ReformJudaism.org • September 29, 2020

It Shouldn’t Take a Pandemic to Return Us to Ourselves

We shouldn’t have to hit emotional rock bottom in order to “deserve” emotional stability. There is no glory in constant exhaustion and fatigue, no victory in perpetual panic and overwhelm.

ReformJudaism.org • October 10, 2019

Suffering in Silence: Jews, Therapy, and the Stigma of Mental Illness

I was 20 when I learned that my high school boyfriend had committed suicide. His death shattered me, mentally and emotionally – but it also saved my life. In the months leading up to his suicide, I had been planning my own.

ReformJudaism.org • January 30, 2019

Rediscovering My Grandmother's Blintz Recipe and Old Memories of My Family

Finding my grandma’s blintz recipe was a lovely little reminder from the universe – of who she was and how she communicated, but also of how much she loved us and how much she was loved.

Cleveland Magazine • August 6, 2018

Best Doctors: Why One Woman Chose Life

I didn’t look like someone who was depressed. I was a straight-A student, I’d just joined a sorority, and I was working at a summer job I loved. I was outgoing, involved and well-liked. I was also planning my own suicide.

Good Housekeeping • December 27, 2017

How I Learned to Live After My Father Died of Lung Cancer

Losing a parent to cancer is a terrifying and deeply traumatic experience, but the lessons I carry with me from the hand my family was dealt continue to motivate me, even through lasting grief, to live a life worth my time on this earth.

Her View From Home • June 7, 2016

How I Finally Broke My Eyeliner Addiction and Learned to Like My Face

I was so attached to my eyeliner that I wouldn’t leave the house without it on. If I did, it was for some quick errand during which I was unlikely to see anyone I knew – and still, I was mortified to let strangers see my naked face.

Dr. Oz The Good Life • June 6, 2016

What It's Like to Have Your Spine Twist One Degree Each Month

Most middle schoolers worry about looking cool and getting good grades; I worried about whether or not my back brace was working. (Essay archived using The Wayback Machine)

Seventeen • March 25, 2016

Here's What Happens When an Introvert Chooses a Party School

When I began considering college, I quickly decided on Ohio University, which had the best journalism school in the state. It was also the biggest party school. I wanted to get a good education, but I also wanted to let loose a little.

Redbook • March 17, 2016

My Hairstylist Was A Total Bully

My hair had begun to look pretty raggedy and, though nervous, I was excited to try someplace new. I turned to Yelp to find a highly rated salon in my new town and booked an appointment at a quaint, upscale salon nearby...

Woman's Day • February 12, 2016

After My Grandparents Died, I Learned a Tragic Family Secret

Beyond their names, I knew almost nothing about great-grandma Sarah and great-grandma Katie, not even where they came from. Unlocking the mystery meant confronting a meaningful but devastating part of my history.

Redbook • January 7, 2016

Here's What Happened When I Gave Up Sugar For A Month

The truth is, I only gave up sugar because I had a coupon for a detox program. I'm bacon-loving, beer-drinking Midwesterner, so I knew the program was likely to be a bit too much for me, but I wanted to at least try.

Woman's Day • December 4, 2015

I'm Jewish and I Love Christmas

I find all the snowmen and Santa decorations endearing, and I don't even mind the chaos of consumerism. I start watching "Home Alone" in October, and I know all the words to *NSYNC's "Home for the Holidays" album.

Country Living • November 10, 2015

Why I'll Never Let Emails and Texts Replace Thank You Notes

My grandmother passed away years ago, but her insistence on the importance of thank you notes has stuck with me. I wrote all my bat mitzvah thank-you notes within just a few days–and it's a practice I've kept up ever since.

Modern Loss • August 4, 2015

Not Set in Stone

It's been 10 years since my high school boyfriend died, and his grave is littered with cheap tributes — but no permanent headstone. He deserves better.

HelloGiggles • September 4, 2014

How a Friend's Death Changed My Life

For those of us who survive and miss her, Elissa's life lessons continue. Here are five vital, life-altering lessons I’ve learned since my friend’s death, and whether you knew her or not, I hope you’ll find value in them, too.

HelloGiggles • February 11, 2014

What I Gained When I Lost All My Hair

I wasn’t planning to shave my head at all. I didn’t know I was going to do it until I was sitting in the barber’s chair, razor to my head, an inverted mohawk shaved into the center of my pre-hipster, post-emo asymmetrical locks.