A Levitical Reflection: Integrity

Leviticus is an easy book to let one’s eyes lose focus and start planning the rest of the day’s to-do list. But you don’t think I brought you here to stop there, did you?

The Journey of Self-Discipline

When I taught high school English (& PE, Communications, Personal Finance, & Spanish…), I had something called Life Skills. This was the usual Friday activity where I would accept any and all questions and give the best counsel I (with Google) could give. Those were some wonderful Fridays. I told my students that they could […]

As a Father

The inability to do anything presented a need for something I hate: asking for help.

Prove It

Every English class that I teach begins with a daily journal prompt on the screen. It is so predictable, in fact, that my beloved students will look to the screen as soon as they enter my room and panic with wide-eyed horror and confusion if a question does not await them. Are we having class? […]

Why a Relationship Won’t Fix Your Issues (But…Can)

A good friend of mine recently entered into a wonderful relationship. His random texted questions are punctuated with the same angst and is-this-okay-ness of the first few months of my relationship with the fiancé. Ah, the honeymoon phase, filled with bliss and confusion. I’ve already written about some of the lies that media tells us […]

Just Listen

During my nine months of intense character-refining with 10 others near University of Michigan, I was shown many things about myself. One is that I have a terrible habit of interrupting people.

Why Good-byes are the Worst (but Not)

I’ve always been a messy goodbye-sayer. Dormitories where I hung my hammock, trailer homes that shook with the morning stroll, a basement bedroom next to an overly active washing machine…sure, I’m a lover of places. But of course, the pain of leaving is evoked by my torn heart strings wound around those lovely people.

When It Doesn’t Feel Fair

I remember being less than half my age, driving with the family in my stepdad’s pristine car–and when I say pristine, I mean the full extent of that word. We were going somewhere to do something, the details are long forgotten. But not the moment we arrived at our destination. Somewhere near the backseat, under […]

Meaningful Relationships | How to Manage Darker Days

Maintaining meaningful relationships amidst anxiety is both extremely difficult and extremely necessary. It’s difficult because when anxious, we often push away those closest and whose care we need the most. It’s necessary because often the only people who can lift our spirits and talk us out of it are those closest to us. I’m running away from that which can help me.

How to Manage Darker Days

Many are reluctant to express a struggle for fear of being labeled. “I mean, yea I get super worried, my thoughts race, and I can’t function sometimes, but I don’t like, you know…have anxiety.”