Healing isn’t linear — *It isn’t necessary to read the first part prior to this one, but if you’d like the whole story, the link is here. “Trauma is a psychic wound that hardens you psychologically and interferes with your ability to grow and develop. It pains you and now you’re acting out of…

I’ve been estranged from my dad for a long time but now all I feel is compassion. — It’s 1992. A double-decker bus rattles through central London. Standing in the open doorway, gripping a stanchion, is a handsome young man. His eyes are bright, his hair jet black, his smile wide and infectious. Suddenly, the bus takes a corner too fast. The man is jettisoned onto the road…

Abusing the herb ruined my life — Before I begin bashing Bob Marley’s favorite pastime, let me make my position clear: I am staunchly pro-legalization. More to the point, I am in favor of legalizing all drugs. Does this mean I think all drugs are safe? Or that we should start handing out Hunter.S.Thompson-style suitcases at bar…

I write for adults, thanks. — Every day, successful writers on Twitter bombard me with the same advice: “Simpler is better.” “Use plain, straightforward language.” “Don’t make it too challenging. ” Forgive me for rocking the boat, but that’s a load of crock. Let me clarify. My issue isn’t with people who write in this way…

The era of the codex is ending, but I’m still clinging on — I have a confession. This isn’t my preferred writing style. If I genuinely believed there was a viable alternative, I’d stop in a heartbeat. I’d forgo the conversational phrases, fatuous formatting, and dumbed-down diction. I’d refrain from mollycoddling you with the syntax of a children’s book. Oh yes, if I…

Success is possible, but you better be prepared to work to the bone — Do you ever see a fellow writer’s success and feel a little envious? Me too. There’s one in particular who really grinds my gears. Not only has he achieved amazing results in a relatively short time, but he’s also friendly, funny, and incredibly helpful. What’s worse, he has this platform…

And narrowly avoided getting beaten up — Yes, you’re reading that right. This isn’t clickbait. Let me explain. When I was 17, I landed my first real job working at Odeon Cinema. It was extremely lax — sick days and turning up late were common occurrences. What’s more, aside from the evening rushes, there was a lot…

And how I finally quit — There I am, stooping over my desk, eyes fixed on the computer screen — but I’m not really there. I’m playing online blackjack and I’m up over two thousand dollars. Within a few hours, I go on to not only lose these profits but my entire student loan. Then I…

Talent is nothing without community — What comes to mind when you hear the word genius? Perhaps it’s Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Picasso’s Guernica, or Einstein’s theory of relativity. Superhumans with greatness ingrained in their genes. Towering individuals blessed with God-given abilities. But what if I told you genius isn’t solely one person’s brilliance? Suppose what we…