Category: Daily Muse

Today my mother mentioned to me in passing: “I’ll do your hair when you get married.” Me? Given my illness, even claiming to have a future feels perilous. But I look to the future with cautious optimism. Fundamentals: nurturing relationships, remaining busy with meaningful work, prioritizing family and personal health above all. Maybe my life…

Somehow my YouTube reintroduced me to a childhood favorite movie of mine: Kung Fu Panda. There are so many lines and scenes to love: but the line that hit hardest came from the antagonist Tai Lung. He accused his master of selling him the fantasy that his future was set as the successor of Kung…

For the past three years, I’ve been fixated on certain interpersonal interactions in my life, namely virtual ones. I have a soft spot for a thoughtful SMS, as I believe text as a media is a more thoughtful, nuanced capture of the soul. Looking at a message gives you time to prepare how you want…

I woke up a few days ago with a fruit sticker label thoroughly adhered to my left nipple. Well played, FBI. Well played.

It’s not controversial to say that social media, is on the whole, toxic. Fostering a thick, musky layer of conceit, sensationalism, and self-aggrandizement, nowhere in its algorithms does it seem to value truth. In addition, Tik Tok or YouTube cannot express nuance that requires over twenty minutes to communicate. Other long-form types of media, however,…

When it comes to breakdancing, I would not call myself a b-girl. I’m in the suburbs, rather affluent and maybe not in a situation that warrants movement as a way to stay off the streets, in the manner that breaking originated. But nevertheless, I am seeking heartfelt dancing. The kind that rewards and fulfills oneself…

… lies in knowing what to learn. I have a few phrases floating around from books and articles I’ve read. “Most things are not worth learning.” “It takes seven years to become a master, and you have nine chances to become a master of something over your lifetime.” “1% better every day compounds over time.”…

This title from The Onion could not be more accurate. Mere weeks ago, a man pulled a gun at a basketball court in my local gym. This scare occurred five minutes from my home. Add Uvalde to the mix, and addressing gun violence is a subject I cannot ignore. I would break down this analysis…

With my diagnosis of schizophrenia + bipolar, otherwise known as schizoaffective, I hear this explanation of my chronic illness all the time. The premise is that drawing a parallel between a measurable health condition like diabetes and mental illness should give hope. All you need is the right medication, and life should be manageable. But…

This is somewhat a trashy post, be warned. Object of comparison The ideal is that no one judges another by appearance. However, as I get older, I become increasingly self-conscious and socially stratified when I see other girls more beautiful than I am. My brother Kevin often tells me that the only essential tenet you…