100 Days to Go
On embracing your core self, building resilience, and finishing the year with intention
As of today (22 Sep, 2025), there are exactly 100 days left in the year. Can you believe it? Looking back, 2025 has been nothing short of a storm for me.
At the end of last year, I got (re)married, left an organization I’d been with for two years, consulted for a few companies, and eventually stepped out to start something entirely my own.
Yes, I’ve now launched a marketing agency and begun building a marketing-tech product (More about it soon!).
I also published my second book, Write to Win.
I rediscovered the power of journaling, especially with the help of AI, and grew my copywriting newsletter to 500+ subscribers. On the personal front, I joined the gym, started coloring my hair, and turned 40.
On the surface, these look like milestones. But the real story underneath is resilience and self-acceptance.
I learned that no matter how much we try to “engineer” ourselves to fit into places, there is a core self you cannot override. You can grow, adapt, and change.
But that core is your anchor.
The sooner you embrace it, the freer you become.
For me, the turning point was saying no to a consulting engagement with a company whose culture didn’t sit right. I could have stayed for money or prestige, but I realized it would drain me. Walking away was easy, because I’ve learned to spot red flags and trust my instinct.
The relief came later, when my co-founder reminded me: I don’t have to do everything. We are (now) building around my natural strengths, and I’m surrounded by people with complementary skills. That’s how resilience is built. Not by carrying everything yourself, but by knowing what is yours to carry and what can be trusted to others.
As Naval Ravikant said: “Escape competition by being authentic.” The same applies to life. Escape exhaustion by being yourself.
This year also taught me resilience through family and faith.
We are in the process of rebuilding our old family temple, which gives me a deep source of spiritual strength. I’ve started embracing the Universal Being more and more, surrendering myself to the Lord to help me in my endeavors. It helps me let go of ego and accept there is a greater power beyond imagination.
Good things are happening in the family. My wife has been a pillar of strength, both in supporting me and in raising our two daughters. Despite coming from different mothers, the girls have become wonderful sisters and friends. They are independent, hardworking, and regular with their extra classes, dance, and art. Watching them bond gives me confidence they’ll support each other for life.
But not everything has been easy.
I went through anxiety, sought psychological counseling, and dealt with a kidney stone episode. It reminded me that resilience isn’t just mental or emotional — it’s also physical. Prayer, long walks, looking at my kids’ faces, support from my wife, and journaling all helped me steady myself.
Looking Forward: The Last 100 Days
So here we are, with 100 days left. For me, these next 100 days are about consistency and small commitments that honor the self I’ve come to embrace:
Creative resilience: the gym membership is in place, but more importantly I want to keep journaling every other day, even if it’s just 2 minutes. Maybe even 100 days of writing content on LinkedIn.
Spiritual resilience: visiting the temple, prayer, and continuing to surrender myself to the Lord as a way to reduce ego and anxiety.
Family resilience: taking my wife along to the gym for her health, spending time with my daughters, and nurturing their independence and bond.
I’m still deciding what my 100-day challenge should look like, but the spirit is clear: use these days not to reinvent myself, but to double down on the core that is already here.
Practical Lessons for You
If you’re also at a crossroads, maybe this reflection can serve as a compass:
Learn to say no early when the culture is toxic. No opportunity is worth the erosion of your core self.
Build around your natural strengths. Chasing opportunities without alignment will collapse under pressure.
Find people with complementary skills. Resilience is collective, not individual.
Anchor yourself in small, repeatable practices — journaling, fitness, prayer, writing, or family rituals.
For me, the storms of this year are finally settling. The direction feels right. The work feels mine. And I’m ready for these 100 days not as a countdown, but as a chance to practice being fully myself.