RECENT POSTS

Swiping Right on Myself

Originally published on Medium “Have you gone on any dates? Are you seeing anyone? Have you tried meeting people?” These are the questions I’m asked more frequently than not. “I’m just not in a place

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Take the medicine. Don’t be a hero.

This piece is part of The Pain Diaries series. How many times have we heard this phrase? The implied message being that physical pain is something that should not be accepted. It’s unwanted, unpleasant, and should

Read More »

RECENT POSTS

Leah

Why “Just Ask for Help” is Easier Said Than Done

I want to share something about me; something I have not told many people. There was a time when I used to go back to bed every morning. Every morning, when Sophie was in elementary school here in Indiana, I woke up at 6:45 a.m. and got her ready for school. I packed her lunchbox

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Leah

The Things I Carry

Sometimes a writing idea will come to me in minutes and I’ll feverishly draft the entire thing in the Notes app of my phone. Other times, it takes months for the idea to come to fruition. Or it starts as one thing and morphs into something else. This post is an example of a piece

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Leah

Three Strangers’ Stories in an Hour in Indiana

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for a bit know that I’m a huge “West Wing” and Aaron Sorkin fan. One of my favorite episodes is the season four opener, “20 Hours in America.” The episode begins with President Bartlett giving a campaign speech at an Indiana farm. After being left behind by

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Leah

Why “Just Ask for Help” is Easier Said Than Done

I want to share something about me; something I have not told many people. There was a time when I used to go back to bed every morning. Every morning, when Sophie was in elementary school here in Indiana, I woke up at 6:45 a.m. and got her ready for school. I packed her lunchbox

Read More »
Leah

Swiping Right on Myself

Originally published on Medium “Have you gone on any dates? Are you seeing anyone? Have you tried meeting people?” These are the questions I’m asked more frequently than not. “I’m just not in a place where I want that right now. And I don’t like dating apps,” I reply. “But that’s how it’s done now!

Read More »
Leah

Back to School and Raising an (Almost) Teen in Unprecedented Times

This is not your typical back-to-school blog post. In September 1987, I started my seventh grade year in middle school. My biggest worry was whether I’d be able to handle being placed in GATE classes (gifted and talented education, GT, advanced classes, as they’re called). Spoiler alert: I did well in nearly all the subjects;

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Leah

Take the medicine. Don’t be a hero.

This piece is part of The Pain Diaries series. How many times have we heard this phrase? The implied message being that physical pain is something that should not be accepted. It’s unwanted, unpleasant, and should be disposed of and treated at all costs. Take a pill. Stop the pain. In 1996 — the same year

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Leah

The Sweet Elixir of St. Joseph Baby Aspirin

This piece is part of The Pain Diaries series. My earliest memory of pain is a headache. But not the pain of the headache. It’s the St. Joseph baby aspirin with the toy soldier on the box. Mom said my headaches started in kindergarten. At the young age of five, school was punishment and I never

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