Staying Curious: How Saying Yes Makes Life More Interesting
Several years ago, I found myself wedged under my car, staring up at the skid plate that stood between me and the oil drain plug.…
Long-Distance Family: Staying Connected Across the Miles
Nearly a decade ago, my family left Wisconsin, drove our minivan 1,500 miles to Montana, dropped me at my dorm, waved goodbye, and drove 1,500…
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,…
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…
More Than a Workout: 5 Ways to Practice Healthy Living in Your 20s
I was 25 when adult life started settling into place. Job performance reviews took the place of class grades. Networking events became acceptable evening plans.…
When Religion Doesn’t Fit: Learning Through Doubt and Discovery
Growing up, I was the only kid I knew who went to church every single week. While everyone else was sleeping in, I was listening…
The Doubt Weasel
Doubt’s one of those weird feelings that can seem nearly impossible to control. A few years ago I was tasked with organizing a first-time event…
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…
Identity Crisis: How Banishing My Life Road Map Helped Me Define Myself
For most of my life I’ve been Kat the Student. This title, first bestowed upon me in my wee preschool years, stuck with me until…
Why I Joined the Flip Phone Club
It was frugality that first led me down the path toward a less-digital life. Several months after graduating from college, I found myself in Wichita,…
