Where winning means potentially finding a loving relationship — My friend Katrina is an experienced online dater, and while shenow has a long-term boyfriend, she enjoyed trying out dating apps when she was single. When I was post-breakup (and thought I was ready to date, though I clearly wasn’t), she sat me down and gave me some advice which…

If you want your marriage to thrive, you have to tend it just right. — The world feels heavy right now. Beyond what is happening economically and politically, beyond all the deaths. So many relationships I know are going through transitions, or breaking apart. My friend Nina’s is one such relationship. She has been married to her husband Ty for 18 years, but for at…

Vacation selves are not always our best selves. — Travel — especially when you’re in a foreign country where your first language is not the dominant language spoken — can be stressful. If you’re not at ease in your visiting country’s language, even something as simple as making a purchase or asking directions can be mentally taxing. …

Some of life’s best moments come in the unplanned spaces — Creativity needs space to blossom. If your mind is constantly whirring or you’re endlessly scrolling, you aren’t giving yourself that space. Just like relaxation doesn’t come on the inhale, when we are drawing air into our lungs, but happens on the exhale when we can let go, inspiration doesn’t usually hit when we are busy…

Possibility is exciting, but sometimes beats the reality — It’s important to have dreams. The big (what do I want to do with my life?), the small (where shall I go on my next trip?)…dreams help guide you, show you what’s important to you, and give you something to strive for. …

Skip My Entrepreneurial Failures and Succeed Faster — I was in the hot seat under studio lights with the cameras rolling. Though the room wasn’t especially warm, and I was only in a dressy short-sleeved shirt and jeans, I was sticky and sweaty. I shifted in my seat trying to find a more comfortable position underneath the glare…

Is Teal Swan a spiritual healer or cult leader? And in the end, how much does it matter? — Teal Swan is a healer, spiritual leader, and self-help guru. Some people also think she’s setting herself up to be a cult leader. I have followed her work for a couple of years, having found her — like most of her followers do — while I was at a low…

I didn’t know how it was supposed to feel until I felt it. I’m hoping this will spare you extra tears and wasted years. — Before I knew how a healthy relationship felt, I knew how toxic and unhealthy relationships felt. I knew what I didn’t want, but there was still a part of me that was fairly certain long-term relationships and happy relationships were mutually exclusive. I am the child of divorced parents, and…

They leave behind tendrils of rot and garbage — The worst thing about scammers and narcs is that somehow they convince good people to believe in them. They manage to worm their way into the hearts of caring, empathetic people and set up their rotten laboratories inside. Laurie met John shortly after her father’s memorial service. She had moved…