“Like all teenagers, I was convinced my parents had ruined my life.” Claire, adorer of sunrises and freshly baked bread, describes the way in which she took her upbringing for granted. … More A Loving People

“What I’ll always remember most about my third-grade classroom is the rocking chair.” Anna Sacchetti, a biologist by day and writer by night, describes the powerful magic of the storytelling seat. … More Rhyme and Reason

“We all need and deserve to be loved.” Juan Aretos, a lover of sharing moments and creating memories, strums his guitar as he contemplates the importance of a life filled with love. … More On Love, Music, and the Sky

“Something that angers me like nothing else is when people are disingenuous.” Miranda, lover of the so-called impossible, describes her frustration with insincerity. … More The So-Called Impossible

“My mother’s treatment of me in my childhood psychologically damaged me permanently.” Noah, a common person in uncommon circumstances, describes his childhood as one of struggle—both regarding home life and mental health. … More Hope Amidst the Unexpected

“I do not think humans have a cosmic purpose. This may sound harsh, but I sincerely hope that when we die, everything about us disappears.” Leah Porter, an analytical dreamer, believes that the humans who remain beyond our deaths can keep our memory alive. … More Finding Meaning in a Purposeless Life

“Vice is commerce.” Mike, a guy who’s just trying to do the right thing, explains that vice does one of two things: gives you a hit of dopamine or distracts you from reality. … More Something Real

“I don’t necessarily believe in a meaning of life but in moments that I remember what life is.” Rory Raymer, a hopeless romantic and lover of the arts, believes the only meaning to life is chaos and coincidence.
… More Chaos & Coincidence

“When I was around 12 or 13, my heart was broken by a stranger.” Ellen Jorgensen, writer and scientist, tells of a time when she was walking home, and a man whistled at her. … More Still Unraveling

“Should I make a cup of coffee, or should I kill myself?” Bold first lines of a blog and even bolder quote-of-choice from Claire Palmer, an 18-year-old aimless philosopher. … More All We Have