struggled
I moved to Portland, Oregon, from the west edge of Denver for mostly practical reasons.My rent was lower, but I missed my friends and struggled to adjust to the wet weather. I realized I had to put in years of work to feel at home in the Pacific Northwest. In…
When I graduated from college, my friends moved away, so I had trouble adjusting to the real world.I adopted a cat, and she has been a source of comfort for me during my postgrad life.My cat has helped me feel less anxious and less lonely during this uncertain time.I have…
My parents never gave me a proper sex talk, so I vowed to do better for my kids.But my kids asked me more complicated questions about abortion and same-sex relationships.I struggled to answer them, but I took the time to step away and come back with better answers.What I remember…
When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I was shell-shocked.My routines were upended at the same time I became his caregiver.I reached out to family and other caregivers for support.People often remark on how healthy my husband is. At 82, Barry scampers up and down hills like a mountain goat…
Lindsay Roselle transformed her view on motherhood after an ayahuasca retreat in the Amazon.Before the retreat, she believed motherhood required suffering and sacrifice of her career.After the retreat, she continued microdosing and updated her work routine to include her kids more. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with…
When I got divorced, I realized I had to tell everyone, including my neighbor and dental hygienist.I eventually realized I didn’t need to spill all the details to everyone.Sometimes, I cry when telling people, but that’s OK because it has gotten easier. “You and your partner don’t walk the dog…
Mike Manalac is an account manager who struggled to balance his ambitious career with family life.He chose a work-life balance over salary but his goal of starting a family was still out of reach.Manalac relocated from the Bay Area to Chicago for lower living costs and finally started a family.…
