I talk a lot about leaving—relationships, friendships, whatever kind of ship that no longer serves me. People think it’s always some dramatic, impulsive decision, but that’s rarely true. Even when it looks sudden, there’s usually been a slow build-up: me quietly weighing the pros and cons of having you in […]
Personal Stories
A Little Wine, A Little Nostalgia… and a Big Mistake
When you cultivate a life of peace, it’s nice. Your mornings are slow and intentional. Your coffee is a little sweeter, your wine a little smoother—everything is as it should be. But then there’s that little part of you that craves excitement, a story for the girls, something to appease […]
From Sulking to Savoring: My Rituals for Bad Mental Health Days
Lying in bed, I stare at the canopy above me. I can’t even be bothered to move. My mind replays my worst hits, complete with commentary. Regret, shame, and guilt weigh heavy on my chest. I turn onto my side, watching the sunlight struggle to brighten my room through the […]
I Tried Float Therapy- Here’s What It Taught Me
This year is my year of embracing me—trying all the things on my bucket list and doing everything my anxiety tells me I can’t or shouldn’t. I’m not living in the shadows anymore; I’m embracing myself and my journey. That’s why, for my birthday, I decided to try float therapy. […]
When Friendships Shift: Does A Baby Have To Change Things?
It had been a few months since Nikita and I last caught up, and I was excited to see her again. We typically have these long, two-to-three-hour gab fests, filling each other in on work, dating, and major life events. This time, I had a story to tell—she hadn’t yet […]
A Year of Surrender: My Birthday Ritual and Letting Go
My 20s were the most toxic era of my life—everything except death and jail happened, and I’m just grateful I made it out alive and without kids. At 28, I decided I wasn’t cool and that I was going to be as odd and unusual as I wanted to be. […]
Finding Myself: My Journey to Bohemianism
I remember when I was younger, I would watch the older high schoolers all dressed up so fashionably at school, thinking, When I get older, I’ll find my look and be so fabulous! That’s a typical freshman mindset. And when I got to their age, I dressed up, headed to school […]
Letting Go, Wanting More, and Realizing You Deserve Better
The realization that you’ve been giving yourself the absolute bare minimum is a hard one. You get so caught up in your day-to-day life that it’s easy to believe you’re fine, that everything is good, and that you’re happy. It’s not until you take a step back that you realize—maybe […]
Overcoming Depression and Embracing Self-Love: My Journey
When I was diagnosed with depression and a slew of other mental disorders, it was honestly exhausting. Doctors had me rehashing my life, trying to figure out what was wrong with me and why I am the way I am. I started to believe that something was inherently wrong with […]
A Blank Page, A Fresh Start: My Story Continues
The morning after our fight, I sat on the balcony, wrapped in my favorite blanket, cradling a cup of coffee that had already gone cold. The squirrels were busy, rustling through the dead leaves on the ground below, their chatter filling the crisp air. My mind, however, was quieter than […]