This year was not an unusually dark winter. However, I still struggled with it. The first week of the year started with a big disappointment, and from there I curled back into my little den to …
On Feeling Reborn and Revived in Spring
I Liked Rocks Before They Were Cool
Growing up, being into rocks meant you were just another kid perusing the spiritual outdoorsy store in the mall called Natural Wonders. Remember that place? It was like a combination of The Sharper Image and a …
The Finicky Reality of Inspiration
I’m convinced every creative person experiences inspiration differently. Some people’s imagination is sparked by visual stimulation that gets them reacting and making things in response, while others can take a walk outside and find the answers …
If Romance Novels are Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right
I first started reading romance novels on a whim. It was winter break during my freshman year of college, and I was in a small Florida town doing two workouts a day at my university’s rowing …
Two Roads, or Maybe Three
Winding paths have been on my mind. Specifically, those moments in our lives where we can look back and see where the fork was in the road. We make decisions in these moments hoping they’ll bring …
Toilets, Trains, and Other Things We Need to Import From Japan
After twenty days in Japan, I am far from an expert on the beautiful and unique Asian country, but I visited long enough to experience quite a spectrum of cultural differences that compare directly with life …
The Transient Nature of Baristas
I love lattes. I know I’ve mentioned it here more than a few times (more like all of the time). But a deliciously smooth coffee drink for me is much more than the satisfaction of sipping …
The Fox is My Spirit Animal
I love animals. From the tiniest, creepy spider, to the biggest smelly rhino, I want to take care of them all. But there’s one animal I have a significant affinity for, and it’s not actually what …
My Favorite Halloween Costume as a Kid
It feels like yesterday. I was a skinny, awkward kid, floating in my uncle’s pool in August, and there was nothing else on my mind but Halloween. All summer, my sisters and I would daydream and …
The Hierarchy of Halloween Candy
As an absolute candy lover growing up (I’ve got the dentist bills to prove it), I can undoubtedly say all candy is not created equal. Some sweets are better than others, and while we all have …