As one of nine children, I’m never short of a sister to call for advice or a brother to hang out with when I’m bored. There are several perks of having a lot of siblings, but the best part is just the sheer amount of affection and support that we have for each other. Despite … Continue reading Coping With Family Conflict
When was the last time you experienced a random act of kindness? Last week, I received a call from an old friend out of the blue and it was such a pleasant, unexpected surprise. We hadn't caught up in awhile and he just wanted to know how I was doing. It was a simple gesture to be sure, … Continue reading Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness
Where do you find your identity? In your looks? In your grades? In the groups you’re a part of? All too often, we define ourselves by external factors such as how we look or what we do. We form our opinion of ourselves based on others’ perceptions of who we are and end up basing our worth … Continue reading Building Authentic Self-Esteem
With its ability to inspire and enrich our lives, art provides an unparalleled respite from the constant distractions and troubles that we face and allows us to reconnect with our spirits in a profound way. It’s an incredible gift to be able to create art, but it’s not always easy to find the time or … Continue reading Sketches of Life: An Interview With Noel Badges Pugh
Remember what it was like to be a child, running around without a single care or concern? Though it wasn’t too long ago, it sometimes feels as if it were another lifetime altogether, doesn’t it? It’s hard to imagine that life could ever have been so pure and simple, so full of happiness and imagination. … Continue reading Finding Time for Play
The first time I posted a selfie on Instagram, I didn’t think twice about it. I looked good when I took it (or so I thought), and we all post photos of ourselves when we look good, right? After all, I can’t count the number of times I’ve scrolled through Instagram’s home feed and viewed nothing … Continue reading Resisting the Selfie Culture
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Most of us have heard this phrase countless times, but its message couldn’t be further from the truth. We know that words are, in fact, able to hurt us. What we speak to one another has the power either to do good … Continue reading The Power of Affirmation