There once was a little girl who loved the woods. When no one was looking, she’d escape to the trees, climb into a nook, and read a book for hours. When she was sad or scared, the rustle of the wind, the whisper of the river, and the tranquility of…

Like most people, I will forever recall the moment life as I knew it stopped due to COVID. On a Monday night, before the shutdown, I was out to dinner talking about my plans to go to Miami to perform with my salsa team, the trip to Bali I’d take…

According to the Urban Dictionary, a Dirtbagger is a person who casts off the restraints of a conventional life to pursue their passion. …

A flock of birds flew over me as I leaned back onto my kayak’s stern. The sun was beginning to set — the clouds backlit with yellow and pink light. I took a deep breath as the stillness of the pond relaxed my mind. A new friend, a woman from…

When I was in high school my favorite teacher said, “The ‘A’ student will end up working for the ‘D’ student someday.” I worked hard to get perfect grades and high SAT scores because I had been told since I was in kindergarten that it was the only way to…

Have you ever taken advice or followed a person you thought was a bigger expert than yourself, only to get burned? When I began my business, I had a vision of how I’d achieve my goals. I wanted to start small, just one event where people could come and try…

“Why can’t life just be easy?” I said to my mom. “I oftentimes feel like I keep coming up against the same wall, slamming into it, and then running further back so I can get a better chance to scale over the dang thing.” “Well at least you know the…

How Italy taught me the true meaning of living. — Flute music floated across Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy as I walked along the cobblestone streets, the smell of roasted garlic being cooked in the local restaurants permeating the night air. In my hands were two of my favorite things, a good book, and truffles from a small chocolatier…

We carry our phones everywhere. Drive down any city block, and you’ll encounter someone walking across the street who has forgotten to even look to see if a car is approaching as they stare at the phone their fingers tapping or swiping at a fast rate. Our social connections are…