One of the questions I return to most often is surprisingly simple: How can my work become an act of service? Service begins closer to home than we sometimes imagine. It begins by caring for ourselves with honesty and compassion, so we have the strength to care for others. It continues within our families, where small daily acts of presence often matter more than grand gestures.

What is devotion? I ask myself this often, as it is a word I frequently encounter in spiritual practices, books, and even love poems. It is defined as “religious fervor,” as well as “the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal,” and “the act of dedicating something to a cause, enterprise, or activity.”Skipping the first definition, I would say that you do not have to be religious to be devoted.

(I Followed Love to London) It wasn’t romance that called me across the ocean. It was something older, purer, fiercer. The kind of love that rewrites everything. I refuse to be a long-distance grandmother. I refuse to love my granddaughter through a phone screen, to know her only through videos: how she sleeps, how she eats, how she takes her first steps, how she grows. I wanted more. I wanted to live her childhood with her, every season, every stage.

Life thrives through difference In nature, diversity is not decoration — it is resilience. A forest does not depend on one tree, one crop, or one rhythm to survive. It weaves together many species, many functions, many timelines. When one element struggles, another steps in. Diversity is how life protects itself, adapts, and continues.

Ayurveda, the “science of life,” offers timeless principles for nurturing health and harmony. Starting the new year with these practices can help you align with nature’s rhythms and cultivate a balanced mind, body, and spirit. Self-care is a cornerstone of Ayurveda, emphasizing small, intentional actions that support your overall well-being. Here are 12 Ayurvedic practices to guide you into the year mindfully: