The Magic of No
The Magic of No

Despite the fact that I am oddly aware of all of this, I love making plans. The idea of a full social calendar has always been appealing. I'm the quintessential "extroverted-introvert" who lives for the opportunity to be a party girl, yet craves serious alone time. By Monday, I have plans for a mid -week dinner and by then, Friday night plans are brewing. Meanwhile, all the while, I’m thinking, “Shit, I just want to do nothing in peace, yet have an ongoing conversation via text with my best friend.” All of this mental anguish is because I said “yes.”

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Health, Life, RelationshipsOlivia PannoFeaturedComment
On Human Connection in the Age of Technology
On Human Connection in the Age of Technology

Now, at nearly 24 years of age, I go to bed every night with the latest version iPhone in front of my face and happily let it greet me every morning. This tiny computer is my companion; I couldn’t imagine life without it. It serves as an escape when I need it to, and a distraction when I don’t. It has the power to remove me from reality and cut down drastically on actual physical connection. I, more often than not, chose to be in that simulated world at my fingertips instead of in the present moment.

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Life, RelationshipsHannah ReedFeaturedComment
On Becoming A Food Writer
On Becoming A Food Writer

There was a time about a two years ago when I found myself seated at a table surrounded by wine glasses filled with varying types of expensive wines, waiters fluttering to and from my table bringing course after course of exquisite food. And my primary emotion? Not delight, but disbelief. I felt like a fraud.

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CareerErika KweeFeaturedComment
The Mess I Like to Call Happiness
The Mess I Like to Call Happiness

My run was a quick relief from the busy day I had been having that Sunday. I had a rough draft due for an editor. I had to work on data for my internship. And the next day I was starting my new full-time job. I was exhausted. So I went inside and took a selfie to describe this mess of my life on Instagram. The mess I like to call happiness.

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Dreams, LifeRegan CunninghamComment
5 Life Lessons Theatre Taught Me
5 Life Lessons Theatre Taught Me

I was able to join the cast of two local theatre productions now as a post-grad. I eagerly slipped into my roles and savored my experience on the other side of the audience. Instead of hiding behind my mom as the characters signed autographs, I became the characters that the children lined up to meet. This magical transformation reminds me of how fortunate I am to have theatre at every stage in my life.

Along the way, theatre has taught me these 5 important life lessons.

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Dreams, LifeC. CarrollFeaturedComment
The Year of the Girl (and Quinoa)
The Year of the Girl (and Quinoa)

I didn’t make a New Year’s resolution for 2017. I was over setting myself up for failure, so in the spirit of self-love, I decided to challenge myself in more productive ways. I set short term goals, like not getting too drunk to remember the ball drop (failed) and not crying at midnight (allegedly failed). 

I did, however, develop a theme and set of rules for the new year. My mantra?  “2017 is the year of the GIRL.”

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Health, RelationshipsKaroline McKaigComment
When Writing Feels Like Group Therapy
When Writing Feels Like Group Therapy

Isn’t this a picture of the creative process? Isn’t this a picture of the way I am always tempted to write? Sitting down at my desk often feels a lot like sitting down in group therapy. I am being asked to share my heart, to tell my truth, so I begin to. I start putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) but then I make the mistake of looking around.

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Dreams, LifeChelsey SatterleeFeaturedComment
It's Okay That People Leave
It's Okay That People Leave

We listed a few names, talked about the few who we never spoke to anymore. The ones who were falling off the list from distance, from change. The rare loved ones whom we rarely get the chance to talk to, but when we see each other all is exactly the same.

“It’s weird how some people just leave, and you hardly even notice it.”

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RelationshipsAmanda BeadlescombFeaturedComment
It Doesn't Have to be Forever to be Good
It Doesn't Have to be Forever to be Good

Have you ever done that thing, where you see someone cute from across a room and before you’ve so much as exchanged names, you’ve pictured all the ways they’ll make you fall in love with them before they eventually break your heart, and then all of a sudden they’ve picked up their coffee and left the building before you even said hi? I am a master of that game.

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Health, LifeAshlee LatimerFeaturedComment
Obstacles Are Necessary
Obstacles Are Necessary

Following our dreams is extremely difficult and the journey rarely makes sense. Day in and day out, we pour every ounce of ourselves into this dream, doing our very best to make things happen. Just when we think we're (finally) getting somewhere, life throws us a curveball and we find ourselves back at square one.

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DreamsKristin KoonceFeaturedComment
When All You Can Do Is Just Be There
When All You Can Do Is Just Be There

I rub her back and take a deep breath in and out, motioning her to do the same--slow breath in, slow breath out. She sits, eyes closed, and I sit too, silent. We don’t share the same language, so what can I say to ease her anxiety? But I know her feelings of panic, the way you mind spins and everything seems out of control and it’s all you can do to just sit still and be. And all I can do, all I can offer her in this moment is to sit and just be there with her.

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Life, RelationshipsAlly WillisFeaturedComment