My coping method was social media. I was looking at my Instagram posts and stories from three years ago today, and I remembered two things — I had done a photo of the day challenge to try to document the early days of COVID, and I was posting A LOT…

I traded my blades for wheels in that first COVID spring (and summer) Roller skating became “hot” again in the early 2020s. Seeking a hobby that didn’t involve crying, baking, or Netflix-binging (we did all three in the first month of the pandemic) people were understandably looking for a pastime…

I found one that works for me… “Just do it” was my favorite saying when I was a pre-teen. So much so that I got a bright orange t-shirt with the Nike slogan emblazoned across the front. Now, I realize that it’s more than just a slogan. It’s a really…

I knew things were bad when Disney World announced they were closing indefinitely…. On March 11, 2020, I was at the Magic Kingdom, where even Disney’s magic couldn’t lighten the slightly anxious vibe in the air. COVID had just been declared a pandemic a few hours earlier, and as I…

It's fun but also requires adjusting your expectations… I'm 32 years old and I’ve been figure skating for a quarter of a century. So many of my friends have asked me what it's "really like" to be an adult figure skater, and I have struggled to formulate all the experiences…

Here’s why. — Several months ago, I went hiking. It wasn’t just a usual meander through the woods like I do on my own time, but a legitimate “climb-a-mountain-and-take-pictures-at-the-top” hike. I had a friend in town who was a hiking enthusiast and has, in the past, been the type of person who strives…

How to identify and manage it I just realized yesterday that I’m burned out. And it handily explains the symptoms I’ve been having for the last several months, at least. I was talking to my doctor and she listened to my complaints patiently. I was sleeping a lot, I was…

Seriously, no one cares if you get to inbox O Today I decided it was time to prune my email box. I had let emails pile up for days. Not important ones that needed answering, of course. I force myself to answer those emails as quickly as possible, or they…