My rustic and magical home in Topanga—a place my girlfriend and I dreamed of and cherished for its breathtaking views of the valley and the Pacific Ocean—was among those lost in the Los Angeles fires this week.

As many of you know, the recent Palisades Fire has devastated large parts of Los Angeles, including the Palisades, Topanga, Malibu, and Pasadena areas. This wildfire has damaged over 9,000 structures, making it the most destructive in LA’s history.

Amid the rubble, only one thing remained: a serene Buddha statue, gazing calmly through the chaos. It became a powerful symbol for me.

Turning Loss into Growth

While losing my home and cherished belongings has been a heartbreaking experience, it has also reinforced the core teachings of meditation:

Non-Attachment: Letting go of what we cannot hold forever.
Resilience: Finding strength in life’s challenges.
Inner Peace: Discovering stability within ourselves, not in external circumstances.

These are the same principles I share in my ebook, Journey Through Meditation. This guide reflects the practices and lessons that have supported me through this unimaginable time.

Pictures

Our majestic views! 🥹

Me - before tragedy struck.

Katy - the day of departure.

The sunsets we enjoyed every night!

Ominous clouds approaching...

Evacuation time!

A Moment of Gratitude

I want to thank my family - my parents and my sisters (Lindsey and Annie), and my extended family and new members of my family (Joaquin) who have supported me throughout this hardship and helped me spread the word about my ebook. I especially want to thank Katy, my girlfriend, who has been living with me and who I evacuated with - it’s the second time in six months that external circumstances have forced us both out of a home. ❤️