essay
My Neighbors Can’t Believe I Left San Francisco for Philly. I Can’t Believe I Waited This Long
For the past six months, my phone has been blowing up. I’ve gotten at least a hundred text messages from friends and acquaintances who are […]
I Never Thought I’d Move Back in With My Parents. But Here We Are
It occurred to me one night at midnight that I never really knew exactly how many clocks my parents have. I know it was midnight […]
Paying Way Too Much Attention to My Plants Is a Welcome Distraction
Welcome to Ritual, Be Well Philly’s column of essays about the low-tech, inefficient things we do that pleasurably slow us down. From taking the long […]
I Call My Mom Twice a Week. Voluntarily.
Welcome to Ritual, Be Well Philly’s new column of essays about the low-tech, purposefully inefficient things we do that pleasurably slow us down. From taking […]
Why Washing My Dishes by Hand Is the Best Part of My Day
Welcome to Ritual, Be Well Philly’s new column of essays about the low-tech, purposefully inefficient things we do that pleasurably slow us down. From taking […]
It Took a Health Crisis for Me to Embrace My Stretch Marks
I think I was in college when I first noticed the white lines zigzagging across my ass. It was the middle of my senior year, […]
Running Down Philly’s Historical Streets Helped Me Fall in Love With the City
I am not a runner. Runs are reserved for the rare days when I don’t make it to the gym, for moments when I feel […]
Staying In Is The New Going Out
I’m impatiently tapping my chunky heels and digging in my bag for my credit card as I wait in line to pay for two bottles […]
Why My Open Office Feels … Walled Off
At work the other day, a Slack message from a co-worker popped up on my screen: “Do you happen to have a tampon?” I quickly […]
How I’m Learning (and Accepting) That It’s Okay to Skip a Gym Day
When I first picked up a regular workout routine, I reaped the physical and mental benefits of getting into shape. I reveled in the endorphins and […]
The Internet Is Killing Happiness. Can We Stop It?
So, I’ll admit it: I was looking at my phone the moment my two-year-old fell off a stump at our little Fairmount playground and bashed […]
Am I Too Old to Get a Tattoo?
I have never once in my life wanted to get a tattoo. This is surprising, as I’ve never been one to turn away any sort of accessory […]
Non-Buyer’s Remorse: All the Things We Didn’t Buy and Now Regret
Someone in the Philly area owns a blue and white ceramic elephant that looks just like this. It’s part of a pair of matching elephants, both […]
Sandy on Sandy
“Sandy is Really Blowing Hard.” This is just one of the headlines I’ve been receiving via email, text and Facebook today. And I guess it’s to […]
Gay Marriage: No Ducks About It
“If homosexuality spreads,” writes a teen to a local newspaper, “it can cause human evolution to come to a standstill. It could threaten the human […]