“Look, either come or don’t — I don’t care. This is my vacation I invited you on, not our vacation,” I said into the phone. I was over it. The cat-and-mouse game. The constant tug-of-war for attention. It was exhausting. “See, when you talk like that, it kills the mood,” […]
The Becoming
Becoming Her: A Journey of Autonomy, Rebirth, & Sterilization
A Dream That Wasn’t Mine Standing before a dark chestnut front door on a beautiful midsummer day, a well-manicured lawn stretches behind me, dotted with freshly planted flowers. I hear children joyfully playing inside. Somehow, I know they’re waiting for me. Taking a deep breath, I unlock the door and […]
How Dining Alone at a Fancy Restaurant Helped Me Heal My Inner Child
Growing up, I didn’t go to many fancy restaurants. We didn’t dress up. We rarely did big celebrations. It was always simple—kinda thrown together. As a child, I never thought much about it. I just assumed we weren’t a “fancy” family. I remember one night—me, my sister, and my father […]
The Art of Dressing: How Getting Dressed is the Biggest Act of Self Love
When I was spiraling, the last thing I wanted to do was put together an outfit. It seemed pointless. Why do all that fussing over myself when I was “just going” somewhere? The grocery store, work, errands—it didn’t matter. I’d tell myself I didn’t care who saw me. That mindset […]
The Dark Side of Dating: The Night My $10 Pepper Spray Saved Me
Dating in your 30s is a different field. Some people are divorced with 15 kids, others are just vibing, and some don’t seem to be looking at all. I somehow found myself in the latter category. I’m looking, but not seriously. My ideal relationship is Oprah and Stedman—I don’t want […]
Chapter 33: Moving with Intention
Throughout my life I’ve been very Type B. Floating through life, almost in a trance, believing that whatever was meant for me would eventually manifest. I thought things just happened. And yes, things did happen—but never the things I actually wanted. Looking back, I can’t blame anyone else. I was […]
How I Gave Up on Perfection and Fell in Love with Life Again
Life… It’s the thing that happens while you’re waiting for it to begin. Most of my life—if not all—I’ve been waiting for that moment when everything aligns. When all the pieces fall into place and I’m finally “ready” to start. It was always coming soon. I was always ready to […]
4 Beautiful Reminders from Tracee Ellis Ross on Travel, Selfhood, and Showing Up
Ever since watching Girlfriends as a child, I’ve loved Tracee Ellis Ross. Her style and natural charisma were infectious, and seeing a curvy girl still be so stylish always felt like a win for me. I followed her on Instagram, and when I saw she was coming out with a […]
Dreaming in Soft Colors: Staying Grounded When Fantasy Meets Reality
My heart is a hopeless romantic — a dreamer. Almost anytime I get into a situation, I dream in soft colors and pink hues, thinking this is love and we will end up together. I love that about me. And I also love that my brain is rational — it […]
A Soft Goodbye from the Woods
“Let me tell you a story.“ She said it as she slowly sipped her mulled wine. We were out in her cabin. I hiked out to her regularly in the fall, but this time, it felt needed.She was the last piece of a life that was no longer mine. Her […]