Collective Awe

Last week felt like a whirlwind of beginnings. The week started with the unofficial start of winter with the first snowfall in Chicago and ended with what felt like the beginning of spring. Sandwiched in between was the return of the Northern Lights, which always feels like some sort of cosmic reset. Forcing us allContinue reading “Collective Awe”

Practical Protest

There is a lot going on in the world right now. Calling it overwhelming seems like a gross understatement. It is heartbreaking and can leave even the most aggressively optimistic feeling hopeless. I don’t have any answers for solving the world’s many problems, but I do know that protest is essential to surviving moments likeContinue reading “Practical Protest”

Summer Daze

Taking a break from *gestures vaguely at everything* to acknowledge that summer has, in fact, arrived. To all the people who have been wishing for warmer weather since last autumn, you did it! Congratulations! Now, please stop. The current state of everything is hard enough without also having to navigate the literal gates of hell.Continue reading “Summer Daze”

Diversions from Dread

With all that’s going on in the world right now, it’s easy to forget that creativity and art are more than a diversion from existential dread. They are an act of protest. That’s both good news and bad news. It’s bad because it highlights the true intentions behind defunding the arts, but it also meansContinue reading “Diversions from Dread”

Handful of Helpers

This past weekend, International Women’s Day was celebrated around the globe. It may have been removed from many a tech company’s calendar, but it happened nonetheless. It happened with marches. It happened with protests. It happened with community. There’s a lot to say about what’s going on with women’s rights and (gestures vaguely) everything else,Continue reading “Handful of Helpers”

Planner Potential

One of my rituals for a new year is starting a new planner. I generally pick a weekly planner that matches, what I hope the vibe will be for that year. This year, I took a different approach. I went with a straightforward, no-frills 2025 planner. It has the year and nothing else on itsContinue reading “Planner Potential”

Fa-La-La Feelings

We’ve made it to the epicenter of this year’s holiday season, Christmas and Hanukkah week. Whichever and whatever you’re celebrating, I wish you happy and healthy festivities. This time of year can be all the things. Anywhere from festive to frustrating and hopeful to ho-hum. This is your reminder, for anyone that may need it,Continue reading “Fa-La-La Feelings”

Pivoting Progress

Like many, I’ve spent the past few weeks processing the results of the U.S. election and wondering what kind of sadist thought it was a good idea to put Thanksgiving just a few short weeks after Election Day. With only a few hours to go before Turkey Day, I have to say I’m feeling surprisinglyContinue reading “Pivoting Progress”

Colorful Chaos

We’re just over two weeks out from the U.S. presidential election. We’ve nearly made it after endless campaigns, a few debates, and a couple of plot twists. At this stage, even the most dedicated political junkie has all but reached their limit. Your average semi-engaged voter has just completely checked out, either because they knowContinue reading “Colorful Chaos”

Awkward Angles

I recently upgraded to a new camera on a different operating system. For those who haven’t done this before, it’s akin to relearning to walk. Okay, that may be a tad dramatic, but basically, it’s been an exercise in humility, one that didn’t quite hit until after a few weeks on the struggle bus. IContinue reading “Awkward Angles”