We are living in dark, confusing times. Regardless of our individual perspectives and opinions, I think in the last 18 months or so, we’ve all felt some heightened uncertainty and fearfulness about the future. Because there’s a menace out there, and it’s a real, tangible, imminent threat to all that we, as Americans, hold dear. … More The Edge of Destruction
Ah, summertime at the beach. The stuff of fantasy for the landlocked, the city-imprisoned, the office-bound. What’s not to love about the beach? That first step onto the dry sand with your bare feet is like walking on warm, fluffy bunny fur. Wait, that sounds cruel. This is like fur that belongs to a gigantic … More The Unsalted Life
I had a birthday this week, and it was lovely and full of sweetness despite falling right in the wake of Sunday’s horrifying massacre. The thing is, after you reach a certain age, death always seems to show up for your birthday. It’s not like you invite the Grim Reaper to the party, but you … More A Birthday Wish
Amidst the many conflicting, confusing studies about nutrition and about what we should and shouldn’t be eating, I’ve come across a helpful hack for making better food choices. Ideally, of course, you’re eating nothing but whole foods, cornucopias of fruits and vegetables and legumes with an occasional nut or lean meat thrown in and, when … More Snacking Superstar
I don’t think of myself as particularly brave, but there is one exception. Just about every day, I put aside my fears, strap myself into a two-ton metal cage, unflinchingly stare death in the eye, and hurdle myself at inhuman speeds down the road, putting my life and well-being at the mercy of the reflexes, … More Driven to Succeed
As kids, we spend a lot of time imagining what we want to be when we grow up. But now here we are, all grown up, and I notice nobody seems to be daydreaming about what kind of old person they want to be. Everybody fears growing old, but believe me, we are all just … More Advanced for my Age
All of you musically talented people out there, listen up. This is not a joke and not a drill. Things are getting serious now. I know that your fingers might be sore and calloused from all that strumming, your vocal chords might be raw from singing, and that your heart may be heavy with discouragement … More A Call to Guitars
All of us dwellers of the Treehouse are winners in our own right, but today I must sing the praises of the newest occupant, a kitten named Smidgen. Like any superhero, he has a unique origin story. Smidgen appeared mysteriously in the deep woods of South Carolina on a brisk fall day. Whether he was … More Smidgen the Superhero
Sometimes, especially as of late, my fellow human beings frighten and disgust me. In those moments when I feel hopeless and doomed, I make an effort to shift perspective and take a minute to focus on how remarkable humanity truly can be. The examples are all around us—diseases cured, discoveries made, art made for art’s … More Winning, and Doing it Fashionably
Ah, spring in South Carolina–a time of sunshine and flowers, birdsong and bunny rabbits, pastel colors and jelly beans, the time of year you spend many a cold, gray dismal winter day dreaming about. Everyone loves spring,* and who can blame us? But there’s something that’s always bothered me about the promise versus the reality … More Solving Spring
Maria Linn 