What I can remember before parosmia is now merely contained to the echo chamber of my writing, merely transcriptions of past tastes and flavors of Christmas meals.

As a young girl going through puberty and entering high school, self-confidence was hard to find. My body was changing, my friend group was shifting, and high school was just around the corner.

“How do I want to be loved by somebody else? Describe in detail. (Do you love yourself in this way? Answer honestly).”

Think back to the last time your friend took a picture of you during a night out with friends; can you remember how you felt swiping through your photo album?

Personally, I love Thanksgiving. The feast, the fall weather, the family reunion- I’m here for it. However, I can’t help but wonder why we save all our statements of gratitude for one day.

As someone who has struggled with the pangs of acne as soon as the perilous days of pre-teen puberty dawned, I have an intrinsic understanding of how these tiny little blemishes, largely unnoticeable to the wandering eye, can lead to debilitating feelings of insecurity.

Recently, the discussion of mental health has been on the forefront of the media. Whether it be Tik Tok trends highlighting self-care practices, podcasts with experts explaining brain chemicals or media stories with celebrities discussing their own mental health, we are starting to see huge strides in the de-stigmatization of mental illness.

We’re all used to Simone Biles capturing our attention with her phenomenal athleticism and consistent record-breaking in gymnastics-- but this year she made headlines for an entirely different reason -- choosing mental health over the USA Olympic team.

The middle mark of summer has passed which means it's time to reflect on these past few months. We have new opportunities ahead of us - some of us know what our next move is, while some of us may still have no clue - and that is okay.

It’s 11:59 and you have a 10-page term paper on the rise of Japanese Imperialism due tomorrow. You have 9 hours and 59 seconds. 58 seconds. 57 seconds.

For me, self-care is taking a hot shower before bed. Self-care is taking a mental health day when life seems overwhelming and I need a break. Self-care is being diligent about my skincare routine every night.

You know that sense of euphoria that zooms throughout your entire body the moment you’ve just finished a run? Or, do you remember the last time you got that explosive yet fleeting feeling in your mouth right after eating a flavorful, wholesome, and nutrient-dense meal?

Trust your gut, just like ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’ or ‘Break a leg,’ this idiom has been seamlessly integrated into our everyday language. However, the more time you take to consider the meaning behind the saying, the more you notice its emphasis on the mind and gut.

We all know quality sleep is vital to our mental and physical wellbeing, but is there any significance to how we prepare for a good night’s rest?

To say the least, life can be stressful. We are all working hard at something whether that be full-time school, work, raising a family, or any other responsibility that demands attention.

Let’s be real: With everything going on in the world right now, we could all probably use a little stress relief. Lucky for us, meditation is a powerful practice that can be utilized anywhere, by anyone, and can help you control stress, decrease anxiety and lead to an overall sense of relaxation.

Needless to say, 2020 was a year that we could not have predicted last January when we were planning out our resolutions and goals.

How to have balance in your life – Work and play. Balance. It’s the thing that everybody strives to have in their life. Without balance, it may seem difficult to feel like our best selves.

Everyone experiences stress differently. Everyone copes with stress differently. Personally, being a woman in college manifests itself in a multitude of stressors such as midterms and finals, job hunting, and finding time to work out.

I went on a hike in Charlottesville with two of my good friends a little while ago, and as we stood at the summit looking out at the beautiful view, I remember feeling calm, relaxed, and just so happy.