Building Home

This past week, I went to Selma, Alabama for New Way’s Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training. It was absolutely amazing, and so transformative. We learned about the six principles of nonviolence used by Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights Movement, and I met some of the most incredibly genuine people in my entire life.

While so many things resonated with me over the course of the week, two things really stuck with me.

One of the volunteers in the middle of the week gave me a card. It read, “Home: family, shelter, dwelling place. I know you feel at home here, and it is not because of the place.” And that card could not be more accurate. I felt so completely at home in Selma, but I know it has nothing to do with the place itself. It was the feeling.

The second thing that resonated with me was in talking to a friend of mine in Selma, and she was talking about the “twentysomething” GroupMe that they all had. My ears perked up…I was like, “Hey! I have a blog about that!” But then she told me that they used to call themselves “The Twentysomethings,” but now they call themselves, “The Builders.” The builders of the next generation. The builders of a movement. And I absolutely love that. We are no longer youths, but we aren’t yet the elders. We are the next generation. We are the builders.

And naturally, I started thinking about how those two things are so correlated. So many of us are still looking for “home.” I know I am. And yet, we are still so young, which is so easy to forget, but we have the ability to build our future, to build our next step.

How are you building yours?

For me, I can think of three things.

1. Family
   • In home, there is family. And there are so many different types of ways to define this. I immediately think of my nuclear blood family, but over the past seven years since I graduated high school (ew omg I can’t believe it’s been that long)…I’ve come to understand family in a more expansive view. It is your blood family, but it’s also your friends, it’s the people that’ll stay up with you until 4am when you’re struggling through something, or those who will make you laugh so hard that you start to cry. That is family.
2. Community
   • I’ve learned something about myself over the past two years: if I’m not able to find a community around me, then I won’t be able to call that place home. Community is the night and weekend time. It’s the group outside of work. It’s the activities you are involved with. It’s fun, and it’s comforting, and it’s important.
3. Love
   • And perhaps the most important thing of all…love. Unconditional love. Home is where there is no question of the love that is shared. It’s giving, it’s taking, it’s 100% reciprocal. But I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that this also includes self-love. If I’m not okay with who I am, I’m not able to love others. And nothing will feel like home if inside, I don’t feel like myself. To feel home is to feel love for yourself, to love, and be loved.

So, how are you building your home?

A Caffeinated Observation

I saw it from the very first moment your hand touched his.

You, with your tight t-shirt, wrapped around your stocky barrel chest, dark jeans rolled at the ankle, casual and worn-in Sperrys.

Him, rushing in from work, presumably from some very important meeting. A tucked in shirt, plaid, one size too big, khakis that sagged around his waist, and shoes that were a little too polished.

I watched the two of you shake hands, firm, and watched just the smallest hint of disappointment flicker across your eyes.

You, with your grande black iced coffee. Same here.

Him, rudely interrupting your well-crafted sentence to run to the counter to retrieve his large nonfat latte in a ceramic mug and a fat ham and swiss wrap on wheat.

Watching him bite into his food as you sipped your iced coffee, dry of conversation yet full of instant online-dating regret.

Maybe he is really photogenic. Maybe his pictures only showed him wearing a hat so his bald spot didn’t show. Or maybe you aren’t as shallow as me, and were willing to look past all that, hoping for the best. You hopeless romantic you.

You, hopeless romantic.

Him, hopeless.

Me, knowing all too well the feeling.

 

Playing House, IRL.

Do you remember when you were a small child, playing House with your siblings or group of friends or maybe even your stuffed animals? It was my favorite game growing up. I had it all figured out – my little six year old self. I was married (to a woman), I had four kids, two dogs, was a famous chef, and my favorite color was blue. I was set.

But damn, how wrong I was about everything my future would be.

Being a twentysomething is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. And I know that sounds dramatic, but for all my other twentysomething friends out there, you know that’s the actual truth…right? A very wise professor told me earlier this week, as I was venting/complaining/crying in her office, that the twenties are the shit years. That’s it. The shit years, she said, just like that.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve had some really amazing experiences so far in my twenties. I really have discovered a deeper sense of myself, although, I’m coming to realize that that is an everlasting journey. And yet, at least in recent times, there is absolutely no stability in my life. At all. It could also be the fact that I’m graduating. But right now, I feel as if everything in my life is unstable, about to undergo a major transition. I’m graduating, aka losing my job (and have yet to find a new one). Not only that, but I have no idea what I want to do “when I grow up.” I’m trying to emotionally prepare myself for leaving so many amazing friends that I didn’t even realize I had in Buffalo until recently. It’s just…a lot. Everything is changing – relationships, friendships, jobs, location, school, my purpose, my path…and surprise! I have absolutely no control over any of it.

So, what do you do when you feel like your life is spiraling out of control?

1. Just breathe
   • I’m not kidding. This really helps. Take a deep breath for 4 counts, hold for 2, and then release the breath.  Now repeat. Repeat again. I’ve been doing this a lot lately, because to be honest, I’ve needed it. Taking deep breaths centers you, and brings you back to your core. Everything else might be up in the air, but I still have breath, and having that reminder brings me back.
2. Do what you need to do, so you can do what you want to do
   • You know what? I hate transcribing interviews. But if I want to graduate, I have to do it. And you want to know what else? The job search is incredibly stressful, but I need to apply to jobs so I can actually do something with my life after graduation. It sucks, and that’s okay, but some things, you just can’t avoid.
3. Take time for yourself today, so you can be your best self tomorrow 
   • AKA, instead of going out with friends, buy yourself $50 worth of wine on a Friday night, stay in, drink, clean your room, and sleep. Hypothetically speaking, of course. And I can’t take credit for this one. A good friend of mine gave me this little nugget of advice. In other words, do what you need to do to take care of yourself today, right now, when you need it, so that way, you can be your best self for others, later.
4. Trust the universe. 
   • This is my new favorite saying lately. I apologize, I feel like it’s been in the past twenty blog posts I’ve written, and I say it at least five times a day. But really, trust in the universe, and the universe will give back. Others choose to pray. I choose to trust in the universe. It’s the idea of karma. Send good vibes out, and good vibes will be returned.

And although it was much easier as a six year old playing House, it is (kind of) exciting to be actually living a real life now, no matter how stressful it may be.

 

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty

“Things have a way of falling into place every time I have moved toward the things in my heart.”

This past week, I’ve been emailing back and forth with a few Selma friends, and they have this incredible way of slipping in little life lessons like the one above that are so incredibly inspiring, but also, terrifying.

Last night, I had a Disney movie marathon. I watched Sleeping Beauty for the first time! But watching Disney movies as a twentysomething is so different than how I remember them as a child. “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” And as a 5-year-old, it sounds so beautiful and hopeful and poetic. As a 25-year-old, there’s a large part of me that wants to say, “Shut the eff up, Disney” because I think it’s unrealistic, unattainable, and complicated.

But, does it have to be that way? What if we lived life in such a way that was a dream, because our heart wished for it? Or if we all moved toward the things in our heart?

It had me thinking a lot this week – what happened between the 5-year-old Disney movie viewer and the 25-year-old? Why is my perspective on life so much different? What happened to make me believe that I can’t follow my heart? Or that “following your heart” is such a silly, childish thing?

I could rant and rave all day about society and how societal standards have been pushed down onto all of us. For example, I’ve always thought about getting my ears pierced, but never did because 1. It is seen as ‘unprofessional’ and 2. ‘Men don’t have their ears pierced.’ So last week, I said “eff this,” and walked down the street and got my ears pierced. Boom. Take that, society.

But really, I think a lot of us live in this kind of way. We’re alive, but do we thrive? What’s holding us back from living a life that is just 100% pure joy, following our hearts? Yeah, yeah, I know. Life is complicated. There are some realities that get in the way.

Like, for example, when my contract is up in July, I will have no source of income. I need a job for financial security. That is a reality. And as much as I would love to “follow my heart” and just sit in a coffee shop and write all day long, that’s not financially feasible…right?

Here’s my Sleeping Beauty theory on following your heart.

1. Ignorance is bliss. 
   • Before my trip to Selma, I was on track to head to NYC and work in higher education and live happily every after until the day I die. And then I went to Selma, where someone told me to follow my heart, and all of a sudden, my ignorance was ripped away, and I was no longer living this blissful, peaceful idea of what I thought my life should’ve been like. In other words, I woke up.
2. Exhaustion is real, and it ain’t pretty.
   • Okay, so I’ve awakened. I realize that there is a greater purpose in my life. But I have no effing idea how to get there, what to do, when, with who, etc. And I feel like all of these questions have an impending timeline. So when people ask me how I’m doing, it takes every ounce of self-control to stop myself from saying, “MY LIFE IS OUT OF CONTROL!!!!”
3. Watch out for nonbelievers.
   • Some folks don’t believe in true love. Some people think following your heart is silly. You could listen to them (and be pricked by a spinning wheel) or you could listen to your heart, follow what you believe to be true, and lead yourself.
4. Know your supports.
   • I wouldn’t even be thinking about this right now if I didn’t have people who loved and cared about me in my life. I am so incredibly grateful for literally everyone I met in Selma and went on that trip with, because they have been my direct source of inspiration in following my own heart.

The one question I have though, after all this, is what do you really want? Deep down, in your core, what is your heart telling you?

Why Everyone Should Shave Their Head

During the summer of 2011, I shaved my head. I was in the downstairs bathroom gripping the edges of the white porcelain sink and I had this absurd thought of shaving my head. And just like that, I grabbed my dad’s clippers from upstairs and did it in a few smooth motions. My sister saw me with my new self-haircut, and she cried. She was fourteen.

Here is a picture of me in a tree donning my beautiful lime green RA polo in a tree.

 

Earlier this week, I had a horrifying dream. I’ll give you the SparkNotes version. A friend of mine was super excited about something, and I was super curious. Then all of a sudden, she says, “We should shave your head!!” And of course, in this dream, I replied just as enthusiastically…”Yes! Of course we should!” Now, I thought it would be one of those situations where someone invites you out to coffee, but never actually intends to follow up…we’ve all been there, right? Well, to my surprise, my friend pulls out the clippers right on the spot and I start freaking the frick out. I’m crying – sobbing, really – and fighting against her as hard as I can to not have my head shaved.

The end result? I looked something like this:

As it turns out, according to a dream dictionary, having your hair cut is a sign of success in a new venture or sphere of activity. Could this possibly apply to my upcoming interview at NYU? Let’s hope so.

My interpretation was a little different. Having my head forcibly shaved in this dream meant that it is time for a significant life change – one that I am very consciously resistant to. I know that I am ready for a change, and that it’s time for something new. But as always, transition and change bring stress and challenging times. And while I’m trying my best to be positive, I can’t deny that I have been completely stressed and a tad overwhelmed these past few weeks. Back to my dream, it’s time to cut something loose. Out with the old, in with the new.

As Regina Spektor says in this song,  “Maybe you should cut your own hair / ’cause that would be so funny / it doesn’t cost any money / and it always grow back / hair grows even after you’re dead.”

So many people I know are going through times of transition and change, and let me tell you, it is HARD. I definitely don’t want to diminish the challenges that are associated with these times. But I have some tips to potentially help with the “shaving your head” metaphor.

1. Maybe you should cut your own hair…
   • Transition and change is difficult. But the first part is accepting it. I need to embrace the fact that by this time six months from now, my life will be 100% completely different. The first step is realizing what you have the power to control, and letting everything else just happen.
2. …’cause that would be so funny
   • Loosen up a bit. I found myself venting to a friend earlier this week about all my stress, and she laughed out loud and said, “Michael, it’s not that big of a deal.” She even imitated me. And admittedly so, I did sound a bit whiny. We tend to make a bigger deal out of things. Laugh a little bit, it’ll be good for you.
3. It doesn’t cost any money
   • Cutting your own hair doesn’t cost any money. Change and transition doesn’t have to cause stress. Enjoy the present moment rather than stressing about the hypothetical future that isn’t even in existence yet.
4. It always grows back, hair grows even after you’re dead
   • You can always change your mind. If you hate your new shaved head, or if it’s a total hack job, it’ll always grow back. In time. Give it time. New perspectives usually come with time, which is never a bad thing.

Now, go shave your head.

 

 

The Twentysomething Taste: An Intro

Hello and welcome to my very first post in my new blog segment, “The Twentysomething Taste!” I am so excited to share this with all of you. On the Twentysomething Taste, you will find helpful tips, tricks, and trades of the twentysomething kitchen, including some quick and easy recipes!

Some background: I am fortunate enough to have two parents who are chefs and caterers. They’ve owned restaurants my entire life. I was never one of those college kids who survived on ramen and cereal, and I never feared going hungry. But, in the spirit of twentysomething conversations, I’ve noticed a lot of the people I’ve talked with have some trouble with healthy home-cooked meals. So let me help you! Leave me a message and let me know what types of questions or comments you have in your kitchen, or any recipe ideas you want me to conquer!

Check back next Tuesday for a new recipe! Happy cooking 🙂

 

 

Lessons Learned: On Love, Travels, and Food Poisoning

For those that don’t know, this past week I was gallivanting around Chicago for a conference and loving every minute of it. The conference, Creating Change, was absolutely amazing. It focused on LGBTQ advocacy and social justice, and I learned so much.

Among other tales from this past week, I saw the Bean, tried authentic deep dish pizza, fell in love for the weekend, and suffered a major bout of food poisoning. And as much as I would like to go on and on about any or all of those stories, that isn’t necessarily the point of this blog.

Out of all the sessions I went to, out of all the people I met, there is one lesson in particular that is still sticking with me, even after the love, the poisoning, and the flights back home. I was in a workshop, How to Create Non-Oppressive Spaces for Queer Students of Color. And in the workshop, the facilitator said this: “We can’t let our need to learn keep us from action.”

We can’t let our need to learn keep us from action.

This resonated with me in all types of ways. Mostly because, as a 24-year-old graduate student, I sometimes still doubt my knowledge and my ability to create change. I went into this conference thinking I had a whole lot to learn. I’m still in the beginning stages of advocacy work, social justice movements, and really understanding the bigger picture. But, I was surprised to walk into that conference and be able to share some knowledge that maybe other people didn’t necessarily have.

We can’t let our need to learn keep us from action.

We are all learning. We are life-long learners. At least, I hope we are. Regardless of whether or not we are in school, whatever level of formal education you have, there is always something to be learned in the world. This past week, I learned multiple things about LGBTQ advocacy, social justice issues, etc. So I’m here to report back. Now, granted, I know that not all of us work in Diversity Centers or in Higher Education, so I’m mindful of that, but these are some lessons that I learned or was reminded of during my time in Chicago.

1. Embrace new adventures
   • I was PUMPED to go to Chicago! New foods, new people, and an amazing conference that I heard nothing but good things about. Take risks and embrace the adventures in your life – from the every day adventures in the coffee line to traveling to new cities.
2. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
   • “Eat whatever you want!” they say. “It’ll be good!” they say. Yes, until you are hugging the toilet bowl at 3am, 5am, and 6am after eating something that was clearly poisoned. Now, here’s the thing. What was the alternative? I couldn’t not eat. The new lesson here? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, whether or not you know what that reaction will be. Oftentimes, the reaction is hard to predict.
3. Expect the unexpected
   • Never in my life did I expect to meet anyone of substance at this conference. Hooking up, sure, maybe. Professional connections, definitely. But someone who can hold a conversation and is super cute and is nice to spend time with? Well, I didn’t expect that. And I feel like it’s only when you don’t expect it, that it happens.
4. There is always something to learn
   • If people want to talk about diversity programming with university students, I’m your guy. Student development theory? Hit me up. But I also have so much to learn. At this conference, it was evident that while everyone had their own special and unique interest areas, we were all able to learn and grow from each other.
5. Make coming home a positive experience
   • I was sitting in the airport, sleep-deprived, drained of all fluids, thinking of nothing but work and school starting back up tomorrow. But as soon as I saw my friend pulling up at the airport to pick me up, I knew that I was back home, and that was a good feeling. It was so good to see her, and I know it’ll be great to see work friends tomorrow, and to be in the classroom again. By viewing it as a positive, it’s making me feel less sad about leaving Chicago, and happier to be back in Buffalo.

Why Not Meeting Your Goals Is (Sometimes) Okay

This has been A WEEK. So much has happened. In regards to Twentysomething Months, I have officially launched our new Facebook page! I was so incredibly honored (and pleasantly surprised) by the immense support that immediately followed. Dream big, people!

Life, though, isn’t always full of dreams. Maybe it is, for the idealists. But I like to be a little more real. And with that said, we are now ten days into the New Year, and my goals are going strong. Early last week, I made Goal Tracking sheets to help me see my progress throughout the year. For each goal, there is a chart that marks out each day of every week. For example, one of my goals is to work out four times a week. Every time I get back from the gym, I can check that day off the sheet. This is also known as the “Gold Star Method.” Maybe it’s the Millennial in me, but I like the instant gratification of being able to check off that little box, or get a Gold Star, every time I accomplish something.

But here’s the realist in me. I have four main goals that I am trying to accomplish this year. These four goals can be tracked consistently throughout the year. I do have some other goals (like managing my money better, finding a job after graduation, etc) but those other goals can’t necessarily be tracked on regular basis. So, for 2016, these are my four trackable goals:

• Go to the gym 4x/week
• Write 3,000-5,000 words/week
• Post on the NEW TWENTYSOMETHING MONTHS FACEBOOK PAGE (sorry, shameless plug) at least 2x/week
• Meditate 1x/week

Now, if I’m being honest, I only achieved half of my goals for this week. Can you guess which two? I’ll give you a hint…both goals are the ones that relate to writing.

Anyway, the other two goals didn’t really work out for me this week. Sure, I did work out three times this week, regardless of the fact that I felt like death and could barely breath out of my nose. But I didn’t meet my goal. And meditation? Ha! “I didn’t have time this week.” I mean, technically, I did. But I didn’t use it for meditation. And the writing goal? Even THAT I barely scraped the surface of 3,000 words. Bare minimum, Michael. Come on, pick it up.

But then I thought of something.

Progress matters.

Michael, you went to the gym three times this week! Who cares about the fourth time? You still went three times, and that matters. And who cares if you didn’t reach 5,000 words? You still wrote 3,182 words this week, which is more than you would’ve written if you never set any goal. So, be proud!

Please excuse that last paragraph. It was really more of me trying to convince myself. But really, progress it important and shouldn’t be forgotten. So, if you are like me, and you’ve set some really amazing New Years Goals but have fallen a little bit shorter than you would’ve liked this week, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. If your goals are realistic and manageable, don’t change them.
   • My goal of meditating once a week is totally doable. I was just lazy this week. Unless something life-changing came up, or you realize your goals are totally unrealistic, the first instinct shouldn’t be to lessen your goal. Shoot for the stars!
2. Move forward and alter your actions, if necessary
   • If you didn’t meet your goal this week, think back. Why not? I know for me, I only went to the gym three nights this week because three other nights I was working my part-time job, and the seventh night out of the week I was getting my haircut. That makes sense. But for the mediation goal, that’s an example of when I need to alter my plan. So now, I have a set scheduled meditation time for this coming week…which is not ideal, but I know it will help me reach that goal.
3. Remember progress counts towards your goals
   • Even if you don’t reach your goal, progress shows that you’ve still worked towards it. Compromise with yourself. Some progress is better than nothing at all.

What are some other ways you are tracking your own progress and success? Share your goals in the comments below!

 

Less than 100%

Today was a really good, healthy day. Regardless of the fact that I woke up slightly hungover, that’s neither here nor there. What are Sunday mornings for, anyway?

For the first time in a long time, I was able to wake up and enjoy a quiet, relaxing morning. I brewed a fresh cup of coffee, cooked a hearty breakfast, and watched Christmas with the Kranks on Netflix. It was beautiful. Afterwards, I got myself up from the couch and decided that for basically the first time this semester I would go to the gym. It was great! I felt healthy, energized, and a part of society. I talked to my dad on the phone on my way back, and then left for a coffee date that proceeded to last over three hours.

And now, here I am—doing another thing I love, writing, and eating a delicious home-cooked meal (which definitely wins over chips and salsa, the theme of my dinners for the past week).

It’s all about the little things, right?

Here’s what I’ve learned this week, thanks to a new friend who already has a very special and warm place in my heart: It is unfair to expect 100% life satisfaction from only one part of your life.

Let me say it again. It is unfair to expect 100% life satisfaction from only one part of your life.

I’m going to use my job as an example, because I feel like that’s the most relevant. If you’ve been following my blog at all over the past few months, you may think that I don’t love my job very much. “It doesn’t feel as meaningful as I wanted” or “It’s not the right one for me.” Well folks, I am here to tell you that those previous statements are 100% not true. The truth behind those statements, and something I might have been too afraid to admit before, is this: It’s not that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with my job, it’s that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with my life.

Looking at my job by itself, I absolutely love it! I get to work with amazing students in such a supportive environment in an office that is consistently moving forward. But why then, I asked myself, was I expecting to find 100% fulfillment of myself only in my job? That’s not a fair expectation. I can’t (and shouldn’t) expect my job to fulfill me in every possible way, because if it did, that would show a complete lack of work/life balance.

Maybe in my life, work is only 30% of my life satisfaction. Whereas friends and family might constitute 50%. And the remaining 20% are the little introvert things that I enjoy: writing in a coffee shop, cooking with a glass of wine, etc.

And if that means I am 100% completely satisfied in my job, in relationships with my friends and family, and in the use of my personal time, than I am 100% satisfied with life. It doesn’t make sense to expect that my job will fulfill me 100% when it only accounts for 30% of my life satisfaction.

And in an ideal world, the important top-priority areas of your life would be top-notch. That way, you would always be at 100%. But we all know that’s not the case. Sometimes, you might have a little confrontation with a friend, making your 50% only 48%. Or maybe there’s a boring task at work, knocking that satisfaction down a few notches.

But if we’re not at 100%, but still maybe at a 97% or even let’s say 82%, that’s still not bad. We may start to feel in the 50s and 60s on some days, but hopefully, those are just the exceptions.

In thinking about life satisfaction, it’s a lesson that’s been told time and time again, it’s just a matter of listening. Don’t place all your eggs in one basket. You can’t (and shouldn’t) be 100% satisfied in just one area of your life. Ask yourself, how else can I be fulfilled?

And at the end of the day, maybe it’s better to not always have 100%, anyway. That way, there is always space to improve, move forward, and grow.

 

Adulting is Hard…and Other Tales

I’ve noticed something.

Being a twentysomething is only a phase. You’re probably thinking, Duh, Michael…did you think you would be a twentysomething forever?! Okay, well let me tell you…it FEELS like forever. Not that I’m rushing it, by any means, but to me, being a twentysomething means more than just being between the ages of 20 and 29. With that identity comes a sense of limbo, and that’s the tough part. And even though it is just a phase, there are some side effects that seem to last forever.

I’ve also noticed a new phrase in recent months…and maybe it’s just the new slang (what all the cool kids are saying nowadays) or maybe it only comes as you grow into your mid-twenties, but the phrase is “adulting.” It’s a verb. Specifically, “Adulting is hard!” And it is.

And to commemorate how hard adulting can be, here are five experiences that I don’t think will ever get better, regardless of how old I am.

1. Laundry
   • I don’t care if I’m 25 or 75. Will laundry ever be a fun task? Especially now that I have to pay for it? Ugh. I feel like laundry should be a right, not a privilege, and at no cost! You all know the moment: hamper overflowing, clothes starting to pile up on the floor…how many pairs of underwear do I have left? Eh, maybe it can wait a couple more days.
2. Paying Bills
   • I don’t think I know anyone, regardless of their age, who gets excited to pay their bills. Whenever those envelopes start to come in the mail – Verizon, National Grid, Sallie Mae, etc – my heart internally cries a little bit. Goodbye bank account. Yay for being a responsible adult who can pay their bills? But raise your hand if you have a serious side-eye emoji every single time those bills come through.
3. Weekend Commitments
   • I was up at 7:16am this morning. Just a reminder, it’s SUNDAY. Why? Because I have things to do today. I’m working at my part-time job from 3pm to 11pm, I have to go grocery shopping, meal prep, laundry, AND homework on top of everything else. All before 3pm, and all of which needs to be done before the week starts tomorrow. Can’t we just make a universal law that states weekends are 100% free time for 100% of the people? That would be nice.
4. Grocery Shopping
   • I have to be honest, I actually really enjoy the act of grocery shopping. I like being able to pick out any food I want, going up and down the aisles, thinking of recipes in my head. But what I don’t love is when the cashier tells me my total and I have to swipe my credit card. Damn, Michael. Do you really eat that much?! I tell myself it’s all good food, and for that, I can’t feel bad about the dollar amount that comes up every. Single. Week. Another thing about grocery shopping is the status of your fridge the day before. Yesterday, for example, my fridge was so empty that there was a tiny echo coming from inside of it. For lunch, I had chicken broth with one poached egg cooked inside…I called it “soup.”
5. Friendships
   • If you’re a twentysomething, you’ve definitely thought about this one. Friendships as a twentysomething are HARD. During college, everyone seemed to have all this free time, even though everyone always thought they were so busy. And even if everyone really was so busy, at least you lived on the same campus and were able to get coffee once in a while. Maintaining friendships is difficult in this new limbo phase of life, but also making new friends has its own challenges. But I’m not sure it will ever get better. From here on out, friends will always have their own things going on in life, their own people. New friends will still be hard to make, especially as you get older. Quality, not quantity, right?

What Other Tales do you all have? Feel free to share or comment below!