Weekends With My Sister: How Hiking Helped Us Grow Closer
There is a six-year age gap between my youngest sister and me. As children, we fought constantly, which perpetually baffled my mother. “You’re six years…
3 Ways to Plan a Creative 4th of July Celebration
Coming from a family with a strong love of holiday traditions, I’m more than mildly surprised that our Fourth of Julys vary so much from…
Why a Small “I Will” Is More Powerful Than a Flood of “I Wishes”
During fifth grade, our classroom became the temporary home to a traveling library of animals brought to us by a local college. To a child…
What I Wish I Knew Before Living Alone
As a child, I thought that living alone meant doing whatever you wanted. While I occasionally live out this childhood belief (usually by eating unlimited…
When FOBO (Fear of Better Options) Leaves You With No Options
Throughout college, I excelled at making even the most last-minute plans possible. While other friends diligently planned out their weekly calendars, I did my best…
6 Thank You Cards to Write Before Graduation
In college, I was a stickler when it came to sending thank you cards. A jacket from an aunt, new socks from my folks, and,…
Going Green-ish: Tiny Changes for a Healthier Earth
In my early 20s, I lived alone for the very first time. With no roommates around, I quickly realized how much trash I personally produced,…
How Creative Packing Made Trips More Interesting
My desire to become an efficient packer grew out of frugalness more than anything. As a childhood packrat, I never put much intention into packing.…
Why My Journalism Degree Is Useful (Even Though I’m Not a Journalist)
In college, I majored in photojournalism, a major that more than one person reminded me was a dying profession. I’m rather stubborn, though, so I…
Rethinking Conflict: How I Learned to Have More Honest Conversations
For most of my teens and early 20s, I had this idea that the best way to deal with discomfort or conflict was to pretend…
