I never really thought I would get married. I was too independent to be tied down by any man. However, despite my stubborn insistence to stay single, in my early thirties I found myself falling deeply in love with a wonderful man who (lucky for me) returned my affections. We quickly moved in together, and…

I was probably 15 when I first heard the saying “time is money,” and not much older when “multitasking” entered my vocabulary. “If you want to succeed in life, you must learn skills and become independent,” I was always told. From an early age, my parents encouraged me to keep busy: if not at school,…

I bought a $13 enamel keychain when I lived off of tips and came home smelling like eggs and toilet cleaner. A time when each frivolous iced latte sank like a stone in my gut. “KEYS TO MY DREAM HOME,” the keychain says, full of coy confidence. I was living at my parents’ house when…

How I’m intentionally navigating life post-healing, including being purposeful in planning and no longer subscribing to performative-based lifestyles. I’m a planner. I love using my glitter pens and writing in my floral planner. Detailing the things I have placed on a daily to-do list-while also using an alarming amount of sticky notes-brings me joy the…

You will see the stars only on the dimmest of the nights, when the lights are turned off, and you’re far away from the crowds. Maybe that’s what I want to become too. Not someone who needs to be seen by everyone. Not someone who constantly explains where they are, what they’re doing, or what…

When sibling rivalry comes up in conversation, I can’t help but raise an eyebrow because I’m completely in the dark about what it actually means. Sibling squabbles? Absolutely not! Why on earth would I compete with my sister? She’s the shining star in this sister-sister duo, deserving every ounce of praise I heap on her.…

Looking back now, I realize that trucking gave me much more than a career. It gave me confidence, independence, unforgettable memories, and thousands of miles shared with two little Yorkshire Terriers who filled every day with laughter, companionship, and unconditional love.  If someone asked me today whether I would choose that life again, my answer…

I never was well-suited for civilization. I get overwhelmed by too many buildings, busy traffic, and swarms of people; I struggle with social expectations; I don’t follow time constraints well. I’d rather be left alone in the woods, or on a mountain top, or even in a desolate desert. After a difficult childhood and adolescence…

Hair is something that is deeply personal to so many people. For some women, our hair is the measure by which society judges our beauty, determining if our stock is valuable or not based on how many inches our hair can grow. Being a woman of color, hair is tied to many deep-rooted societal issues…

I didn’t get tattooed to be beautiful. I got tattooed to be untouchable. There’s a difference. Beauty is an invitation. Untouchable is a boundary. And after nearly two decades of marriage that felt more like captivity, I was done being anyone’s open door. I decided—somewhere between survival and that night he nearly erased me—that if…