Spandex & tight dresses are making me rethink the whole “gender” thing. — I was jammed in a tiny theatre seat for three hours to see Hamilton. My partner wanted to wear a suit so, naturally, I wore a festive little dress to match. In a way, I was thankful that my spandex and tights were keeping my bare ass from making direct…

How do you know when it’s time to commit? — For the first time in my adult life, I was grappling with the word “boyfriend.” “Boyfriends” were easy back in high school. I didn’t consider issues like “life direction” or “compatibility.” You’re cute, you make me laugh, and you’re willing to talk to me for more than 2 seconds without vomiting? You’re in. That changed when I left Wyoming and discovered Tinder.

The death of a parent, the love, and the loss — Dad’s funeral was beautiful in the way any tragedy is. Bright blue skies with the hazy silhouette of the mountains in the distance. The military chaplain, who spoke passionately about a man he’d never had the chance to meet. …

I’m so afraid of hurting someone. — I used to be a prolific online sharer. I’d share everything. My college grades. Pictures of my pets. Agonizing, highly detailed accounts of my experiences with depression. All of it. Writing online felt less private than a diary but more cathartic. I could get near-instant affirmation and support from an…

Reflections on sticking around, three years later. — It’s been three years. Back then, I was an overworked and overcommitted college student, balancing a full-time course load with a full-time job as a freelance writer. An agency I wrote for was telling their clients I was a “senior writer,” and said I had to present myself as such. The margin for error…

Every neurodivergent voice needs to be heard. — It’s official: I’m neurodivergent. I finally got the medical seal of approval when my therapist agreed to walk through the diagnostic screening for ADHD. I was not surprised when I got a perfect score for “inattentive type.” My diagnosis may be new, but I’ve known I wasn’t neurotypical for a…

Even if it feels too small to be trauma, it could be. — “Have you ever experienced any trauma?” I was meeting with a new psychiatrist for the first time when she dropped that question on me. I thought for a second. Well, I’ve never been raped or sexually assaulted. For some reason, that was the first thing that came to mind. I’ve also never been in war. I’ve…

We lied to a nonprofit, and boy, do we feel guilty. — We adopted a 7-year-old Phillipino boy named Steven. It was our eighth date (but who’s counting?) and we decided to wander around 16th Street Mall in Denver, which is just a few city blocks of shops and restaurants. On a few street corners, I spotted guys in vests who were almost certainly trying to sell us something. “Let’s…

Short answer: No. — “My childhood wounds haven’t impacted me at all because I don’t let them.” But they did. This woman was talking about how she was always left out as a kid. Everyone would get invited except for her. …