From North Texas to Norway, deciphering the true essence of home — I’ve always been drawn back to the places where my name was, once upon a time, on the mailbox. Uprooted from the expansive plains of North Texas and thrust into the winter-clad, forested terrains of South Eastern Norway at the tender age of twelve, I was left grappling with an…

What’s fueling the obsession? — No•stal•gia: a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The other day, I stumbled upon something in my Instagram discover feed that stopped me in my tracks. …

From Step Counts to Sleep Scores: Weighing the Psychological Benefits and Pitfalls of Constant Personal Monitoring — Not long ago, my trusty Fitbit started to quit on me. I was walking around my neighborhood, and white lines streaked across the screen, signaling its impending demise. It had been with me for nearly two years — an ancient artifact in today's fast-paced tech world. This little gadget had…

After four years of conscious singlehood- I accidentally fell for an extraordinary man whose grin and brilliant blue eyes made me weak in the knees—a man whose unexpected arrival in my life made me believe in the magic of serendipity. In the beginning, we spent most days together and texting…

It’s Not All Bad — I never thought I would be here. This wasn't what I imagined my life to be when I was my younger me- unattached, childless, and not living in a Barbie Dream House. I thought I would have it all by at least the age of 25. …

We're in the thick of it. A season ripe with long dark nights, blistering cold weather, and sometimes it feels like the sun is gone for good. It can leave us feeling sluggish, unmotivated, and downright depressed. Seasonal depression is no joke. Each year it affects millions of adults in…

I struggle with a hazy memory whenever I try to remember something from long ago, especially my younger years. Visual scenes are mostly forgotten, and words that were said are jumbled. At best, the scenes from my childhood play in my head with an opaque overlay and at a hacky…

It’s not always supposed to work out. — I met a lovely man. We were set up by a mutual friend who swore we were the same person. Two sides of the same coin with similar interests and witty senses of humor. It was refreshing- a sweet meet cute in a world of right swipes. Everything started off…

and bringing our humanity to work. — I’ll never forget that gray January day exactly one year ago. January 6th. I was new at my job, company, and profession. Barely holding it together as it was, in a global pandemic, dealing with the fallout of the 2020 election, and quarantining alone with nothing but my thoughts to…