I spent my twenties training to be a pastor, while slowly losing my religion — He called me and said, “We’re holding your ordination.” That was the same call that made me leave church. I answered a call to preach in my very early twenties. “The call” is a compelling internal reach to respond to God to ministry, usually in a church, or a Christian…

When I was an organizer for Planned Parenthood, the biggest part of my job was signing up new supporters and driving them to take action. I did this in many ways, but my favorite was to plan an in-person rally. …

Black women do not need to follow a White supremacist standard to receive God’s love — “If I get pregnant again, I’m having an abortion!” My nineteen-year-old sister, who had just given birth, said this in jest to me when I was 11. We didn’t condemn abortion; rather, we talked about it as a matter-of-fact social good, kind of like getting your tonsils taken out. …

How I answered a call to preach in college, and abandoned it The pastor was anointing people one Sunday when I was eight years old. …

Last month, I threw out all of my things. And I’m much happier for it. I did it as a final step in moving on from a relationship where I had no voice, and I neglected my own needs. It started with a giant king-sized bed. My boyfriend at the…

I’ve been dating. Sort of. And what I learned is a lot of men (well, the like 4 I’ve dated) wants the most while doing the least. One Friday night, I decided to go out to a bar in DC to meet people. I had no intention of meeting a…

A breakup. The reason sounds so typical. I wish I started traveling for a more noble reason, to learn another language, or to meet new people, but it is what it is. First my ex-boyfriend started disappearing from my IG stories, then all his pictures were gone, then I just…

Travel is absolutely affordable. If you already have money. — “Traveling is not expensive! All you have to do it cut out lattes and you can make it happen!” (sigh) “Some of y’all buy Jordans, I buy plane tickets.” (EYE ROLL) “All it takes is a desire to travel!” I’ve heard all these quips for years and I find them…

I just bought this beautiful grey new couch from West Elm without measuring my apartment. Of course I didn’t, because I when I sat on it in the store I already imagined myself perched perkily on the couch in my newly emptied studio and nothing could erase that vision. It…