Navigating the dynamics of leadership has taught me a delicate balance: how to hold authority in one hand and approachability in the other. Each day in my role  as a marketer and strategist invites me to refine that balance further, understanding that leadership isn’t merely a title but a commitment to my personal and professional growth; and that of those I lead and mentor.

In my experience, the essence of leading isn’t found in directives alone. It’s about fostering trust, encouraging voices to speak, and welcoming perspectives that challenge my own. I’ve learned to listen deeply, particularly when emotions flare or tensions rise. Handling conflict, I realize, is a test of patience and empathy; a time to pause, recalibrate, and focus on a resolution that prioritizes both humanity and purpose.

Confidence in leadership, I’ve come to find, isn’t about being the loudest in the room but the most attuned. It’s about delivering a vision with clarity, rooted in the same storytelling techniques that have shaped my career as a strategist. The art of uncovering and conveying insights in media mirrors the art of leading; both require an authentic connection to audiences that resonates deeply.

And just as I’ve mentored others, the journey has revealed how vital my own mentors have been. They’ve shown me how to integrate integrity into every decision, balance decisiveness with sensitivity, and, perhaps most importantly, lead with resilience and humility. Through each experience, I’ve been reminded: to lead well is to serve a purpose greater than oneself, to cultivate a team that thrives as much on shared ambition as on shared respect.

—

I rose from roots that held me low,
With questions that the wise bestow;
A spark, a seed, a slow ascent,
To lead, to learn, and to relent.

In quiet halls where silence lay,
I gathered courage day by day,
And through each step, I came to find
The weight of heart, the power of mind.

Now, with open hands, I pass,
The flame to those who dare to ask;
For those who lead with humble grace,
Will leave a path no time can erase.

— Sincerely, Boris

How many of us move through life, unknowingly drawing our final breath, spending our last hour with someone we believe we will see next week, sharing our final meal with someone we hold dear, watching our last film, listening to our final song, or reading the last page of another’s story?

One truth about life, seldom spoken, is that with every day we live, we are also dying. From the moment we are born, we inch closer to death. We pass through life, accumulating loved ones, possessions, and experiences; but to what end?

If we are all merely running toward the inevitable, then let us accumulate all that brings us joy. Be remembered as a collector of everything and everyone you love. And most importantly, tell them how you feel; before the last days arrive, and your chance slips away.

–

From our first breath, the seconds slip,
Spent in a currency we scarcely grip.
We waste it on what’s broken, worn,
While neglecting the beauty newly born.

Too often, we fixate, we stall,
Forgetting to build, to love, to call;
Moments that ripple, memories that bind,
Treasures more lasting than what we leave behind.

Time, the one gift we all possess,
Dwindles down with each caress.
And when we exhale our final sigh,
We’ll wish we’d spent it not asking why,

But shaping moments that outlast death;
For time, not life, is our final breath.

— Sincerely, Boris

I have come to understand that the burdens I carry; my anxiety, the emotional wounds that have shaped me; are not entirely mine to bear. They stretch back through generations, woven into the very fabric of my being, long before I was even born. The struggles of my ancestors, their unresolved trauma, echo in my life in ways that are both intimate and profound, manifesting in my thoughts, my body, and even my heart.

The breakdown of my marriage, the unbearable stress that contributed to the loss of my left eye, and the need for brain surgery were not simply the product of my own failings or missteps. There is a deeper inheritance at play, one that transcends my personal history. My ancestors’ unresolved pain has rippled down through time, influencing how I navigate relationships, respond to stress, and even how my body has responded to the pressures around me.

The beauty of this understanding is that it does not absolve me of responsibility but offers clarity; a path to healing. I can look back with compassion, not only for myself but for the generations that came before me, who survived in ways they knew how, passing down their fears, their coping mechanisms, and their unspoken grief. In recognizing this legacy, I am called to break the cycle, to not pass this unresolved pain onto my daughter.

It is possible to heal, to release what is not truly mine, and in doing so, free myself and future generations. The memories of trauma that live in the body can be rewritten, the patterns of suffering interrupted. Healing does not mean erasing the past; it means transforming it, allowing me to finally breathe without the weight of centuries on my chest. It means standing in the present moment, aware of the lineage that shaped me but no longer bound by it.

This journey of healing requires more than awareness; it demands courage, presence, and the willingness to confront inherited pain. But through this process, I can cultivate resilience, transforming the energy of survival into one of creation and possibility. In learning to love myself, free from the ghosts of the past, I can offer my daughter the gift of a future unburdened by wounds that are not hers to carry. Through this work, I honor my ancestors by refusing to allow their suffering to define me or my legacy.

—

Beyond Labels —
We wear the names they give,
but beneath each title,
a story lives;
distinct, unspoken, unseen.
We are more than a diagnosis,
more than numbers or scales,
we are hearts stitched with hope,
souls searching for their own light.

The Winding Road —
Healing does not move in straight paths,
it curves and shifts,
sometimes pauses in silent moments.
It is shaped by hands that guide us,
by voices that hear,
by a world that often forgets
how to care beyond its walls.

Empathy’s Reach —
Not just for those they label;
empathy is a mirror for all,
reflecting our fragile selves,
our hidden fears,
the cracks in our armor.
In each heart,
a quiet ache waits to be held.

Redefining Normal –
What is normal, but a mask,
a word that confines
what it means to be alive?
We build new definitions
through love, through struggle,
through the shared understanding
that none of us walk alone.

— Sincerely, Boris

In my journey through mentorship and leadership, I have discovered that teaching is a profound exchange where clarity and engagement become essential. Unlike many of my peers, I wasn’t afforded the privilege of higher education. Yet, this gap ignited a deep curiosity within me, compelling me to seek knowledge through every available resource; both within and beyond the workplace. Each book, conference, white-paper, training module, conversation, and experience became a stepping stone, offering insights that transformed learning into teachable moments.

As I navigated the world of media and advertising, my passion for storytelling emerged as a guiding force. My experiences, reveal a commitment to crafting narratives that resonate with audiences, whether through creative campaigns or impactful presentations. I believe that every interaction is an opportunity to illuminate complex ideas and inspire others to engage with them meaningfully.

Throughout my career, I have embraced the role of mentor, nurturing the growth of those around me. I’ve witnessed how the joy of discovery can spark motivation in individuals, understanding that teaching is not merely about imparting knowledge but about cultivating an environment that encourages questions and fosters exploration. Each presentation and public speaking engagement has allowed me to connect with others and unravel complexities with elegance, illuminating paths to understanding.

Reflecting on the exceptional mentors who have shaped my path, I recognize the wisdom that has been passed down to me. Their guidance has equipped me to navigate challenges with purpose and clarity, reinforcing my commitment to creating inclusive spaces where minds can thrive.

These experiences have not only shaped my professional life but also prepared me to teach my daughter. My journey has instilled in me the confidence to share knowledge and nurture her curiosity. As I guide her through the complexities of life, I draw upon my own learning journey, using my insights from both my personal and professional life to emphasize the importance of resilience and creativity. In every interaction, I strive to inspire a love for learning, fostering an environment where she can explore, question, and grow; just as I have throughout my own path.

—

In the skies, a graceful flight,
A formation of geese takes to the light.
With honks that echo, a call to align,
Each bird a beacon, their purpose divine.

If one stumbles, strays from the way,
The others adjust, a united ballet.
Together they rise, through storm and through sun,
Learning from missteps, for they are as one.

In the dance of their wings, a lesson unfolds,
In the warmth of their hearts, a wisdom that holds.
For in every falter, a chance to inspire,
A chance to grow stronger, to reach even higher.

As leaders, we guide, but in falling, we learn,
To embrace our mistakes, and for growth, we yearn.
Like the geese in the sky, let our voices unite,
In formation, we thrive, together in flight.

— Sincerely, Boris

In heart’s dark corners, a quiet voice is found,
love sprouts in the darkness, then falls to the ground.
A self once forgotten, shaped by love’s art,
brought out by a muse, then torn apart.

The ache of becoming, the joy of decay,
a fragile heart lost and remade in a day.
In love’s awakening aftermath, he stands alone,
wearing a version, both fleeting and known.

— Sincerely, Boris

For as long as I can remember, my mind has been a vast and restless sea, where thoughts rise and fall in waves, sometimes calm, other times stormy and relentless. I have always carried within me the tendency to overthink; to over analyze, dissect, and replay events in an endless mental cycle, trying to extract meaning or anticipate what lies ahead. Recognizing this as an essential part of who I am, I have nonetheless devoted myself to learning how to temper its weight.

In time, I have found that the journey to inner stillness begins with presence; the realization that true peace resides solely in the passing moment, a truth both elemental and profound. Rather than letting the mind pull me into hypothetical futures or past regrets, there is a lesson to savor the stillness found in today; a simplicity that both shelters and liberates me. This self-discipline of anchoring myself to the present frees me from the prison of my own thoughts; a notion that I, as a lifelong seeker of self-betterment, find humbling; and frees me from the confines of a mind otherwise driven toward ceaseless questioning.

Through this pursuit, I have also learned a gentler approach toward myself. I no longer try to control or reshape every thought; instead, I watch them as they arise, holding them in compassion, allowing each one to pass, like clouds drifting through an open sky. In a life marked by losses, heartbreaks, and personal challenges, I’ve learned that my thoughts are neither adversaries nor burdens, merely travelers in my mind’s landscape, appearing and departing in their own time.

Another insight is the understanding that not all problems demand an immediate solution. This is one I’ve wrestled with deeply, as I tend to seek resolution and order. But in realizing that some answers reveal themselves in time, I’ve found an unexpected strength in patience. Accepting uncertainty, even discomfort, has been liberating, a quiet revolution of spirit, inviting me to embrace life’s unknowns.

In the end, I see that the path to peace is unending, an ongoing practice of becoming. Each day, I am reminded that I am not my thoughts but the quiet awareness beneath them, a space of stillness untouched by any turmoil. In accepting this, I’ve uncovered a quiet strength in patience; a willingness to reside within life’s uncertainties and to welcome even discomfort as part of the whole. Through all my efforts, I am learning to hold onto this wisdom, a steadying hand in a world that never stops churning.

—

I sit and spin the web of “why”
Tugging threads that cloud my mind,
Of could-have-beens and might-have-seens,
Where echoes haunt the in-betweens.

I parse each word, rewind each breath,
Reframe the scene; of an endless quest.
But truth slips by like morning mist,

Lost in the maze my mind has kissed.
And still, I loop, around, again;
Bound to a past that won’t unbend.

— Sincerely, Boris

Like digging graves in the backyard
Or an emotional credit card
You can put things aside for a bit
But if you wait and wait for it
To go away, you'll end up with
A garden full of what is dead
And an inner world in debt.

_M.

This past year has been one of the hardest, as I’ve had to navigate the pain of getting over someone I deeply loved. The journey of mending a broken heart has been anything but straightforward. Yet through the struggle, I’ve found that healing isn’t about erasing the love I felt, but about rediscovering myself through the loss.

Heartbreak forces me to confront vulnerability and unearth the resilience that often goes unnoticed in times of happiness. I’ve learned that love, in its intensity, is not just about giving, but also knowing when to let go.

True healing begins not when I forget the person, but when I grow beyond the shadow of the relationship. It’s a process of cultivating self-compassion and nurturing independence, not by denying the pain, but by embracing it. Through suffering, I forge new strength.

Moving forward requires a shift in perspective. Rather than seeing the end of love as failure, I now view it as a transition into self-discovery. It’s an opportunity to reevaluate my values, redefine my aspirations, and focus on the life I wish to create; one rooted in joy, purpose, and fulfillment. Growth may be uncomfortable, but it is through discomfort that I flourish.

I’ve come to understand that love does not abandon; it transforms. It invites me to love myself more fully, to seek happiness from within, and to anchor my well-being in my own spirit. Closure isn’t a single moment; it’s a series of small releases, each loosening the grip of the past.

The first step is acceptance; acknowledging that love, like all things, changes. What once connected us now drifts apart, not out of malice, but from the natural course of life. We are beings in motion, evolving, and sometimes our paths diverge.

I’ve learned to embrace the silence that follows absence. It’s tempting to fill the void with distractions, but in solitude, I’ve found clarity. Sitting with my pain and letting it unravel at its own pace has shown me that the heart has an incredible capacity for healing when given the space to breathe. Each tear is a testament to the depth of my love, not a weakness.

Time, I’ve realized, isn’t the healer; awareness is. Time will pass regardless, but it’s the moments of self-reflection and introspection that allow me to break free from old memories. Pain is not a punishment, but a lesson, each heartbreak teaching me more about myself, my desires, and the love I want and deserve.

Moving on is, in its own way, an act of faith. It requires me to let go of the past and open my heart to the unknown, trusting that something new awaits. In the gentle release, I’ve found peace. By not clinging to what was, I’ve made space for what might be.

The greatest lesson, though, is that love doesn’t belong to anyone but myself. The love I gave and received remains within me, undiminished. Though the person I shared it with is no longer beside me, the essence of that love is a part of who I am and who I will continue to become.

This journey has taught me that getting over someone isn’t about forgetting them; it’s about remembering who I am without them. It’s about finding the strength to move forward, with grace, knowing that love will find me again, perhaps when I least expect it.

—

Healing isn’t forgetting,
It’s growing through the loss.
Love changes, not abandons,
And I rediscover myself.

In silence, clarity sprouts,
Each tear a mark of strength.
Moving on means letting go,
And making space for what’s next.

— Sincerely, Boris

In my journey toward embracing compassion as a way of being, I’ve come to understand that the path to selflessness is not about denying myself, but rather expanding my sense of self to include the wellbeing of others. Every moment presents an opportunity to awaken the heart, to lean into discomfort rather than avoid it, and to cultivate a deep empathy that transcends personal interests.

I’ve learned that the practice of compassion involves recognizing the suffering in the world without becoming overwhelmed by it. It’s about training the mind to meet challenges with patience and openness, seeing others’ pain as a reflection of our shared human condition. When I make a commitment to serve others, I am not striving for perfection but rather accepting my own imperfections as part of the learning process.

Through mindful awareness, I realize that my own difficulties and struggles are a gateway to greater understanding and connection. By confronting fear and vulnerability, I begin to soften my heart, not just toward others but toward myself.

Compassionate action is not grand gestures but small, consistent choices to live with kindness, equanimity, and courage. It is a practice of being present, attentive, and fully engaged with life as it unfolds.

The key teaching is that real transformation comes not from external achievements or recognition but from the inner work of shifting from self-centeredness to a broader, more inclusive perspective. True freedom arises when I let go of the need to protect my ego and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings, recognizing that my happiness is inextricably tied to the happiness of others.

—

Compassion is seeing what hurts
and staying close anyway.
It’s the hand that helps you up
without asking for thanks.

It doesn’t turn away
when things get hard,
and it doesn’t fix,
just shows up.

It’s the quiet presence
that makes room for pain,
a choice to stand with someone
even when you can’t solve a thing.

Compassion is simply being there;
eyes open, heart open,
willing to share the weight
for as long as it takes.

— Sincerely, Boris