The Power of And
The other day, I went on a walk with my friend and her dog. Walking with a friend—moving through the world together, talking, thinking—has always been one of my favorite ways to connect. We wandered through Oak Street in Chicago, along the lake, and back to her apartment, letting the rhythm of our steps guide the conversation.
As we walked, she shared how a recent medical mission trip to South America had reignited her purpose as a doctor. The experience reminded her why she chose this path in the first place—something she and her father had shared a deep passion for before he passed. Being there, doing the work, she felt reconnected to her why, the thing that gave her strength to push through the long, relentless road of medicine.
But then she said something that stopped me in my tracks.She told me she didn’t know her AND yet.
Her AND?
I thought we were all supposed to be searching for our WHY—our singular purpose, the one thing we are meant to do. But the more I sat with what she said, the more it made sense.
We’re no longer expected to follow just one path. If anything, the world now celebrates those who weave together different careers, interests, and callings. It’s no longer just about finding one purpose—it’s about embracing the intersection of them all. The AND.
I’ve been told before to replace but with and—that language shapes how we experience life. I understood it on a surface level, like, oh yeah, that makes sense—we should include all parts of ourselves. But hearing it in this way, as something to live by, something to embrace rather than just understand, shifted something deep inside me.
Life might be simpler if we chose just one thing and let it define us forever. But wouldn’t it be richer to allow ourselves to evolve?
And as I reflected, I realized I’ve been living my AND all along, without even naming it.
I am a jewelry designer and I am discovering a deep interest in wellness. I don’t have a title for it yet, but I feel it in the way I write these blog posts—how they spark reflection, self-growth, and empowerment. I see it in the way I lead women’s circles, guiding conversations that help others explore their own paths. I don’t have to define it completely to know it’s part of me.
For so long, being just a fine jewelry designer felt incomplete. It wasn’t my full story. But now, I feel like I’m bringing all the pieces of myself into alignment.
That sense of integration—of many becoming one—inspired the ONE Collection. It’s a reflection of this very idea: that we are not just one thing, but a beautiful fusion of identities, passions, histories, and hopes. The collection is a reminder that wholeness comes not from choosing a single path, but from honoring every part of who we are.
This is the quiet, powerful work of a Bhan Vivant—someone who lives with intention, finding meaning and joy in their own growth while honoring the journeys of others.
To me, Bhan Vivant is about embracing all the parts of who we are. It’s about allowing ourselves to grow, to change, and to follow new callings—without feeling like we have to fit into just one box. It’s about saying yes to what lights us up, even when we don’t have it all figured out. It’s about trusting that who we are today doesn’t have to be the same as who we’ll be tomorrow.
So, have you thought about your AND?