Henry David Thoreau was one of the most famous lovers of nature. Many of his works highlight his appreciation for the beauty of nature and the ways that it shapes his life and teaches him how to live. Thoreau said, “I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield […]
Come and Behold: The Strength You Didn’t Know You Have
Growing up, I was fairly high-achieving and spent much of my time outside of class reading books and engaging in personal development throughout high school. Elected to various leadership roles and heavily involved in an international business organization called DECA, I was thrilled to receive coaching from top industry executives and global innovators. To me, […]
3:01pm: Finding Grace and Beauty in Loss
At 7:31 pm on August 6th, 2021, I received a text that changed my life. At 3:01 pm on August 7th, 2021, my father passed away in a hospital over eight hundred miles from home. The nineteen hours between separating the two miraculously shined light on my darkest moment. This is the true story of […]
The Freedom of Futility
I have often dreamt of an alarming scene: it is of a sailor lost on the stormy seas frantically trying to turn the great vessel against the waves to keep it from turning over. It is, as one might expect, a scene of terrible anxiety that does not easily leave my mind. This sort of […]
The Muddied Mirror
Bloody knuckles were common for him. Calloused hands and a tattered shirt shielded his skin from further damage, even as hats and sunscreen protected his already often burnt face. My grandfather was one of those stubborn types; the type who could be told to sit and would next stand simply to do something hard. He […]
From The Non-Conformists To The Comfortable
A debate of unexceptional proportions rages around the casual observer every waking minute. It is a clash of ideals, of reality, of love, of purpose, and of allegiance. The very clothes we wear upon our backs carry with them mangled stories of modern oppression, slavery, and mistreatment. The faces we gaze into while ordering food […]