It is believed that one in every four women will experience domestic violence. These are tragic statistics, but I hope and believe one day those numbers will change for the better. This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so let's take this time to delve into the issue. You or someone you know may experience [...]
Many of us can relate to and look back on situations in which we did not feel as though we were not confident enough to take on a task or overcome a struggle. I know I have, anyway. Our confidence levels may be low at times, and this can get in the way of everyday [...]
The outdoors has served as an important and unexpected backdrop for my life. For the past eight years or so, I have found it necessary for my body and mind to spend some time outdoors, exploring the natural wonders around me. In some cases, these journeys have taken me far from my home. But others [...]
The weekend of Halloween is a weekend anybody of any age looks forward too. It’s a weekend filled of candy, all things pumpkin related, friends, scary movies and costumes. Here’s a list of some of the hallmark (must do) things during Halloween week and throughout the weekend: Pumpkin Picking/Carving: This is a great way to [...]
To many people, failing at something is the worst possible thing that can happen to them. They often associate failure with disappointment and the thought of letting people down scares them. Generally, we assume that people who haven’t had a lot of experiences with success are likely to be afraid of failure the most, but [...]
“Ha, that’s so retarded.” I froze. My mouth opened to say something – anything – but I simply stared at the person who had just uttered the insult I hated so much. My mom’s friend, at least thirty years my elder, didn’t miss a beat, clearly not realizing that his word choice had made me [...]
Have you ever been stereotyped? Yes, I imagine you have… Now a tougher question: have you ever stereotyped a stranger? We hate to admit it, but most of us (if not all of us) have. Being judged hurts and judging others hurts ourselves. Stereotyping isn’t always a bad thing, but quite often we stereotype someone, [...]
Have you ever had a moment that is embedded into your memory? When I was home for Thanksgiving my first year of college, my cousins and I were around the table talking. One cousin started saying "X cousin is the smart one, Liz is the pretty one, and X cousin is the athletic one." This [...]
Job hunting: two soul-crushing words. For those who quickly get a job, it’s a boring but relatively painless experience. For those that don’t, the feeling of dread at turning on your laptop steadily increases. Day in, day out, you customize your résumé, create cover letters, fill in application forms, and wait for responses. The cynicism [...]
