Mastering the Mastermind

Living Thanks

It’s the tried and true tradition of the somewhat stable American family; on the fourth Thursday of November, we gather around the table and take turns sharing what we are thankful for. "Family." "Faith." "Food." (This one from the sibling who thinks he’s funny.) This Thanksgiving reminded me of many Thanksgiving Days before it, butContinue reading "Living Thanks"

Waking up on my 26th birthday

I woke up and realized How precious my life is; Precious in that it is full of love And precious in that it is fleeting. I want this to be my first thought Every time I wake up, But I tend to lie there Under a blanket of negativity instead. I think of the friendshipsContinue reading "Waking up on my 26th birthday "

In Memory of Normandy

I recently rediscovered my email updates from my teaching job in France: four updates, written in letter form, that I shared with my loved ones over the course of the school year in Normandy. It's been three years since I lived in France during an intense season for the country that affected even the small,Continue reading "In Memory of Normandy"

My Wedding in My Words

Moments and details from our wedding I want to remember always: Spending the whole wedding day at the church where we met, a place so significant to both mine and Eric’s stories, now even more significant to OUR story. My mom's and sister's watercolor art on the invitations. The intimate rehearsal dinner hosted by Eric’sContinue reading "My Wedding in My Words"

The Good in Goodbyes

I found my seat on the bus back to Cairo and started to cry. Our short-term team had spent the week working with an organization in Egypt, and we had just said heartfelt goodbyes to the local team as we prepared to travel back to the States. I was a little confused at my immediate,Continue reading "The Good in Goodbyes"

The Language of Reality

I didn’t know that was the last time I would pour a latte, at least in that shop with its peeling walls and aesthetic stairway - a place so pretty from the other side of the bar. I didn’t know that when I signed that contract, I was signing away a passion that was newlyContinue reading "The Language of Reality"

A Reason to Celebrate

Our dating anniversary is June 26th, and on the 26th of every month, we have celebrated, even after passing the one- and two- year anniversary milestones. Some months, he buys me flowers for our "monthiversary"; sometimes he’ll take me to dinner. I remember on one such dinner date, our server asked the special occasion, andContinue reading "A Reason to Celebrate"

Writer’s Block

I lived out one of my dearest dreams when I moved to France for the school year, an experience I will forever cherish. But I also lived in a constant state of anxiety, health issues, and intense loneliness. Every morning when I woke up alone in my cold apartment, my muscles would tighten and myContinue reading "Writer’s Block"

I think I can

“I can’t make it tonight. I think I have the flu.” I can’t count how many times I’ve said or texted something similar to this - anything along the lines of “I can’t…” I wasn’t honest with other people. And I wasn’t honest with myself. Surely anxiety couldn’t be the reason I missed school fiveContinue reading "I think I can"

Fight or Flight

I hate flying. The plane lifts off the runway, and I clench the armrests of my seat (probably the middle seat in between two strangers – just my luck). I don’t relax again until the plane stops at the end of that faraway runway. Ironically, ever since I can remember, I’ve had an unaddressed dreamContinue reading "Fight or Flight"