The word “pantera” primarily translates to “panther” in English. Who knew? It’s the Spanish and Italian word for the ‘large cat’; often used to refer to a black leopard.
I choose to use pantera during my very own Festival of Words, coming up from Sept 24-30, 2025. This seven-day celebration is an authorship reflection of myself and my part in the state of the human condition. During this time, pantera will be treated as an ‘acrostic’; each letter of the word stands for a value, mindset, or action that can elevate someone’s life.
Pantera also ties into my health diagnosis of the rare, incurable disease, CIDP, and my survival journey of the last twelve years. Power and strength, courage and fearlessness, mystery and spirituality. When I look back, I was a panther in every sense of the word. I still am.
Allow me to share the entire acrostic meaning of pantera from my Festival of Words, in case you don’t catch it on social media. As you read and reflect, please realize, with this knowledge, comes the responsibility of sharing it.
My Acrostic Meaning of ‘Pantera’
P = Perspective
A = Authenticity
N = Nurture
T = Truth
E = Empathy
R = Resilience
A = Attitude
Day 1: Perspective
Every single thing we touch, taste, smell, experience and SAY is guided by Perspective. Look around you. Words. Too many words, pictures, desires, falsehoods.
Sensory overload. Plastic existences. A world suffocating under its own human inventions. Perspective can change all that. Silence the overload. Remember why it all is.
* Temporary is inevitable for everyone.
* Perspective is ingenious.
* It’s not too late.
Day 2: Authenticity
Authenticity isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. That’s where the magic happens in our daily lives – if you’re brave enough. When we stop trying to be who we think others want us to be, even who we want ourselves to be, and start embracing our genuine selves, something beautiful shifts.
Our relationships deepen because people connect with our truth, not our ‘performance’. Our stress levels drop because we’re not constantly managing a facade. We make decisions that actually align with what matters to us, leading to a life that feels genuinely fulfilling rather than exhaustingly curated.
To cultivate authenticity is to embark on the most rewarding journey possible: the journey home to ourselves, where we discover that our greatest gift to the world isn’t our perfection, but our willingness to show up as we truly are, inspiring others to do the same.
* Embrace the imperfect you.
* No apologies.
* You know who you are.
Day 3: Nurture
Your soul needs a big, warm hug and you didn’t even know it! Nurturing is the gentle art of tending to what matters. A friendship, a dream, your own well-being, or even that little plant on your windowsill. It’s the sacred alchemy of conscious cultivation, transforming the raw materials of human potential into extraordinary realities through deliberate acts of care and attention.
When we actively nurture the good stuff in our lives, everything starts to bloom in ways we never expected. That friend you check in on regularly becomes your biggest cheerleader. The skills you patiently develop become your superpowers. The kindness you show yourself on rough days becomes your unshakeable resilience.
* It’s so simple.
* Don’t water the plant, the plant dies.
* We can be dead on so many levels.
Day 4: Truth
I grew up in a household that would not tolerate even the tiniest mistruth. If you did make the mistake of telling a lie, it was time for Dad’s belt. There is something to say about a bit of parental fear but that’s a whole other article.
Truth is fucking messy, uncomfortable, and absolutely liberating all at the same time. We spend so much energy dancing around it, sugarcoating it, or hiding from it, but here’s what I’ve learned: living in truth is like finally exhaling after holding your breath for years.
To live in truth is to choose radical freedom over comfortable delusion, knowing that while honesty may initially challenge us, it ultimately becomes the foundation upon which we build a life of profound meaning, connection, and purpose.
When you commit to truth, you attract people and opportunities that align with who you actually are, not who you might be pretending to be.
* The truth will set you free.
* You don’t have to like it.
* Don’t wait for your death bed.
Day 5: Empathy
How often do you say, “I see you. I hear you. I understand you.” Do you really mean it?
That’s Empathy. It emerges all around us as the essential thread that weaves humanity together, yet we are witnessing first hand its gradual erosion in an age of digital disconnect and polarized discourse.
In our rush to be right, to defend our corner of the internet, or just to get through our packed schedules, we’re losing the beautiful art of truly seeing each other.
When we pause to really listen, when we try to understand someone else’s story before jumping to conclusions, something shifts. Our relationships get deeper, our communities get stronger, and we feel less alone.
* Nobody’s that busy.
* Be an architect of Empathy.
* “Hey, what’s that like for you?”
Day 6: Resilience
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from rough times. It’s about learning to bend over backward without breaking. Some people are masters at this without even realizing it.
Think about those living with chronic illness who wake up each day not knowing what their bodies will throw at them, yet still find ways to laugh, love, and contribute to the world. They show us that strength isn’t about never falling down; it’s about getting creative with how you keep moving forward.
Resilience is not a one-size-fits-all superpower. For some, it’s finding joy in small moments. For others, it’s asking for help when you need it. And still others, it’s dealing with the loss of friends who ghosted you merely for getting sick – and learning to move on.
Resilience isn’t about being unbreakable, it’s about being beautifully, persistently human, even when life gets complicated.
* Witness the courage.
* Don’t ever say you can’t.
* Unless you’re that selfish.
Day 7: Attitude
“Realize that the one thing you have absolute control over is your Attitude. See the effect that it has on those around you.”
Sir Laurence Olivier, Time the Musical (circa 1985)
In a world where chaos and uncertainty often reign, our attitude becomes both anchor and compass, guiding us toward empowerment rather than victimhood, possibility rather than limitation.
Attitude is basically the only thing that is 100% ours in a world where so much feels out of our control. We can’t control the weather, other people’s moods, traffic jams, or half the curveballs life throws at us, but we absolutely get to choose how we respond to all of it.
A positive attitude doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect. It means choosing curiosity over judgment, looking for lessons instead of just problems, and deciding that even on the rough days, there’s probably something worth being grateful for.
* A Gateway to Resilience.
* A Superpower to Co-creation.
* Check your Neg at the door.
I hope you’ll join me during the Festival of Words and create your own way of reflecting on yourself and your part in the state of the human condition.
Namaste,
Scott ❤️