“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt your presence.”

Dear Old Me, I Miss The Way You Used To Be Genuinely Happy

My Hair Stylist Dropped A Truth Bomb On Me, And I’ve Never Been So Motivated To Change
“His words stung in the moment, but I swallowed hard and moved on. The truth is, deep down, I knew he was right.”

The ‘Perfect’ Family Is A Myth, And It’s Time We Realize It
“People could us see arguing with each other. People could see us gritting our teeth and communicating via dagger glares. And for a little while, right there in the middle of an amusement park, I almost cried. Where did I go wrong?”

Dear 18-Year-Old Me: Buckle Up, It’s Going To Be A Ride!
“I write to you on the day before your 40th birthday. There are so many things I want to tell you. Bring tissues, you are going to need them.”

‘You can’t compare your journey to Courtney next door. She didn’t have the same cards dealt to her as you did.’: Woman reminds us ‘we get one go around on this Earth, make it count’
“So what if you don’t decide until 24 what you want to be when you grow up? So what if you’re entering your second marriage before 30? Who cares if you never went to school and you’re a stay-at-home mom?! We get one go around on this Earth; make it count.”

We Need To End The Toxic Milestone Mentality— Here’s Why
“When you’re 35 and have never been married and don’t have kids, you have a lot to explain to society.”

‘He stabbed her with a pencil. The teacher said, ‘He just likes her!’: Mom fights for daughter being bullied for race, ‘You HAVE to be their advocate’
“’Is it okay for Black girls to be Elsa for Halloween?’ I said, ‘ANYONE can be Elsa! Even a boy!’ She cried, ‘They told me if I want to be Elsa, I should wash my dirty skin.’ I was FUMING.”

‘My Tinder date said, ‘Let me see what SHE wants to drink…’ I felt a huge, warm feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was the first time I was addressed with female pronouns.’: Woman comes out as trans with support from co-workers, friends
“I was born on January 25, 1995. The name on my birth certificate is recorded as Derek Sabado with the letter ‘M’ next to it. The year is 2021, and as I’m writing this, I have never felt more happy and proud of the woman I have become.”

‘You’re just a dramatic teenager.’ I was brushed off and swept aside. Then I swallowed a bottle of Advil.’: Woman overcomes eating disorder and anxiety, ‘I use my suffering to grow’
“I set a goal to get ‘skinny’ for graduation. I was starving myself, but if anyone mentioned it, I’d become outraged. In my eyes, I was ‘finally taking care of myself’ and anyone who thought differently was just trying to tear me down.”

‘It’s all in your head. Just get over it.’ I tried to end my own life and no one knew. I had lost everything, including myself.’: Woman overcomes mental illness, encourages others ‘never stop fighting’
“When I went off to college, I expected my life to get so much better. I had high hopes of finally feeling whole again. But I spent my time there battling severe suicidal ideations, and I stopped eating and sleeping almost completely. My whole family watched me throw away my dream.”