How Fidget Spinners Give a Bad Name to the Fidget Toy Game

I love fidgets. I love fidget toys and I own an excessive collection I have picked up from Groupon, Amazon, and elsewhere. And you know what? I hate fidget spinners and everything they stand for.

Study time feat. my fidget cube

I got published on HuffPost!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5913324be4b0e070cad70ab8

Online Reputation Manager AKA Have you been publicly shamed?

I just finished reading/listening to So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. I highly recommend this book and all of his others. He is one of my favorite authors of all time, and while his books can range from dark to depressing, his insights on culture and social influence are well thought-out, beautifully written, and multi-faceted.



Towards the end of this book, Ronson discusses observing a business that made its mission to rebrand and reshape individuals and companies who had poor media reputation. Similar to a PR firm, but specifically through google search results.

Now, it's common knowledge employers probably google your name before hiring or interviews. Online dating, which has been emerging as less taboo and more widespread, utilizes good and extensive google searches before any relationships begin. Not only that, friends and new acquaintances usually get at least a bit of "Facebook stalking" to better understand who this person is and how they present themselves to the world.

My online presence may seem uplifting, inspiring, and nonchalant, but the reality is that my online persona differs from my typical, everyday self (as is the case with most people), and is curated to be an image I want to maintain.

A few things to unpack here, and yes, I'm sure you have questions. Hopefully I can answer them here.

Gluten Free-k

I have a confession: I used to be the gluten free girl. You know the one, who has no actual medical issues with gluten (and in my case, dairy as well), but constantly feels the need to point out their intolerance? Going to restaurants with me was embarrassing to say the least. Ask my sister.

Why did I do it? No, I was not purposely trying to be annoying (though, to be fair, I needed a new topic to complain about). From February - July of 2016, I declared myself to be gluten and dairy free. This diet is popular in the autism/asperger's community, but it is also used for ADD/ADHD (which I had been diagnosed with that past year).

Support me with moneys! (My Patreon page)

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=5979620&utm_campaign=launchshare2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

781780181a7b54f46a7300bef865be1524692e9d6f4f83bab8

I am not my complexities

2 years ago today I participated in a photo project called the What I Be Project. The project aimed to display the model's biggest insecurity literally written on them. I signed up for a photo slot when Steve Rosenfield, the photographer, came to Pomona College. I saw it as a huge success, and some of the participants even went on to speak out about their experiences and insecurities and created real change at our campuses.

Is emotional labor tax deductible?

As tax day approaches (although the end of the tax year already passed in December), I figured it would be timely to put in my two cents (pun intended) about the changing dynamic of charity and funding as it relates to the digital platform.

There has been a rise in the political left to start acknowledging the toll of unpaid emotional labor. Before you go all "liberal snowflake tears" on me, let's take a second and acknowledge the issue.

Energy Fairies and Energy Vampies

My vision board

Have you ever met someone who is undoubtably a positive person? Someone who is always smiling, and seems actually genuinely happy. Someone who is grateful, who ends conversations with inspiring thoughts and makes you feel full and happy and worthy.

I will call these type of people "energy fairies". They leave a little sparkle wherever they go. They sprinkle positive thoughts through every interaction. Even when the conversation is heavy, they make you feel loved, and supported, and cared for.

Maybe you know an energy fairy type. Maybe you know people who, in the right situations, definitely fit the criteria. Power to them-- we do not have enough of these positive people in America today.

Unfortunately, I can say with almost pure certainty that you know an energy vampire type.

The Secret

Good morning to you! Are you smiling at the sun on this beautiful morning?

Maybe you are like me, and you love the morning. You love the fresh scent of morning dew and the possibility that today might be the day when you figure out that million dollar idea. Or the day when you feel so inspired it carries you to success. Today is a new day, and it holds awesome potential.

Ima

A poem I wrote, hopefully will be compiled in a future collection:

Ima

When I was young, devouring 

books like sweet syrups and comparing

myself to the characters I read,

I wanted to find the power of a name.