02/17/2026
Every late winter, as the seasons start to turn, I somehow find my way back to Be Water, My Friend by Shannon Lee. For the last four years this book has been my companion in times of transition—especially moving from the quiet of winter into the stirrings of spring.
Today, on Chinese New Year, we’re shedding the last layers of the Wood Snake and welcoming the energy of the Fire Horse: from yin to yang, from inner work to bold movement, from contemplation to courage and action. It feels like an invitation to let go of distractions and old weight so we can actually move forward.
Every time I listen or read, the message lands differently—like seeing something familiar with fresh eyes, like a child again. Bruce Lee’s teaching reminds me to move through change like water: not rigid, not forcing, but relaxed and ready.
So as we step into this new cycle, may we flow with the stream, have fun, and keep coming back to what we love. As Bruce Lee said, “Do not be tense, but ready; not thinking, but not dreaming; not being set, but flexible… wholly and quietly alive, aware, and alert; ready for whatever may come.”
