SEARCH RESULTS

“A day without laughter is a day wasted,” Charlie Chaplin At some point in my life, I discovered that making people laugh was the greatest joy I could experience. However, for a younger version of myself, it had to be intentional. If people laughed at something I did by mistake, or that I perceived to make me look dumb, I would be embarrassed and vow to myself to never do it again. As time has gone on, I’ve learned to laugh about the things I can’t control as well. Jokes about my mom's death rolled off my tongue, as my dad and brothers looked at me with a smile that sometimes seemed as if they were concerned about the state of my mind. It was easier for them to laugh about what was happening when my mom was here, laughing with us. I watched as my mom used humor to find joy in each day she spent battling cancer, and I don't want to let that humor die with her.  We get so caught up in the seriousness of things because things are serious. People are sick, children are dying, we continue to see high rates of anxiety and depression, our economy is failing, among SO many other things. Anyone with a moral compass would feel some sort of guilt experiencing joy in a time where it seems like a crisis is all around us. It has become a norm for me to see comments on anything promoting joy or laughter that say something along the lines of, “This is so tone-deaf. Look at what else is happening.” In a lot of these circumstances, the only clue to their ignorance is their joy.  There are ignorant people in this world, but I would even go as far as to argue that joyfully ignorant people have more of an impact than non-joyful, knowledgeable people. The reality is that, as important as it is to spread awareness of the misfortunes of our world, it is equally important to acknowledge the need for joy and laughter to get us through these times.  The hardest thing for my mom, funny enough, was losing her hair. Not the many allergic reactions she had to Chemo, not having to cut out most of the foods she loved, but losing her hair. If you know my mom, you know what her hair looked like, and you understand. If you didn’t know her, that might sound insane. Especially given the fact that she had access to the best wigs money could buy. My mom had been coloring her hair blonde for twenty years, and I think for her, along with being afraid of what she would look like bald, because who wouldn’t, it was the last part of her body that she had to surrender control of. At that moment, she felt as if she had lost her autonomy, and her identity became: cancer patient. On Mother’s Day two years before she passed, I helped her shave her head. I hyped her up because she did pull off the look. We bought headbands, wigs, and scarves to make her feel better about losing her hair. She never left the house without a wig on. After she was able to stop her chemo treatments, and some of her hair grew back, she started bleaching it blonde. At this point, I was living in Nashville, so I was in my apartment three and a half hours away, when my mom sent me a selfie of her smiling and said, “Do I look like Guy Fieri?” I could not stop laughing, and when I called her, neither could she. My mom used humor to remind herself that she still has control over how she views situations, regardless of her body that was actively betraying her. I firmly believe my mom would not have lived as long as she did without her relentless search for laughter, which was mostly directed at herself. My mom’s laugh is what I miss most about her, although I can still hear it clearly most of the time. Challenge: Laugh at something you never thought could be funny.

TRIGGER WARNING : SA / R*pe I never dreamed of a day in which I’d be in tears over the loss of a United States election. Prior to Donald Trump’s entrance into the political sphere, I was largely uneducated and uninterested in American politics. To be fair, I was about fourteen at the time of his initial inauguration into office, though my age is not an excuse for the level of ignorance I acted in my early teen years. Without intention, I said hurtful things to large groups of people simply because I felt like I could without consequences. I listened to the harmful words spewed by the adults around me and repeated them without any ability to back up what I was saying. All of this is to say that I never thought I would cry over the results of an election. Especially results that have pleased almost everyone I love.  In 2020, I was sexually assaulted by a boy I believed was my friend. He put his hands down my pants, and regardless of how many times I pushed him away or asked him to stop, he persisted. It wasn’t until he drunkenly passed out that I was finally able to breathe again. It wasn’t until a few days later that I was able to fully process what had happened. I told his girlfriend, who believed him when he blamed me and said I was all over him, and told him that I was his “one free pass.” Anyone else I told was saddened to hear it, but didn’t take it seriously. Or worse, told me the same thing had happened to them. I watched as people I considered to be my closest friends continued to hang out with a man who violated me in that way until I eventually accepted that the only thing that would rid my life of him would be time. That was true.  In 2021, on the night of my high school graduation, I was raped. Once again, by someone I considered to be my friend. I had gone to a friend's house and after pouring me shots, he guided me to a bedroom, which I consensually went into. I verbalized that I did not want to have sex, and I was ignored. I was repeatedly and painfully penetrated while I asked him to stop. It went on for maybe three minutes before someone knocked on the door to get to the bathroom, but despite the amount of alcohol I had consumed, I will never forget what that felt like. I told some of my closest friends, who were mostly supportive of me. Some however continued to hang out with the boy who had raped me.  I was unable to talk about these events in my life in any serious manner until recently. A large part of this is the traumatic nature of what happened. The lack of autonomy I’ve felt since. Also, the immediate reaction of my community of peers played a role. I felt like I was asking too much of my friends to stop being friends with someone who violated me the way both of these boys did. However, looking back, I know I wasn’t afraid that I was asking too much. I was afraid that no one would care enough to take any action, and I would be left with no friends. I was afraid that something that had rocked my foundation would also cost me my closest friendships. So I stayed quiet.  Today, I woke up to find out that a man who was convicted of sexual assault was elected to be the president of our country. A man who was convicted of sexual assault and voted for by a majority of my family and friends.  Today reaffirmed for me that choosing to speak up on my behalf will cost me my relationships. I’m tired of hearing that it’s not personal who you vote for. When you elect a symbol of the boy that raped me to be the leader of our country, it is entirely personal. When you vote for someone who is proud of overturning the right to safe access to women's healthcare, it is personal. And I am the least of the people who will be affected by the plans Donald Trump spoke of during his time running for president.  I don’t know what’s going to happen during the next four years. I am hopeful that everything will be okay. I am faithful to a God that contradicts most of Donald Trump’s beliefs and will continue to be regardless of how the next four years play out.  To my family and friends who are feeling the results in the same way I am, I love you, and I’m sorry this happened. To my family and friends who voted for Trump, I love you, and I hope you’re willing to own up to the consequences of this election, whatever they may be.

It is unfair that I am able to love you the way I am now A believing, burning love A fire with no kindling A complete picture of you Separate from me for the first time Finally, the person I fell in love with Only now with the capacity to love me back But it’s too late And we’re too far away from each other to begin to know where to go I should be grateful for this. That I won’t spend the rest of my life calling myself crazy for something I knew to be true. Our love was devastating, pure, and innocent. Brave, stupid, and dangerous.  Our love is present regardless. We could sit by the fire until it’s not warm at all, And we’re just two people sitting in the woods.  Prolonging the inevitable of us walking in different directions, to different destinations, All for the chance to wake up next to each other a few more times. If we walk away now, We won't have to stare at the fire as it fades.  We can remember each other with warmth.  S.S

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Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers “Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.” Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers “Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.” Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. Design with Ease “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With Wix, building your online community has never been easier. Create Relevant Content You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away. Stun Your Readers “Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.” Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way. Get Inspired To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!

Create a blog post subtitle that summarizes your post in a few short, punchy sentences and entices your audience to continue reading. Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more. “Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.” You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow visitors to explore more of what interests them. Create Relevant Content Writing a blog is a great way to position yourself as an authority in your field and captivate your readers’ attention. Do you want to improve your site’s SEO ranking? Consider topics that focus on relevant keywords and relate back to your website or business. You can also add hashtags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help visitors search for relevant content. Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Choose a great image to feature in your post or add a video for extra engagement. Are you ready to get started? Simply create a new post now.