Packing, Then and Now A friend recently asked for advice on packing for two weeks in northern Europe. Seems simple enough, right? Except... I’ve traveled so much that I have a Google file of packing lists — one for every possible travel scenario. Hotel overnight? Got it.Two months in Greece in the summer? Obviously.Two weeks... Continue Reading →
Sold a Beret and Learned Some Lessons
I sold a beret on Facebook Marketplace. I’d had it for a very long time and only wore it a few times. This particular brand sells new for anywhere between $60 and $95—wow! I picked $20 as a fair price, and a buyer reached out quickly. I told her to come by after 4:00. The... Continue Reading →
Let Me Explain
When I first started blogging, I had no idea what my focus would be. I read all the advice — endless lists of what I should do: find a niche, choose a category, define a purpose. Travel blog, wellness blog, creative blog — the suggestions blurred together. I didn’t know how that focus would find... Continue Reading →
A Note on the Risk Vs. Reward of Honesty
I have readers overseas. My cousin is one of them. She got a copy of My List, My Rules last year (tap the title to check it out), and this year while I was visiting, we chatted about it. She loved it—I’m glad. But she also asked a very interesting question that no one else... Continue Reading →
Look Up
I was leaving school. It had been a long day. There was a lot of cleanup and correcting to do in the art studio at this old school. The burden of my backpack reminded me I still had work to finish. I pushed open the door, having spent the entire day inside. A warm breeze... Continue Reading →
Coming Back Again and Again
I’ve lived a life full of pauses—gaps between experiences. Friends scattered across the world I wouldn’t see for years. Weeks away from home, then returning to my people. Long breaks from work—the nature of teaching means stepping away from the building, the students, the rhythm. And every time, I’d feel a bit nervous about the... Continue Reading →
Show and Tell A Social Media Struggle
I hate show and tell so much that I’ve even stalled making a post about it for fear of resolving it and then having to show and tell! How messed is that? I’ve realized I have a massive resistance to posting on social media—especially TikTok, but really, any reel. It’s got me wondering: why am... Continue Reading →
The International Student House: A Memory
Because a portion of my creative being is a multimedia artist I am constantly collecting bits of paper, images, and other two-dimensional curios. These scraps float to the top of drawers and boxes, fall out of books and bags. Sometimes I'm completely surprised when a small piece of the past ends up right in front... Continue Reading →
Happy Birthday Girl
**I wrote a letter to five-year-old me because I felt like I should. Here it is. Dearest little one, So, you made it to 56! I know. I know. That seems so old little one. But I promise you it's not! Keep up all the good habits. I have so much to tell you so... Continue Reading →
Open Letter to a Reader
I donated My List My Rules: The Year a Checklist Changed My Life and left a handwritten letter inside for the reader. I hope the novelty of a handwritten letter lands well. Here's what I wrote: Dearest Reader: Do you believe in destiny? Do you believe in magic? Maybe you believe in cozy Sundays and... Continue Reading →