The Necessities of Life

Congratulations! You're engaged!  Now is supposed to be the happiest time of your life. You get to marry the man or woman you love, plan a giant party (or a small one, if you prefer) with all your close friends and family, and wear the most beautiful gown. If any of these things make you anxious, you are not alone. Many brides feel overwhelmed during their "Engaged Era," and many don't get the support they need when feeling this way.  While this is an exhilarating time, your nerves and anxieties are valid. The second you get that ring on your finger, your personal life and boundaries go right out the door, and everyone wants to know every detail, even some that you haven't even planned out or thought about yet! When is the date? Where did you get your dress? What does it look like? But here's the thing: no one asks how you are doing.  Here is my hot take: society has made weddings so impractical and unreasonable that any bride-to-be feels overwhelmed. Everythi...

 I was 17, on a flight to the Bahamas for a family vacation, when I first listened to the Wicked Broadway soundtrack. Staring out the window at the endless clouds, I felt like I was soaring right alongside Elphaba as she defied gravity. That music stayed with me, becoming a soundtrack to a summer I’ll never forget. Years later, sitting in the audience at Playhouse Square, I watched the story come to life on stage, and it changed me “for good.” So, when the movie finally came out, I walked into the theater with high hopes—and let me tell you, I was utterly blown away. Wicked: Part 1 was released in November 2024, directed by Jon M. Chu, starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. It’s a fantasy musical adaptation of the Broadway hit and novel by Gregory Maguire. It starts with celebrating the Wicked Witch of the West’s downfall after melting and perishing to her doom. Although all seems fine and celebratory in the Land of Oz, we later learn that the Wicked Witch, ...

 In a world where things are often dark and negativity creeps around every corner, there is always a rift in the clouds for the sun to appear. Today, we are experiencing more cloudy days than sunny. People no longer respect boundaries or treat others with respect because they do not see eye to eye with other individuals. This is creating a rift in our world.  When did people stop caring about treating others the way we want to be treated? When did people think that it is okay to put others down because they are different from us? When was this ever okay to accept in our society? The answer is never. We, as humans, act upon how we observe others. When we see other individuals we love tearing someone else down, we do the same. The pattern continues until later down the line someone wakes up and stops it, breaking the cycle and starting a new pattern from scratch. We all have different religious affiliations and beliefs, but when did any of that mean disrespecting your neighbor?...

Things in life change in the glimpse of the eyes that once saw who I was through the reflection of time as a wrinkle formed above my brow. I am growing much older from the days before, and I cannot help but wonder which way I need to go to get out of here.  Time is both an essence and an enemy. It gives us the courage to walk away from the past that may have hurt us, but it gives us room to grow and become someone new that we've never known before. Time is both a blessing and a curse, but time ultimately saves us in the end.  I see little girls walking these streets comparing themselves to the girls behind the screens on their phones. They don't know any better and may never understand that the things they see aren't real. They're fake. Everything you see now is fake, and it's ultimately becoming a gratifying, glorious contender of what this world will become if we don't step up and stop this madness.  Everything I see now reflects the past of a girl who was try...

 Graduation is slowly approaching, and I am sure you are excited and impatient to get out of here. Trust me, I get it. I was in your shoes six years ago and felt the same way you probably are feeling right now. But you're almost done, so keep pushing toward the finish line because you still have a few more weeks. Although this may sound super cliche, enjoy these last moments. After a few weeks, these halls will only be a memory.  Although high school has been a significantly different experience for everyone, the one thing you all have in common is that you finished and made it through. It might not have been a great experience for you, but indeed there has to be something you look back on from these past four years and smile about. Or maybe these past four years have been nothing but a living hell you suffered. The point is, this is now your time to celebrate. You made it through. No matter how difficult that path may have been, you now get to leave. You got through this chal...

Putting your mental health first is hard when others rely so much on you. You think to yourself,  My job is meaningful, and I have an essential role in ensuring things run smoothly. I am a singular puzzle piece that holds the rest together. With me, the entire image is complete. They need me.  Although this statement is true to some degree, there are other lessons life is trying to teach us.   Life is not about pretty puzzles. The image we are all trying to complete is constantly changing, and there are no directions for achieving it. The process is not linear; it's messy and chaotic because only some pieces will fit together immediately. Everything continually adjusts itself in the end. Removing yourself from the puzzle allows for new images to be completed. So no matter how often you have to remove yourself, there will always be a place you will complete.  The next time you think about taking a step back or removing yourself from a difficult situation, remind ...