Category: perspective
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Week 2: Simple September
Another week of Simple September has come and gone! Most nights I found myself scrambling to think of something to post, which isn’t *quite* what I had in mind when I developed Simple September (#StressedAboutPostingSeptember?). So, my goal for this week is to be more mindful of my surroundings throughout the day. In other words,…
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Week 1: Simple September
Here’s what went down during the first week of Simple September. Highlights include fun socks, cozy naps, and threats of hospitalization. Dun dun dun… 💜Keep up daily on Instagram!💜
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Simple September
How is it already September? And will I ever stop saying that at the start of each new month? The answer is no. It’s part of being an adult. While reading this weekend, I saw the phrase “Lighten up.” My reaction was visceral, a sensation of rocks in my stomach. Nobody said it to me,…
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Reclaiming “How are you?”
I’m thinking about how I answer some everyday questions, like “How are you doing?” and “How’s it going?” I know the right answer is “Good!” because many people ask these questions as a substitute for saying hi—not an actual inquiry into my wellbeing. But I’m that person who may deliver an answer the asker didn’t…
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Normal: Not found
Today was back to reality after a week at the beach. For me, the primary symptom of post-vacation blues is a soul-level restlessness that I struggle to describe. Something always feels just a little bit off, like maybe I’m not supposed to be where I am. I know this feeling is normal—that it happens after…
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Back to CF: Day 5
Rise and shine and wheeze! It’s day five waking up without having taken the cystic fibrosis “miracle drug.” Although I’ve toyed with different dosages over the years—even skipping three days between doses—this is the longest I’ve been without the drug since 2021. For those who are just catching up, the short story is this: As…
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Azale-yeah!
As I sneezed my way through the yard a few weeks ago, I stopped to admire these white azaleas. On a shrub of nearly identical white blooms, one flower said, “No thank you,” and showed up with a fuchsia stripe. Do the damn thing! I see you.
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Can you buy happiness?
I’ve been thinking about things lately. And I don’t mean “things” in an abstract sense. I’ve been thinking about tangible objects—primarily items that we purchase and make ours. One Christmas long ago, my then-boyfriend was excited for me to open my gift. I gently unwrapped the box and lifted the lid. As I peeked under…
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Means vs. Ends
I never regret taking time out of my day to write. Still, most days, I have to convince myself to do it. I don’t know exactly why I feel this way. Maybe it’s that writing is difficult. Or that I’m not sure what I might unearth while writing. Or that I fear I’ll fail in…
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Just the SweeTARTS
I always look forward to Valentine’s Day for obvious reasons: CANDY. And specifically SweeTARTS Hearts, which I rank among my favorite holiday-specific candies. Yes, that is how you spell SweeTARTS. And please note SweeTARTS Hearts are not the same as sugary conversation hearts. Big difference, folks. I take my candy seriously.
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Twenty Twenty Thrive
I’ve historically been the goal-setting type, excited about the fresh feeling of a new year. But as we welcome 2025, I don’t feel my usual level of enthusiasm. I’d typically read too much into that, trying to dissect the “why,” but I’ve decided to instead use one of my least favorite phrases: it is what…
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Leg lamentations
“Recovery will take between four and six months,” the surgeon said as I lay in the hospital bed, cast up to my thigh. At first this overwhelmed me, but I remembered I’d always been a quick learner. In school, I easily picked up on new concepts—somewhat annoyingly ahead of the curve. But I neglected to…
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“I love you, but…”
About a decade ago, I was standing on the beach with a couple of my uncles, enjoying the perfect balance of sunshine and breeze. As water pooled around our feet, somehow the not-relaxing topic of politics came up. In a moment of boldness, fueled by alcohol, I posed a somewhat inflammatory question: “Does it bother…
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Joyful June: I Broke Myself
As May drew to an end, I decided I wanted to approach June with a different perspective. Having become increasingly bogged down by the ins and outs of daily life, I liked the thought of making a conscious effort to look for the joy that exists in each day. And, if I had trouble finding…
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A Graduation Speech Do-Over
On a balmy Georgia night twenty years ago, I stood behind a podium on the temporary stage erected on my high school’s football field. Wearing a purple robe and mortarboard, my dyed-platinum-blonde hair in beachy waves, I looked out at the faces of about 350 classmates. And I confidently delivered what I believed to be…