What You Might Not Understand About Veganism
Misunderstandings on the road to eating plants. I read an ad the other day that listed the ingredients in a product. It mentioned that the product was vegan. The product was soap. Soap? Who eats soap? This is just an example of some common misunderstandings surrounding veganism.
Read full storyMy Father Had to Die Before I Could Forgive Him
How a traumatized child learned to love again. 7 min read. Both of my parents were active alcoholics, barely functioning in their lives and careers. My mother also suffered from mental illness and the burden of trying to be the “responsible adult” with a defective set of tools.
Read full storyNot Your Grandma’s Racism
What a white person is learning about casual bigotry. · 4 min read. “Casual bigotry” is a state of mind wherein a person or group of people hold ideas that are so ingrained that they have become normalized and even subconscious. The entrenched, pervasive nature of these ideas means that they are rarely examined for accuracy.
Read full story‘First Lady’ Should Be Capitalized. Here’s Why.
It’s time to stop ridiculous sexist practices in writing. · 3 min read. You’ll never get an argument from any writing authority that ‘President of the United States’ — whether attached to a person’s name or not — should be capitalized. Just like Prime Minister, Senator, or any other title denoting leadership, the title is capitalized when referring to a specific person, even if their name isn’t used (e.g. “Hello, Mr. President.”)
Read full storyAchieving Your Goals When You Have ADHD
You can cope with a condition that sometimes scrambles your brain. 6 min read. Original photo by Morning Brew on Unsplash (altered by author) Sometimes, it seems like my brain is at war with itself. I’ve struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder (aka Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for much of my life. In another article, I talk about the effects of ADD on my daily life; here, I want to specifically look at what this condition means for me as a working writer--and how you can use my techniques to achieve your own goals.
Read full storyStop Giving Haters a Megaphone
Why we should practice active disengagement online. · 5 min read. Not long ago, a very well known conservative writer posted disparaging and cruel remarks about 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg. Twitter went crazy with the backlash against this man: members angrily retweeted his post and decried how horrible it was — not realizing that they were only increasing the spread of his vitriol via the millions of retweets and new views the piece received.
Read full storyDo We Really Want People to be Honest With Us?
Watch out: I just might tell you what I’m really thinking. · 5 min read. They say that honesty is the best policy. This is frequently true, but honesty can also be a weapon. I know this because I’ve used it myself.
Read full storyHow to Get Your Kid to Move Out (for fun and profit!)
Reclaim your basement! (A humor piece.) Photo by Oleg Magni from Pexels. Of course, you love your kids. But when college is finished and they're still living at home? It may be time to consider ways to get them to leave the nest. You aren't doing them any favors by letting them mooch off you indefinitely.
Read full storyGrowing Herbs: 5 Easy Plants for Diet Teas
These herbs make tasty teas to help you stick to your plan and slim down!. When it comes to growing herbs for tea, there are literally thousands of combinations you can make from the many herbs available. An easy way to make herbal teas is to boil desired herbs in water for several minutes, strain out the plant residue, and then use the steaming hot herb water to brew a basic cup of black, green, or red tea. It's possible to make teas solely from herbs, but the flavor is often weak unless you can boil a couple of large cups full of herbs for each cup of tea desired.
Read full story10 Simple Things to Say to Make Your Mom Happy
1. I'm moving out. Of course she loves you. But you're 28 years old now and it's time to become an adult. 2. I got a job. Any job. Really. This statement is only going to make her happy if it's followed by, "And I'm moving out now."
Read full storyNever Give Your Wife These 5 Things as Gifts
Steer clear of these unless you want to sleep on the sofa!. When it comes to gift-giving, choosing the perfect present for your wife may be the area most fraught with potential pitfalls. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is this: Anything that's for both of you should not count as a gift for her special occasion. For example, a cruise is an amazing vacation, but it's something you're both going to take and enjoy, so it shouldn't be something you give her for her birthday.
Read full story10 Wonderful Anniversary Gifts You Can Get at Walmart
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels. Walmart may have a reputation as a purveyor of low-cost, low-quality goods, but there are actually some great buys to be had at the nation's largest retailer. Here's are ten amazing gifts you can be proud to give anyone any time!
Read full storyGrowing Herbs: 5 Easy Plants for Making Self-care Products
These plants lend their essential oils to homemade beauty products.· 6 min read. Homemade skincare items are having a moment right now, brought on by concerns over some of the many chemical ingredients in most department store products and the continuation of quarantine restrictions.
Read full storyGrowing Herbs: 5 Easy Plants for Low-salt Diets
These herbs add much-needed flavor to low-salt recipes. · 5 min read. Photo by Luis Ruiz on Pexels. Whether your doctor has ordered a low-salt diet for you, or you’re trying to offset the salt we all consume in preserved foods, these five herbs are a great place to start when seeking salt substitutes.
Read full storyGrowing Herbs: 5 Easy Plants for Cooking
You’ll love the flavors of these culinary favorites. · 6 min read. Gardening, particularly growing edibles, intimidates a lot of beginner gardeners. While it’s true that some veggies are tricky to grow well (looking at you, cucumber), others will literally grow from an errant seed dropped into a sidewalk crack (hello, tomato.)
Read full storyThe Pursuit of Perfection is Good for You
Perfection is a Buzz Kill…but We Should Strive Towards it Anyway· 3 min read. Human beings aren’t perfect. Most of us know this; some of us loudly deny it. Regardless, healthy minds accept the fact that people are limited by a number of different factors. Buddhists believe that it is our immersion in the material world; Christians believe it is our innate sinfulness. Some psychologists believe it is our incurable narcissism, while others think it’s our childhood trauma.
Read full storyYour Craziest Jobs Can Help You
Why there’s no such thing as a “dead-end” job, and what we can take away from every experience.· 5 min read. Photo by July Brenda Gonzales Callapaza on Unsplash. Whenever I’m at a party or a networking group, or any place that people like to mingle, the talk nearly always turns to “What do you do?” Sometimes these stories are straightforward: “I’m a writer.” “Really? Have I ever read anything thing you’ve written?” As silly as this question is (how would I have any idea what you’ve read?), it is usually used as a substitute for the more direct but less friendly “Are you famous?” The answer is “no, I’m not.” Not yet.
Read full storyHow to Succeed at Work With ADHD
ADHD/ADD can be a real drag: forgetting where we put things, losing track of time, being easily distracted. All of these problems and more can make us want to throw up our hands and give up…or, if you’re like me, maybe pound your head on the wall until the endless clamor in the brain stops. No? Just me?
Read full storyAttention Deficit Disorder in Adults: What It Really Looks Like
I have severe ADD. I identify with ADD rather than ADHD, partly because I’m female and, as is common in females, the hyperactivity symptoms rarely manifest in me. My biggest problem is distractability.
Read full storyA Boomer Guide to Modern Slang
Is this a doggo? Is a doggo some weird kind of pseudo-doglike creature that has four legs but otherwise bears only a faint resemblance to man's best friend?. When did “doggo” become an appropriate substitute for “dog”? Was it the same time that people started referring to their pets as “fur babies”? Is doggo a play on words for “kiddo”? Have we all completely lost our minds?
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