Working from home in my brother’s childhood bedroom – using his dresser as a standing desk because I fell so hard rollerblading that to sit down would be nearly impossible – I walk past a box of childhood photos and my eye draws to one of my grandfather and I. It’s swe...

When I was a little girl, my high school aged babysitter seemed so old. Not old in an “Old Maid” (our favorite card game) way, but old in the “knew what to do when I got stung by a bee” way. 

When I was in middle school, my high school and college aged brother...

I typically wake up on May 20th, unsure of what to expect. But I know three things to be consistent: I will talk to my family and loved ones, I will eat a lot of birthday cake, and I will be blown away at the kindness of The Smile Project community.

When I first started...

As many regular readers of this blog know, every year, I organize a "Birthday Give Back" project.

When I turned 24, I spent 24 consecutive hours doing service work in NYC. When I turned 25, Smile Project volunteers from 39 cities, 6 countries, and 4 continents spread j...

An old boss of mine had a saying: “if you’re old enough to recognize a problem in the world, you are old enough to do something about it.” Through my work with The Smile Project, I am inspired every day by young people, not just recognizing problems, but stepping up to...

For the past couple months, my mornings have begun with a blaring alarm clock, a splash of water, and bare feet on a yoga mat. It’s a new thing for me, to be putting energy and time into a yoga practice, but something I am already seeing genuine and profound benefits f...

Last summer, I had the joy of working for an amazing activism summer camp. Through mutual connections at the camp and in other nonprofit spaces, I was connected to an amazing social justice and political activist from the Bay Area, CA named Paula Orrego. 

Getting to kno...

So I bought some refrigerated tea. Before I continue, it’s important to note that I don’t really drink anything except water, plant-based milk, and hot tea. I never drank soda as a kid, the coffee gene skipped me, and alcohol has never been a thing for me. 

Because of t...

I’ve long been involved with a nonprofit called The Pollination Project that every day gifts a $1,000 seed grant to a group or individual who is making the world a better place. 

That’s how I got connected with Peter Ekesa Oduory, Founder of Pets Right Advocacy and Camp...

I have a t-shirt I like to sleep in from a restaurant I’ve never been to in a city I’ve never lived in. It’s worn in to perfection and softer than the fleece sheets I collapse into each night. A few weeks ago, however, I noticed something concerning. There was a small...