Your answer is not as big as you think. — I asked my students this question today.: What’s one of your happiest memories and why? They’re learning how to write with details, imagery, and sensory language. Their answers were so much simpler than I thought they would be. One student talked about a night he and his brother couldn’t sleep…

In the beginning: something is better than nothing. — I used to write an article a day back when I started in Medium. 1,000 words. Editing. Publishing. It took me hours, but I loved it. About two years later, I made like a lightbulb that’s reached the end of its lifespan and burnt out. …

“At the end of the day, those were his choices. Not mine.” — “At the end of the day, those were his choices. Not mine.” This sentence, said by my superior at work, is sticking to me today like a piece of spaghetti on the wall. Have you ever looked at someone — most likely a parent, sibling, or very close friend —…

Let your mountains be mountains — but only for a while. — If I put it very simply, there are only three steps I have to take to move to Italy. Somehow, last night, it felt like staring at three mountains that would take me weeks to climb. Today, those mountains still look big but I feel like I could actually climb…

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. — I know what my goal is. Move to Italy It’s the same goal I’ve had for a year and a half. To jump on a plane and then fly into my girlfriend’s arms as soon as I see her at the airport. Why the universe decided to flick us onto…

I watched you get into his car from the door, the ghost of your hand in mine. — I was holding your hand so softly. As if I’d been given the chance to touch an angel. It was a disbelieving, hesitant touch. Hesitant not only because your boyfriend was in the kitchen downing beers with his friends, but because I knew my heart was opening up to you…

How to actually use vision boards and affirmations. — (This is a sponsored article. Promotional/affiliate links below.) The eyes staring back at me were full-of-shock wide, and I laughed a little awkwardly. “That’s a lot,” my sister told me. I’d just finished telling her about my worries for the next five years. No joke: I’d outlined how I envisioned…

Why does everyone want to be famous? — I’ve always wanted to be extraordinary. In high school, I was in a singing all-girl group with my sister and some friends, and we dreamt of performing on stage in front of thousands of people. When I graduated, I started a blog and imagined what it’d be like to be…

Unpopular opinion: I’m happy at my minimum wage job — I lived my dream life for a long time. I was working from home and earning money doing what I loved. But no one ever talks about what happens when you suddenly don’t know if you love that thing anymore. I spent five years enjoying my work, loving the process…