I nearly threw out a struggling houseplant. Fourteen years on, it’s outgrowing my ceiling, and reminding me not to judge things by one bad stretch.
How Dare You Send Me Food
We're taught that when someone from our past contacts us, we should feel and show some warmth. It doesn't matter how much time has passed or how things ended. At the very least, we're expected to be gracious. But when someone I hadn't spoken to in over six years sent me a package of food... Continue Reading →
Delusionally Self-Forgiving
Quick question before we start: have you forgiven yourself for something you'd swear, under oath, you've already let go of? Sit with that for a second. I'll wait. I ask because it wrecked me not quite long ago listening to Chase Hughes. I've been following Chase Hughes long enough that this shouldn't surprise me anymore.... Continue Reading →
What Do You Hope Never Changes About You?
I’ve changed a lot over the years. Some of it deliberately. Some of it because life didn’t exactly ask for my permission. But there are things about myself I don’t want to improve, fix, outgrow or reinvent.
The People Who Press Our Buttons
Not everyone is going to be your people. But every now and then, the people who get under your skin have something interesting to teach you about yourself.
Old Friendships. Timeless Connections.
Some friendships don’t need warming up. One look at each other and you’re immediately back to being complete goofballs. Nothing says mature adulthood quite like two women in their fifties making silly TikToks and questionable travel decisions.
Culture and Our Mental Health
Cultural upbringing significantly influences emotional expression and perceptions of mental health, shaping personal identity and coping strategies throughout life.
Teen Mentality
Xbox vs. Chores Photo Credit: Erik Mclean It’s amazing how a person can be a high-speed strategist on an Xbox but struggle with simple house chores. This contrast highlights my main question: why can someone excel in one area and freeze in another, and what does it reveal about how our minds work? My son is nineteen,... Continue Reading →
Expatriate or Immigrant
Two people can cross borders for the same reason, but walk into completely different identities. One is called an expatriate; the other, an immigrant. It’s the same action, but a different story is assigned. I’ve been thinking about what these words are quietly doing; how they position us before we’ve even spoken, and what happens when you have to start over, proving what you already know.
Questioning the “Authentic” Self
Is authenticity just another product we’ve been trained to market? I’ve started diving into "You and Your Profile" by Moeller & D’Ambrosio, and it’s already challenging my assumptions about "being yourself." It turns out that the harder we try to be authentic, the more we might actually be performing for an invisible audience.
Modern Identity Crisis
"Who are you?" It’s a simple question with a complicated answer.
Is Being the Bigger Person an Identity Trap?
Being the bigger person is not just a choice we make; it's a cage we build for ourselves...
