There are days when getting out of bed takes grit. There are two kinds of people in the world: those who make their beds in the morning, and those who do not. If I ever become one of the latter, you’ll know I’ve given up. “What’s the point making my bed when I’m only going […]
Taking antidepressants is like removing a fog you never realized you lived beneath. I see myself and the world clearer; I am more myself on antidepressants, not less. Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the kitchen at work when the topic of wellness came up. It didn’t take long for the conversation to shift […]
As a fat person, the thought that I’m already taking up too much space and that it would be selfish to ask for more is always in the back of my mind. I’m in my water exercise class, and it feels amazing. I have enough room to fully extend, stretch, and flex. I’m swinging my […]
When someone is grieving, you need only say, “I’m sorry for your loss.” Don’t force a bereft person to parry your reactions, receive your advice, or sate your curiosity. Just sit quietly and listen. On my kitchen counter sits his cast-iron teapot. The delicate, stemless wineglasses he brought over take up space in the cabinet. […]
I can easily spend hours pulling. If I am able to stop myself during these moments, I am often overcome with obsessive urges that won’t go away until I pull out the hairs that I know are there. At the age of 7 I started compulsively pulling out my eyelashes and eyebrows. I distinctly remember […]
People talk about skin care like it’s fun – like it’s a hobby, a “me time” activity, a way to relax. But for me, the very idea opens onto a black hole of self-loathing. I was 17, sitting on the porch outside my favorite café with some friends, when a man walked up to us […]
From coming out as queer to coming out as a trans-woman, my mother, my family, my friends, and my employer have all been overwhelmingly supportive. This leads to a certain amount of guilt. I’ve been trying to write my coming out story for several months now. I probably have three or four Word documents with […]
As much as I’ve always valued your presence in the classroom, I don’t think I fully appreciated everything you do until I became an adult student myself. Dear adult students at universities, community colleges, vocational schools, and wherever else you are, This letter begins with a story. Night classes were always my favorite part of […]
