“I’m coming home!” Sam’s vision blurred as he went faster. “Don’t.” His sister’s voice was steady. “She’s okay for now. Her breathing has calmed, and as soon as she eats or drinks, I’ll let you know. Besides, with rush hour traffic, it’ll take you twice as long as it did me to drive here.” Sam ...

Sam choked as his heart sprang into his throat. On the next block, her hair thrown together like an abstract painting, a familiar figure waited at a bus stop. He shuddered, his legs weakened, and for a moment, he understood the plight of deer when a car barrels towards them. His sensibility devolved as he ...

If comparison is the thief of joy, then perfectionism is the killer of progress. Humans aren’t flawless; it’s not in their nature. Aiming for this condition is an impossible task that hinders your success and leads you to downfall. It becomes a trap when you believe nothing is sufficient. So why chase something you can’t ...

Sometimes you avoid accepting the bitter truths of life. However, there comes a day or moment when you remember a piece of advice or lesson someone had shared with you. At that moment, you realize it was true. Out of all the self-help books I’ve read, the advice I got from loved ones, and lessons ...

Not all hours in the day are equal—your focus and momentum rise and fall. However, if you find the sweet spot where your brain is at its best, you’ll do more in less time. It’s important to understand your energy cycles for optimum productivity. If you learn this, you can leverage one of the prominent ...

Over the past six years, I have studied Turkish. As time passed, I became busier and left it behind. I recently got back into it. Learning a language and maintaining it is difficult, but it’s rewarding and beneficial in many ways. With both personal and professional advantages, being fluent in languages other than your own ...

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a commonly quoted African proverb perpetuating the idea that it takes an entire community to create a safe environment. People quote it often as a call to action to be more involved with family, friends, and neighbors. Others lament their lack of village, feeling alone in ...

CW: Therapy, depression, Do you know the point in every romantic comedy when the main character hits rock bottom? They sit in sweatpants, wallowing in their sadness, eating junk food as they cry. For the past few years, I have been a few inches from rock bottom. I started counseling last year to develop better ...

Content Warning: Depression, hopelessness This year I’ve decided to focus on getting back to some version of my most independent self. I started physical therapy again. Plus, I scheduled an appointment to get evaluated for a new electric wheelchair. The bathroom is being renovated to make it more accessible. I’m also waiting for a call ...

This past year I failed a lot. I let those failures get to me, and I lost all of my confidence. My therapist said the last week of the year should be a time for goal setting. I have set goals in the past with the frame of mind that I cannot consider them a ...