Handling Conflict: Some Tips for the Conflict-Averse

I am naturally conflict-averse. I always have been, and I still am. But over the years I’ve learned how to better manage my sensitivity to tension, how to better communicate with those I disagree with, and how to stay true to myself while still being considerate of others. I’m still a work in progress, but […]

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Expat Life in South Korea: Living as an Outsider

Today a white woman got on the bus, and I was struck by her confidence. As is typical on a bus in South Korea, she was the only fully white person on board, but she just calmly smacked her gum and found a seat. My first thought was, “This is the allure of a woman in […]

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Why We Need Sadness

I cried a fountain while watching Inside Out. The movie is a surprisingly profound look at loss and the ways loss changes us…

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Loving Past Irreconcilable Differences

There have been moments in my life when someone I am supposed to love has hurt me to the point that I just can’t take it anymore. I don’t even know what the loving way to handle the situation is. Love seems impossible. They have been some of the most gut-wrenching moments in my life. Because to me, love is the ultimate goal. So if I can’t love, I must be a failure.

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The Difficulty of Saying Proper Goodbyes

It takes real maturity to say proper goodbyes. That’s what I’ve decided. Anyone can just run away. You make a decision in your mind that you’re moving on to the next stage, next place, next community, job, relationship, or whatever. And then you just do. No looking back. But having proper closure is healthier. And […]

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