Yes, I was one of those. I was the girl who read The Fault in Our Stars the summer before my senior year of high school. I was the girl who stayed up until four in the morning to finish it, and I was the girl who had to put the book down for a … More The Beauty of Pain’s Demands
“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around – nobody big, I mean – except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if … More Your Catcher in the Rye
As a collector of knowledge there are few things in life that break me more than the questions I ask that no one can answer. I drove my Sunday school leaders crazy when I was a child. So many, “why’s?” So many, “But then what’s?” So many thoughts that my young imagination churned that no … More More Than a Sunset
I don’t consider myself to be a feminist. I also wouldn’t classify myself as an anti-feminist or a traditionalist. I’m kind of caught in this dilemma, because while I agree that women should have equal rights, I’ve never been in a place where I haven’t. I’ve just worked hard, and in result I’ve reaped rewards. … More Prove It
About two weeks ago I deleted my secret “I do” page on Pinterest, all of it. I deleted a wide selection of cakes, entrées, decorations, dresses, rings, cocktails, song lists, and everything else I once thought would be essential for my big day. Every single pin was gone in the click of one button. Why? … More I DO not
authenticity has become a rarity because no one other than the offended knows how to effectively express opinions without being attacked and demoralized. … More No Offense, But Stop Being Offended
I gained the official title of “Aunt Alycia” when Brooklynn Rae Danielle Howard was born on December 10, 2004, just nine days before my tenth birthday. Let me tell you, I wore the title proud. The age difference between my niece and I allowed me to be the “cool aunt.” You know that aunt, the … More The Importance of a Mini-me
I spent the third of July taking an architectural tour down the Chicago River. It was full of beautiful sights and among these sights was a huge America flag draped down one of the buildings. It hung there proudly declaring Chicago’s love for America, but in that moment I couldn’t help but notice a huge … More My America
“You reach a state of hopelessness prematurely.” I stared across the over-friendly room, decorated with like, cats and stuff, and I looked her straight in her chin. She adjusted he head a little to meet my eyes, but I overcompensated in nervous rebellion and looked at her forehead instead. She gave up and continued. “It … More Repairable
I’m a worrier, like a lose hours of sleep kind of worrier. Everything just seems a little more life or death than it actually is at two in the morning. But that’s just me. I worry. I’m at a time in my life where I, and those around me, care so much about things that, … More Who Cares?
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