When Life Gets You Down

Since I was a kid, I was sure of one absolute truth: Life SUCKS.

When Other People are Undeniably Better than You

Oftentimes, I will find myself doom-scrolling on Instagram; I follow many fellow readers and writers and students, and I can't help but notice how different I am. I like to read, but admittedly, I rarely do any actual reading; I like to write, but I don't write a lot, and what I do write doesn't sound like what I like to read. I enjoy learning, but I don't like to study and I don't do my assignments. Everyone else, they seem so ahead, so advanced. I always feel like I'm stuck way behind where I should be, where they are. I want to be where they are, but most of the time, I can't bring myself to get up and get there. It's an awful feeling: to know you can do something you want to do, while not having the energy or the drive to do it. I hate to be limited. I'm sure many others have felt this too.

I hope you have not. If you have, however, know this:

No matter where you are in life, whether you're doing better or worse than anyone else in any area of life, you are exactly where you're supposed to be, and you will only keep moving forward.

An Ode to Celibacy

I lay in your arms

we kiss and we laugh

your hands on my body

and mine on yours

but our clothes are still on

they stay on all night

for what we share is more intimate than the deepest touch

I lay in your arms

I think

This Is Home

Review: Poetry is Not a Luxury

Poetry is Not a Luxury, an anthology from Simon & Schuester and assembled by @poetryisnotaluxury on Instagram, is a lovely collection that lets you explore the different experience and emotions of a variety of poets throughout the changing of the seasons.

It starts in Spring, then Summer, Autumn, Winter, then Spring again, because spring always comes back. The flowers bloom, the sun comes out, and things just get a little bit brighter. But Winter comes, too, with its cold touch and bittersweet smells. It's more nostalgic, more touching, like a message from a friend you hadn't seen in a while, someone who maybe isn't so much of a friend anymore. 

Then there's the in-between: Summer and Fall; this time of year is one that you will remember when it is cold and dark, much like Winter. A time you can look back on when things are feeling like they are just too much for you to handle. It will bring you comfort and companionship in the form of written word, and you'll find that words hold compassion and kindness and love, so long as you find the right ones.

While reading Poetry is Not a Luxury, I felt myself being able to connect very deeply with many of the poems, feeling every breath and gust of wind they described. It was a great practice in empathy and learning to understand the minds of others. It is a lesson in love and friendship, and a reminder to live in the moment before it's gone.

Check out @poetryisnotaluxury on IG and find this anthology in stores on May 6, 2025. It is absolutely more than worth the read.

Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a long, bittersweet story about a rising high school student who struggles with feeling lonely, on a journey towards recovery from his past trauma and self-discovery.

Loneliness is something we all experience. The feeling is reflected with perfect precision as Charlie's relationships are explored and developed. While he tries to participate, it is clear he is not always quite present with the group, nor does he share very strong relationships with the full lot of them.

As someone who has felt a great deal of loneliness myself, I find it very easy to relate to him. I'm sure others have felt this way, too. The addition of Charlie's new letter in this edition was a lovely reminder that things do get better. Eventually, anyway.

This book will always hold a special place in my heart. One hundred percent worth the read.

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