Funny enough, “Crystal Claire” was first bestowed upon me as my ‘rapper name’ at my high school’s hip hop & poetry club. Since then, the name has flowed off the tongue at countless parties & festivals– even when my poetry slam skills stutter. Not only it is a convenient way …
Category: Empowerment
Book Review: Defining Decade
The Defining Decade is the book every twenty-something needs to read. Not only will it light a fire under your rear to set your adulthood up for success, but it will teach you how to do it. Based on decades of research as a psychologist specializing in young adult development, …
Meditation Transformed My Life
Six years ago, I read online that practicing breathing exercises could help reduce anxiety. I didn’t anticipate that some of my most profound personal moments would eventually arise from nurturing these moments of silence.
Dear Fellow White Folks
Regardless of your stance on the national election, our world is rapidly transitioning into more a difficult, yet uncertain future. The ongoing unrest, violence, and hate are not just “going to get better with time.” We can’t erase the damage that is dangerously gaining momentum, or forget about previous decades …
Defining a Good Roommate
Sharing a common space harmoniously is crucial to a happy home life, so it counts to have positive relationships with those you live with. In my experience, I’ve had anywhere between one roommate to living 60 other girls at a time. Needless to say, I’ve picked up a lot of …
Love Always Wins
At Oregon Country Faire last year, a good friend of mine, Ayla, held up a totem sign that read in rainbow print: “Love Always Wins.” I didn’t anticipate how true that statement would prove to me, and how much it seems everyone needs to hear it.
Book Review: Thank & Grow Rich
A longtime favorite, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill gets a modern face-lift through Pam Grout’s refreshed rendition in, Thank and Grow Rich. The subtle title changes open doors for more profound realizations about what it truly means to be abundant in wealth and bliss.
Share Love
Three weeks after I tattoo’d a declaration of self-love on my hand, I came to the crucial realization that while devotion to loving myself is necessary, it wasn’t a cure-all to live happily. My life’s story so far has been largely characterized my compassion for others, but finding that balance …
Transitioning to Adulthood
My first couple weeks of working and living in Portland have been nothing I expected, but everything I’ve needed. I’ve learned quickly that there are many lessons you should know to maneuver the adulthood sphere that we were never taught in school.
Accepting Aching Bones
From a young age, we’re conditioned to believe that being an adult isn’t enjoyable. As we progress into adolescence, we savor our youth to numb our sense of inevitable aging. We joke that we “feel old,” but we focus on the negative lights on our naive faces, avoiding the acknowledgement that …
