After I began studying Buddhist teachings, I started paying closer attention to myself—watching what I do, what I think, and trying to remain mindful as often as possible.

Whenever I remember, I silently repeat "Buddho" while observing my breath as it goes in and out.

To be honest, at this point I still spend most of my time without awareness. I've become so accustomed to letting my mind drift along with emotions and thoughts that mindfulness doesn't arise naturally very often.

As I started observing myself more carefully, I noticed how easily dissatisfaction, irritation, and anger can arise—even over the most trivial things.

For example, one day Peem took an omelet out of the oven and tipped it onto a plate. Along with it came some of the oil that had collected during cooking. Instead of lifting the omelet out and leaving the excess oil behind, everything was poured onto the plate together.

In that moment, I noticed a feeling of annoyance arise almost instantly.

What surprised me wasn't the omelet or the oil—it was how quickly the mind found something to dislike. The event itself was insignificant, yet irritation appeared on its own.

Moments like that have helped me see how often suffering begins not because of the situation itself, but because of the reactions that arise within my own mind.