What would you give up to chase your dreams? Matt Ray leads a surreal existence that encompasses swimming with elusive whale sharks, jungle treks in pristine rainforests, lemur encounters in Madagascar, South African safaris and stunning ocean horizons. He’s an environmentalist, minimalist, sailor, diver, writer, musician, photographer and world traveler. …

The Mighty Resilience of Survivors — Stable mental health is my illusive unicorn. I see it ahead and nearly grasp the beastie, but it skitters off and leaves me floundering in a dense forest of depression and mental muck. Like many survivors of child abuse, I have emotional baggage that exceeds the standard weight limits. I…

Gypsy soul, foodie, and pirate hopeful. Sometimes profane. Occasionally profound. — I’m Elle. My life is punctuated by periods of restlessness, where I pace and plot ways to escape, followed by intervals of bizarre adventures. I loathe routine. My only habitual behaviors are consuming mass quantities of coffee, writing, inserting Oxford commas, and sustenance-seeking. …

4 Reasons Why We Need a Return to Realistic Coping Skills — If a pragmatic, realistic skillset isn’t the most cherished tool in your mental arsenal, I’d like you to consider reevaluating those coping mechanisms. Yeah, I’m speaking to you who prize positive thinking as your best attribute. My recent brain tumor diagnosis has provided a significant example of how human beings…

A career that brings passion and purpose is worthy of your efforts. — As a child, selecting a career was as simple as answering the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Adult realities are far more complex. The possibilities can be overwhelming, especially for young people entering the workforce. But it’s not just graduating seniors who experience this…

Self-Advocacy Against Gender Bias & Racism in Medical Care — Recently, I was a nasty woman patient, asserting my medical rights and taking no prisoners. For this tirade, I make no apologies. Gender biased roles implied I should submit to the rules, like a nice, quiet girl. But this isn’t a situation for my docile compliance. Time is of the…

But I Learned Gratitude — The nutcracker standing on my fireplace mantle is pathetic — a damaged, macabre holiday icon. Tragically decapitated at the hairline, like an unfortunate dinner guest of Hannibal Lector, this lobotomy patient now reigns over my 2020 Christmas. One painted eye is partially scraped off. The other fixed and open, in…

COVID Fatigue & The Ongoing Fight for American Workers — In the beginning, I thought I was prepared for a pandemic. At least, better than most. I was wrong about that. The stress of running a perpetual marathon in this environment is unraveling my psyche. I alternate between affirming self-talk and sinking into a pool of profound negativity. …

Eight Steps to a Powerful Writing Income — In 2017, I received $7,300 for a white paper I’d written. The article — a 7.3K word leviathan on establishing a workplace safety culture — paid a dollar per word. Although one of the larger single projects I’ve developed, it reflects my standard rate. Depending on the depth of research…