Editors’ Picks: Top Articles in Modern Women for February
The pieces that stood out from an incredible month of Modern Women publishing
When we hear the word “love,” a lot of things come to mind. We may think of family, friends, neighbors, or even a movie we are passionate about. But whatever comes to mind, the fact remains that it is as much a loaded word as it is a powerful feeling.
This month, we asked writers to share their perspectives on the theme, “Aspects of Love,” and as usual, they delivered in full force.
Between stories of break-ups and the importance of setting boundaries, to the feeling of love not meeting our expectations, our writers shared personal insights into their hearts and minds.
It has been an honor to read these incredibly personal — yet extremely relatable — stories and engage with the community that wrote them.
While we cannot showcase every writer, we appreciate every submission and story shared.
In honor of that, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate some of the stories that captivated our hearts and minds. Without further ado, here are a few of our favorites from the month of February, hand-picked by your friendly editors at Modern Women.
Brenda Covarrubias’ Top Pick for February is… “If You Don’t Love Yourself, Maybe the Answer is to Become Someone Else,” by Meaghan Ward.
There is a pervasive notion within society that our lives should be what we want them to be, our partners should act in a way that is comforting to us, and if something isn’t working for us, we should let it go. But what if the problem isn’t with other people? What if the problem lies within?
In her compelling essay, Meaghan Ward describes the discomfort that comes in realizing that we need to change, and then implementing that change to live healthier lives. It is a must-read for anyone who has been thinking, “Why isn’t anything going my way?”
Mariana Carvalho’s Top Pick for February is… “How Somatic Yoga Changed My Life,” by Beth J. As someone who loves yoga and any type of exercise that heals the body AND the soul, I resonated deeply with Beth J’s article. In her story, she described how somatic yoga has impacted her body and her eating habits. It is an inspiring story for anyone who is looking for ways to become more body-conscious and wants to nurture healthier habits.
Nicole Dake’s Top Pick for February is… “The Privilege of Turning a Blind Eye,” by Sandra Plourde. This article talks about all the horrible things happening in the world right now that so many of us just tune out. We move on with our own lives without seeing the plight of others, much less showing compassion for them. However, we all need to come together and change. This idea is something that Sandra captures beautifully in her piece.
Alexandria Roswick’s Top Pick for February is… “Fixing Women: A Deep Dive Into Reality TV’s Obsession With The Makeover,” by Bianca O'Neill. As a young millennial raised by trash tabloids and reality television, the topic appeals to my feelings of bittersweet nostalgia. I appreciate that Bianca directly confronts the reader’s idealistic enthusiasm for aesthetic transformation in a manner that is both jarring and effective. She poses highly crucial questions about the beauty industry and our contributions to the mean-spirited culture of the early 2000s.
Have we progressed beyond this moment in time or has the media become more creative with how they reinforce patriarchal standards and capitalist mindsets? If these questions intrigue you, give the article a read.
ADEOLA SHEEHY-ADEKALE’s Top Pick for February is… Okay, well I couldn’t pick just one. I tried, I really did but even outside of the amazing work I nominated for boost this month (you are killing it ladies), there were still so many pieces that I put into my special “favourites of the month folder” that I like to come back to.
With that said the first piece was hugely personal for me… Grace Delphia’s “I Long to Stand Naked Under This Full Moon.” The connection I have felt to the moon my whole life is something of a security blanket for me, while she changes, she is always there lighting the way. The weight of these multitude of roles of womanhood we all experience are sometimes too heavy, and on those nights, once I finally find my moment of quiet, I almost always look up and draw her down into me. Grace’s writing perfectly described the essence of that feeling for me.
The other piece I just had to include is “The Smell of Love,” by Frankie Pendles. It’s a short but perfectly evocative piece that I know we can all identify with. It will stay with me for a long time.
If you would like to write for Modern Women, please take the time to read our submission guidelines here…
And if you are itching to write but need some inspiration, you can find our monthly prompts at the top of our home page.
