Lessons from Iran’s Long Lost Freedom
The Iranian-born writer, who now lives in the U.S., watched her home country devolve into a brutal theocracy, hoping it would return to some semblance of normal. That was 40 years ago. Could it happen here too?
First Person
COVID-19 Has Turned Teachers Into Frontline Workers
Our government is eager to get people back to work. And for a lot of families, that means putting economically disadvantaged kids living in pandemic hot zones in unsafe classrooms. Here’s one New Orleans teacher’s account of fighting to keep her students safe.
What Coronavirus Can Teach Us About Consent
As we navigate interactions with strangers and loved ones amidst a public health crisis, it's more important than ever to define and assert our boundaries.
I Wanted Joan Didion’s Heart to Be Messy
Many of us expect our women writers to lay their emotions bare. But as this excerpt from 'Slouching Toward Los Angeles' reveals, emotion does not define meaning for California's native daughter—and that can be a hard lesson.
I Used to Live in Paradise
Growing up in a Christian utopia of her parents' making, Lyz Lenz eventually realized the hubris of paradise is the idea that we can create it—and destroy it.
The Dignity of the Thrift Store
During the season of abundance, one writer reflects on the days when bargain-hunting was a necessity for survival—and finds solace in the simplicity.
I Lost My Beloved Dog. Can I Ever Love Again?
When the writer's dog died, she worried she’d never be able to open her heart again. But her new companion, struggling with her own separation anxiety, showed her the way.
Why I Discuss My Son’s Autism on Social Media
Sharing real stories about raising her son with disabilities helped this writer feel less alone in the hyper-curated online world. But, as she learned, truth on social media is all relative.
Living With An “Invisible” Disability
Even with ADA protections, people with "invisible" disabilities and diseases disclosing their health status to an employer can have grave consequences.
Early Menopause Gave Me a Dating Superpower
Single and in her early 40s, the author discovered newfound confidence in her romantic relationships once she embraced her truth: No biological timetable meant freedom.