How I Stop the Worry Cycle
It’d be nice not to get pissed when someone casually says, “Don’t worry about it.” What does that even mean? Isn’t worry supposed to help us think long and hard about solving problems? I’m starting to think it’s not. I’d love to eliminate worry from my mind. Wouldn’t you? When I worry, my brain starts […]
Learning to Manage Triggers
What happens when someone triggers you? I get really annoyed. It’s hard to believe that someone else can affect me so deeply. It bothers me because it feels like someone, other than myself, has control over how my day goes. Who is this person that isn’t me, yet they can make me react? It’s embarrassingly […]
A Walk into the Unknown
Today, I’m joining a Philly social group that invites people to take walks together. I’ll be going by myself, not knowing a single person in this new group or this new city. It might be a terrible idea—and I’m really glad I’m doing it anyway. Even if it turns out to be boring, lonely, or […]
Facing Life’s Tough Moments
Today’s going to be tough. How do I know? Every day has its own struggles. The weight of responsibility is real. Years ago, if you’d asked me if I struggled, I would have smiled and said, “Not at all.” That’s because I was ignoring everything I didn’t want to deal with. Bad relationships, taxes, even […]
How I’m Tackling Loneliness in a New City
I’ve been feeling lonely lately. That feeling can easily overwhelm me with discomfort and sadness, but since I’ve been learning to manage my emotions, I try to react with logic. I’ve come to understand that when everything is new, it means I have to try new things to adapt. Right now, I’m in a new, […]
How I Unleash by Yelling on Paper
It sounds easy but it took time and practice to write openly about the things I didn’t want to feel or acknowledge within myself. Anger, fear, or resentful thoughts felt like they needed to be ignored until they disappeared. I didn’t want to identify as someone who was unkind or angry. But that’s not how […]
Why I’ve Been Embarrassed to Be Myself
I’m a pretty excitable, emotional person. That used to be really embarrassing. I would make my reactions smaller or hide them altogether. Like when I see a friend I haven’t seen in a while, it fills me with joy. And even as I write the word “joy,” I can feel some people cringe like I […]
Coping with Boredom
How exciting is today? Not at all. And that bugs me. I can get pretty agitated when things are mundane. When I feel that way I get an urge to force a feeling, like I’m begging life for something—anything—other than this dull, slow moment. That’s when things get tricky. When I start wishing for anything […]
That’s What You Get
There are many beliefs about being a good person and living a virtuous life, and one popular idea is that when you do good for others, good things will come back to you—what some people believe is the essence of karma. But I don’t see it that way. I don’t think life rewards us with […]
I met The Nicest Strangers and Had Social Anxiety
Ever since the pandemic, my social behavior has shifted. Due to some health issues, I isolated for a couple of years. Although I kept in touch with friends and had a very social job, it was all digital. I had control over who I invited into my world with just a click, and with another […]
