, it’s less about being right and more about learning as we go, while choosing to do the right thing with the best intentions. That's when all things come together for the greater good, in which they all have a place and purpose to be revealed later.

Now, once you’ve added all those ingredients, all you need is the spice—the right touch of flavor, your own personal touch, to make everything come alive just like the elements. Life isn’t just about putting things together; it’s about bringing your own essence into it, infusing it with meaning, passion, and energy. A little bit of this, and a little bit of that, will always do the job. Without that spice, everything remains bland, even if it’s well-structured. It’s the spark, the uniqueness, that makes it become truly special.

While I was contemplating my thoughts as I was cooking, this is what I came up with when reflecting on my pronouns: I use he/they, and I thought to myself, Why "they?" Then, I realized… “They” as in “Hey.” I am not your enemy. Not everybody is out to get you. It is a reminder to let things breathe, to be less rigid, and to open up more. It is to say, "Hey, I’m here." Not to fight, not to fit neatly into a box, but to be part of the world as I am. To just be. To place more emphasis on our quirks, strengths, and values, rather than our imperfections. This is the power of expression, connection, and presence, which makes us all exceptional and thus common, creating the perfect concoction.

So let things be messy. Let them unfold. Take the next step, even when it feels uncertain, and trust that somehow it will make sense. You don’t need all the answers today. Just keep moving forward, piece by piece, with your own rhythm. The gumbo will cook itself, and the mumbo jumbo in your mind? It’ll turn into something real, something beautiful that you can make sense of. And if it tastes good to you, then that's all that matters. You're the only one who has to eat it. Dinner is already, ready!