Here is something I have learned over the years. You cannot enter a new place like a king waiting for a red carpet reception. No confetti. No choir. No spotlight. If you want community, you must participate in building it. You cannot stand in the corner waiting for someone to rescue you from your own silence. You show up, you talk to people, you engage, you ask questions, you build relationships like someone who actually wants them.

We are adults. Friends are no longer assigned like groupwork partners in school. You build them.

It wasn’t just a beach day. It was witnessing a miracle in motion. My friend Sam, a successful businessman with everything the world could offer, went into the water not to chase more but to surrender it all to Christ. Watching him rise again wasn’t just powerful, it was personal. It reminded me that real success isn’t about achievement, but about finding peace in the One who never leaves.

I’m a filmmaker and photographer who values authenticity, so I’ve always been cautious about AI. When I attended the NAS Summit in Bangkok, it wasn’t about Nas, but about keeping an open mind to learn from creators who are using AI responsibly. I met inspiring Filipino and international storytellers, saw Thailand step up as a creative hub, and walked away with lessons I’ll carry forward. As a friend reminded me, it’s always about “eating the meat and throwing the bones.”

For me, recharging means vanishing into the wild like a dodgy Wi-Fi signal. When I need to recharge, I head straight for nature. As a photographer, I see every beach, forest, and mountain as part of God’s art collection. Out there, it is easier to slow down, breathe, and remember who is really in control.

Last night I swapped my usual Netflix binge for something way more dramatic. The Phantom of the Opera live in Bangkok. Not just any production, but the full West End version. And wow… theatre magic is a real thing.

It was a vulnerable realisation. I had spent so much time chasing after something that wasn’t really mine to begin with. I was so consumed by social media and the constant search for validation that I lost touch with the passion and love for the craft I had once felt so strongly. It wasn’t the applause that I needed. It was the connection to what I loved.

There’s something special about black and white film that just can’t be captured with digital photography. Maybe the tones are richer, the shadows are deeper, and the overall look is just more timeless and classic.

Teaching Bangkok Patana’s youngest students wildlife photography reminded me where it all begins. Armed with iPads and tiny cameras, they chased birds, squirrels, and even playground turtles, asking me how to zoom without flipping to selfie mode. Somewhere between their giggles and their first sharp photo, I realised I started just like this — curious, fumbling, and completely captivated by the beauty in front of me.