I went on a 14-hour date with a coworker who was...
I've only heard bad things about long distance relationships. That they're hard and not worth it.Goodbye drinks with a coworker led to an epic first date and we decided to take a chance on love.We made our long-distance relationship work and now we're married. I'm glad I listened to my heart.For most of my life,…
My partner works at JP Morgan and is being forced back...
My partner, who works at JP Morgan, and I have worked from home together for a year.She's now being forced back into the office because JP Morgan issued an RTO mandate.I'm worried this will take away the quality time we spend together, and it has ruined our goals.My partner works at JP Morgan, and she…
I was unemployed for 300 days. I often had sleepless nights...
Mekela Watt is a 29-year-old in Bermuda Dunes, California, who was laid off in April 2024.For 300 days, she was unemployed, worried about how she would pay for food, rent, and bills.She has just started a new job and shares what she most looks forward to.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mekela…
When I’m around someone I’m comfortable with, I stop hiding my...
I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 16, but have had compulsions as long as I can remember.It's counterintuitive, but the symptoms of my OCD intensify around people I'm comfortable with.I'm working on fighting my compulsions when I'm around my partner.I've been counting since I can remember. Balancing, blinking, scanning for cracks to step…
I’m 66 and don’t work full-time anymore. I consider myself ‘fluidly...
After medical leave seven years ago, I didn't return to my full-time job.However, I've written a memoir and write freelance work, so I'm not fully retired.I consider myself "fluidly retired" for now.When I was a young professional, I never planned to retire. My career as a health education specialist fulfilled me in a way that…
My wife bears most of the housing and parenting responsibilities. I...
My wife and I try to split household and parenting duties, but a lot still falls to her.I do my part by being the primary caretaker of our marriage, planning dates, and romantic trips.I think more men should focus on keeping the marriage alive and not leave it to their wives.By the time I saw…
I was scared to come out to my dad and brought...
When I decided to come out to my dad, I was nervous about his reaction.He's a lifelong Catholic, and I wasn't sure he'd be supportive. I needn't have worried; he told me he only cared about my happiness. In the beginning, I'd hoped I wouldn't have to come out to my father, or the rest…
I was scared to come out to my dad and brought...
When I decided to come out to my dad, I was nervous about his reaction.He's a lifelong Catholic, and I wasn't sure he'd be supportive. I needn't have worried; he told me he only cared about my happiness. In the beginning, I'd hoped I wouldn't have to come out to my father, or the rest…
My mother and brother have terminal cancer. I’m worried I won’t...
I grew up in a deeply religious home, was kicked out at 17, and lived in a homeless shelter.My relationship with my family has been strained for most of my adult life.My mother and brother have cancer; despite mending our relationship, I'm having difficult feelings.Everything changed after my parents found religion when I was 14…
I quit my job when my mother was diagnosed with a...
In 2023 my mother was diagnosed with myeloma, a rare blood cancer that needed aggressive treatment.I quit my job in broadcast journalism so I could prioritize spending time with her.While she's here, I'm going to do everything I can to cherish the time we have together."Are you sisters?" It's one of the questions I always…
