How much are you worth after being hurt, overlooked, misunderstood, after making mistakes and surviving things no one could see but you? You have been taught to associate worth with the visible parts of life, achievement, beauty, success, measurable results. But the truth is, some of the most valuable parts of you have nothing to do with what others can see or understand.
Real life is the epitome of contrast: success and self-doubt, joy in the morning and anxiety by night, public recognition and quiet pain behind closed doors. So how do you understand your worth when the story you’re living is not clear?
Good News We Love Sharing
Have you ever stood still long enough to ask yourself: How can the same life hold both everything I dreamed of… and everything I never asked for?
This edition, our 77th, inspired by Vietnam, Mosaic of Contrasts by French Photographer Réhahn, carries the weight of a new question. It’s a reflection on contrast, the sharp edges between light and shadow in our lives: joy and ache,rise and the fall.
The version of you that made it, and the version of you that’s still quietly breaking.
Intelligent Diva Turns Creative Roadblocks Into Style: How a Music Setback Sparked an AI Fashion First: Intelligent Diva redefines creative control with an AI-powered fashion line and virtual show, blending music, tech and style for independent artists
Better Lifestyle Choices
We often celebrate only one side: the triumphs, the perfect, the highs. But contrast gives life its unique shape. What if the parts you try to hide, the doubt, the grief, the sleepless nights, are just as vital to your worth as the best moments?
New Late-Night Coffee Retreat: Experience true Yemeni hospitality at Qamaria Coffee in Charlotte—where spiced brews, cultural heritage and evening community gatherings create lasting joy
Finding light with Etty is a fascinated story by Dr Barbara Morrill as she takes us through darkness and hope. Explore trauma, resilience and compassion as Dr Barbara Morrill draws wisdom from Etty Hillesum’s diaries to inspire healing across generations. Dr Barbara’s path to that life-changing encounter had been decades in the making. Even as a child, she possessed what friends called an empathetic heart paired with relentless curiosity about human behaviour.
From Pickleball Court to Ocean Cause – The Surprising Story Behind oktō’s Bag: Discover oktō – a purposeful, multi-use sports bag blending modern organisation with eco-conscious design and support for coral reef conservation
Mindful Travel
Nature-Positive Tourism– How Your Next Caribbean Holiday Could Help Protect Sea Turtles and Support Island Communities: Discover nature-positive tourism in the Caribbean—join conservation projects, support island communities and enjoy eco-friendly travel experiences
The Reading and Writing Room
French photographer Réhahn has spent over a decade documenting Vietnam through his lens, but not in the way you might expect. His trilogy, published between 2014 and 2020, spans the country’s diverse regions – from highland villages in the north to floating homes in the Mekong Delta. The stunning visual quality isn’t what makes these books special though – it’s their unposed, deeply human approach to everyday moments.
Thousands of years ago, ancient Chinese philosophy named this truth. Yin and Yang—opposites, not at war with each other, but holding each other in balance. Light and dark. Rest and movement. Loss and discovery. One leads you to the other. One gives the other shape. Your life is made of these same forces but you are both, all the time. And so is your worth.
Réhahn learned Vietnamese specifically to connect with his subjects. He never photographs anyone who doesn’t want to be photographed. This patience shows in every image – these aren’t stolen moments but shared ones, reflecting what readers describe as capturing ‘the souls of his models’. The result is a collection that feels less like tourism and more like being welcomed into someone’s daily life.
Inside this issue, you’ll meet people who carry both. Stories that live between luxury and loss, success and solitude, love and leaving. Stories that remind us that the life you’re living now may not look like the life you planned—but perhaps, it’s even more powerful because of that.
Ask yourself this question. Not to find an answer, but to finally honour the truth behind your worth.
Until next Monday, here’s to the contrasts!
With gratitude, Your Story Steward
