Life has a funny way of showing you what matters. Not all at once, but slowly, over years. Like trees in a forest, some interests grow tall and strong, while others fade away. But a few… a few become part of who you are.

I can’t tell you exactly when or how these five things became my constants. They just did. Handstands, motorcycle riding, writing, language learning, and folklore dancing – they’ve stuck with me through different jobs, cities, and life changes. Some days I do all of them, some months I might focus on just one or two. But they’re always there, waiting.

These activities talk to each other in unexpected ways. The balance I find in folklore dancing shows up when I’m doing handstands. The focus I need on my motorcycle helps me sink into a new language. The stories I write come from all these experiences mixed together. Sometimes I’m rusty at one thing because I’ve been deep into another. That’s okay. They’re patient.

I don’t know if I’ll be doing handstands when I’m 80, or if I’ll still be learning new languages in my retirement. But I hope so. Because these aren’t just things I do – they’re ways I understand myself and the world. They’ve grown with me, changed with me, surprised me.

The beauty of it is that there’s no end point, no final achievement. Each activity keeps offering new layers to explore. A more complex dance pattern. A smoother handstand transition. A new way to express an idea in writing. A deeper understanding of a language. A more challenging road to ride.